johnwardle

Re 'Jeeps in crates' I was under the impression that there were 2 main vehicle assembly parks in England in WW2, Ashchurhc & Tidworth, so I find it rather strange that Jeeps, Harleys etc. were delivered to units still in crates to be assembled and readied for use. I have also heard about the Jeeps buried in Taunton, but that was the one in Somerset. I do know that there is 2 Jeeps in a lake in Westbury where I live as they have been located by Bath sub aqua club. There are 2 stories as to how they ended up in the lake, one is that the US troops staioned in Westbury drove them in when returning from the pub, the other is that they were abandoned next to the lake and local youths pushed them in.

In the past couple of years a Sherman DD was uncovered on Salisbury plain near Imber village when a training trench system was being dug, this was reported in the local paper, but where did it go? Bovington maybe? There is a rumour that a lot of vehicles were buried near Imber after the war, and if you look on Google earth you will find that a large section of the valley has been filled in. There is absolutely no chance of excavating these as they are in an active training area with a major road junction over it. About 5 years ago I was visiting my folks in North Yorkshire and there was a bit in the local paper that someone had been given permission to dig up a tank on Fylingdales moor, near the early warning station. I know that area is rather boggy, did this tank get recovered?

When I had my Leyland Daf 4 tonner registered it was MOTed first using the chassis number, then registered with DVLA. You now have to send the documents to DVLA to get a registration number as they will no longer supply it at their local offices. Remember as a Saxon weighs over 7.5 Tonnes you will need a HGV licence to drive it on the road

Is this the updated version of the Honest John ?

Hello Handler69, The Fox in the photo belonged to the Queens Own Yeomanry (QOY) which is the T.A.s only armoured reconnaissence regiment. If the photo was taken in Germany then it must have been on one of their annual camps as at the time they used Foxes there were 3 squadrons, Y squadron, based in York, C squadron based in Chester, and A squadron based in Ayr. The running Fox badge should have the word 'FORRAD' on the scroll under the fox. My father served with Y squadron for a considerable time, retiring in the 1980s and still joins them on their camps at the age of 84. the squadron commander of C squadron was Gerry Grosvenor better known as the Duke of Westminster, who joined as a trooper, and deliberately flunked his sergeants exam on several occasionsas he enjoyed being a trooper, the powers that be decided that a Duke should not be an ordinary soldier and gave him a commision which he could not refuse. He is currently a Brigadier.

Hello LoggyDriver, It is allegedly a self bleeding system, but if there is air in the injector pipes the air in the pipes will compress and not lift the needles in the injectors.

Thanks for all the advice & tips, I have now got it running. I may have waxed up or it may have simply run out of fuel the last time I stopped it. After changing the fuel filter and replacing the seals on the sedimenter I bled the system once again and tried to start up , after 30 seconds turning over, nothing, then I rembered that there has to be diesel in the injector pipes before it will start, so I loosenened the pipes at the injectors & turned the starter, after a few seconds diesel sprayed everywhere, tightened them up again and she roared into life, and now starts every time straight away!!! My excuse is that I left Arborfield in 1975 and have not worked as a mechanic since.

The Cummins engine fitted to Leyland Daf 4 tonners do not have Heater plugs fitted. The reason I was asking where I can get Start Pilote from is that my truck is now not starting! It is a 1995 model that has only done 34000 kms it spent all its sevice life as a UBRE with a REME T.A. unit. It started and ran fine until we had this cold spell, now it turns over fine but will not catch. Yes it has got plenty of fuel in!

This may not be the right place for this post, please re-post in the approprite place. I received a 'phone call yesterday from someone asking if I knew if the pre war Daimler straight eight engine was fitted to any Military Vehicles as he is restoring a 1937 Daimler limousine and the person who was rebuilding the engine 'lost' the oil pump!!! Does any know if the above engine was fitted to any MVs? also did the engine used in the Dingo or Daimler armoured car use the same oil pump? Finally has anyone got an oil pump yhat would fit a Daimler straight 8? Any help will be most welcome.

Does anyone know where I can buy some START PILOTE fluid for my Leyland Daf 4 Tonner? this is used for cold starting. It is or was made by Holt and I have tried motor factors in the West Wilts area but to no avail. Where can I get some?

If you arrange a visit to the Small Arms Collection at the Land Warfare Centre at Warminster which houses the largest collection of small (and not so small) arms in the UK, these include every weapon used by the British Army and a vast amount from foreign armies and are all live, you can handle most of the weapons on display, the only ones under glass are the very rare ones, they even encourage you to handle them and even strip some down, the only proviso is that you do not leave them cocked. This Collection is not classed as a museum as it is still used as a training aid for the army. Small groups can visit by contacting Major Bailey or Peter Laidler at the Land Warfare Centre, there is no fixed admission charge but a donation of £5.00 each is suggested. A word of warning do not visit if you are short of time youcan easily spend a full day in this collection

I have heard rumours from Larkhill that some AS90s have already been sited as hard targets, although I have not been given any locations. The plains will be open over christmas so thats a good excuse to have a tour round and see if I can find some.

OK terry I will be seeing someone tonight who owns both pinkies & DPVs so I will put this to him.

Hello Terry, Could you give us a clue as to where the wedding will be?

Hello Terry, you could pm me, I am in contact with Barry on a regular basis.

The Canberras at Kemble are on the north side of the airfield by the control tower this has a separate entrance off the Tetbury Cirencester road. The Bristol Aero Collection is accessed via the main entrance on the A429. There is a security fence dividing the 2 parts of the airfield, therefore if they were on the north side they would not have access to the south side.

There is a Sycamore in the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble airfield, you could try asking them for help, they have a lot of exhibits direct from the Bristol Aircraft factory and may even have drawings available

Thats Excellent Darren, could you pm me your phone number?

Yes I am Darren, Are you interested in attending

Hello Big Al, He does intend to restore it as it would have been at Imjin, but wether he will get round to it I don't know as he is not in the first flush of youth.

Hello 83KB62, the next meeting at Melksham is on December 7th starting about 20:00, this will be our christmas do with the pub putting on some food and no doubt a M.V. themed quiz as well. If you would like to have a chat about entering shows, my 'phone number is on the MVT website & in the back of Windscreen (I am area secretary of the West Wilts area) P.S. I own 63KB66!

A UAZ 469B on Polish plates driving through Bristol! Is this an import or has some brave pole driven it from Polans?

Hello Tonyb & Antarmike, I have just watched 633 squadron again, just after Johnny Briggs (ex Mike Baldwin off Coronation st) chrashes into the cliff the 2 officers go to a Series Land-Rover, it looks to be an 80" as it has the canvas flaps to reach the inner door handles, but for some reason it also has non standard rxternal handles. Johnny Briggs is the pilot who gets reincarnated and is seen many more times in the film.

Looks like i will have to go up to the farm and get the dvd out of my Landy and watch it again.

I met the current owner of the Eastbourne Centurion at the "Britain at War magazine" day at Bovington in April, he intends to restore it, but the turret has been stripped out and the engine will need quite a bit of work seeing that it has been sitting on the seafront for years. This Centurion is reputedly a veteran of the battle of the Imjin River, the current owner held a party to celebrate getting the Centurion and contacted the Glosters museum to invite some veterans to this party, incredibly 1 lived less than a mile from his yard and had seen the Cent pass his house on the transporter. I also know what he paid for this Centurion and I am VERY jealous