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COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS
During the current pandemic some events might be postponed or cancelled. Please check with the organisers if there is any doubt.
Classic Land Rover Gathering, Skillington, by Steve Myles
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Tanks on the beach
Will Needham thought members would like to see a couple of pictures of two long-abandoned Covenanter A13 Mark 3 tanks that currently lie on Titchwell beach, Norfolk, an abandoned WW2 Tank Regiment range. They are rumoured to have got stuck and just left there, but more likely hard targets. The third picture is of a Covenantor at the Tank Museum. Author: Morio.
Neill Elliott adds: "What a coincidence! I came across the very same wrecks last October while walking on the beach.
"Further research shows that Titchwell Marsh was used by the Royal Tank Regiment as a firing range. The tanks left on the beach would have been used as targets and towed along using cables and winches.
"One comment by Bovington is that the A13 was one of the worst tanks the British ever built, so not surprising they ended up as target practice!"
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Memorial to tragic bomber crew
by Neill Elliott
A Memorial Service was held for a wartime RAF bomber crew on June 22, 2021, 80 years to the day after their aircraft crashed near Wollaston, Northants. That night, in 1941, a RAF Manchester bomber from 207 Squadron, which was en route to a raid, was accidently shot down by a Beaufighter night fighter. Sadly all seven crew were killed. Local residents have now installed a permanent memorial stone to the crew members who all died.
It was a very fitting and well attended service. Six MVT members went along: Geoff Baulk, Dave Baulk, Keith Martin, Kevin Brigginshaw, Gary Stock and Neill Elliott and took along four vehicles, three jeeps and a Dodge WC51.
207 Squadron RAF still exists so the service was led by their chaplin. The stone was unveiled by 207’s commanding officer. There were many family members of the crew paying their respects along with an officer from the Canadian Air Force representing the one crew member from Canada. Below is a link to the Northants Telegraph article.
and
https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/wollaston-bomber-crash-the-avro-manchester-the-legend-behind-the-lancaster-3263223
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Spitski at 20th Sywell opening
The Covid-delayed opening of Sywell Aviation Museum was a great day with beautiful weather, dozens of MVs ... and a Russian Spitfire, flown in by museum honorary life member Peter Teichman. The ceremony marked the 20th year of the museum, which our area is proud to support.
More pictures from Tim Cross
More pictures from Kevin Lamberth
More pictures from Vaughn Glynn
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Brian gets on two wheels
Brian Rive has bought Simon Tasker’s 1940 Royal Enfield WD ‘C’ 350. Brian says: “The only history which has come with it was that it was with the British Airborne forces HQ RASC. I’m looking into seeing more of its history plus an age-related reg instead of the one it has now.”
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Will sees red
Will Needham has got somthing that has been on his bucket list for years. The BSA Bantam 125cc GPO motorbike might not be a true military vehicle but the original riders at least wore uniforms!
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Peter joins the Home Guard!
Peter Clarke has swopped his Hotchkiss Jeep for a 1939 Austin 8 Tourer and, for this year at least, has marked it up as a LDV/Home Guard civilian vehicle. It was first registered on August 14, 1939, just 17 days before we declared war on Germany. It is believed it was laid up for the duration. The first picture was taken at the Birth of Radar memorial, near Litchborough, Northants, where in 1935 the scientists Wilkins and Watson Watt successfully demonstrated ground-to-air radar. Their equipment intercepted signals caused by a Handley Page Heyford bomber flying through radio waves emanating from the nearby BBC transmitter at Daventry. The system was quickly developed into RDF (later radar) and was instrumental in our success in the Battle of Britain, giving The Few of the RAF vital advanced warning of Luftwaffe raids.
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Steve takes the wet route
SEM founder Steve Gascoigne coming back from a shopping trip in his Willys M38. Steve now lives in Devon.
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Wicky's back in business!
Wicksteed at War is back! Friday-Saturday, September, 24-26. See March minutes for details (Area Minutes page)
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Area veteran Gordon Beale dies
Serial MV restorer Gordon Beale, one of the earliest members of the South East Midlands Area, died on February 5, 2021, in the ICU at Milton Keynes Hospital.
Gordon, a member for more than 35 years, had an interest in a wide range of vehicles, ranging from a World War One Douglas motorcycle to Land Rover Ambulances.
