Shakey985

Happy new year to every one and I hope its a WET one as we need the rain.

Were is your sense of adventure Jack? Isn't Normandy over done? you lot must know it like the back of your hand by now. Why not 8 weeks going from India across into Burma with 20 vehicles? "Thats in the realms of fantasy" as Capt Mainwaring would say. A bit to hard, well why not 20 British vehicles taking in Melbourne, Corowa, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra in 8 weeks, from March to after ANZAC day 2011?.

Ref my Burma campaign, forgotten again. Mr A.S Compton wrote a letter to the Argus that was printed on the 29th of May 2001. " I refer to the letter (opinion, May 11) concerning the Royal Sussex Regiment and the writers sorrow the regiments service during the war had not been mentioned" He was a tank transporter driver in Burma and I hope is still alive and well, from the rest of his letter, it would indicate that he is a proud veteran of the Second Great War. Is there any one interested in giving him a call to see if he is alive and well and weather he would like talk about driving in Burma. His address is A.S. Compton 3 Hanover CT Rectory Gdns Worthing, West Sussex, Phone 01903 205 154

Martin welcome to the forum. I didn't want to imply that your truck wasn't a working truck but it looks to clean< where the one that I have adopted has been siting at Woomera with no love or attention for years, I have had to repair the hydraulic seals, as due to no use thy have deteriorated. I use the truck at least once a week to do tasks around the museum so my knowledge of safe operating is increasing all the time. We also have a M543 A2 that has a Gen Motors Detroit V6 Diesel, this is getting its brakes overhauled at the moment and will eventually replace the M816 as the museum wrecker. What would be good is to get a photo of all the wreckers side by side for a comparison and maybe a tractor pulling contest.

When are we going to get to Darwin?

If I cant come to you then can you come to me? This was my first year at Corowa and I was impressed with the restoration of all these MV,s. Even thou I had been working at the Tank museum for a number of years I had no idea that there was so many still running around. That is when I joined this forum as it was the best and had great pictures of all the vehicles that I would love to have and see. This is for general discussion and I have put it in military terms for simplicity. Situation In 2011 it will be the year of the British Military Vehicle at Corowa (dates to be advised). Mission To have accumulate as many British Military Vehicles in Corowa as possible. (I have nothing to to with this event) Execution This is the tricky part getting your vehicles in Britain and Europe to Australia. 1 How many vehicles can you fit in a container?. 2 What is the cost of shipping a container?. 3 Would you ship them home or sell them after the trip?. 4 Would you only come for the Week of activity's or longer?. Admin and Logistics 1 Can you get sponsorship?,2011 is the 110 anniversary of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the first time that we as a independent nation deployed troops in support of the British empire. (Boar War). This is just an idea of a good will tour downunder to celebrate this occasion. 2 Can you get the British Army to provide Tech support?. 3 If it was for a longer period where would you want to go?. 4 What is the maximum distance that you could travel in a day with comfort considering the age of the vehicles. Communication Via this forum This is just an idea and it will take someone, to take the bull by the horns and run with it. I will provide all the help that I can provide.

I am currently working on a Vickers Medium which has floor board,floor, cross hatched. The wood is a tight grain and has lasted since 1926 or there about's but is not heavy like hard wood. I hope that helps.

It looks good and Landrovers are like that.

Can someone confirm that 2010 is the year of the British Vehicles Please.

I am working on it but it takes time and being able to have a beer is more important.

Richard and members I can Confirm the 590 Transport Company from the SEAC order of battle and the The Argus, October 10 2008 from an Archive article published 29th May 2001 Sussex Pride. Its all a mater of trying different combination's on this machine. Now I need some one who lives near Worthing, West Sussex who would like to make a house call on a driver from that unit. I have his complete details and will PM them. An interview would probably make a good article for all those that drive Diamond T's

Review, By Paul M Sudul While looking through a mate’s library for a book to read the authors name jumped out me as a leading historian of tank development and tank tactics. First published in 1948 with a revised and enlarged edition in 1951, when he was able to interview those generals held by other than the British. This book is written by a man that was there, and from notes taken during extensive interrogations of the surviving German Generals and staff, also the staff of officers not available, held by the British and other allied forces as soon as practical after the sensation of hostilities in 1945. He also had extensive access to documentation when questioning the prisoners’ and also indicates that he verified as best he could the details contained using direct quoits were possible. It also gives you incite into the German Forces prior to the war and rise of Hitler, in there own word, the moral of the forces prior, during and near the end. If there is one book that I would recommend on the history of the rise and fall of the German Army during the Second Great War (as my father would say) then this is it, as it has no Bull S*** in it, its written as soon after the event as possible from the facts as was presented to him. It remove some of the stories that others have written and reinforces some that have done there research.

