Libya, Tripolitania, vehicles, barracks 1950s to 1966

[BlueBelle]

The water trailer above. The more I think about it the more I doubt that the REME RL would have been towing the water trailer in the first instance. More likely the water trailer was ditched on the track by a 2RTR vehicle to await REME rescue. The RL shown is not a FAMTO truck (no bins, besides, that's what RL Binners are for!) so not much in the way of spare anything on that lorry. It looks like the trailer is a 'Trailer Water 180-gall, 20cwt-2 wheel'. I found the HMVF page for you here:

Page 5 has a picture of one in a handbook.

I wonder if the restoration is completed?  Would look much better than just 'very good' finished in Light stone!

Funny how I only wanted the hyperlink to the page that I copied and pasted in, and not a big picture box that the hyperlink became of the wrong trailer! Page 5 and on other pages too.

[GeePig]

http://hmvf.co.uk/topic/20590-ww2-20cwt-water-trailerbowser-restoration/?do=findComment&comment=304568

You mean you wanted this link?

Try:

Click the 'share' symbol in the top right of the post

Copy the link that comes up

Paste it in your post - and then the following appears underneath it:   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

So click: 'Display as a link instead'.

trevor

[BlueBelle]

54 minutes ago, GeePig said:

http://hmvf.co.uk/topic/20590-ww2-20cwt-water-trailerbowser-restoration/?do=findComment&comment=304568

You mean you wanted this link?

Try:

Click the 'share' symbol in the top right of the post

Copy the link that comes up

Paste it in your post - and then the following appears underneath it:   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

So click: 'Display as a link instead'.

trevor

Well I never! Another forum lesson taken on board, in the most welcomed of ways. Very many thanks to you Trevor. Amazing things happening here on this thread, thanks to the viewers and wonderful participants.

Stay tuned.

[BlueBelle]

On 29/07/2017 at 11:51 AM, BlueBelle said:

Hmmm, it looks like I’ll have to part with some spondulicks to see if I can obtain a better result about 43BA03. I’m guessing that the National Archive report I list here below relates to ‘the tank’ and that there is something about the photos we have and what Wally has told us that relates to ..... louvres as they, the pagoda type, were of course instrumental in providing cooling air for the engine and transmission on these marques plus. I could of course be totally wrong, again and, I think I am due to my wondering about the time lapse from the time the tank went back to FVRDE/issue to Bovington and, the report’s date. How long did it take for a trials report to get written up and presented?

Maybe then, this tank was one of the ‘reported’ 12 Mk7s manufactured (I think around 1956/7) that had direct drives for their cooling fans rather than the belt drives as norm? Surely trials, in the desert too, would have been conducted on these tanks?

I just hope that I’m not buying another pig in the poke that tells me next to nothing useful just as my very expensive report on 595 RAOC Depot Tripoli proved ..... monthly stats on boot repairs! I’m an expert in doing that, which of course I wouldn’t be if I lived nearer Kew and could see the report FOC with no need to purchase. So many drawbacks to living in the back of beyond that is Canada, including giant carnivorous mosquitos. Roll on winter.

 

WO 194/1003 Centurion Mk 7 tank cooling air louvres trials, with photographs, dated 01/01/1962 - 31/12/1962

 

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6144529

 

Don’t you just like a good mystery, just as history is, even when written down.

I did it, yes, I bought the report ‘WO 194/1003 Centurion Mk 7 tank cooling air louvres trials, with photographs, dated 01/01/1962 - 31/12/1962’ from TNA and, it has nothing to do with my ‘Tripoli’ Centurion Mk7 43BA03 on extreme heat trials in the desert. Transpose the extreme heat of Libya for the ‘extreme heat’ of the FVRDE test track at Chertsey and a test Centurion Mk7 42BA25. I am now in a position to become an ‘expert’ on engine deck louvre designs, pagoda-v-chevron types, air flow, volumes, temperatures and other ‘non-exciting’ stuff. Never mind.

Adding to my chagrin, I bought the record card for 43BA03 from the Tank Museum in the full knowledge that it probably wouldn’t go back far enough in time for any entries that may have been indicative of the tank’s location for those ‘extreme heat trials’. Sure enough, nothing before 1967. Struck off and sold Mar 1973 – GHQ-JAF Aqaba. Oh, the Jordanian Armed Forces bought it, it seems.

My search for the verified location of 43BA03’s extreme heat trials and those photos I posted goes on and on.