He was being treated for gall bladder disease which caused pancreatitis and he contracted Covid while in hospital. He was 66.
In the 1980s he was instrumental, along with other MVT members, in helping save Bletchley Park, home of the famous Enigma codebreakers. The SE Midlands Area took over the MT section of the sprawling park, refurbished the buildings and packed them full with MVs, from Jeeps to a Centurion MBT. The interest this created attracted many visitors and helped keep the park in the public eye until its future was assured.
During the 1990s and early 2000s Gordon ran an MVT Bletchley Park Area and organised many MV shows at the park, including the MVT National Show. He also served several years as secretary of the SE Midlands Area.
Ex-REME, Gordon could tackle any restoration or mechanical job and was always willing to help other MV owners. At the time of his death he had nearly completed the restoration of a rare Land Rover emergency control unit, one of only five made.
His passing came as a great shock for his friends and family and our thoughts and love go out to his wife Vicky and children Philip, Sebrina and Kelly and son-in-law Scott and grandchildren Sophie and Ashleigh.
Here are a few pictures of Gordon and his vehicles.
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John Underwood's snowy Champ
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Bad camouflage for WW2 veteran!
Will Needham fired up his 1941 CMP Chevrolet 15cwt truck for a ride round his farm in the January 2021 snow. The sharp-eyed among you might recognise the trailer in the background. It’s an ex-WW2 RAF tanker trailer converted years ago for farm use, one of five still on his farm. The truck could have pulled one in its working life.
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Tim Ryan's Land Rover Lightweight
Tim Ryan’s Land Rover Lightweight has had a facelift. He says: “It was in a real state when I purchased it. It had a fresh MoT, although it had at least six obvious fails without looking too deep. It was hand painted in a very strange shade of pink, splashed liberally everywhere, including on the easily removable items like heater ducts and tyres.
“It was stripped back to bare metal, etch-primed and top coated, fitted with a new hood, carb and electronic ignition plus a myriad of little jobs. Next job will be to fit an overdrive as the engine is screaming at high revs while only doing 40mph.”
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Sherman tank driver Arthur dies
It is with sadness that we learnt the passing of Normandy veteran Arthur Jones. The Sherman tank driver died on Saturday, December 12, aged 94.
Arthur joined the army in 1944, aged 18, and, after just a few weeks learning to drive a tank, landed at Gold Beach on D+7. His was an observation post tank and had a dummy gun! He ended the war in Bremen, aged 19, but was not demobbed until 1947.
We first met Arthur at Wicksteed at War, 2015, when he was brought on the Friday education day by his friend Steve Harper.
The veteran wanted to see a Sherman but we had a surprise in store for him. A Sherman used in the Brad Pitt film Fury was on hand so Arthur's wish could easily be fulfilled. But we wanted to go one better.
Wicksteed Park provided a front loader fitted with a "man cage", completed risk assessments and method statements, checked the insurance and we were able to pick up Arthur and deposit him gently into the turret of the tank.
Arthur's experience didn't end there. The venerable 33-ton tank went trundling around the park with Arthur delightedly waving from the top.
"I thought I was coming to look at a Sherman," said Arthur. "I never dreamed I'd be able to ride on one. It's been a fantastic day and I can't thank the organisers enough."
The following year, we met Arthur again at our annual Christmas meeting. He entertained us with two love stories, one his mother’s love for her son and the other the love of a family in France who took him in when his Sherman tank broke down.
He and a friend traced the family who had looked after him in 1944 and 62 years later there was a reunion, filmed by Central News TV.
Steve Harper thanked everyone at the MVTSEM for their time spent with Arthur. For our part, it was an honour and a privilege to get to know this brave and humble man.
Pictures show Arthur taking the salute in the Fury Sherman at Wicksteed at War 2015; gathered with the SE Midlands Area at our Christmas 2016 meeting; and talking with area secretary Neill Elliott. Video shows Arthur and the Sherman leading a tracked convoy at Wicksteed 2015.
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Mike York's 1946 Chevy
Mike has just acquired this ex-Alabama Chevrolet airfield emergency vehicle
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Andy Speechley's 1942 M3A1 White Scout Car
Andy is fitting a radio to his Scout Car. He writes:
Prior to D-Day, US Tank Destroyer units were equipped with M3A1 Scout Cars to provide a reconnaissance and command vehicle function. In order to integrate with the tank destroyers, they were retrofitted with the radio equipment used by US armoured units.
