LarryH57

Not withstanding the Complete running WW2 Panzer list on this forum which lists many UK based vehicles, why have there been so few of these German WW2 vehicles at shows this year - especially German armour and half tracks? If it was the recession then that would have affected people with US & UK vehicles and yet there seem to be more of these at W & P. I remember for example going to shows a few years ago, such as Military Oddessy and seeing Hetzers and Sd Kfz 250 and 251s and PAK guns and Jagdpather but suddenly it seems that there are only mock ups on FV432 running gear and armoured cars on Defender chassis plus a few modified OT-810s. Even the lighter wheeled vehicles seem to have disappeared too and many 'Kubelwagens' I have seen this year are mock ups based on the VW Beetle.

I went on Saturday and enjoyed it very much. Good airshow and great to see so many 25 pdrs in action. Even 'her in doors' found plenty of stalls selling fashion etc, which I said should have been taken up by a more useful 'military' stalls! The only thing that slightly annoyed me was the parking arrangements. They took the entry fee from drivers as soon as they pulled in to the field - so of course the traffic behind was backed up all the way from Cosby! It took me 30 minutes to get less than half a mile because of that. They should have got cars parked asap then let the people get their entry ticket from a separate hut. Going home and getting out of the field with only one exit caused a few log jams of cars. If only they could have had another exit for cars wanting to turn left out of the car park it would have emptied much quicker! Something to remember if any of you arrange a new event.

For some reason they do seem to be selling everything - strange?

Be careful though, as I seem to remember reading about 20 years ago that an MVT member, someone quite well known in the club like Peter Gray, was fined for causing an obstruction with his vehicle following a complaint by a neighbour. As things are today people are more likely to complain to the authorities first rather than speak to their neighbour. 'Little old lady though she would be 'decked' with a pickaxe handle by MV owner if she asked for vehicles to be moved' - would make good headlines in the local press even if totally untrue.

Just got back from Holiday - so did not see this post. I will speak to Mark and reply by email. Many thanks

Having read through the ML sections 1 - 22 etc I have been able to identify a few items in my 'less than 50 years old collection' that would need an export licence: NBC suit, S6 Gas Mask, Gloves & Overboots etc - ML 7 NBC Decontamination kit & test papers - ML 7 Clansman radio & associated parts - ML 11 Pick, Shovel & Spade - ML 17 b. & d. Jerry Can - ML 17 l. Black plastic water container - ML 17 l. Modern Helmet - ML 13 Original IRR NATO green paint - ML 17 c Military Manuals (paper format and as software) - ML 17 f. and ML 21 d. However regarding my Lightweight Land Rover (supposidly covered under ML 6 and 9) I propose to challenge BIS on this - as apart from its shape a 12v GS Lwt differs very little from a 88" Series LR used by a farmer.

Considering that we were reading most of the Germans Enima codes by 1941 / 42 and Russia was our ally, our intelligence services must have known of the Russian T-34 tank and the effect it was having on German troops and consequently their tank designs such as the Panther. Even as late as 1944 our cruiser tanks had vertical front plates, thin armour and very often a 6pdr (57mm) gun! And yet the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman of c.1942 vintage had sloping armour and larger guns. Yes I know the USA and the USSR had the capacity to build more tanks but that still doesn't explain why we still went on building outdated designs.

Has here been any clarification over items that may have been used by the Armed Forces that were or still are available to civilian buyers? For example if you bought some night vision equipment from Withams that just so happened to have been used by the Army would it need an export licence if the very same kit had been available directly to the civi market through retail outlets? Is it the fact that the equipment has been used by the Armed Forces that is important to the Government or the equipment itself and its potential for use in conflict? Perhaps they have not thought this through? If its the later, do people with no interest in MVs etc need to get export licences for kit that could be used in war such as night vision kit used by conservationists who just want to use it to spot animals at night? Also regarding section 6 of this scheme I am still not clear whether my 1970-80's collection of 9x9 tent, Clansman, jerry cans, pots and pans, tool boxes, webbing, combat clothing and boots etc are in need of an export licence or indeed whether each bit of kit needs a licence or just the vehicle they are carried in? Confused or what!!!!

When I found it I was tempted for half a second to find out if it was live by pulling the pin and throwing it in to a farmers field - but then the thought of being 6 feet under or at best serving a long stretch in a French jail came to mind so I put it back where I found it. The property owner has subsequently advised that it had been 'deactivated' so thats OK then. But take my advice never be tempted - after all French bomb disposal experts are still being killed by UXO's 64 years after WW2 ended and almost 100 years after WW1 started. Finally regarding this question concerning the Resistance can anyone help: Logic would tell me that if they stored weapons they would have buried them, as a property would be a likely target for the Germans to search, which in turn would have put the owners at great risk!

