Smithy

Found the Gendamarie on the whole very good. Was speaking to one on the 6th at Arromanches who told me they had 500 on duty in that particular area alone on that day!

In all, although there was some pre-worries about the passes and what it would entail, like many others we didn't get stopped all day on the 6th when inside the zone. Thought that organisation wise the cutting of fields for car parking around most Normandy sites was a great move. Made it very easy for those both travelling by car, like ourselves, and also in a military vehicle.

Hi Scott,

I was good to meet you at last, amazing how many other forum members I met for the first time as well. Also what a coincidence you knew our friend from his circus days too.

 

Look forward to seeing some of your photos!

 

regards, Richard

Indeed it was, don't know was more surprised us or him!

I'll get around to posting some soon.

Scott

I did spot a C8GS pass through Coleville, but did not see where it came from, not on MVT camp anyhow.

I only saw the one as well Richard, at Gold Beach Camp.

PS - Good to meet you whilst over in Normandy.

Scott

Was great to see the truck again Guy, and also yourself of course!

Hope you had a good trip home.

Scott

I use Instagram, scott_629, and found it really interesting during the last week with the hashtag #dday70 throwing up a number of great images people had taken not only in Normandy but throughout the world on this special week.

I documented quite a bit of my travels on Instsgram and twitter this last week or so. This is where Social Media really comes into its own.

Scott

Hi I have just watched this all the way through from beginning to end how dissapointing more time was spent watching the 19 heads of state walking along with their kids and interviewing to eddy izzard??? than talking to veterans.... The lack of ww2 vehicles moving were a JEEP some DUKWS that you could only just see in the distance and a sherman etc on the beach. What are the BBC trying to do it was disgusting I reckon and they could have done a lot better. It was the 70th anniversary who wants to see a bloke with nail varnish and a bunch of overpaid heads of state instead of all the lads that fought for our country and world peace ! The only bit that was ok was the lanc dakota and spits but then the commentator talked over the engine noise!!!!!!

Hi Jason, I believe Mr Izzard's father was a Normandy Veteran. However something I do know 100% is that he along with another gentleman each year pay for both flights and accommodation of any Normandy Veteran and a family member who wants to go back to France. I know this as a Vet from our town was able to take advantage of this generous offer this year, along with numerous others.

I'm looking forward to sitting down and watching the commemorations, which I have saved on the box. Viewing in Arromanches was very much restricted this time (compared to five years ago) so hopefully will manage to see and hear what people had to say during the event.

Arrived back home around 1.30am last night after ferry was delayed in both Ouistreham, coming into Portsmouth and then it took us an hour to get off the ferry and through Border Control!

Anyway less of that, we had a fantastic trip. Met up with some old friends and made some new ones along the way. Great to see so many veterans in attendance for their rightful moment. Just hope that the traditions can still carry on despite the Normandy Veterans Association soon disbanding.

The Gendarme on the whole were pretty helpful, and despite some major concerns before travelling about the passes for the windscreens on 6th June - we didn't once get stopped or be asked to show it! In fact from where we were camping, just inside the control zone, you could have easily got to the beach using the back roads.

Overall certainly a trip to remember, in order to thank those who made it possible 70 years ago.

Good to see a group of Scammells on the trip ! Good luck to all !:-D

Indeed, the one I believe is from near Wolverhampton so had already had a good journey before departing from Portsmouth!

Credit to everyone taking their vehicles on a trip like this, certainly makes our hobby what it is.

Thanks very much for posting these up. Counting down the hours until we are over in France now!

Scott

Much appreciated this is Nick. Although I've managed to find out about most major events, this helps pin down a few more.

Scott

Longues sur mer , battery

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, is there much stopping here Tom? I only ask as I'd read online that there might be a camp set-up but hadn't seen anything for sure. Could you provide more details?

Not long to go now, safe trip to all making the journey.

Hi Scott

 

Please pop over to say hello - will get kettle on!

 

Martin

For sure Martin will do.

Scott

talking about US beaches showing Britsh /Commomwealth footage and vice versa.

This is one thing that does do my nut in, why people can't get it correct I don't know. However I suppose they are thinking to Joe Public it wouldn't particularly matter. I agree with others, interesting but didn't really show anything that we already didn't know.

Hello Paul , is it this thing you wanted to see?

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Top work Guy. Look forward to seeing it in Normandy.

Although we aren't taking any vehicles over Martin, we are camping at the same place so I will keep an eye out for you and come and say hello.

