Tony Lawrence

Hopefully also we can compare the engine with the one on my Lightweight compressor trailer (see appropriate thread). having stripped the engine, re-ground the valves and seats we have a good spark but when the plugs are fitted they won't even ignite Easi-start. Now we have an engine that apparently works we might be able to do something or see where we have gone wrong with the compressor trailer engine. Also I have sent off for what may be some sort of manual from the National Records office at Kew (or it maybe what I already have - I won't know until the end of the month) However, all in all another recruit for the Surrey Trailer Trash group

Look at the mudguards and the fact that the body is higher and over the mudguards.

is that a Canadian trailer behind the third Bedford? It certainly looks higher than the GS trailer.

Oh dear, I had a senior moment...my Mortar trailer was built by Orme Evans and my Lightweight GS was built by SS Cars. The theory still applies as my Lightweight trailer also has the barrel hitch and lifting handles welded onto the chassis but that means my Mortar trailer is still unusual having those features. Time for hibernation now!!!!!!

Hi Maurice, It is interesting to see that your trailer has the lifting handles mounted on the chassis with the early barrel hitch, just like my Mortar trailer. This is also an SS cars product so maybe this was their 'style'. Nearly all other GS and Mortar trailers that I have seen have had the later integral hitch with folding handles mounted on top of the chassis. Don't forget that at W&P you promised me more photos on your R/D office trailer. Tony

This site is even better with some photos and a map of where the anti tank ditch was. Where it crossed the slopes of Ranmore at Bradley Farm is where the tank (s) were. http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-455-1/dissemination/pdf/Text_Reports/DA12_TEXT_-_DORKING_GAP.pdf

This site describes all the defence constructions in the area including the anti tank ditch and various references to it including aerial photos http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue//adsdata/arch-455-1/dissemination/pdf/Component_Listings/DA12_components.pdf

It is chalk - it's the south facing slope of the North Downs. A nice photo from Rick that I haven't seen before - are there any more?

As I mentioned previously there were ideas that the Canadians used them in recovery/bridging exercises as there was a very large anti tank ditch stretching across the Mole valley from Box Hill to Ranmore, i.e across Bradley Farm where the tanks were buried. One could assume that the other tanks were also Covenanters as they would not have been much use in the forthcoming invasion but as originally I was told that a Sherman had been dug up you can gather that tank ID was not included in the local education!!.When I was told (being the local 'expert', at least in the model variety) it was not until I saw the dug up tank that I could ID it. They were dug up probably due to the sale of the farm in preparation for it becoming a vineyard. I remember a photo in the local paper showing the tank by a couple of trees (no buildings in sight). Somebody could always try contacting the Dorking Advertiser to see if they have the photo in their archives. Sometime soon I should be able to retrieve my slides and put the photos on this forum - probable 2-3 weeks.

It sounds like David Knight (long deceased) who told me about the recovery of the Covenanter. I think many of the previous comments are 'pie in the sky'. Who would seriously expect a award winning multi million pound business to allow heavy plant in to trash a sizeable area unless by chance they were going to develop that site anyway? I should think that they are aware of the remaining tanks and would have suitable contacts (i.e. Bovington) to call.

All AA versions were based on Crusaders - Covenanters were only gun tanks used for training purposes except for a few used as OP tanks in the Western desert

It was probably 1987 as after a customer told me about it (I own Dorking Models in West St., Dorking) I drove my jeep up to the barn where it was being stored and took several photos of it. I will try to find them but unfortunately they are in storage at the moment. I remember the remains of the red/white/red flashes showing. I also remember the low loader carrying it off to Bovington passing up West St. under a tarpaulin - it was recognisable by the wheels. By a strange coincidence amongst some secondhand books/magazines that I took in at the time was a brown leatherette covered file that was labelled LMS Workshops, Crewe. It was the manual for a Covenanter and inside were some typewritten sheets marked 'Top Secret' regarding an exercise on Salisbury Plain involving 9th Armoured Division (panda head insignia) 9th AD used Covenanters on exercises in the South of England. I sent copies to David Fletcher at Bovington who was most interested and we came to the conclusion that these could have been related to the buried Covenanter but who knows. I still have the documents and manual. The thought is also that the Canadians buried the tanks before they left for D-Day having used them for recovery/bridging exercises in the area of the very large anti-tank ditch dug across the River Mole valley between Box Hill and Ranmore.

The Tank Museum vehicle came from Bradley Farm near Dorking in Surrey and it was said that there were two other tanks also buried but left there. I do not think that they will be recovered now as Bradley Farm became the Denbies Vinyard (one of the largest in the UK) and I would doubt that they would pull up rows of vines for a tank recovery.

The vehicle has to be substantially complete - not a pile of components. Essentially this is to ensure the vehicle is what it is claimed to be. The clubs do charge a fee for the verification service but it is less for members. All the main components,i.e. frame/chassis, engine, body, etc have to be original or of the period.

I went through the same pain but all trailers were painted - they were workhorses, not items of art. Don't worry though, you can still see the grain through the paint. I did not prime the wood, just treated it with a clear wood preservative and then sprayed the British Army green so the paint does not hide the grain. Tony

It was displayed at Goodwood Revival last weekend - hopefully it is not a write-off as it was a superb replica

According to Rob van Meel's Chilwell reprint, Reynolds had a contract S2488 is for trailer 10cwt 2wh GS with WD numbers between X 416510 and X 5417729. There is no mention of contract S2489 so either Rob's book has a mis-print (entirely possible) or it is a Reliance trailer with a contract of S2489 for trailer 10cwt GS and a WD number range between X 5418982 and X 5419741. My bet is the latter who I have never come across before.

You still have not mentioned the presence or lack of a cable hole at the end of the chassis bar. If I am correct the GS Mkll and 4.2" mortar trailers were not rigged up for lights, hence the jerry rigged efforts (also see Simon King's superb restoration of the GS trailer on this thread). Certainly my 4.2" Mortar trailer was never wired. I have no idea why some types of trailer were wired and others not. Is your tow hitch the unusual square box type housing - it is not clear from the photos and interestingly the data plate has no WD number, only a chassis number

Please post some photos of your trailer. Not all were fitted up with electrics for lighting. A clue would be if there is a hole in the end of the chassis bar under the tow hitch which is where any cable would pass.

Russell Motors for many old bike stocks

Try Russell Motors, Falcon Rd, London SW11 2PE. They have a vast quantity of NOS motor cycle spares. I have got everything I have needed for my 16H from them over the years.

I have used Humbrol No.69 gloss yellow spray over a suitable primer and it appears satisfactory

The draw bar looks original but has been re-inforced where it joins the main chassis. It appears to have the same early post war Bradley hitch (see the earlier 10cwt mortar trailer thread) as my trailer but should have had the late war hitch with the integral grab handles (as in the book illustrations). You will have to get new cleats - an expensive job as they are not made now as well as new ash wood planks. A worthwhile project but make sure you check the earlier thread as you will pick up loads of info- good luck.

Perfectly put Simon - we look back to those days through rose-tinted spectacles. It was indeed a time of seemingly wonderous discoveries but then we forget the difficulties of obtaining certain spares that are now common place (jeep steering bellcranks!!) In the 1970's Bart used to come into my shop (Olyslager Press was just round the corner) and was instrumental in getting me interested in MV's just as his books and W&T did for thousands of others over the years. W&T was the gold standard and will never be bettered.