Hello, anyone like Cromwells?

[dansimpson]

My Dad sadly passed away earlier this year, and his army album has now been handed down to me.

He did National Service From 1952 to 1954, and was a tank driver.

This is a photo of "Old Faithful" as he called it..

Edited December 11, 2017 by dansimpson
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[eddy8men]

i'm quite fond of them

[dansimpson]

Forgive my ignorance, I have no idea what he'd stood beside in this one..

[lowfat]

thats a reme white Half track

 

[Richard Farrant]

25 minutes ago, lowfat said:

thats a reme white Half track

 

It is actually an International, not a White, and I have a feeling this is a Royal Signals vehicle, seen photos on here before of similar ones.

[BlueBelle]

1 RHA, A Battery 'The Chesnut Troop' who were in Munster 1952 on. A Sexton and an International Command Post halftrack. Before 1 RHA replaced Sextons with M44s. Beret badges RHA too. Perhaps I should stick to Light Stone stuff.

Great photos! Note the 74 on the RA arm of service flash and compare with 3 RHA vehicles in Libya (and Egypt) that also bore a 74 to denote ......

[Adrian Barrell]

Cromwells were used by the RA SP regiments as OP tanks.

[dansimpson]

6 hours ago, BlueBelle said:

1 RHA, A Battery 'The Chesnut Troop' who were in Munster 1952 on. A Sexton and an International Command Post halftrack. Before 1 RHA replaced Sextons with M44s. Beret badges RHA too. Perhaps I should stick to Light Stone stuff.

Great photos! Note the 74 on the RA arm of service flash and compare with 3 RHA vehicles in Libya (and Egypt) that also bore a 74 to denote ......

Spot on with location and Troup, I think this would be 1953 or 54, Royal Artillery. Theres a few other photos if people would like to see them, I'll scan them and post later

[Enigma]

More photo's please.

[dansimpson]

[dansimpson]

Theres a few more smaller ones I'll scan later

[john1950]

Thank you a great set of pictures.

[BlueBelle]

Treasure! The Centurions of Ajax 2RTR rumble through the streets of Munster on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June, 1953.

The Centurions are camouflaged too! Oh no they're not! Oh yes they are! The photo expands to reveal all. 'A' vehicles of 2RTR at the time had a three colour camouflage scheme. The underside of the glacis plate, lower half of the turret, some turret bin front faces and the underside of the gun barrels were painted in Light-Battleship grey (the barrels having a wavy-pattern). The remainder of the vehicle was painted in gloss black and gloss green. None of the vehicles had the same camouflage patterns as they were "designed" by a sergeant in each squadron. 2RTR changed colour schemes to Deep Bronze Green in 1957. 2RTR were then based in Munster Loddenheide, Swinton barracks as part of 20 Armd Bde, along with 1RHA in the same complex at Waterloo Barracks. The flagman in the photo is from 17/21 Lancers based at Munster Gremmendorf, York Barracks. 

Thank you for posting these great photos.

[BlueBelle]

Of note with the 2RTR Centurions on parade is that they were the junior armoured regiment in the brigade, and they sported a white 51 on a red arm of service flash in addition to the mailed fist of 20 Armd Bde to denote their ranking. The other Centurions with their aux. fuel tank drums belong to the senior armoured regiment in the same brigade, the pony soldiers or donkey wallopers of 17/21 Lancers whose tanks and vehicles sported a white 50 on a red arm of service flash. Note the cavalry chaps 'go to war' in their khaki forage caps or stiff hats!

[Enigma]

Sorry to hear your Dad passed away, but thanks for sharing.

A nice a mix of different tracked vehicles like the Cromwell, Sexton and Centurion.

 

I see something hanging af the back of the jeep, would that be a camonet?

Edited December 31, 2017 by Enigma

[eddy8men]

excellent pics please keep them coming