[Andrew W]

The big photo of the Champs and the Centurion is on the Champ website somewhere but until now we'd no idea where it came from.    I edit Champ World and would like to get in touch with David Sands (6RTR) who is credited with it.  Not sure if the person who uploaded it is the same guy.

We're always on the lookout for information and photos of Champs, especially from people who experienced them in service.

Hope anybody out there can help.  Cheers.

[BlueBelle]

2 hours ago, Andrew W said:

The big photo of the Champs and the Centurion is on the Champ website somewhere but until now we'd no idea where it came from.    I edit Champ World and would like to get in touch with David Sands (6RTR) who is credited with it.  Not sure if the person who uploaded it is the same guy.

We're always on the lookout for information and photos of Champs, especially from people who experienced them in service.

Hope anybody out there can help.  Cheers.

David Sands did not upload anything to the Champ website. If a recent addition to your website, the likelyhood is that someone on here saw my posting of it and 'stole' it for your site. On the other hand, there could be more than one copy of the same normal-size photo that some person has expanded as often it seems 'many' soldiers of those times received a copy of the same 'original' normal sized one. Maybe your uploader has one of those 'originals' from the 1950s?

I have the original normal sized photo from David and exclusive rights to use his entire Libya original photo collection that I have now scanned and returned to him. The expanded views of the Champs and Centurion are my work to make it easier for our forum Champ aficionados to view and comment on.

If you've followed this thread, you'll see that theft of photos, at least of those I have put on here, has happened already and it is thanks to others that the incidence was bought to my notice.

If you wish to discuss further, please do so through the messaging service which is really where this belongs.

Now, shall I post another fine photo of Light Stone coloured things or not?

[armouredfarmer]

16 hours ago, BlueBelle said:

Now, shall I post another fine photo of Light Stone coloured things or not?

Yes please!!!!

been waiting with baited breath for this thread to get going again after the hiatus of the change over

[Enigma]

5 hours ago, armouredfarmer said:

Yes please!!!!

been waiting with baited breath for this thread to get going again after the hiatus of the change over

Yes please.

[BlueBelle]

Well, I am easily enough persuaded to post again by Andy, Armoured Farmer and Enigma though at least one forumer, a 'new one' will be disappointed that through his actions and subsequent inactions, there'll be no more Champs again from Tripolitania. You too, dear faithful follower of all things Light Stone may be dissapointed that the Champs will not be seen again except perhaps hidden under a scrim net or disguised as something else.

Now, let's have a scrim net photo! We're deep into the Jebel, far south of Homs in 1960 or 61.

What could be under the scrim one wonders? There's a 'surrender' flag fluttering above it ..... though more than likely a marker for umpire/neutral forces or recovery. No Champs though as 2RTR didn't have any! No sign of the Eggie man either.
I was amazed to discover this slide in the collection I have, amazed that it was a Pioneer and one in use with 2RTR in Libya. What was it doing there? 2RTR's predecessors, 6RTR and 3RHA didn't have any Pioneers so I can only summise that this recovery vehicle was drawn from stock at 595 Ord Depot, Kassala as a temporary stopgap whilst an LAD Explorer was BLR'd to Gurgi Station Workshops. Or, the scheme was a BIG one and more recovery assets were required? I have several other very long distance shots of presumably the same Pioneer by the same photographer. What is odd is that none of my other photos and slides from other photographers have captured this or a similar vehicle with the regiment in Libya.

The fellow in the foreground looks to me like Wilf Harrison 2RTR-REME whose photos we have seen here previously (the ex-regimental fitter 'forced' to transfer into REME as many regimental trades were abolished). Where's my Pop? Neither he the ASM, the AQMS nor the EME and EMElet feature very often on my 2,000 or so 2RTR photos/slides of Tripolitania ..... obviously far to busy to be 'captured' on film!

There's my 'favourite' type of trailer with a Ferret aboard. Now what was the trailer type again? Ah, 'Trailer 20 ton 8W-2L Low Loading FV3621A'. Looks like overkill for a little Ferret though there were no other loader trailer types in use out there at the time that I've come across. Big enough though (only just) for a poorly Saladin and certainly not big (width-wise) to carry a Wessex called Mike that landed in the desert south of Misurata to disgorge Royal Marines but just did not want to take off again. Now there's another story to tell and, I have all the photos of the REME rescue featuring said trailer type (fail) and a lovely Scammell Explorer we know so well on here. In time, dear viewer, in time.
Photo by John Empson REME

 

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by BlueBelle

[fv1609]

5 hours ago, BlueBelle said:

What could be under the scrim one wonders?

