LarryH57

The CGT is was used for Chevrolet built vehicles but there were also very similar versions by Ford as the FGT. I presume you are interested only in Chevrolet versions? Chevrolet made ealy versions with sloping rear bodies and late war versions with straight backed bodies that mirror the changes to Field Artillery Tractors made by Morris Commercial for the British Army. The Australians also made their own versions too. They had a GMC 6 cylinder 85 bhp engine. Yes they are now rare in preservation. There are probably less than ten Canadian built Field Artillery Tractors left in working order (both Ford and Chevs together).

So has anyone got any shots of gray bridge plate in colour photos?

Mike thanks for your PM Any info and opinions on Saumur Tank Museum greatfully received.

This thread seems to be bashing a lot of Land Rover owners in places but other vehicle owners are just as bad. My pet hate is the over stowage of kit on the SIDE of vehicles used in European area - every squaddie knows that if you did this your kit would get ripped off and lost! Regarding yellow bridging plates on Land Rovers, the British Army order to change them to gray was given circa 1977 and yet my TA unit did not get rid of the yellow until early 1981 by which time they were painted NATO green - I know this as I have photographic proof. In fact when I stripped many layers of green off the bridge plate on my 1980 Lightweight it was also yellow, so perhaps the factory never got the the notification - and for the above reasons I have retained the yellow! Other than that my 12v GS is devoid of add on bits Incidentally I cannot say I have ever seen a gray bridge plate in colour photos from that time (1977-80)

I know the Dutch living in the north of Holland had to wait a long time to be liberated and I know they were grateful for the food drops from Allied aircraft. I met a Dutch lady a few years ago at the RAF Museum who came over to help keep the Lancaster in good shape. She said she wanted to help in memory of the crews who risked their lives dropping food in day light over Holland. Incidentally which month was Amsterdam liberated?

I may get the chance to go to Saumur soon. Has anyone been there recently. Is it as good as people say? Have any of you stayed in the area? I'm wondering what the town is like. Also I have not driven in France for many years and wonder if the French driving has improved!

It has a 'made out of VW Beetle bits' look about it though so it may be a kit car- but good looking and with the right wheels could be good for film work.

In recognition of the fact that the BoB Hall at the RAF Museum has been ruined by turning the lights off - I hear that the BoB Hall will soon be having one of its side walls removed to be replaced with glass! At last you will be able to see the exhibits. Now all they need to do is get rid of the seating area for the short film they show every half hour and employ some lively staff (like those at Cosford who know about the aircraft on display)

In some ways I think we should ignore such export licences if we are just taking our MV for a quick nip over to France or Holland for a few days. The more you entertain such stupid laws the more they will make your life a missery by 'creeping rule changes' (as we know has happened with VCR). My Lightweight Land Rover is described as a Land Rover Estate on the DVLA V5 so do they really care and would the one guy with his hands in his pockets in charge of UK Customs at Dover know what to look for. I wonder how many of our EU friends coming to War & Peace will have the correct documents- or is it only the UK that follows the rules! On the other hand I do like the idea of inundating the system with export licences. How about applying for every item carried in our MVs so that the Civil Service could not cope and if they say a licence is not required then you should write back saying that it is required, according to your interpretation of the rules and when they write back saying this and that is exempt keep the letter as proof and that they never intended to target collectors of old vehicles! As one blog on the EU stated - 'No, nobody meant for something quite so stupidly amusing (or enraging, to taste) to happen. But it reveals the fault at the heart of the entire project. It simply isn't possible to write a rule book for 450 million people from the centre without such idiocies occuring. It doesn't matter how much the planners and bureaucrats try to avoid such things, doesn't matter whether they mean well or not. Such things will always happen. Which is, of course, why such things should never be planned at all.'

Have you referred to British Military Markings 1939-45 by Peter Hodges and Michael D Taylor - Cannon Publications 1994 ISBN 1 899695 001 Your library may be able to get it for you. According to the above book 'three number unit serials' were for Army Group units and not those in lower formations such as a Corps or Division so I am note sure about 320. Could it be T2C which is an RA tactical marking? Incidentally do you mean REME LAA as in Light Anti Aircraft or LAD as in Light Aid Detachment? I will do more digging

I have seen a few photos recently of WW2 MVs that HMVF members have discovered that are so far gone they could only be of use for parts, which got me thinking that perhaps some of them could be used as film props as burning wrecks (with the help of a bit of unleaded). It greaves me to think of all those working MVs that were destroyed in firey explosions in post war films when the director could easily have shown the aftermath of an attack with a suitable wreck and made things look a little more believable. WW2 photos often show such scenes of burnt out vehicles which sometimes defy identification, which would allow vehicles in a variety of conditions to be used.

I remember seeing a Scammel Explorer at RAF Upavon in the bad winter of 1962-63 fitted with a snow plow blade on the front. It was gloss RAF blue over all but I do not remember seeing it with yellow on the cab roof like those used on more active airfields.

A few points One disadvantage of typical PC based manuals is that they are not very user friendly when you are working on the vehicle unlike a Haynes manual that can easily be read on the job. A PC in your garage might help but printing out pages can be a bind unless the photos are very good quality. I'm sure we have all printed something only for it to look far less clear than on screen. It might be worth having an expert moderator for each vehicle type to update tips and for any info to be readily downloadable to personal PC's and not just live on the net, should people wish to refer to them when their own ISP is out of order or god for bid so is HMVF!

Great Pictures on what must be one of the longest threads on HMVF! Here is my LW at Trucks & Troops 2009.

If I won I think I would have a wind in the air moment

As I am currently 'between jobs' I was wondering whether the show marshalls are paid and if they need more helpers? As I am going to the show anyway I could arrive earlier and leave later and hopefully enjoy myself while earning a bit of dosh - and help out Gordon Brown by not collecting my JSA of £64 pw!

Perhps you should fit a Range Rover body and chassis when you have sorted out the engine!:-D:-D

Thanks guys. It looks like me and my mate will be going some where else then at the end of June. Any suggestions for an MV event in Southern England for that weekend?

I think the Ex Military Land Rover Assoc is really good as it is great for getting technical queries answered via their forum. As for the MVT I may own a post war Lightweight but I still enjoy reading about war time memories and WW2 vehicles, so never get bored with the MVT's Windscreen. As for WT verses PW there is no divide at all in the Heathrow & West London MVT as they welcome everyone.

I'm surprised by the lack of interest! I thought this show was one of the highlights of the MV rally season!

Does anyone know who to contact to enter an MV for this show. I cannot see details on their web site? Hopefully as an exhibitor you do not have to pay to enter?

Its likely that the WC 54 was used in India / Burma as many Dodge Weapons Carriers were used by the British and Indian Armies in that theatre.

BTW - Any info on the subject would be useful not just photos (which probably do not exist). Can anyone say what each radio type was used for? Thanks in advance

What about those markings? Has it got any connection with 7th Armoured Div or REME