Ex-boy

I have just re-read your post, having posted a reply, and realised my info was incorrect, so now deleted. However, there are many on here who will no doubt give you all the info you want. I'm sure someone will be along soon with what you need. Good luck. Steve.

The numbers went from 00CC78 through to 00CC99, then 01CC00 to 01CC99 before getting to 02CC00 etc, so a bit of a gap between the two. Also, with vehicles being moved about , repaired, re-issued etc, any adjacent numbering in a unit, once the vehicles were elderly would have been unusual. The unit, by the way, appears to be Queen's Royal Irish Hussars if I'm not mistaken. Steve.

19 Coy was probably what later (1960s/70s) was 19 Sqn RCT. When I was in Tidworth I occasionally passed their main gate (in Bulford I believe), where they had a Diamond T as a gate guardian. The Squadron also used XlX (Roman 19) on their signs. Steve.

For anyone who may have been interested, the stencils have now been claimed. Steve.

Have replied. Steve.

Should you (or anyone else) want to reproduce the stencilled markings, I have a set of 1" brass stencils going begging. No payment required, as a good home is all that is asked. First PM gets first call. As an aside to the previous comment, it is no surprise that the MoD have no knowledge of historical Asset Codes (and a lot else), as virtually all experienced staff have been got rid of in the past twenty years.You may be able to tell that I have an axe to grind on the topic,being ex-ASA/ASCA/ATSA myself. Steve.

Great video about two subjects I can relate to. I too was a cold war warrior and had some experience of Ferret as a REME mechanic. A beautiful vehicle to drive and good to see so many still being enjoyed by such a diverse range of people. I wish I had the space and money to own a Ferret, but as an armchair enthusiast this forum keeps my spirits alive. I wish you the best of luck with your new baby. Steve.

Hello again, and thanks for the reply. I know it's so easy to fly our unusual flag wrongly. A lot of Brits wouldn't know how it should go, so it's encouraging to hear that you guys really do try to get it right. Keep up the good work and have a happy 2017. Steve.

I love the video and all the wonderful work and spirit that goes into your obvious enjoyment of your vehicles. Just one small request; would you please check the orientation of your Union Flag pennants? Keep up the splendid work. Steve.

Hi Mark,I'm not familiar with the QL, but Bedford RLs I recall having 4 rows of bins, with the two centre rows back-to-back, and therefore 2 walkways. Also worth knowing that later Thomas bins were fibreglass, but the original ones were, I believe, aluminium, which is what would have been used in the QL's day. I wish you luck finding them. Steve.

Correct Richard, I was too late to jog your memory, but Prestikon it was (is? as I still have a small strip, which has been used lately for sealing leaks from my garden water butts). No idea if it is available but I can confirm that it was very effective in stopping all kinds of leaks, even involving oil, and was highly regarded by us Veh Mech types. Steve.

There were other Middle East and Near East garrisons back in the 1950s/1960s, such as Sharjah and Bahrain, as well as Libya, so not necessarily Aden. Steve.

A bit late, but hopefully not too late to make an observation. The speed restriction sign talks about mounting on a Bedford RL, so fairly old and I would imagine it was originally just a box body, and the chassis/axle was added when sold out of service. Sadly I never saw one during my service, so I can't help identify it any further. Steve.

I looked at the war diary for the regiment, at the RA museum in the arsenal not long after it moved there. I took a few notes at the time, but I think I'd like to have another go through and see if there's anything that I missed. There's a fair bit of info online of course, which is where I read about the issuing of SP guns in December '44, so I'll keep looking to try to get a full picture of the unit's comings and goings. Steve.

Hi Pete. My bad terminology I'm afraid. When I said he joined the A/T Regt I should have said he was posted to the LAD. I believe his posting was a result of the regiment gaining SP guns and an expanded LAD to include a welder. I expect some people will say that as REME he wasn't a front-line soldier, but he seems to have spent a lot of his time doing recovery work (I imagine welding jobs would have been too few to fill his time), and I'm sure some of it would have been within sight and range of the enemy. Some of the recovery involved pretty gruesome work, as one story he told was of removing the crew from a German tank which had been hit by an A/P round which cut the crew to ribbons, with the first indication being the top half of the commander that he pulled from the cupola. Not a nice thought. Thanks also for the link. I have done some research, but that sounds like a good place to look for more info. Steve.

Hello Degsy, and thanks for the tip. I am a slow learner and don't post enough to know my way around the system as well as I probably should. Regards, Steve.

Hi Pete, Glad you have found so much to post. My trade notes are long gone. My dad joined the REs as a painter and decorator and served as such until 1942. There must have been plenty to paint! His first posting was Bordon, working on the Longmoor railway. Before and after transfer to REME he attended welding courses all over the country, learning different techniques, including underwater welding. He was then posted to north Devon and must have worked on some of Hobart's Funnies, as he once mentioned welding on DD tanks before D day. After D day he stayed in UK until December, then joined 61st A/T Regt RA, part of 51st (Highland) div, just in time for the Ardennes Offensive. Having had a quiet war until then the last 6 months were hectic, with action at Goch, the Reichswald, first day of the Rhine crossing and Bremen, plus numerous smaller actions. At the war's end he was, I believe, in Cuxhaven. He started as a Sapper, became a Craftsman and despite being Acting L/Cpl, was discharged as a Cfn. I don't think he was cut out to be a soldier, but did everything that was asked of him, and who could ask for more? He fully earned the medals he was awarded but never collected them, as he didn't want to be reminded of it. I shall have a few drinks to him on his birthday, 16th July. 2012874 Cfn Herbert John Gray. Best of luck with publishing your dad's work, Steve.

Hi Pete, I've tried 3 times to post info on my dad and keep being told I'm not logged on. I will see if this works, as maybe I'm too slow and get 'timed out'. If so, I will just send a short version. Steve. Well, it did work, so a short note coming up.

Those really are beautiful drawings. It makes me glad that when I did my Vehicle Mechanic training in the 1960s we were given handouts, very similar to your dad's drawings. I could never have done such a good job. Incidentally, my dad's service pretty much shadowed your dad's. He was called up in 1940, retrained in 1942 as a welder and joined REME in October 1942. He also served until 1946 and would have been 100 this year. They were heroes alright, but never admitted it. Thanks for the posting, it bought back some lovely memories. Steve.

I googled Butler headlamps and found a link back to this forum! Adrian Barrell asked the same question on 01/01/2011 and had several positive replies. I'm no good at setting up links, but if you search the forum for 'Modern Units for Butler Type Headlights', it should give you what you want. Good luck, Steve.

Great detective work as always. Thanks again for taking the time. I still have no takers for the bundle, so maybe someone on the Vintage Radio Forum would like them, once my membership there is confirmed and I can post stuff. Steve.

Well, there's no sign of any date on the packaging, but it would appear to be pretty old stock. Thanks again for your trouble. Steve.

Another thank you in order. Having visited the above forum I think I will be able to offload an old VCR which has cluttered up my garage for 30 years! I may eventually get my car in there. Regards, Steve.

There is so much information on the web that it is hard to know where to start, so thanks for another fascinating link. My comment on radio valves seems even more relevant in light of the vintage radio forum. I suppose at the end of the day the part number is immaterial as long as the item is identified and someone has a use for it. Thanks to both you and Clive for your time and efforts. Steve.

Clive, after reading Richard's posting I found several references to using the pith to make thin sections for putting under a microscope, plus various cleaning processes for delicate tools etc. Together with fishing floats and pin-cushions it is versatile stuff, so an end-user could be anyone. As for the number, I'm still not entirely happy with it but believe Z1 XA 0535 is probably it. Steve.