geoffleese Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 How interesting that someone should ask! The hull was a Mk1 (sized to fit between tracks of a Valentine) and the covers were from a Mk2(sized to fit between the tracks of a Sherman or Cromwell. The hull had to be virtually re-fabricated, it was in such a bad state. So at my suggestion we re-fabricated it as a Mk2! Sorry for any purists out there - but it was much easier than fabricating Mk1 covers or making those we had fit a Mk1! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted April 23, 2012 Author Share Posted April 23, 2012 Well, the work is finally finished and the Porpoise is in place. Please visit either of the two "porpoise restoration pages" at the museum website - http://goldbeachmusee.fr/ to see pictures of the final stages. Nothing yet decided about an inauguration ceremony - all the locals seem distracted by other matter at the minute. :-) Will let you all know when a date is decided though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Great news mate! Can't wait for the next trip over. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Geoff, It looks exellent! Another unique piece of D-day equipment to justivy a trip to Normandy! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted April 24, 2012 Author Share Posted April 24, 2012 We promised ourselves a beer in the bar Sexton Alex, as I recall? :-) Tony, for Pam and I that's this weekend, but I agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Geoff, What is the expiry that for the beer? I have a busy schedule, but have some time off early June 2014:D Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Morning Alex. No expiry date mate, we're there there often (but not often enough!). Our next trip will probably be around mid-November. We'll certainly be there for at least a week around 6th June 2014, as an all-British camp is planned again - bigger, better and even more spectacular than before! There are some pictures of the inauguration at http://www.goldbeachmusee.org.uk/FRPorpoise-1.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Sounds excellent! 2014 it is! We'll certainly be there for at least a week around 6th June 2014, as an all-British camp is planned again Will certainly come have a look at the camp in 2014.....missed it in 2009!....I don't know how, but we weren't able to find it....:blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Sounds excellent! 2014 it is! Will certainly come have a look at the camp in 2014.....missed it in 2009!....I don't know how, but we weren't able to find it....:blush: Obviously it was well camouflaged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Obviously it was well camouflaged Dah, dum, dum....tsee..... We should have another go at that MLU meetup in 2014 as well, Richard. Geoff...by the way. The last time I was in Ver-sur-Mer one of the bunkers was being converted into a villa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 We should have another go at that MLU meetup in 2014 as well, Richard. Hi Alex, Was that where some of us met up in the camping field at Longues Battery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Yes, that was it. Not much of a success in 2009, so let's try again in 2014, maybe now focussed on a certain time, in stead of the whole day. I know you were there with the QL, along with a C60X and an Aussie Chev MCP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Yes, that was it. Not much of a success in 2009, so let's try again in 2014, maybe now focussed on a certain time, in stead of the whole day. I know you were there with the QL, along with a C60X and an Aussie Chev MCP. Hi Alex, I arrived in the QL accompanied by a friend in the Aussie Chev, who is also a MLU forum member, "Motto". We had been on an organised run with the MVT, so a bit late if I recall. Hope to be there in 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 Dah, dum, dum....tsee..... We should have another go at that MLU meetup in 2014 as well, Richard. Geoff...by the way. The last time I was in Ver-sur-Mer one of the bunkers was being converted into a villa! Morning Alex, morning all. Indeed, the bunker that you speak of was bought a few years ago by someone, with the intention of turning it into a studio for his daughter. Since then work has progressed intermittently - but I've not seen any progress for a while. Will have a chat to the chap on who's land it stands next time I see him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 not the best way to go to war but it beats walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 As an RTR guy said to me 'Why carry a weapon when the weapon can carry you?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Sounds excellent! 2014 it is! Will certainly come have a look at the camp in 2014.....missed it in 2009!....I don't know how, but we weren't able to find it....:blush: It should be easier to find in 2014 - the museum have just arranged the purchase of a captive "barrage" balloon to be flown for the period of the camp! All we need now is a crew for it....... I'd not seen that photo before eddie - not sure if they're porpoises though - the shape of the front seems wrong. I'm sure that they were put to use for that purpose though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 I'd not seen that photo before eddie - not sure if they're porpoises though - the shape of the front seems wrong. I'm sure that they were put to use for that purpose though. Nope, those were intended to carry soldiers into action! Look closely at the photo , you'll see soldiers huddling inside the sledges. H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 It should be easier to find in 2014 - the museum have just arranged the purchase of a captive "barrage" balloon to be flown for the period of the camp! All we need now is a crew for it....... NO!!!!!!! I'm quite happy to cross the channel by boat! Besides I'll have Katy to nurse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffleese Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Tony, you know fine well what I mean. Part of the hire conditions for the balloon are that it is "supervised" once aloft, and brought down in case of high wind or thundery activity. Jean-Pierre, bless him, has asked if we'll help with that, as we'll be on site. So I'm looking for a crew of BOPs (Pam tells me that the WAAFs who did such things were known as that - like OWLs I guess!) I had noticed the figures in the sleds on Eddie's picture by the way - my point was that I'm sure Porpoises were used as extemporised transport, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 hi geoff glad you like the pic, i'm not sure what these sleds were called so i thought i'd put them on your sled thread. i don't know who thought of putting men into sleds but it's a bloody awful idea, i can see why they never caught on. rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Tony, you know fine well what I mean. Part of the hire conditions for the balloon are that it is "supervised" once aloft, and brought down in case of high wind or thundery activity. Jean-Pierre, bless him, has asked if we'll help with that, as we'll be on site. So I'm looking for a crew of BOPs (Pam tells me that the WAAFs who did such things were known as that - like OWLs I guess!) I had noticed the figures in the sleds on Eddie's picture by the way - my point was that I'm sure Porpoises were used as extemporised transport, too. That's what I'm worried about mate! Whose going up the wire to check? Remeber the Dad's Army episode? By the by there was a TAF airfeild nearby wasn't there? I read a tale somwhere that RAF Erck's were used to walk ballons about tied to thier waists. One day the wind blew and the poor guy did three counties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
servicepub Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Two images of a porpoise undergoing towing trials behind a bulldozer. Cheers, The other Clive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 The second picture looks to be a "Greenland Sledge" as featured in "Combined Operations Pamphlet No 35A - Royal Engineers (1943)". It is the larger of two sleds covered in this pamphlet as being available to the RE for carrying equipment ashore. Noel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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