john_g_kearney

Many thanks for the possible ID. There is nothing written on the back of the print, but my supposition is that the car was deployed for Operation Barbarossa; I wonder how long it lasted on tracks like this one... John.

I have posted these elsewhere on this forum, but having found this excellent thread I add them here for completeness. This Matador was on a Maltese quayside - possibly Cyclops Bay - in October 1980. Apart from the loss of its military registration number, the vehicle appeared to be unchanged from when it was in service with the Royal Artillery. The tyres were fully inflated and there was no wind-blown debris against them, so I think the vehicle may have been still in civilian use (though it had no civilian registration number). I presume that the tac marks were those of the Royal Malta Artillery, though I do not know the meaning of the '1' on the RA red/blue sign. A Matador in one of the photographs seen via the link in post number 972 has the same tac marks. John.

Can anybody identify this car please? Unfortunately, the car is in motion and is slightly blurred in the photo. The car appears to be painted with the letters 'WH' though; the tac mark cannot be identified beyond the rectangular shape. John.

Many thanks for the elucidation. John.

I see that Witham's have nearly new / unused Cargo Lightweight Trailers for sale. The design looks odd to me - does anybody know what the trailers were used for please? http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,30,/44621/Penman.htm John

Photographed in May 1986 in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, in preparation for a big parade (the Queen's Birthday Parade, perhaps?) John.

I have just turned up this photograph taken in the Berlin Olympic stadium in May 1986 - the vehicles are there in preparation for a parade (the Queen's Birthday Parade?) John.

It was taken at Chelsea Barracks. I couldn't see what type of body was fitted. Re other photographs, I have some Berlin photographs from 1986 that I'll dig out. John.

Anything locally-built that catches your eye? John.

I have just turned this up amongst my old photographs. Taken in 1974, it shows amongst the Bedfords a Morris-Commercial MRA1 of the FV16100 series (introduced in 1952). I'll see what I can find re more photographs... John.

A friend asked if I had seen a Matador at the recent Yorkshire Wartime Experience. I had done - a very smart one, restored in its last guise as a civilian wrecker. I had not taken a photograph though. What I do have is these, taken in Malta in 1980. John.

Perhaps I am going deaf... John.

Good news re the XD90, Andreas. I presume it is ex British Army? Is there any market in Germany for ex Bundeswehr G-Wagens? John.

Many thanks for the welcome, gentlemen; I'm glad to be here. John.

I was pleased to see the M18 Tank Destroyer in motion at the recent Yorkshire Wartime Experience. I was hoping to hear it too, but I couldn't. I know it was windy, and there were plenty of other vehicles running in the arena at the same time. But still, the vehicle's exhaust appeared to be more or less inaudible. Is this a characteristic of the engine fitted, or were tank destroyer engines specially silenced to fit them for their combat role? John.

I wholeheartedly agree - a fine first year's effort for the YWE. Yes, I do have a NATO hitch on the rear of my 90. John.

One of the ways that the YWE impressed was the fact that vehicles drove round the arena mid-afternoon Sunday; while I enjoy visiting such as the show at Elvington, the vehicles there are static. What I would like to see is vehicles more or less constantly driving round the arena next year. Presumably, the owners would like this too; after all, vehicles are meant to be driven, not parked up. Vehicles could enter the arena by type and era, driving round for twenty minutes or so, followed by the next group after half an hour or so. I would happily pay an extra couple of pounds on my entrance fee in order to compensate owners for the fuel consumed. John.

Good morning. I'm John, a survivor of the Yorkshire War Experience. The weather was shockingly bad over the weekend, but the experience was well worth having. It was really good to see the MVs getting to grips with the mud, rather than merely observing them static. I was particularly impressed by a Bedford MW climbing a muddy bank into the display area; both rear wheels were spinning franticly, but the bar grip tyres got enough traction to propel the vehicle onwards and upwards. I was not surprised, however, that the Opel Blitz on road tyres remained parked up all the time that I was there. Operating such lorries on the eastern front must have been a miserable experience. So, well worth my going to the Yorkshire War Experience. Fingers crossed for better weather next year though... I have been interested in military vehicles for as long as I can remember; interested too in Land Rovers. Not needing a Land Rover, I did without for some 30 years. But then I decided that I did not want to lie on my death bed wishing that I had had one. So I bought one a year ago - a civilian 90 CSW, I have to confess. I have though bought a wide track trailer to go with it, so I hope that I am able - just - to claim my place in the MV fraternity. John.