Lofty592 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hi everyone, My name is Geoff Cropper and I live on Anglesey. I'm not sure if i'm in the right place as I don't own any ex-service vehicles. I was searching through the web for anything about REME BARVes and this site came up. I'm 69 now but when I was 17 I joined the REME in 1961, as a mechanic, doing my training at Arborfield and Bordon at Havana barracks. Whilst posted at Barnard Castle in Yorkshire, in 1967, I volunteered for HMS Fearless as part of the ABU, Amphibious Beach Unit with the Royal Marines. I was one of four REME Barv crew, Commander was Sgt.Tony Chapell, 3 L/cpls Roger Nash and Ron Taylor were Diver/Recovery Mechs and myself as Driver/Mechanic. I left the Fearless in Oct 1970 and was demobed in November 70. Best regards Lofty592. PS. The Barv No. was 00ZR84, I often wonder what happened to it. It was painted in green and buff cammo pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcot1751 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Welcome to the HMVF Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locolines Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Welcome in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Welcome in Geoff! They had one of those beasts in Jersey for the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation, very impressive and a lot of fun to ride on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane.c Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Welcome any more pics, :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lofty592 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Thanks Guys, I think I've got some more pics. Stand at ease while I look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 hi a warm welcome to the forum great pics thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lofty592 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 During one exercise, an RN Admiral wanted to drive the Barv in the sea, he drove off in 1st gear in an un-recced area and promptly bellied her down with the tracks just churning water. He said sorry and left in an LCVP which came alongside. The tide was on the flood and that night it covered her. It took 3 Scamells and 2 burnt out winch clutches to get her out. She went to Singapore workshops for a recond. engine flown in from UK by RAF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morris c8 fat Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Were you at Malaca Malaya around 67/68ish and got stuck by the yacht club I spent ages on the beach watching the landing craft come and go and was ment to go onboard on a school trip but Fearless was called away to evacuate Malta or Cypus I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lofty592 Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 (edited) That must have been just before I joined her. I did the 2nd and 3rd commissions on Fearless, first we went to Gib. for the talks between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith of Rhodesia, then we were off round the Med. for exercises, Sardinia, Genoa, Taranto, Cyprus and Malta. Then Gib. and Plymouth. 3rd Comm. was off to the Far East,Lagos with Harold Wilson for talks with Nigerian president then Capetown,Gan,Singapore Borneo Australia, Freemantle and Perth then back to Singers and Durban on the way home. Edited November 8, 2013 by Lofty592 Missed a bit out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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