Minesweeper

Steve tells me that the stamped numbers on the Bronze Wheel are the drive ratio and the pressure angle of the gear. That is sufficient information for the pair to be remade if needs be. We are very fortunate to have this.

Ater some further thought, the light has dawned! The second and third holes in the Locking Ring are for a "C" Spaner so that the ring can be loosened or tightened. Not for more Grub Screws. You will see that the holes are quite damaged as if someone has hit them with a punch at some stage to move the ring that way! Tony

These pictures are category PG! What a fright!

I started this link last December with the enquiry on how to find out about a relative's Home Guard service - my father's. Members aimed me in the right direction and I eventually got around to doing it and getting a reply. The Home Guard Records are sparse and my father's consists of just one A4 Sheet -written on front and back. I will try to post photo copies of it for general interest, The front of it is purely the enlistment and confirms that he signed up as a member of the Local Defence Volunteers in Falmouth on the 1st August 1940 and was accepted on the 28th August. The reverse of the form is more interesting and shows that he was assigned to the Penryn Company (Penryn was where he was living at the time) and that he was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 29th July 1941. In 1942, he was sent to Bristol to work at the Charles Hill Shipyard where he spent the remainder of the war building mainly frigates but also corvettes - he had prior to the war been in shipbuilding and had spent time at sea. He left the sea and shipbuilding which he loved in 1929 on his marriage and moved into the family bakery business - which he hated! When he moved to Bristol, he was transferred to the 16th Bn, Gloucestershire H.G. The form is then not very clear, but it does confirm that he moved to H.A.A. and then later from what I read as 71st H.A.A. to Som - the recognised abbreviation for "Somerset". Perhaps members will be more able than me to decipher the form. He ws discharged on the 25th April 1944 after service lasting 3 years and 269 days. To the best of my knowledge, he never had a Defence Medal. If he should be entitled to one, then can anyone please tell me how to apply for it? Tony I'll have to get Tim to post the scans of the form later - beyond my capabilities

You've got a good eye! Slightly bent! Tony

Another system of supplying the acetylene gas to lights is through a cylinder which is charged up with the gas at a Retail Supplier. We picked up one of these in the USA on a previous visit over here - Prestolite - this was intended for our civilian Autocar but we have not yet fitted it. Will post a picture when I get home - unless Tim has already got one somewhere and can post it now. Looks like a small bomb with a gauge fitted which I assume indicates how much gas is in it. Don't know if these were used by the Military. Tony

You can still buy the Carbide - see it for sale at Beaulieu Autojumble in tins! I understand that years ago when this system was in common use, you would often find little heaps of the spent carbide by the roadside or on a grass verge where perhaps a motor-cyclist had stopped to re-charge his generator as his light had gone out. Again, I only understand this as I have not used it, that these litle heaps had a distinctive odour! Tony

Typing error there, I think, Tim -Should read "Radmore" and not "Radnor"! Tony

Hi Ben! Am at present in the USA and have picked your posting up over here! Glad you have taken the plunge and recorded the start of the story on this forum as you have a lot to recount! Others, like me, will applaude your perseverance and determination. Tony

With so much time having passed, then the later you start off trying to put one of these trucks together then the more difficult it will prove to be - there are only so many parts left now after the passage of so many years, and it will become even more difficult to find them as time goes on again. I know that you are finding this and I can only commend you for your persistance and dedication in the hunt! We will help in any way that we can - and you know that we have a spare Subsidy Lorry Chassis here if you do eventually decide to go down that road! It is yours just for the asking! Congratulations in what you have achieved and I am sure that Readers here will be interested to know what you have acquired and how it came to be! Tony

Welcome, Ben! Look forward to getting lots of input from you! Tony

An Oil-scoop it is, Ben! Tony

Well, I can't answer that one - and I guess that Tim will not be able to either - but we both know a man whom we expect can - Steve ! He will pick this up when he is home from work later. Warch this space! Tony

Thanks Norman and Chris, too. I knew that these didn't come cheap! It is possible that Steve may also be able to get them through his work contacts - so it will be case of "exploring the market" for the best price! One of us will let you know what happens! Tony

Yes - both the same. O/D 5" I/D 2.25" Width 1.25" Tony

Thank you Degsy and R Cubed!

Congratulations to Great War Truck on making 1500 posts on the Forum!

Many thanks, you guys! Tony

Thanks Jack! We must get our heads down and get on with it again. The Differential is there looking at me and is really the next job. I have dug the Beach Sand out of it and perhaps this Saturday, we can get the Worm out and have a look at that. So much work done but still quite a lot to do. We have to make a Water pump for the engine and we can then run it - something to look forward to! So next jobs - Differential, Water Pump and then connect up the whole drive. Finally, body work. We quite like carpentry too! Tony

Mine is bigger than yours!

Now Monday afternoon and back here at base in Devon, FWD has returned safely from Brighton today and is back in the shed. Both Steve and Tim returned to their homes earlier today - I know that Tim is all set up to "recount the tale", so I will leave all of that to him. Later today, I expect. The two boys crewed the truck beautifully and dealt methodically with the problems that we met - despite the fact that we were fully anticipating and hoping for a trouble-free run. Some hopes! I did think that when we were stalled for nearly an hour on a roundabout just nine miles out that we were not going to complete the journey - but the problem was cured and on we went. Whilst we were stopped there, Catweazle appeared as if by magic to introduce himself to me - both boys had met him on previous occasions -and I was delighted to have that pleasure! Similarly to meet ChrisG at Brighton and renew my friendship with Runflat whom I have known for some years, but only meet on odd occasions! And Clayton Hill? No problems - top gear all the way! Will we do it again, next year? I think not - probably just keep our powder dry and wait for the Dennis to be finished - then we will have to go through all of this again! Tony

I went to an Air Display at RAF St Mawgan - about 1953 or 1954. The Sunderlands were still in service then and there was a flypast by four of them in line ahead formation - having flown from Pembroke Dock where they were based. They seemed so slow and just hung in the air. After the last one had gone past, they could be seen turning in a circle in the far distance to come back and fly past again in the opposite direction. The commentator at the time said as the last one had past us on the first run - "There will now be a short interval whilst the Sunderlands turn round to come back!" It did seem like an age for them to complete that turn. I do also remember seeing one take off from Plymouth - they were based at RAF Mountbatten at the time - and also on another occasion, one taking off from Carrack Roads in Falmouth. Wonderful sights.

Great - enjoyed that one!

A sort-of Armoured Lambretta!

Yes, it is basically a Toylander but with some significant modifications. Steve (Old Bill) made it and can fully describe it - it has three forward speeds and three reverse - Ackerman Steering, Halogen Headlights, working leaf springs. Every small girl should have one! The number and markings that it carries were on my National Service Land Rover in 1959/1960 - 3 Intelligence Platoon, 2 Infantry Brigade Group. Tony