haybaggerman

I love these trucks, what became of the project, any finished pics?

Yes, got a couple now. He also wrote about it in 2005, as follows:- In October 1944 the seasonal torrential rains arrived and our tanks rapidly became bogged down in a sea of liquid mud churned up by the tracks several feet deep in places. So we were pulled out of the front line and moved to Bagno in Ripoli, a suburb of Firenze, for winter months. The tank crews were billeted in farms scattered amongst the fields surrounding the school building which was our base. The front ground floor rooms were used as squadron HQ office and Quartermaster's stores and at the rear were the kitchens and mess hall. All upstairs rooms were for recreation with trestle tables, benches etc, where we could write home, read, play solo whist and just relax after six months of fighting and hard campaigning. It was a happy, carefree period, amongst friendly Italians and regular trips into the beautiful city of Firenze. One day I noticed some of the fitters (mechanics) were making models. I was immediately interested. Tins, some quite large which had contained potatoes etc were retrieved from the dump at the back of the cookhouse. These were cut open and carefully flattened using the shears and tools for metalwork which all fitters had, and lent to me. I don't know who made the original plans but he was obviously very talented. I had been trained and was skilled as a driver/radio op, but knew nothing about metalwork. The fitters were really kind and tolerant and helped me every step of the way showing me how to mark out and cut the various shapes, how to beat them into panels and the various parts of a model sherman, and how to solder them together. Then they insisted I work alone with occasional words of advice, saying if I didn't it would be one of their models and not exclusively (well almost) my own. The wheels and tracks, as you can see, were most difficult, each track plate having to be made individually involving hours and hours of tedious painstaking work. The final touches the painting (genuine tank camouflage paint) signwriting squadron regimental and divisional insignia etc were easy and I repaid the fitters for their help by painting their models for them. I made the mistake of sending my model home safely (I thought) packed in a wooden box, but it arrived at Manley Rd (home) quite badly damaged. After demob I was able to repair and make good all of the damage with the exception of the drivers hatch which had been quite badly bashed in and broken and missing aerials. There was no way I could get inside to push it back into shape so you'll just have to imagine it was struck a glancing blow by a German 88mm AP! I think the signwriting was quite good considering that my brushes both for the models and squadron tanks were homemade. A tuft of bristles from a shaving brush (scrounged from the QM stores) were tied together with cotton and then fixed on the end of a stick. Sounds crude, but it worked very well as you can see and, of course, it was much easier on the big tanks. My photos dont do it justice especially on the tracks. I think this model is special not only because of the workmanship, but also the story behind it.

No worries - where are you on facebook? Paul

Thanks for the comments gentlemen, I'm glad people are enjoying the storys. MAY 1944 no surrender After the breakthrough at Montecassino our regiment was held in reserve until the Engineers had cleared the road, Highway 6, and replaced bridges. Several incidents happened which might be worth relating. At dawn on the second day our tanks were in the front line and spaced out to repulse any counter-attacks. Visibility was only a few yards due to early morning mist and smoke from all the smoke shells which had been fired to cover the previous days attack on the monastery and the costly but successful attempt to get a Bailey bridge over the River Rapido. It was fairly quiet apart from a few shots and, as I needed the toilet, I grabbed a spade off the back of the tank and started walking away to find a private spot to squat. Suddenly, a voice from a tank close by said, “If you keep walking you’ll end up amongst the Germans there are lots of them close by”. So I went back to my own tank, dug my little hole and filled it in before climbing back into my co-driver’s seat. That voice maybe saved my life, for there were indeed German marksmen who had infiltrated our lines, in fact, had killed several tank commander's who had to stand with their head and shoulders out of the turret. Later that morning after the Germans had been driven back, I went for a wander around the battlefield on my own. It was a shocking sight, bodies everywhere you looked, Allied, German, dozens and dozens of them. One in particular caught my attention. There was a stone built Italian shepherd’s hut, small and round with a doorway, but no windows. A few yards in front of it sprawled the massive body of a dead German paratrooper, face down. He was in full uniform, steel helmet and jackboots, and a giant of a man. As I looked at him I could visualise what had happened. Retreating, he saw the hut from which it was obvious there was no retreat or escape, and decided to make a last stand and inflict as many casualties as he could on the British. As witness to this there were so many khaki-uniformed bodies all round as they had tried to rush him. Eventually, the German realized his position was hopeless and charged out firing from the hip. He must have been riddled with bullets almost immediately and fell, still clutching his automatic rifle. It made me so sad to think of the incredible heroism which had been shown here, by both British and the German, none of it witnessed and so, obviously, no medals, although thoroughly deserved. Cheers for now Paul

Havn't got a photo yet, he thought he would like to bring it to A&E though.