Judging by the irregular outline, the need for discretion & the date. Could it be one of the two prototype Hornets taken over in July 1960 for 'Starlight'?

[BlueBelle]

9 hours ago, fv1609 said:

Judging by the irregular outline, the need for discretion & the date. Could it be one of the two prototype Hornets taken over in July 1960 for 'Starlight'?

It sure looks like something quite unlike say, a Saladin or a nest of Ferrets under the scrim. Maybe another Scammell? The photo was taken in Tripolitania. Exercise Starlight (1960) took place in Cyrenaica, near Timimi, Bomba, Tobruk, El Adem and the Jebel Akdar with Ajax 2RTR and the Royal Welch (both from Benghazi) as enemy. The two Hornets would have been 'confined' to that district and surely would not have ventured west some 1,000 miles to the the TA24  300 miles south of Homs in Tripolitania? So, "no" to Starlight Hornets but a possible 'yes" to a Hornet of the 1961 'Hot Trials', some of which we've seen before on here. The 'Hot Trials' did have a 'tactical' element (that means I think, that they played at being soldiers) which meant hiding under scrim, pretending to be a sand dune and learning the hard way why not to fire from under scrim!

 

[Morris C8]

Here are a few photos taken from my original negs in Libya.

Keith

[BlueBelle]

Wonderful to see your photos Keith. Come on, spill the beans please with a storyboard or I'll have to provide one and, might get it wrong!

I see Starlight. A Starlight Beverly at perhaps Bomba airstrip. A Padre with an RTR driver, a sun compass (Padre not looking to happy), Sebha and it's ex-Foreign Legion fort, re-supply at Sebha airstrip from the USAF (chocolate, beer, mail) etc,. Ajax 2RTR Ferrets with 'enemy' white crosses (Starlight). Two Ferrets with a Rodney-type fellow tucking his shirt in and a banana hat on telling me he's not RTR (a Hussar?). Do please tell all and, with what were you doing out there.

[Morris C8]

Bought them on ebay a few years ago.

[10FM68]

An interesting set of photos.  Eagle eyes, BB!  A padre indeed - but has he been lent OC C Sqn's Land Rover for this trip - and who was taking the photos - I presume both photos of the Land Rover on its own are on the same occasion?  And is it then the same Land Rover as the one at the back of the DC4? 

Must be 1960, certainly not a lot earlier, given the, probably RAF, hard-top Series 2 (Rover 6?) Land Rover there as well - otherwise these photos could have slipped events back into the middle fifties. 

The Ferrets seem to have been photographed first thing in the morning with the crews doing their ablutions (officer's driver cleaning his boots, chap to the left with his towel out combing his hair and the officer's sleeping kit still lying on the floor).  The lefthand of the two has two pennants - is that also an officer's or WO's vehicle - could be a young officer with his back to us? 

The Saracen (can't quite make out the name - could it be Circe from The Odyssey?) seems to be a CV, judging by the aerial mast support guys and there's a good roll of D10 on the officer's Ferret. 

Is that a Ford (Commer-cab) ambulance in one of the photos and does it say "2RTR" on the white bar above the AOS sign on the water trailer's door?

Fascinating

10 68

Edited December 12, 2017 by 10FM68

[Morris C8]

One more i will try top find the rest of the photos/negs

[Morris C8]

one more.

 keith

[BlueBelle]

The majority of Keith's photos here are of Cyclops 2RTR whilst on Ex Crescent Moon Apr-May 1960. A very long distance jaunt from Homs to the Toummo water hole in the Tibesti mountains bordering Chad and French Niger. My father, the REME ASM was on this expedition to test out the 'new' Saladin in 'operational' hard and hot desert conditions. Mr Bunce, a civvie test bigwig engineer accompanied the expedition.

I have the full official report and another version complete with full colour photos plus another 100 or so separate colour slides and photos. The dog you see in the Cyclops leagre was a 'dog on a Ferret' quite literally as he belonged to a chap named Legarde and travelled from Homs to Toummo and return on the back of his Ferret.

The LR with the Padre was the OC's (callsign 9) who for the expedition had his Saracen towing his 'caravan' and his LR which for a few hours was loaned out to the Padre who flew in and out on two separate USAF flights to Sebha on the same day (the later one at sunset), conducting a service whilst there. The flights were purely for the benefit of 2RTR bringing canteen supplies, the mail, fresh rations etc. Oh, also the CO, Col. Percy Hobart 'popped in and out' on these flights!

Cyclops' vehicles, the Saladins, Saracens, Ferrets and certain LRs were named, as you see. 

Great photos!

