Jolly Jeeper

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. I was in a filling station in Ashton under Lyne yesterday and saw this on the front page of the local paper; http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/95-years-on-first-world-1661999 A lone bugle sounded but it was slow and obscene for Private Wilbraham Lomax Blears gassed in France Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene? Did they Beat the drum slowly, did the play the pipes lowly? Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down? Did the bugles sound The Last Post in chorus? Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?

I might be wrong but I read that the IWM one was Monty's. I think Rommel had a captured one too

Small world indeed! I don't think it's too bad condition-wise, if I'd had my camera I would have asked if I could have taken a photo. It's such a rarity and I think it'd be great to see more British WWII vehicles out and about. When I was a kid lots of garages had British lorries as tow trucks - Morris Commercials etc.

I was in the Forest of Dean at a scrapyard unit last week collecting a bit of Land Rover bought on eBay and across from it were other units. Outside one was what I'm sure was an armoured Matador in primer - vertically hinged opening radiator shields and the like, military rims and 14.00x20(?) bar grips etc

http://www.itv.com/news/2013-02-21/facebook-plea-sees-hundreds-turn-out-for-funeral-of-royal-marine-after-vicar-feared-he-would-be-buried-without-mourners/

Found this on facebook, 'A small procession through the cemetery was led by Royal British Legion standard bearers followed by a group of flag-bearing motorcycles. The service concluded with two buglers from the Royal Marines Band Service playing the Last Post. The great majority of you who have come here today did not know James McConnell but wanted him to have a dignified farewell. I thank you for that kindness and generosity of spirit. – REVEREND BOB MASON Danny Marshall, a former Royal Marine, said he attended because the corps was an extended family: It was mentioned wrongly that he did not have family; the corps family is bigger and better and than most people would know about. We are all family and always will be.' I am so glad that this chap wasn't alone on his last journey. RIP.

From Richie Puttock in The RMA Network, if anyone can spare some time in or around Pompey on the 21st next week! DEATH OF FORMER ROYAL MARINE I am a clergyman in Southsea and I have been asked to conduct the Burial on 21st February for Mr McConnell who was in care at Bluebell Nursing Home, Southsea. Sadly, Mr McConnell appears to have no family, and the ceremony (graveside only, no formal Service) is being arranged by Social Services. The Nursing home that he was with have informed me that he was a Royal Marine but he was not at the Nursing home very long so other details are scarce. The graveside service will be held at 09.30 on the 21st Feb at Milton Cemetery, 197 Milton Road, Portsmouth. PO4 8RS. Ladies and Gentlemen, In this day and age it is tragic enough that anyone has to leave this world with no one to mourn their passing, but this man was family and I am sure you will agree deserves a better send off. If you can make it to the graveside for that time to pay your respects to a former brother in arms then please try to be there. Further information can be obtained by ringing the Revd Bob Mason at the address and number below. (Revd) Bob Mason 63 Tredegar Road, Southsea PO4 9BJ 02392 824712

This is why http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1882089,00.html JC

That reg no rings a bell - SM is a Scottish plate - and again, if memory serves me, it was the NMM one that was returned to Drumlanrig. I wrote a magazine feature about it some years ago but my ref copy of the mag is in storage. JC

The one mentioned as being 'somewhere in Scotland' in this thread is at Drumlanrig Castle and was on this estate - The Duke of Buccleugh's - from new http://www.drumlanrig.com/. From memory, its reg no starts SM xxxx. JC

More here too; http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Finds/FindsAngola.html

Here's a better You Tube clip from Toby Savage

PS - Loads of early Land Rover ('48-58) history and such here - http://www.lrsoc.com/forum/index.php

Just replied with quotes from others' posts so thought I'd add that I have a few civvy Land Rovers at the moment; '53 80in, '57 88in Series One, '67 109in Series IIA, '73 88in Series III, a Disco 1 van... I had a civvy '49 80in and I've had a few military ones, a Series IIA Lightweight, a Series III Lightweight, a Series III 109in. But I've also had a Scammell 6x6, a Fiat Panda 4x4, several Mahindra Jeeps (still got them), a Hotchkiss M201, a Nissan Terrano van, a Ford Ranger pick-up... Oh and a couple of Jeep projects on the go. I like 4x4s! They all have pros and cons and are better suited to some jobs than others. All I know for sure is that if you don't look after any of them, they fail.

