Jump to content

Smithy

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,243

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Smithy

    Operation Kiwi

    in Archaeology - WW1 to the end of the cold war

    Posted

    Fantastic! What a survival and what a great project. What are the plans to preserve it and how are you going to do it. Any arrangements for interested individuals / groups to come and have a look?:-D

     

    Unfortunately and rather strangely in my view there was no plan to preserve it. It's just simply been covered over again with the soil and earth which they dug out. Bit strange I know but apparently it wouldn't survive out in the open apparently, although I'd have thought these days there would have been enough interest to keep the site open and cover it somehow.

     

    They are going to build a replica model from the pictures they have taken and place it on Marquis Drive where there is a replica WW1 Hut.

    Operation Kiwi

    in Archaeology - WW1 to the end of the cold war

    Posted

    Throughout the month of September we were fortunate enough in the Cannock Chase area to have a major archeological excavation take place on our doorstep. Operation Kiwi was aimed at uncovering and recording a terrain model of the Messines Ridge in Belgium built by the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.

     

    The project took place from 7th September until the end of month after being extended by two days after the initial dig discovered much more than they could have ever thought to uncover. However due to fragile nature of the model it was decided at the start that once it had been uncovered, photos were to be taken to build a replica 3D model and then the original would be covered over again.

     

    Below are more details on the Battle for Messines, about the dig and also a picture from the first few days. More to follow.

     

    IMG_3706_zps61c4df34.jpg

     

    IMG_3707_zpscfedb010.jpg

     

    IMG_3705_zps8871cf3c.jpg

     

    Scott

    What is it?

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    Ok you guys are usually pretty good at these things. I've just returned from a few days in France following in the footsteps of the BEF around the Lille and Dunkirk area. Anyway whilst in Dunkirk we visited the very good Memorial du Souvenir which covers the Battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo.

     

    Inside the museum there is a section which now contains a wreck of a vehicle recovered in 2009 after being found on Bray-Dunes. It is believed that the wreck is one of the trucks which were used to build up the temporary jetties in May/June 1940.

     

    Now can anyone identify it from the following photos I took? Obviously a good chance it could be a Morris Commercial or Bedford MW. However with the number of different vehicles that were around at the time it could be anything. On the plaque it says that the tyres are made in England along with the battery and it has a six cylinder engine. However if anyone can identify it then I'm sure you lot can!

     

    260_zps78149fae.jpg

     

    261_zpsdc1ed35b.jpg

     

    262_zpse339fbcc.jpg

     

    263_zps9068f94f.jpg

     

    264_zpsbad34aee.jpg

     

    265_zpsc6267a7e.jpg

     

    266_zpseb79e3b9.jpg

     

    Scott

    Gdsf

    in The meetings log and photobook

    Posted

    Thanks for the pictures, more would be appreciated! First time I've missed GDSF for over ten years, however other commitments meant that we couldn't fit it in.

     

    It seems like things were moved around a little this year and I did hear that the layout was going to be different. Whilst it also mentioned on Steam Fair FM that things had moved around this year.

    Fire Service National Museum Trust Sale

    in Emergency Services

    Posted

    I don't know how many of you know but at one point there were plans to create a National Fire Service Museum at Weedon in Northamptonshire. Anyway for one reason and another it has never been opened to the public, despite this they have collected a vast number of appliances and other items.

     

    Many have sat outside for nearly a decade so aren't in the best of conditions, some though have been stored inside, although sadly as stated before many haven't and as such have nearly been lost.

     

    Now though it seems that the dream is over as on Saturday 31st August items are being put up for disposal. Viewing and bidding takes place on Saturday with bids being opened on Monday 2nd September.

     

    Why am I telling you this? Well there are a number of items which will no doubt be of interest to members on here with there being appliances from the wartime age being put up for disposal. They include:

     

    1. Austin K4 Escape Carrier: Cornwall FB: GXA 725

     

    2. Austin k4 Pump: Cornwall County FB: MCV 917

     

    3. Austin K2 ATV with trailer pump NFS: GXH 962

     

    4. Bedford MW: Specialist Metals Appliance: UKAEA Aldermaston: RMO 273

     

    There are a total of 18 lots for sale as well as other items of interest.

     

    Now I have no connection to museum or any of the vehicles in question I just felt that it would be interesting for all on here to take a look at. I have attached a couple of items which should explain things further for those interested.

     

    Scott

    fsnmtviewingday.pdf

    vehicle_disposal_list_for_leaflet.doc

    Matador Gallery

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    I found a couple of pics of my old Matador here:

     

    One AEC rescues another

     

    It was in Green livery when I had it and had been sat for while. I had to replace the engine which had a crack the length of the block and had also "run away" when we tried to see if it would start. APart form a new cab pillar she was pretty sound. Hope she's still around, seemed to disappear after I sold her on.

     

    Have you got a registration you could give us? A book published a couple of years ago all about Matador's lists quite a few survivors.

    Reporting Live from Damyns Hall (MVT) 2013

    in The meetings log and photobook

    Posted

    A change of plan for this weekend (due to Austin Gipsy problems, but that's another story!) means I can attend Damyns Hall tomorrow. Really looking forward to the show as was impressed with my first visit last year. With the added bonus of flying aircraft and good weather it should be a cracker.

     

    Just checking out the website and was wondering does anyone know if all the aircraft listed will fly tomorrow or are some only in attendance on certain days?

     

    Scott

    aec matador demise... not if i can help it!

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    Smithy you must be right about the cab. Was the pic you posted the ex Cardington ballon winch truck? Same standard chassis as the refuller?

     

    I cannot find any images of a similar cabbed truck in the heavy crane chassis form though. Some army cranes with identical chassis but the cabs are oddball, so this could well have been a small batch for ministry / military use.

     

    Yes it was, that is still about I believe as the photo I uploaded was taken back in 2010. It was the rear mudguards which drew me towards that type of Hippo.

     

    Scott

    Matador Gallery

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    I was having am browse through this thread and I thought this may be the right place to post these,[ATTACH=CONFIG]79032[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]79033[/ATTACH]

     

    looking a bit sad, parked quietly in the middle of nowhere

     

    Amazing to see that they are still out there just sitting around, thanks for posting.

     

    Scott

    Spotted today....

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    been a hurricane and 109 repica here this weekend..........

     

    I wonder if it was the Hurricane replica I saw on the trailer then. Little hard to distinguish when both going in opposite directions.

    Any room on the.....

    in Other Chatter

    Posted

    You'll get a nice parking spot.

    But first its your turn to buy the Cola's. :beer:

     

    Diet Coke ok? :cool2:

     

    Yeah Scott can you park up in the carpark of the 4x4 off road course please - it's a nice summers evening so we all want to take it for a spin :cool2:

     

    Of course. The Gipsy will handle that I should imagine, however it might be a bit too nice for off roading :D

×
×
  • Create New...