Scott

On another forum there is a letter from one of the MOD team, to a forum member, that infers/suggests that all forms (non Vet) that have been submitted so far will be forwarded to the correct French office once it is known. But those who have not applied yet will have to apply to the French direct once the details are posted. I reckon anyone who doesn't apply can look forward to enjoying a nice view of a French checkpoint for the day :-) It does seem that it is now mainly the 6th that will have the major lockdown.

 

I reckon the short time scale could be a deliberate decision on the part of the French. If they had declared this situation well in advance it would have provided loads of time, too much time, to get publicised and most folk would have had the chance to get an application in to the correct office. That would have meant a hell of a lot of admin for the French clerks. If you don't give much time you can't get too many applications in! That way you don't have to process them. It is so much easier for a Gendarme to point at cars to turn around and bugger off somewhere else on the day (i.e. Belgium:-D) and have a light load inside the area and an easier crowd to police. Than if everyone and their grandmother had obtained the right bit of paper and had the right to access and were clogging up the place big style - which will probably happen to a certain extent anyway. Not so helpful to the tourists but not so daft an idea. I do love a conspiracy theory on a Friday evening :-)

I've had a response from a very helpful guy at the MOD similar to what you have quoted above in the first paragraph NS. I got my application in ASAP when the form came out. I'm grateful I did after what has happened in the last week as you will probably be sweating a bit with no French authority contact seemingly up and running yet.

Something I can't quite understand is how strict they are being this year. I know its probably going to be the last big commemoration and there are going to be a lot more people around, however when we were there five years ago I couldn't believe how simple it was for us to move around and we did everything we wanted to. Even when the motorway was closed in order for Obama to travel direct to the American sector we still managed to navigate around it without too many problems.

As stated above I can see a lot of disappointed people on the 6th June this year if they don't know about these restrictions. I suppose if you don't get accreditation and you are staying within the restriction zone then you can still try and get around by foot according to the information I've read.

Scott

Hi Scott, yes spotted it on the way north, I have driven past it loads of times in the last 6 months and not noticed it. I should have more time on Friday to stop and have a closer look.

 

Cheers

ian

Just been telling my dad about this and he said he didn't know if it might be a Douglas not a Matador.

Hi Scott, yes spotted it on the way north, I have driven past it loads of times in the last 6 months and not noticed it. I should have more time on Friday to stop and have a closer look.

 

Cheers

ian

Glad you found it Ian, look forward to your further investigations!

Scott

what is that in photo 6?

It's a Thorneycroft DP I, I think Mike.

Scott

Hi Scott, just been looking on google earth and I can see what looks like a Mat just before A525, as you say after the services but before J16.

 

Cheers Ian

Hi Ian,

More towards the A531 rather than A525 but you are in the right area. The chassis is sheeted up right by the motorway now.

Scott

Hi Scott, I too have seen it, although I thought it must of been the Bedford RL timber crane that used to be on the other side of the motorway. It was there for years, and even had a TK cab fitted at one point, then it disappeared and the sheeted up chassis appeared on the other side.

 

Thanks

Austin

Yes that RL seemed to just disappear. However that was just before Junction 15 so a good five or so miles from where this one is. It has been here years, I'd say whilst that Bedford RL was still in operation. If you look closely you can see the Matador cab lying on the floor. Glad someone else has seen it though.

Scott

Not seen it but will be looking out for it on tuesday when heading north. I assume it's M6, is it on the left or right when heading north ?.

 

Cheers

ian

Ha yes would have helped if I'd have said which motorway, but you guessed correct Ian in saying the M6. It's pretty visible on the right-hand-side as you head north. After Keele services and before Junction 16.

Scott

There has been a Matador sitting between Junctions 15 and 16 (or the other way around dependent on which way you are travelling) in a field on the right-hand-side by a woodpile for a number of years now. The cab came off it about five or so years ago and sits on its front with a sheet over it, whilst the chassis is visible sheeted up by the fence.

I wonder if anyone else has spotted it, or even visited it. Always look out for it every time we head north, hoping that some day somebody might save it!

Scott

I think the seller is Jack Schofield of Retford, he is a showman

Thanks Trevor.

Here is another one which has been seen on the show scene in the last couple of years in the South of England.

Scott

CBN189 was registered in Bolton 5/12/46. It was used by a showman Billy Williams in the North West of England, Williams was based in Rhyl. Williams operated one, possibly two more FWDs. It was in use still in the late 1950s. At some stage it was fitted with a recovery crane and is now offered for sale in this condition

Hello Trevor, thanks for the extra information. Is it still with the Williams family do you know or with another showman? I only ask as in the same magazine there was also a showman's caravan as being listed for sale with the same telephone number etc.

Scott