Tony B

Is that large brass thing a Milatreusesuse ?

Worth listening to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00b55tc

No mate NOTHING is allowed without the right permission.

Not only a second world war practice.

Basically unless you are part of an organised tour, with a sheaf of written permissions, don't take the risk of going anywhere near Normandy. The French are basically fed up of the whole the whole thing turning into a fiasco (the terms some of the local officials and politico's have used are far stronger) They consider that it disrespectful to the Veteran's to have eight year olds running about in uniform and sloppy long haired layabouts in officer's uniforms with personal jewllery and decorations they are not entitiled to (there terms not mine). It is not that there is a ban as such (Thiough you might be hard pressed to tell the diffrence if you just turn up) all that is required is that the written permissions are in place, unfortunatley this covers any 'Military Vehicle' or , so it seems to be getting, anything that even vaguley appears military. All accomadation etc is also bokked solid anyway.

Welcome to the Ambulance owner (Land Rover) Sub section, apart from the entry ritual involving custard creams and gallons of tea. The first port of call is the Royal Logistic Corp Museum at Deepcut. they now hold the B card records. My 101 ambulance also served in BOAR and is left hand drive. The original military reg should be on the data plate failing this the chassis number should allow a search. http://www.army.mod.uk/rlc/history/348.aspx this may also be of intrest. http://www.tanygraig.force9.co.uk/John/vlr/form.htm#bottom

OHNO!! Does this mean THEY are amongst us? :sweat:

So I saw. Not of topic as the place does have a military past. I still have the 1970's 'guide book' somehwhere. The thing was the toilets. Matching marble wall panels. I doubt the place could ever be restored. A definite of topic. In 1970 the fire Service demanded 70,000 gallons of water in an immediate use tank. the council decided the cheapest best way to do so was put a swimming pool alongside the Hall. So thirty years later it finally proved its worth.

Welcome Ashley. A white tie dipped in oil is acceptable by the way.

I fancy the SEAL boat. All I ned now is to win the Lottery., the Saracen would be nice to!

Wind must have been very gusty that day. :-D Anyway Did stringfellow's machine fly, or was it just a glider with a steam engine as cargo?

Six Wright flyers were brought over to the area, but the credit for the first powered flight in UK is to Samuel F Cody on 16th October 1908 at Farnbourough, hampshire.

Wern't they made by Beaufort, the same company that makes liferafts etc?

Oh the Hind is a hell of a beast. A couple came to Biggin Hill a few years ago, as they were carrying pyros and flares couldn't stay at Biggin so they came over to the hill top for the night. Had to organise a queue for all the boffins wanting a first hand poke. The OH has quite a record of service on it's own though.

I'm sure somewhwere in the past I saw details of a bigger unit, that was dug in with a back hoe or such like.

If were looking at aircraft around the Medway and Sheppy take your pick. the Brabazon? Wright flyers? Shorts Sunderland and the rest. Suprising such a place (Personally not one of my favourites) should have such an avation history.:readbook:

Awaiting photos with drool. :-D If you do anything without a camera nearby we'll set Catwezle on you!

A bit of futher research at St Mary Cray, on 30th August 1940 in the second of two raids on Biggin Hill worshops, stores a barracks and WAAF's quarters were hit. Thirty nine were killed. Ninteen are buried at SMC including E.L.Button an Australian WAAF. Also unusually are two 'Airman of the 1939/1945 War' one dated 11th September 1940, the other 12th October 1940. Aditionally First Officer W N Estes Air transport Auxilary. Though mostly RAF but including 3 Royal Australian Air Force two royal New Zealand Air force and one Royal Canadian Air force. the only Great War grave is that of Captain A.L. Cowlney Intelligenc eCorp 23 July 1917 , aged 65. There are also three Polish graves, the stone having a triangular top. All this about four hundred yards away as the crow flies (For me the railway is in bettween)

Why have an amphibious vehicle somewhere were camels are needed? (Bet the stores were full of Artic kit! :-D )

Thank you Sir! Local history can be just as rewarding as farther afeild, it is also a lot cheaper. :-D

There is an old adage 'The longest journey begins with one step'. Very true, despite living five minutes walk from a public cemetery with a CWWGC section, till now I've never taken a close look. the cemetery at St Mary Cray Kent, contains Polish graves, and suprisingly perhaps for a UK cemetery two unknown RAF graves, some of these graves were casualties from a raid on Biggin Hill, supposedly the insparationn for the scene from the Battle of Britian were the WACS casualties are laid out after the raid . The othe one near by is at Orpington. Due to the use of Orpington Hospital by the Canadians during the Great War, there are mostly Canadian graves. Though oddly outside the intial area is a line of CWWGC headstones from inter war years, dating from 1919 through to 1931. Also just outside the ara is the head stone of John R Lammas MM Royal Enginners. Th MM being awarded on 8th July 1943, whilst attached to the 54th East African Feild company. The other local hospital Queen Mary's Sidcup, was a pionner of plastic surgery for Great War victims , as mentioned in the Time Team Special on the Vampire dugout. Never ignore your own doorstep. Left St Mary Cray Right Orpington

Now I know what I want in my stocking!! Boy oh BOY that has just about everything! :yay:

Looks more like the area around Dungerness, so the 'Aircraft' connection, the sound mirrors?

Didn't the same happen with Huey's? At least with a MUTT you only have a few inches to fall. I want a report from an idependent engineer of my choice before purchase.

Blame it on the wind!! :-D Mind you the cloud can cause problems. firing charges on the hill in Kent one day, four over the morning no problem. After lunch one the same size, half the windows in Sevenoaks nearly went out, car alarms the whole three ring circus. The weather had clouded over and a low cloud base reflected the blast wave.