23 Years of my k2Y Ambulance.

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Lofty1, Apr 8, 2010.

  1. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    First posted in April 2010 this thread is being revamped in April 2013, more pictures added, and the events of 23 years put in a more orderly fashion, the appropriate later videos have been added to the early posts
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    Hi all.
    After 23 years of owning a 1941 Austin k2Y Ambulance I am passing it on to pastures new, it will leave a big hole in my life, but it has given me and many others 25,000 miles a great joy.
    I am writing this post, as I would like to share with others the last 23 years history of this vehicle, including its restoration, thus saving it for future generations to enjoy and as a tribute to the ambulance itself.
    It has been a privilege to own it, and a credit to British engineering.
    I saw Ice Cold In Alex in the Regal Old Kent Road when was 15, (an impressionable age) and left the cinema wanting Silvia Sims, that was not to be, however in 1987 I got my second choice, It had been standing in a wood in Suffolk for 27 years a K2 Ambulance. I have a large number of pictures of the six year restoration, and many more pictures and videos of the trips we made with it.
    These first pictures are as it was found in 1987, and its move to a new home in Colchester. The recovery vehicle is a friend’s 1945 Scammel Pioneer ex RAF he still owns it and is a member of this forum. The last black and white picture taken in 1993 is the result of six years restoration.
    There are lots more pictures to show and history to share; I can do more on this tomorrow night, unless someone tells me it’s boring,
    Regards lofty

    my k2.jpg 2 (2) - Copy.jpg 002 - Copy - Copy.jpg 2.jpg 002 (2).jpg k2 restoration 002.jpg my k2 333 001.jpg
     
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  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Not boring in the least Lofty. Keep the photos coming. It must be like giving up your first born!

    Tim
     
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  3. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Tim, your right it is, and on your say so, I will forge on with this thread and cover the 23 years, that! might get boring but here goes,
    regards lofty
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As you can see in the first post pictures the Ambulance was in a very poor state, however I fancied the challenge and it needed to be rescued. It was brought home and put in a friends yard, and dismantled iy, I then had the opportunity to buy another body and chassis, and was given an K2 ATV, they were also dismantled I then had a huge pile of parts, all past their sell by date, but its was good to have a choice albeit having to use the best of the worst.

    I had a workshop available that allowed me to restore the chassis and running gear but not big enough to fit the body, so bits came off the pile and were taken to the workshop and work commenced until a running chassis was completed,luck came my way and I was allowed build a shed in the yard where the parts were, so up went a shed and the running chassis had a new home, living there until the day it was sold in 2010
    Attached are a few of the pictures taken during the restoration, some taken in the workshop others when it moved to the new shed,you may notice a picture of the well shod ambulance and myself rather lacking :(
    enjoy lofty

    k2 restoration 005.jpg my k2 002.jpg 008 - Copy - Copy - Copy.jpg 008 - Copy - Copy.jpg 011 (2).jpg 013 - Copy - Copy.jpg 006 - Copy - Copy.jpg 013.jpg
     

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  4. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi all
    The restoration of the ambulance was completed just in time for Beltring 1993, where I was fortunate the receive 1st prize for the best medium vehicle, and the Audrey award for the best ambulance. After a few local events the next important part of its history was an invite to Sir John Mills home, to give him a ride around the village and a quick half at the local, accompanied by his wife, it was the weekend before we set off for Normandy 1994. We had an early start from Colchester and on arrival at his home, we were made very welcome, after some coffee a long chat and a play with his Oscar we set off for a ride round finishing up at the pub.
    John Mills had a soft spot for Ice Cold in Alex and especially Katy,memories of six weeks in the desert having fun in the sand plus the films success helped no doubt. During that visit he invited us to see his one man show in London the following weekend, that was not possible as we were off to Normandy "You must see it I talk a lot about Ice.Cold.In.Alex, if we come to Colchester with the show would you put Katy outside the theater" , certainly I said, thinking that would never happen, two months later he had booked the Mercury Theater in Colchester, I promptly bought tickets for all the second and third row's for my guests.,the show was great, and the demand for tickets unbelievable.
    Herewith a few pictures from our visit and a link to some film of his arrival at the Mercury

    LINK HERE ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5tI8jnTgMg
     

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  5. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Fantastic pictures lofty and what an amazing job
    you've done on the restro, a fine piece of rolling
    history...job well done that man

    Cheers for sharing the photos

    Kieron
     
  6. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Lofty parting is such sweet sorrow.
    Your labour of love has been worthwhile, keep the story coming and the photo's its first class just hope its going to a good home.
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Will the big man cry when he says Goodbye?
    I know I would....
    Good job Lofty, still wondering why you're parting compnay.
     
