Centurion 1960's British Army

[diver99]

Phots from an auction (last year but taking its time to sort), Centurion and making somebody do a brew! Must have been tough in the British Army, 1960's having to make people cook. Thank god we all live in a friendly and PC world now.

[RecyMech]

Is it me or does something not ring quite right for this being in the 60s ?

 

I always thought the hush puppy track for Cent did`nt come in until the very late 70s even early 80s by which time it would have been fitted on ARVs, AVLBs & AVREs....& maybe any remaining RA armoured OPs. I even re-tracked my ARV in 75 with brand new good old fashioned steel track. At which time all 4 of our ARVs were on same.

 

Certainly its the first picture I've seen of a British gun tank with those fitted, that early....if thats what it is.

What do the people who know, know ?

 

H

 

PS...I'd say 15/19th Hussars by the cap badge ?

Edited August 6, 2012 by RecyMech

[Meteor mark 4B]

Never came across any hush puppy tracks in my time on Cent in the 60s. The driving lights are definitely early 60s though, Mark 5 Cent and older. We had normal round headlights, ie Mark 6 Cent and later, and then twin lights 2 with IR ability, well before Chieftain arrived with us in 1966. However, the Netherlands army had Cents with rubber pads at that time.

[RecyMech]

Glad its not just me then. Bit of a cunundrum that piccy.

I think I saw somewhere the Danes had hush puppies on their fleet as well. (If only I could find where I saw it again)

 

Maybe its a joint exercise somewhere outside BAOR using tanks on loan (i.e its not a 'British' Cent) ?

Or maybe a trials & evaluation session of some sort trying hush puppies out ?

 

Been through all my pics & books & only found very late British Cent ARVs, plus a couple of post 1980 pics of AVRE & ploughs wearing them....but even the ARVs sent to Gulf War 1 were on steel.

 

We may never know.

 

H

[Willyslancs]

these were on my dads , 61-63 Catterick 4th/7th RDG

[Meteor mark 4B]

General feeling on my 11H old comrades forum is that the regiment is the 15/19th Hussars, now amalgamated with the 17/21st, and soon to be amalgamated again. Still doesn't tell us why the tank has hush puppy tracks......all the UK Cents I saw used the metal tracks shown in the picture above.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Meteor mark 4B

[RecyMech]

While I was looking for any pics of 15/19 Cents I found they had amalgatated with the 13/18, to form the Light Dragoons.

But you're right it still does not answer the question why that Cent is on hush puppies.

 

Queer one this. If no one has a definitive answer then I'm leaning towards a trials & evaluation thing. Would like to know though eh ?

 

Cheers.....H

 

Wikipedia says;-

As part of the post-Cold War defence reforms, the 15th/19th amalgamated with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) on 1 December 1992 to form the Light Dragoons.

[chevpol]

could it be in Canada? BATUS?

 

Mark

[diver99]

Right then, sorry to cause confusion. This pic also came with the others, on the reverse is written; Col Anthony Taylor, 2/Lt James Barclay, Bde Ex, Soltau Sept 66.

 

[northrecce]

I t can't be batus there's to many trees in the picture

[RecyMech]

"It can't be batus there's to many trees in the picture" :-)

You beat me to it there....BATUS....750 square miles of bugger all but, salt lakes, ant hills & goffers.

 

All I can say about the new picture is 'the plot thickens'

 

I don't doubt the date or the validity of the photo at all. I'm just really curious why a (or several or even all) 5&9s Cents were fitted with hush puppies in the 60s & yet it would seem no other Cents used them until into the 80s.

 

That is a very good pic by the way.

 

Best regs.....H

Edited August 9, 2012 by RecyMech

[RecyMech]

diver99.....Col Taylor.....wonder if this is the same chappie. Officer of the same name & Regt..????

Have a read.

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/24067-captain-anthony-donnithorne-taylor-m-c-15-19-kings-royal.htm

 

 

H

Edited August 9, 2012 by RecyMech

[RecyMech]

Not sure that link worked as expected so I copied & pasted.........

15/19 The Kings Royal Hussars

On May 18 this officer was with a squadron of his Regiment which was returning to cross the River DENDRE near ALOST in Belgium.

 

Enemy Anti-tank guns opened fire on the column and knocked out the leading tank at close range.