Richard that fits right in,like a glove, so I will go with the 590 company. we in Australia in Transport have Squadron's and Troop's. He use the word Squadron which could be a mistake but I find it unlikely? 590 is not mentioned on the order of battle from the Burma star Association but the 500 is? As you can see the troops made a name for them selves not only from there driving tasks but also from providing entertainment, I have tried ENSA on the web an interesting site and will continue.

The reason I started this thread was that I wanted to highlight that we didn't just fight in Europe during the Second Great war (as my father would say) and when considering that there is a lot of information on the battles in Europe, but in Burma were the fighting was against an enemy that was suicidal and the conditions far surpassed those of Europe, then we the custodians of this history should become better informed. Burma The longest War by Louis Allen Louis Allen served in Burma as a Japanese speaking intelligence officer. In his book, chapter 7 (the battering ram- the capture and siege of Meiktila). The passage that I was referring to is,” The tanks moved on there own tracks longer than they should have done to get to the starting-point. The tank transporters which brought them down the valleys from Imphal were well past their best and often broke down. (Oddly enough, the Tank Transporter Squadron were nearly all members of the same theatrical touring company in England, who had joined up en masse, actors, electricians, and stage-hands, and they would often run two trailers together and put on a show.) But these worn vehicles rambling over tracks consisting at times of sawn-off tree-stumps and holes in the ground occasionally had to be towed in by the Sherman’s, so that the tanks ended up doing a third of the journey on their own tracks. After doing 210 miles, the transporters finally gave up the ghost at Mawle. Notes 255 Armoured Brigade consisted of 116 Regt RAC, Gordon highlanders converted to armour Indian Cavalry, 9 Cav and 5 Lancers. In his notes there is also 255th independent tank brigade, 11th light cavalry (A Charge of Jungle 1962 by Miles Smeeton) on the above page 426 From other sources 150th Regt RAC, 3 Carabiniers, 149th Regt RAC/ 7th The Kings own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 22nd or 24th Tank transport company, 149th Transport Company and 500th company RASC and from Richard the 553,589 and 590. The 500th is the only one on the order of battle for 1944 From The book page 630 "The final question is obviously Little Peterkin's: 'And what good came of it at last?' Quoth little Peterkin. "Why that I do not Know,' said he, 'But 'twas a famous victory'."

thanks Richard for that. I am still working on other info will get back.

Neil seeing as you have 2 swimmers bring them along and we can go fishing in the Murray (if there's any water in it).

antarmike cant you get an extension for club run, road runs and events?

Welcome from Downunder, have fun.

Welcome from downunder, I hope you have fun.

Steve Ryan you can do it the other way

Paul if you search here you can get his service record, its not for free but cheep. http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/defence/service-records/army-wwii.aspx#section1 If the kit bag was with him threw out his army life and he was deployed overseas then it becomes an item of interest that could be displayed along with were its been and how you got the information. Good Luck

Ex Diamond Dollar 1980's waiting to go home after 8 weeks at SWBTA cross Loading Waiting to cross load

Posting at Discharge 9 DIVISION AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICES CORPS WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2002. No mention of campaign medals, I have a felling that he didn't return to Australia, if we can find the son again he might no. Has anyone tried the phone book for his family living in Kent (his place of birth and Paul's location of were he got it) ?

TLCs advance to deliver stores Creek crossing Pucka range You don't no what else lurks on the bottom That's all folks the rest are from different Ex's and mainly M113's with T50 turret. When I get the opportunity of looking at the new M113A4 I will pass on some Photos.