Military Vehicle Trust . . . the world's biggest and oldest military vehicle club!
South East Midlands Area
Carrier drive to mark 92nd birthday
John Marchant (left), the “grandfather of the military vehicle preservation movement”, celebrated his 92nd birthday with family, friends, South East Midlands Area members – and a drive in his 1944 Bren Gun Carrier.
The occasion also marked the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in Normandy and an authentic Church Parade was held, led by local Lay Preacher Monty Lynds. After lunch John’s guests were treated to rides in MVT vehicles in one of the fields on John’s farm near Milton Keynes. John – MVT member number 167 – then took his Carrier out for an airing. He found it partly in the sea at Portsmouth and restored it.
Other vehicles helping the celebration were an Austin K5, Green Goddess, two Land Rover Ambulances, a Land Rover Series III, a Land Rover Lightweight, three Jeeps, A White Scout Car and Range Rover TACR-2.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Harborough at War, August 3-4, 2019
The first Harborough at War was blessed with great weather … and a whole lot of tanks and heavy machinery. The show on August 3-4 was supported by the MVT, Armourgeddon and Crouch Military. Unlike Wicksteed Park, the organisers were not precious about their grass, which meant tracked armoured vehicles could really show off their attributes. A JCB was even available to dig slit trenches on the former WW2 airfield!
Without Wicksteed at War this year, due to Normandy commitments, we awarded the Best in Show Rosebowl at HaW. It went to David Edgerton and Carrie Potter of Kilsby for their 1942 Dodge WC57 Command Car. Mentioned in dispatches were Aaron Davies (White Scout Car), Arthur, Darran and Helen Shorthose (1944 Ford Canada LAAT), the 82nd 504 PIR display and the 502nd Pathfinders PIR display.
SEM members voted HaW a big success and look forward to attending next year.
Pictures and report by Peter Clarke
Winners of the MVTSEM Best in Show Rosebowl are David Edgerton and Carrie Potter of Kilsby for their 1942 Dodge WC57 Command Car.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shuttleworth Military Airshow, July 7, 2019
Pictures by Brian Rive
***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Armed Forces Day - warm reception on hot day
Report and pictures by Neill Elliott
Armed Forces Day on June 29, 2019, started with tea and bacon rolls at John Underwood’s house at East Carlton, near Corby. From there we headed off taking the scenic route to Kettering where we parked up at the Armed Forces Day display. We were only able to stay for an hour but the local branch of the Royal British Legion along with the Town Council were very grateful for us attending.
Our nine vehicles fitted very nicely along with the other displays. There was keen interest from members of the public in all our vehicles. I personally witnessed and found quite moving two post-war British Army veterans who were complete strangers looking at John’s Ferret when they started chatting. They both said that they had driven Ferrets but amazingly both had been in Cyprus, from there it was “do you remember” and they reminisced about their time spent deployed there.
From Kettering we took the scenic route back to John’s. The weather was hot, too hot for the Champ, which suffered from petrol vapour lock a few times. The route included a section on farm track through a cornfield and later on we detoured round a field! Here we followed the hedge line and drove through the long grass of the set aside area. This was great fun but please note that permission from the land owner had been obtained.
Finally back to John’s house to be welcomed by his wife Judith and her team who had cooked us lunch; stew and home-made bread followed by coconut jam sponge with custard or rice pudding….or both!
I must say a huge thank you to John and Judith for all the effort they put in for what was a fantastic day of driving, displaying and just a lovely get-together.
Taking part were Roy Sharman (Jeep), Ian Clayton (Jeep), Mike York (Jeep), Simon Tasker (Harley Davidson), Roy Woods (Dodge Ram), Stephen Myles (Land Rover Pulse Ambulance), John Underwood (Ferret), John’s daughter (Austin Champ) and Tony Patrick (UAZ 469). Roy Shakeshaft joined us later at John’s with his VW Beetle. Passengers were Gordon Woodhams and myself.
The Northants Telegraph did a large photo spread on its website: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/armed-forces-day-kettering-in-pictures-1-8981452?fbclid=IwAR0jetfYe_d9_P6glPXOiwhDI6CY5KzGgX__lKINP-dyHIeMXu15iMka_5I
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Amazing welcome at Chicksands
By Neill Elliott
WE were approached by Joint Forces Command Chicksands asking whether we could provide some vehicles to flank the entrance to the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess for their D-Day Commemorative Ball on Thursday, June 13.
This we did, taking three jeeps and a Dodge WC54 Ambulance. We met at Warrington Services and drove down in convoy, led by Colin Dobson in his ambulance, taking a lovely scenic route. He grew up in the area and remembers it well when Chicksands was an functioning airbase.
The hospitality given to us was excellent, starting with tea in the mess bar. It was an amazing insight to mess life, sitting in deep leather Chesterfield-type armchairs and sofas. As the base is a joint intelligence setup, there are personal from the Army, Air Force and Navy, which would explain the very rare artefact from HMS Hood, which was sunk by the Bismarck. There are very few relics from the Hood as she sadly sank in minutes with only three men surviving from the entire crew. The ship was hit midships and she just blew up and sank.
As the guests arrived, Tim Hawkes, Roy Sharman, Richard Hall, Colin Dobson and Neill Elliott spoke to guests about the vehicles and took photographs for them. It was fascinating seeing the different mess uniforms for the three services.
When the guests sat down in the main function room we sat in the day-to-day mess room and were treating to a lovely meal, the same as the guests were getting. Sadly we had to leave before dessert was served because we wanted to travel back while it was still light. We also received an etched commemorative tumbler and coaster, the same as was given to all the guests.
I have received a message from the Warrant Officers and Sergeants thanking us for our contribution and hoping that they will see us again at the Chicksands Family Day.
Pictures show some of our vehicles and their drivers, JITG HQ CSM Damian Williams and the commemorative gifts.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
RAF Croughton family fun day, 15-06-1`9
Pictures by Steve Myles
More pictures from Kevin Lamberth:
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lewis star at D-Day commemoration
St Christopher’s C of E War Memorial Home in Northampton hosted a D-Day Commemoration on May 22 and asked for MVT support. Actor Kevin Whately (Lewis, Morse) read out some soldiers’ poems of the time and an address was made by the First Secretary and Consul of the United States Embassy, Mr Jeff Vick.
The Northampton School for Boys Band provided music and, later on, all climbed into Roy Sharmans Jeep, as did Mr Vick. We also had on show a second Jeep, a Dodge Weapons Carrier and a Ford Pilot. Fortunately the weather was perfect and we all found it a very moving experience.
Pictures and report by Tim Cross
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Blistering start to museum season
The big local kick-off to the season was the opening of Sywell Aviation Museum on Easter Saturday. Our monthly meetings are held at Sywell Aerodrome and we have always had a close relationship with the museum, with seve