 

Capt. Taylor was ordered to lead the column to another bridge. This he was in the act of doing when he met three enemy armoured cars. Capt. Taylor immediately opened fire, operating the machine guns himself, and forced the enemy to retire. He at once took up the pursuit, keeping up a heavy fire while the enemy dropped smoke generators in their efforts to escape.

 

On rounding a corner the steering mechanism of Capt Taylor's tank failed, causing the vehicle to run off the road, breaking a track. He signalled the following vehicles to continue the pursuit.

 

Unknown to Capt. Taylor the greater part of the column had received orders to halt a few minutes earlier. On account of this he was not picked up and was subsequently captured by the enemy.

 

During this action Capt Taylor exhibited first class leadership, initiative and courage and, by his immediate and successful action, facilitated the retirement of the rest of the column.

 

Capt Taylor was a prisoner for eight days and escaped from his guards a few miles East of ST. TROND on May 26. He made his way on foot through Belgium and was recaptured near ELLEZELLES on May 30. He escaped again the same day.

 

 

This officer continued his march and crossed the frontier with France at TOUFFLERS the same day. He reached LILLE, where fighting was in progress, and proceeded via LA BASSEE-BETHUNE-ST. POL- and AUX LE CHATEAU to ABBEVILLE. He attempted to cross the R. SOMME where fighting was going on but was again taken prisoner on June 2nd. Capt Taylor escaped for the third time on June 4. Making for the coast he reached LE TOUQUET on June 5. Here he spent one day preparing a boat in which to cross the Channel.

 

He set sail at midnight on June 6 and was picked up by sailors of H.M. Navy off the coast of France that night. Captain Taylor took twelve days to effect his escape during which time he had little food or sleep and walked up to 45 miles a day, covering a distance of 220 miles from point to point.

 

He displayed the highest qualities of nerve and resource. His performance is a magnificent example of what can be done through physical fitness and an unflinching determination to win through under circumstances fraught with constant danger.

 

Captain Taylor brought back highly important information and has rendered a full account of his escape to M.I.7.B. at the War Office.

[recommended for] D.S.O.

M.C. [awarded]

[Meteor mark 4B]

Correction here....the 16/5th amalgamated with the 17/21st, not the 15/19th. Still doesn't sort out the track pad mystery!!

[diver99]

Another pic from the mystery Centurion - REME mechanics on the aforementioned vehicle.

[RecyMech]

The burly fella at the front is no spring chicken is he ?......one of Ceasars own I reckon. (bless him)

 

H

[agripper]

Proberbly a long shot but In the masses of photos that members have on the forum. does anyone have any photos of 02 ZR 77 when still a gun tank? would be before 1963.

[Bazz]

As I'm ex 15/19H, can I put the pics on 15/19H sites and make enquiries about personnel and dates?

[Bazz]

I've checked a couple of Regt Hists. The 15/19H were on Cents in BAOR from 1 April 1965-25 Jan 1968, went to Tidworth.1970 converted to Chieftain. Other pics of Cents, but none with "Hush Puppies"

[Bazz]

I've checked a copy of the 1966 Regt. Journal the personnel stated in pic 3 are personnel serving at the time.

2/lt JC Barclay 1^st Tp. “B”Squadron Tp Ldr.

 

 

The Regiment was also visited at Soltau by the Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel Ä. D. Taylor, M.C., who appeared to be generally impressed by all he saw, but was very prepared to give useful advice and criticism especially with regard. to the question

 

of Infantry Tank co-operation.

 

Pics not good enough to check the types of track.

[Bazz]

Spoke with some ex 15/19H, some have given me names for pers in pic 1 & 2, and have confirmed Munster/Soltau 1965-1966.

[Bazz]

I've been given names for fitters in #15.

[RecyMech]

Bazz,

So, while chatting to the old boys from the 5&9s, did anyone mention any reason why the hush puppies suddenly appeared & then disappeared again until virtually the end of the Cents life.

 

My theory......& it is only a theory.... is that 15/19 were chosen to trial & evaluate them. Possibly they did not give enough of a favourable report to justify MOD changing over from all steel track wholesale. (Maybe they were kinder to the German tarmac but did not perform so well cross country ?) So...MOD only bought the hush puppies after our own steel track was all used up.??????

 

Curious

H

Edited August 14, 2012 by RecyMech
spelling

[diver99]

Another from the Phantom Cent Files;

[Bazz]

Just heard from a ex comrade from 15/19H, he states he has an original of photo #1 dated 14th June 1966.