[BlueBelle]

The hardtop LR in the aircraft photo was not a 2RTR vehicle, none were in service at that time in that configuration with the regiment. I believe it is a Libyan Police LR 'coming to collect' if you know what I mean, and the figure to the far left is a Libyan policeman, judging by the uniform.

Only two Series 1 LRs went on Crescent Moon, 68BP13 (OC Cyclops) and 79BR94 (SSM Cyclops-callsign 8B)

The Thames ambulance went no further than Sebha. There was a Saracen used as an ambulance, 98BA81 though whether or not it was built/configured as an ambulance or just a 'normal' Saracen pressed into service as an ambulance, I know not though somebody 'somewhere' will know, I'm sure!

83BA12 was the Saracen CP vehicle for Cyclops, manned by the 2i/c and I believe was indeed named CIRCE.

On the topic of 'Dog on a Ferret', can you see said hound in the photo below of Crescent Moon?

Photo by Charles Yerrell 2RTR

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by BlueBelle

[10FM68]

Very interesting.  I hadn't thought of Libyan Police for the Series 2, I just assumed RAF from the configuration, but, Police seems more likely, I suppose and it does seem a tad dark for RAF blue.  Interesting about the callsigns "Niner" for the OC and Eight Bravo for the SSM.  Not what I would have expected.

10 68

[Morris C8]

wow. Thanks for adding info to the photos 

 Keith

Edited December 17, 2017 by Morris C8

[BlueBelle]

3 minutes ago, 10FM68 said:

Interesting about the callsigns "Niner" for the OC and Eight Bravo for the SSM.  Not what I would have expected.

10 68

For Echelon and SHQ, callsigns were not what I would have expected either. Extra resources (vehicles) seem to have made up some of these two elements of Cyclops on this exercise. If your're eagle eyed, you'll note that at least one RL at the aircraft sports the Cyrenaica District flash, which more than suggests Cyclops didn't have enough RLs to support the exercise so RLs from other squadrons and locations were bought in at least as far as Sebha, including, I can confirm, 19 Royal Marine RLs from HMS Bulwark anchored off Homs (jerrycanned fuel supplies to pre-positioned dumps).

The OC (Maj Harris) was 9, 2i/c (Capt Sheppard) 8A, SSM 8B, Mr Bunce's Ferret 18, Saracen Ambulance 16, RS K9 FFW 10A, LAD REME Group 12 and 12A. The Troops, 1 to 6 were call signed 'normally'.

Exercise Crescent Moon was a very big exercise in terms of trialling Saladins, Saracens and Ferrets and the logistical, support and political interventions were on a scale that no other resident unit in Tripolitania or Cyrenaica had ever seen previously ...... and this was just for one squadron!

[Morris C8]

just found a few more on the PC of the negs. i will post the rest in the morning.

   Keith

[BlueBelle]

Sebha International Airport! Fantastic passenger terminal. Not seen that one before.

The aircraft delivering to 2RTR is a USAF Douglas C54 Skymaster from 7272 Air Base Wing, Wheelus Field, Tripoli.

Sick Parade at the ambulance for those with Tripoli Trots because someone filled the water trailer with water unfit for human consumption. Water trailer was abandoned. Fresh water found, jerrrycans filled for drinking/cooking and, empty fuel jerrycans filled with fresh water for engine cooling. Rationing. Fresh water further on, if you could make it ....... which they did. And, the water at the Toummo water hole was clean and safe to drink.

Note the fuel dump, barbed wire.

More photos from Keith tomorrow, he said. Isn't this exciting, dear followers of all things Light Stone? Not a question really but a statement! Unique history unfolding right at the tips of your fingers and in front of your eyes. You see, this thread can get through to those of you who have secret stashes of Libya photos to encourage you to share and add value to all you see and read here. Sometimes you know of a relative, a friend or colleague who has treasured photos like these and who can be persuaded to get them scanned and onto here or who will send them to me for scanning so that I can get put them up and consider some for the lonnnng awaited book I'm writing on the British Army in Tripolitania 1943-1966. Bring them folk and photos on, please do, but don't say that you will and then, a year later still do not deliver because you can't be bothered. It's happened over a whole treasure-trove of rare 6RTR Libya photos that were promised and I'm so disappointed. Keith's photos are here now though to enthral us, "thank you" Keith and, whose photos will be next, one wonders? Well, yes, more of mine of course!

[Morris C8]

I will have to find the original negs as there in a box with over 500 other negs of all sorts most ww2  and 1950/60s

Here are a few more.

Keith