Feast for 8th AB vehicle spotters.

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by m kenny, Apr 23, 2019.

  1. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Also ref.

    WW2talk threads mentioning these (in passing):

    More RTR and RAC tank names.

    Chippenham Park Camp

    Sherman Tank Import Routes into Britain

    Re. 24th Lancers in these - 24th Lancers - Roll of Honour

    And also for ref. some other parts of the Newmarket films...

    THE 8TH ARMOURED BRIGADE ENTRAINS AT NEWMARKET TO TRANSFER TO ITS PRE-INVASION ASSEMBLY AREA IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND (PART 2) [Allocated Title]

    Nb. says "not available online" - for Part 2.- but has the description...

    Full description

    The camera dwells on a railway signal at Wood Ditton level crossing as it indicates 'go' and on the wheels of a train as it rushes by. An LNER locomotive is put onto a turntable at Newmarket Old Station where tanks belonging to the 24th Lancers are driven onto flat cars. 'Warflats' belonging to another train are shunted into the station. A locomotive driver awaits the departure signal in his cab. Two tank crewmen chain their Sherman to its 'Warflats'. The train, consisting of ten loaded 'Warflats', a passenger coach and two locomotives in tandem, is filmed entering Cambridge where two firemen fill a locomotive tender with water. The train then leaves for Winchester. At Newmarket, half tracks and a Valentine bridgelayer from the 4/7th Dragoon Guards are driven onto 'Conflats'. General Eisenhower, allied Supreme Commander, arrives with members of his staff and accompanied by an RAF railway transport officer, inspects the 24th Lancers' armour and soft-skinned vehicles before reboarding his special train. the bridgelayer is finally made secure, the 'Conflats' are coupled up and the station guard waves the train off.

    THE 8TH ARMOURED BRIGADE ENTRAINS AT NEWMARKET TO TRANSFER TO ITS PRE-INVASION ASSEMBLY AREA IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND (PART 4) [Allocated Title]

    Full description
    Filming inside the cab of an LNER B17 Class 4-6-0 locomotive, during the journey from Newmarket to Cambridge. The cameraman observes the locomotive driver operating the regulator lever and 'cut-off' control valve and the fire men busy shovelling coal from the tender into the boiler. A glimpse through one of the cabs observation windows shows another locomotive in tandem in front. The train enters Cambridge station.

    Edit: As an aside, re. Eisenhower's train: Special GWR Train used by Eisenhower, June 1944
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
  3. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Per a question I asked on missing-lynx, the presence of a Valentine (not a bridge-layer!) in one video may stem from when the unit had Valentine DDs, which would have been until not long before this video was taken.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019
  5. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Chris,

    Isn't that the Valentine Bridgelayer attached to Bde HQ?

    Regards

    Tom
     
  6. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    In the months before and quite close up to D-Day itself the War Diary for the SRY has quite a significant number of ref's to their Valentines "coming and going", though the detail is a little confusing, perhaps

    Sometimes the notes on the Valentines are in ref. to the handing over of some of their Valentines to other regiments for the other's training, but also deliveries etc. actually quite close up to D-Day itself,

    i.e. nb on different days in the months before...

    "T.Q.M.S. Montague took over four Valentine tanks from the 1st Northants Yeomanry and five from the East Riding Yeomanry"

    "One Valentine Tank was handed over to H.Q. 8th Armd Bde for training."

    "A Valentine was handed over to ??3 Fd Pk Sqn R.E. for training."

    & again on another day "We handed over (with considerable relief) our seven Valentines to 13 A.F.V. Depot Kegworthy."

    This though, I guess was not "it" for the SRY's Valentines, as a few days later...

    "30 Valentine tanks Mk II DD were brought from Prestatyn to B + C Sqn area (Poole + Bournemouth)."

    Still closer to D-Day...

    "Eleven Sherman II’s D.D. arrived in “B + C” Sqn area.

    A fatal accident occurred in Gosport (collision between one of our 3-tonners and a Canadian tank). Tpr Williams 3660376 (C Sqn) was killed, and two others – 5104940 Tpr Kimberley. F. and L/Cpl Robson D. 558136 were badly injured.
    At 5 p.m. officers were briefed for “Fabius”."

    The last mention of Valentines I think has "Five Valentine D.D. tanks were handed over by us" - though in this instance I am not sure to whom they were "handed over to".

    Incidentally, given deliveries and departures I'm not sure how much accurate tactical marking would be expected, or could be relied on, up to which stage. Though it may have been quite simple to change the markings, I'm not sure?
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi Tom

    It's in the first video (Part 1) at 1:52 - it's turreted with the turret turned backwards for transport. A bridge layer would look very different!
     
  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    8th_Armoured_TAC.JPG
    From the 1st "Newmarket" film... A "Romeo?" - "A" Squadron tank. 4/7 RDG I think, or SRY*.
    (The Triangle looks too dark for 24th L.)

    75mm_Romeo.JPG

    * Nb. Though, the "Blue" SRY TAC can look quite "bright"

    Maid_Marion.JPG

    8th_Armoured_Brigade_TAC_BW.JPG
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
  9. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Last edited: May 11, 2023
    Chris C likes this.
  10. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Re. B5416 - "A" Squadron, 24th Lancers - St. Leger - Firefly
    THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944

    T148496 - I think, probably, could be Sgt Field's, most likely, or Lt.Harts, alternatively.

    20230511_083552.jpg

    Screenshot_20230511-175328_Samsung Internet.jpg

    The rest of the "A" Squadron's Fireflies - 4th Troop - Lt. Hart, Sgt Caulfield, Sgt. Jones.

    As there are 3 Fireflies...

    Screenshot_20230511-173444_Samsung Internet.jpg

    Screenshot_20230511-182514_Samsung Internet.jpg

    ------- x -------

    T228760
    IWM film - Newmarket#1 - 7m46s.
    THE 8TH ARMOURED BRIGADE ENTRAINS AT NEWMARKET TO TRANSFER TO ITS PRE-INVASION ASSEMBLY AREA IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND (PART 1) [Allocated Title]



    T228760.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2023
    SDP likes this.

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