Thanks Adrian He is looking forward to meeting you as well, me too. Cheers Paul

Sentenced to bollocks? They were tough days

Hi If you are using the original mechanical pump driven off the engine, then yes, when a pump goes it can put fuel into the engine oil. This is often the first symptom of pump problems. My ferret came with an electric pump, solves a few issues actually, but not "original". Cheers Paul

Right, well, my uncle is staying at the farm at the moment and looking forward to A & E. He brought down some interesting photos with him too. He has also got a sherman tank model he made between battles out of food tins and the like. Anyway, I kind of let this thread go a bit, thought I was going on a bit and a lack of replies belied little interest. However, as A & E is coming up and my uncle and other veterans are going to be there I thought I'd share a bit more nostalgia from the time. This story just shows the lottery between life and death these people had to deal with, and also what they went through dealing with the consequences of everyday descisions. MAY 1944 YET ANOTHER LUCKY BREAK FOR CORPORAL GENT! During the last two days of the war in Italy we swept across country towards the small town of Bondeno and the river Po. It was an eventful time as we caught up with the German rearguard. As the squadron’s Shermans eased forward on the first day my two Reconnaissance Honey’s were ordered forward to see what lay ahead and to find a way to cross a wide stream which was marked on our maps. Me and my 2nd in command set off and soon reached the stream which, to make it more difficult, was sunken with steep sides. We turned and drove along the bank and saw a place which both I and my driver thought crossable. As leader I took my tank down but it was very muddy at the bottom and we got stuck. I told my 2nd in command to try further on and to report back to the squadron on the radio that I needed a tow. About 100 yards away he gave me a wave and indicated he was crossing. As we watched, his Honey was flung into the air in a sheet of flames and a huge explosion. It was obvious he had hit a landmine on the other side, and although I ran up, there was nothing anyone could do. The Shermans then appeared and I warned them that there could be more mines on the other side, but there were none, just the one that killed my comrades. While the squadron crossed and fanned out, one tank dragged our Honey out with his cable. I was feeling shocked and more than a little guilty. If I hadn’t got bogged down I would have been the one crossing that small bridge. As had happened so many times before, I was lucky. I was promoted to corporal, not on merit but because I was a survivor and once again there were gaps in the ranks to be filled.

Good luck Oily, I'm learning here too, for instance, I had assumed my ferret flywheel tool would also do my saracen when it arrives. Cheers Paul

Hi Matt Sounds like you do need to top up the flywheel, apparently the previous owner of mine had appalling drive issues until he topped it up. after that everything was fine. Fingers crossed. Paul

Nice looking truck, and a good project. Did you polish the front end of the merlo for the photo, because no telehandler stays THAT clean does it? Good work Paul

I have more toys than time at the mo. with three young children. However, I've been told to plan for their future so I need to buy as many toys as possible incase they are into MV's to:) Therefore, I have no choice. Having said that, I agree with Robin Paul

Well, not big news really, no famous authors (as far as I know), however, a nice result all the same. As some know my uncle is a vet of 2nd Lothian Border Horse and is being reunited with a functioning sherman for the first time since the war ( with kind permission of Adrian). Anyway, this story has been picked up by the Lothians Association who are putting it into their next newsletter for all members with details of Arms and Embarkation and also a general invite for them to attend if they want to. So, we could see a few more tank Vets out there. Cheers Paul

Sounds good:) Paul

Hi Jack I'm sure he would be okay to have pictures taken, here's one taken a little earlier

New question, I'm bringing a veteran, which day would be best to attend on, this one is for adrian to answer as well really. Cheers Paul

My temp gauge stays arounf 180ish or, at other times, jusat tops out as soon as the engine is running. Think I have a bad connection somewhere. Glad you are having fun with the ferret, and now the sun is shining it just gets better!! Cheers Paul

Draining the transfer box in the ferret, stripping off one end and mending the ghasket, put all back together again, attach uj's and fill back up with oil, just like I was going to do last weekend, and the weekend before, and in january and last summer too. and infact something will stop play this weekend too. Still, its the thought that counts apparently Paul

Then five years later the Americans landed in Normandy with great big white stars on the glacis plate and quickly learned the same lesson. My uncle was a signwriter in north africa, he said they used to smear mud over the red and white rectangles for this same reason, I guess the brits learned a little earlier on. Paul

Hi, I had some feathered edge offcuts and they wedged in nicely (well, no-one sees it do they)

Looks like you are doing a "proper job". She's looking really good. I think these are my favourite soft skins, or maybe a militant mkIII, or an RL recovery............. no, definetly the scammel, probably:) Anyway, the work so far is a credit to you, Cheers Paul

Thankyou John It was done up by a museum a few years ago and it looks like the number may have been lost at that stage. Also, it is an uparmoured one so that plate will be gone too. Still, when I take delivery I'll have a good look around for the plate, although I presume someone has "collected" it at some stage Cheers Paul

Thanks Andy

Yes, it is painted, just don't have the photos yet.