The SCR528 or SCR508 was a modular system consisting of FM transmitter and one or two FM receivers. This allowed the monitoring of two channels at any time, a vehicle intercom system and transmission on one channel.
As can be seen in the diagram this required the removal of the rear two seats to accommodate the radio cabinet and a new antenna mount. The radio was then operated by the two-crew facing to the rear. Situational awareness was improved with the wiring of a BC606 intercom box in the commander’s position, allowing him to transmit through the radio set or speak to the operators.
When I acquired the Scout Car the brackets and mounting holes for a radio cabinet were already present, along with the original microphone hook and elements of the wiring. Once the cabinet was installed by directly mounting to the floor and existing brackets the radio tray could be bolted in, and then the radio modules slide on a track into position, where they lock into their respective ports.
The next stage of installation will be to connect the system into the radio junction box and wire in the antenna and intercom. However, that will probably be a job for warmer weather!
Prior to D-Day, US Tank Destroyer units were equipped with M3A1 Scout Cars to provide a reconnaissance and command vehicle function. In order to integrate with the tank destroyers, they were retrofitted with the radio equipment used by US armoured units.
The SCR528 or SCR508 was a modular system consisting of FM transmitter and one or two FM receivers. This allowed the monitoring of two channels at any time, a vehicle intercom system and transmission on one channel.
As can be seen in the diagram this required the removal of the rear two seats to accommodate the radio cabinet and a new antenna mount. The radio was then operated by the two-crew facing to the rear. Situational awareness was improved with the wiring of a BC606 intercom box in the commander’s position, allowing him to transmit through the radio set or speak to the operators.
When I acquired the Scout Car the brackets and mounting holes for a radio cabinet were already present, along with the original microphone hook and elements of the wiring. Once the cabinet was installed by directly mounting to the floor and existing brackets the radio tray could be bolted in, and then the radio modules slide on a track into position, where they lock into their respective ports.
The next stage of installation will be to connect the system into the radio junction box and wire in the antenna and intercom. However, that will probably be a job for warmer weather!
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Remembrance Sunday 2020 in Covid lockdown
John Underwood's MVs
John laid a wreath on Sunday morning on behalf of the MVT SEM at a short service at Weldon
Gary Stock's Jeep
Mike York's Jeep
Heather Bailey's Standard Flying 10
Video below is of Heather and her boyfriend Ashley Lowe playing Abide With Me and the Last Post.
Steve Myles's Land Rover Pulse Ambulance
Peter Clarke's Jeep and Parabike
Steve Smith's Jeep
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Parabike still has original paint
Peter Clarke got an early Christmas present in the shape of a BSA Parabike, still with its wartime paint. It carries both British and Danish stamps and was probably one of a batch given to Denmark after the war. The Danish Army modified the bike to include a coaster-type rear brake but it has now been put back ito its original trim. The Parabike was found in Finland before being bought back to the UK.
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New Year's Day meet is cancelled
A message from ther organisers of Vintage Stony, which SEM members have attended in previous years: As you will know, our event is held in a public space where it is not possible to control the number of visitors – be they exhibitors with their vintage and classic cars or the many members of the public who attend. With the ongoing Covid–19 epidemic and demands required of the Government Protocols, we could not guarantee to maintain safe distances between you all, nor maintain the maximum meeting numbers required. We sincerely hope that this dilemma will be over soon and that we are able to invite you all to our Classic Stony event pencilled in for 6th June 2021. In the meantime, we hope that you will keep safe and will manage to avoid this illness, and we look forward to seeing you and your cars, bikes and other vehicles of interest in the future. Best Wishes to you all, Vintage & Stony Events Team The picture is from the January 1, 2020 meet. |
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Sywell area meeting 05-09-20
Our September area meeting was held al fresco in the car park of Sywell Aviation Museum, with members keeping their distance or wearing masks. Most members bought their MVs with them and it was decided to award the Best in Show Rosebowl on the day. This went to Steve Myles and his 1998 Land Rover Pulse Ambulance (main picture and below). Also visiting were the Wingless Wonders team from South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster with military Land Rovers, a quad bike and an armament display.
Pictures below by Tim Cross
More pictures by Vaughn Glynn