  8. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi Owen,
    My wife says I will cry, I say I won’t, I grew up in the Old Kent Road I never did as a kid, not until I got involved in this lot, but I seem to have become softer in my senior years.
    The pictures show me at West Bergholt show after a severe bout of crying, It was a day I had organised for some local vets to come and enjoy, seats for them in the VIP tent, a light lunch and a few beers, in fact a day for giving something back, the Red Devils dropped in to the show and the Veterans were invited to take the salute, on their return to the tent, which had filled up a lot, I was asked to step forward and after short speech was presented with a John Frost signed print. the plaque on the frame reads TO ROY FROM THE MANY FRIENDS OF KATY 25-7-99, I was not expecting that, broke me up, The chap holding the picture is Jeff Williams, Reece D Troop at Arnhem, sadly no longer with us. It was a day for giving not receiving, and the whole thing left me a gibbering mess
    I will explain my reasons for parting with the ambulance at the end of this thread, if anyone can stick it to the end, still quite a bit more to tell.

    Regards lofty
     

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  9. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    NORMANDY 50thANNIVERSARY 6th JUNE 1994



    Hi all,
    Normandy was the first battlefield tour in the ambulance, I learned a lot before going on that 50th anniversary trip, I was talking to a very prudent man, telling him how much I was looking forward to thrashing around Normandy doing our own thing in big convoys and having fun when he pointed out that 50th commemoration is about veterans not vehicles Military vehicles are at best a backdrop for such events and are to be at the ready if needed to add to the occasion, I felt duly put in my place, and have never forgotten his words,

    Remembering what this chap had said I went to the British Legion and asked if they knew a veteran who would like to join the seven of us on our trip at no expense. They found me one Lionel Rogers the chap you see sitting in the K2 with his gongs up, he had a great time and also made our trip much more interesting, we took him to Abbaye De Dames in Caen where he was presented with his 50TH Anniversary medal, Lionel sadly died some 4 years ago. Looking back I am very glad we did what we did.

    I was given a wreath by our local British Legion branch to put down in Normandy somewhere I thought appropriate, we heard whilst we were there of the dedication of a new memorial to the Suffolk Regiment at Chateau de la Londe, as we live on the Essex- Suffolk border, it was decided we put it there. We did a Reece to the chateau the day before and whilst we were parked outside the family arrived home and they stopped and chatted. They asked if we would like to come and look round and look more closely at the battle damage still visible in the walls, having looked we were then invited in for a glass of wine, after a glass or two my friend remarked on their lovely piano, do you play they said if so please help yourself and so he did. A number of bottles later, we made our exit, from these nice French people. The point of telling you this is because when we arrived for the dedication, and there were lots of veterans including the local Mayor other officials and Martin Bell for TV coverage, and the Minden Band, the family who had given the ground for the memorial and were playing a part in the service walked up the drive through all the dignitaries straight over to us and asked will you come back after and play more piano, nice people the French, or have I said that.

    Pont Audermer was another memorable place, it was liberated by The Princess Irene Brigade, and the Dutch were there to remember. There were Dutch veterans, Dutch flags, 100 Dutch military vehicles, Queen Beatrix on the dais with lots of officials, a very Dutch event, televised live to Holland I believe. We had gone to watch the event but on arrival were invited to join the convoy. The next day on the front page of the local paper covering the event was a large picture of my K2 flying a Union Jack, Oh dear.
    We did all the usual things, drove down onto the beach at Arrowmanches, Madame Gondree gave us drinks at the cafe,where we found it difficult to get away as our veteran was in great demand. We had no idea how humbling it would be to lay crosses for folks back home on their loved ones graves, all new things and emotions to experiences and deal with.
    We were in France for about ten days, we were lucky enough to have rented a cottage, and always finished the day with a great meal at a restaurant in the village, times never to be forgotten.