This was found in a remote hill top farm in the Loire Valley where I stayed recently. It seems the farm was used by the resistance at sometime. However as I do not know of their methods I do not know how it came to be there. Logic would tell me that if they stored weapons they would have buried them, as a property would be a likely target for the Germans to search, which in turn would have put the owners at great risk! As for the grenade it has 'No.36 M' on the bottom and what looks like 'BBC' as a possible makers mark - but it is very hard to see so could be 'BPC'. Incidentally is this a British grenade or US?

"For my two bobs worth I would say that most of us would if we could go back in time change things but we ca'nt, so it should be left as it is and he did a bloody good job." We can only wonder how things would be if that British Soldier in the First World War had shot Adolf Hitler a second time! According to accounts I have read he did not kill him as he loathed to shot wounded men! Sadly in this particular case his compassion was misplaced

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My mate who works as a civi fitter for the Army says that several of his TA Signals unit's Bedford 4 tonners had been converted in to mobile homes with bunk beds and other facilities in them as to quote the men in that unit - 'we don't like camping out in 9x9s any more!' Much to their annoyance the fittings had to be stripped out when the vehicles went in for a major service at another location. But no doubt someone will try to recreate this type of vehicle in a few years time using a Bedford with a soft top GS body!

How strange - I was only thinking the other day while watching one of those 'Rescue' programs on TV that the Fire Brigade would have a real problem cutting in to a Sarecen, Fox or Ferret if it was in a bad accident!

..."an event based on music and lots of alcohol, can't see the comparison with w+p." Oh yes I can - this is exactly the problem and it's what goes on after the public have left that needs to change - or some innocent family is going to get crushed to death in their tent by some p**s head at the wheel of their MV! Shame the W & P staff can't sort out some form of segregation and have a quiet camping area well away from the 'all night' brigade and have staff properly on duty at night to sort out the trouble makers. No other MV show I know of lets such bad behaviour go unchecked. As for people who have never been to W & P do come along - as during the day it's great. Just make sure you can drive home on Sunday with out falling asleep at the wheel.

This year's show was definately the worst, with far more quads and green lawn mower tractors than before. I will go there next year (no doubt for the last time) and take my camcorder to film what goes on - not so much for 'You've been Framed' but for the Heath & Safety Executive at the local town hall! Now I wonder what can be done about the noisy parties still going on till 4am? Probably nothing as its private land. I tried calling the incident manager at 3am but nothing was done about it! Other gripes: Arrived Friday but could not find a pitch and yet acres of space was roped off for other owners - who never turned up anyway! Luckily EMLRA made room for us! Exhibitors with white camper vans parked next to MVs with no thought what so ever for photographers wanting to take clear shots such as Compton Collection. On a similar matter there always seemed to be a portaloo in every shot in every field! RIP War & Noise Show - let's not all go anymore

Mark, I think you will need a squad of RAF Regt to guard that lot, especially at some of the shows like W & P as they're a theaving bunch who visit and sometimes come as exhibitors too!

From the description of the output it would be used for powering an Army radar set. Have you got any photos of it?

Thanks for all your replies - they are very interesting. Like you Richard I wished I had kept the boxes of carbon rods that were thrown out by my unit! And by the way it was nice to meet you at W & P though you may not remember. I was taking to you about Richard Beddell's QLs.

Perhaps an explanation of a needle gun is required here in case it is confused with something in a tattoo parlour. So how is it different from sand blasting?

Did the best in show go to the guys from the Compton Collection, who had a good selection of white camper vans and caravans and portaloos - oh and an Sd Kfz 7 and 88mm gun

The carbon arc rods are 2 cm approx in diameter and about 30 cms long, though I suspect the measurements would be imperial rather than metric. They were made by GEC (the British GEC that is). Two versions are needed; one which is pointed like a pencil and one without a point. Half the time the light was shinning at ground level but at least he did move the searchlight when I was up there with him on his truck, when we spotted an airliner near the beam, on its way to Gatwick. As for a Licence I forgot to mention this to Mark in the excitement of seeing a 70 year old bit of kit working as it should.

While at W&P I had a good chat with Mark Gillatt who owns the Tilling Stevens equipped with an operational 90 cm British Searchlight, as I used to operate these lights many years ago. As you may know these lights are carbon arc lights and the carbon rods are burnt up in the process of running them. Mark is despirate to get hold of some more of these rods - so if any of you know of any let me know. Incidentally Mark like many other MV owners I met was not aware of HMVF forums so I think we need to get some stickers / leaflets together with the web address to get the message across.

I thought this years W & P was all war and definitely no peace - certainly not at night, with those people setting up their very own night clubs next to the Arlon Highway, which pumped out noise till around 4.30AM on Sunday Morning!! Tuff Sh** if you had kids or needed your sleep to drive home to Scotland on Sunday! I also heard gun fire around 3 AM in the woods near the Americas Field. It makes me sound like an old grump complaining. I'm all in favour of a bit of fun but once it goes on after 12.30 AM its too much.