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Smithy

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Posts posted by Smithy

  1. While in attendance at Rempstone Steam Rally the weekend before last I came across this interesting 1913 Chataignier & Croad roller, which is of French construction but using British parts, and worked in St Etienne. 

    Now the owner had a story that it was used during the First World War before being put back into public use in the inter war years. 

    When France was overrun at the start of the Second World War it was captured and used by the Germans with insignia being found on the coal tender to suggest this. Finally it fell into American hands and was eventually left behind in Holland from where it was purchased.

    Thought it may be of interest to those on here.  

    IMG_9664.thumb.JPG.4f3770ff2d6fd1825449b2ce4779b19d.JPGIMG_9661.thumb.JPG.d89d16b2219b8242a3d3a8c6d84c0b1e.JPGIMG_9665.thumb.JPG.d9843064ad79919f4a5a1f230e4ea683.JPG

  2. Had four days on site this year, thought that vehicle numbers had increased from last year ( look how many were in Medway) and stall numbers were around the same as 2017 - if you remember there was a large gap at the end far end then as well. 

    For me Thursday and Friday felt a bit like the old W&P with good turnouts in the arena, a large number of people watching from the bank, and general good fun with friends both during the day and night. 

    Everyone will have a different opinion, and yes it will probably never be quite like the old show, but the move back to the Hop Farm has certainly saved the show IMO. No matter what gripes people have come the start of July next year we shall all be looking forward to it once again. 

  3. 8 minutes ago, Ex-boy said:

    Not sure I agree with your comment on CWGC records. My understanding is that all deaths in service, even many post-war are recorded and of course also have headstones where burials took place.

    Steve.

    Hi Steve, yes I perhaps should have explained better. Any servicemen who died up to 31 December 1947 would be recorded on the CWGC database - and receive a CWGC headstone. I was referring to the fact that if it was a civilian doctor who died, as Larry stated may have been a possibility, then he wouldn't be commemorated as he didn't die as a result of enemy action. Thanks, Scott

  4. On ‎08‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 9:38 AM, john_g_kearney said:

    An interesting line of thought, Smithy. Given that the war was over, could the deceased even have been flown home if of high enough rank?

    John.

     

    Hi John, no it would have been very unlikely that the deceased would've been flown home - they would have been buried close to where they died. Even after the end of the war. 

    On ‎08‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 10:18 AM, ted angus said:

    Doubtful   they didn't bring Col H home from the Falklands ,  I think Iraq was the first full blown action where we repatriated. TED

     

    That is correct Ted. The CWGC care for those on the Falklands on an agency basis. 

    On ‎08‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 3:12 PM, LarryH57 said:

    Could there be the possibility that the deceased was a civilian working with the RAF in Hong Kong such as a Doctor ?

    Also I guess the few potential list of casualties must be a small selection, as I got the impression many ex-Japanese POWs were too weak to be repatriated immediately and many died after liberation.

    There is a chance of this, and as they wouldn't have died of enemy action then they wouldn't be in the CWGC database. However given the high military presence in the photo I'd guess that they must have been serving. 

    I plumped for the Commonwealth casualties due to the Union Jack on the coffin. 

    Scott

  5. I've been wondering if we could narrow it down as to who this makeshift hearse could be for. Looking on the CWGC casualty database for known burials in the Happy Valley area of Hong Kong it draws up the following Commonwealth casualties who died in 1945/46: 

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2815624/sher-muhammad,-/

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2815585/weill,-leon/

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2815586/desai,-/

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/75196091/husain-ishaq,-/

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2815645/mcdonough,-albert-edward/

    One of the above is a member of the Royal Indian Air Force, could it be him? 

    I could of course be just clutching at straws and the casualty could have been buried elsewhere in Hong Kong. 

  6. Spotted this nice load on the M25 on Monday afternoon - I presume it was heading back from Mons.

     

    attachment.php?attachmentid=129123&stc=1

     

    Meanwhile about 7am last Thursday spotted two halftracks on the back of a low loader heading south - think they must have been on the way to Belgium.

    IMG_6706.jpg

  7. Was only able to do today (unlike the regular five), but it was certainly good to be 'home'. A greater number of vehicles, more stalls (regulars returning) and the feel of old.

     

    Roadways were very wet this morning but as soon as the sun came out they started to dry and were baked by the close of day. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the show.

  8. Visited the RAF Museum at Hendon last week. On the way out along the A41 (which runs virtually behind the museum) noticed about three/four Land Rover's and a couple of Dodge's (think one was a Carryall) on the drive of a house.

  9. No its not worth it although technically possible, she will remain a garden feature as it b[ATTACH=CONFIG]123237[/ATTACH]rings back happy memories of being in Africa with it?

     

    Quite a number of crash trucks in the background of this picture. What is the story with that?

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