I agree, just can't understand the blind loyalty that makes many Land Rover people think that there's nothing else...

The centre-steer prototype used a Jeep chassis, axles and wheels but a Rover engine and handmade body - it was cut up in the factory. From April 1948 onwards Land Rovers were available as Left or Right hand drive.

Classic!

You're right on both points - Santana licence-built stuff - but the badge under the bonnet does say something like 'Land Rover Santana, SA'...

The thing with the codes feature is that many of us find it interesting especially those of us who like British machines and read the article if it wasn't for someone getting into the nitty gritty of something like this, much of the detail would never be explained. I like John Mastrangelo's detailed military Land Rovers stuff for similar reasons. As for the wartime/postwar conflict, I don't see a place for it; the Falklands War was 30 years ago now and WWII wasn't much over that when the MV scene got started. For example I like Land Rovers and MB Jeeps - that straddles the divide! Lots of people prefer postwar green machines and there's nothing wrong with that and some people like Tim Gosling on here prefer pre-WWII machines, nothing wrong with that either! JC

Thanks for the ongoing positive remarks guys. Just to be clear on one point; the change of editors came about when contracts were up for renewal, it was a commercial tender, there were three serious parties and the CoM awarded the contract as it saw fit. I can't say I know the current duo but concur that they have worked hard for a long spell on the magazine. I don't wish to dish dirt on here but, like you Clive, I have had a few unfair knock backs from all sorts of magazines over the years. If you had something published in Wheels and Tracks then you can be very proud of that because it prided itself on accuracy and detail. I read your 'cracking the codes' feature last night and learned loads; I have a few Land Rover, Morris Minor and other manuals with those sort of covers and have often wondered about some of that info on them. Windscreen is the ideal place to publish such detailed information and will remain so during my tenure. JC

I have your editions of Windscreen in binders and hope to give it back some of the attributes you gave Windscreen. Thank you for your note. JC

Richard - I remember those days a bit as I was still at school in the Seventies but used to buy the Exchange and Mart to read the Metamet Jeep ads as I was desperate to own a Willys Jeep... I believe (and hope) you'll approve of the Windscreens I intend to do - the key to it is maintaining its community feel which is one of the things that differentiates it from the MV magazines from newsagents. Keep in touch please, I'll appreciate your input. JC

Thanks for the positive comments guys. I just wanted to post something so that people knew what was what rather than rumours circulating as they sometimes can. To answer a couple of the specific questions; Yes Clive, your continued input will be much appreciated. As for the 'new' magazine, there's a few things to do here and there but Windscreen has to remain an authoritative club mag for the community that is the MVT so there's still an important place for the current content. That said, there will inevitably be sympathetic changes to the running order, the design layout and so on. JC

Windscreen 136 landed on the mat this morning and the cat is well and truly out of the bag so I can post this! I'm pleased to say that from early 2013 I'll be editing Windscreen for the MVT. For anyone that's interested I can say that I'm an irregular visitor here; have had a variety of MVs over the years - Land Rovers and Jeeps mostly but also a Harley WLC and a Scammell Explorer; have a Jeep project in the workshop at the moment; am a magazine professional and have been a member of the MVT long enough to have 3803 as my membership number. I really am looking forward to the challenge ahead. JC

I did my H Licence in a 432 with an outfit called Fantastic Days in Norfolk. Great classroom tuition, driving lessons, maintenance tuition and test on estate roads over a couple of days. Last time I looked the proprietor was having some time off but if they're up and running again, I'd recommend them. JC