    Just before Normandy 1994 Lionel Rogers the veteran we took with us. my k2 002.jpg

    Regards lofty
     
  10. Medic7922

    Medic7922 Senior Member

    Being an Ex-Medic and a bit of a Ambo geek, Your Ambulance restoration is a great credit to you, what I would like to know, was it very difficult to source and replace the stretcher lift.
    I must also say it is great to see you have the correct furley stretcher pillows and medical equipment of that era.
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    just done 2hrs of story, pressed go advanced lost the bl--dy lot,

    Oops.
    If you're going to do that much text it's worth doing it on Word [or other word processor program] , saving it now & again then copy & pasting it here when finished.
     
  12. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi all,
    I only mentioned Normandy briefly, between the Beltring and the visit to Colchester of Sir John Mills, however in retrospect I learned a lot before going and on 50th anniversary trip, I was talking to a very prudent man, telling him how much I was looking forward to thrashing around Normandy doing our own thing in big convoys when he pointed out that 50th commemoration is about veterans not vehicles, I felt duly put in my place.

    I then went to the British Legion and asked if they knew at veteran who would like to join us on our trip at no expense. They found me one Lionel Rogers the chap you see sitting in the K2 with his gongs up, he had a great time and also made our trip much more interesting, we took him to Abbee De Dames in Caen where he was presented with his 50TH Anniversary medal, Lionel sadly died some 4 years ago. Looking back I am very glad we did what we did.

    I was given a wreath by our local British Legion branch to put down in Normandy where I thought appropriate, we heard whilst we were there of the dedication of a new memorial to the Suffolk regiment at Chateau de la Londe, as we live on the Essex- Suffolk border , it was decided we put it there. We did a Reece to the chateau the day before and whilst we were parked outside the family arrived home and they stopped and chatted. They asked if we would like to come and look round and look more closely at the battle damage still visible in the walls, having looked we were then invited in for a glass of wine, after a glass or two my friend remarked on their lovely piano, do you play they said if so please help yourself and so he did. A number of bottles later, we made our exit, from these nice French people. The point of telling you this is because when we arrived for the dedication, and there were lots of veterans including the local mayor other officials and Martin Bell for TV coverage, and the Minden band, the family who had given the ground for the memorial, and were playing a part in the service walked up the drive through all the dignitaries straight over to us and asked will you come back after and play more piano, nice people the French, or have I said that.

    Pont Audermer was another memorable place, it was liberated by The Princess Irene Brigade, and the Dutch were there to remember. There Dutch veterans, Dutch flags, 100 Dutch military vehicles, Queen Beatrix on the dais with lots of officials, a very Dutch event, televised live to Holland I believe. The next day on the front page of the local paper covering the event was a large picture of my K2 flying a Union Jack, are K2s that photogenic?
    I have put a few pictures on to relieve the bore of reading,

    pic 1 our Veteran in Normandy signing cards, June 1st
    pic 2 Lionel receiving his medal from the Mayor
    pic 3 Pont-Audermer
    pic 4 Pont-Audermer Queen Beatrix
    pic 5 The memorial at Chateau De La Londe
    pic 6 my K2 on the beach at Arromanche
    pic 7 Taunton Exhibition Cider
    pics 7-8 Pont-Audermer parade and paper
     

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  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Lofty, what tac sign is that?
    Is it the XXX Corps boar?
     
  14. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi Owen, it is XXX Corps, when that was painted on I had little idea of what it meant, I new about K2s but not about xxx corps, fortuously it was a good choice, as we will see soon, the next post moves to sept 1994 and Hells Highway, perfect markings for that trip, also known as Club Route do you know why? there is a clue in the picture, regards lofty ps did this on word, thanks for advice.
     

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  15. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi Medic,
    Thanks for your kind comment, they are graciously received from someone like yourself, thank you, I was very lucky to put together the bits of kit, I was just in the right place at the right time (for six years), the stretcher lifts came in the second body I bought, taking them in and out is not easy as they are so bl---y heavy, the stretcher pillows are all dated war time, and the Thomas splint is in the front cab over the drivers head.
    Regards lofty
     
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    also known as Club Route do you know why?

    Yup, I have the history 'Club Route In Europe' by Gill & Groves, upstairs on my bookshelf.
    I haven't got that cover though.
    :(
     
  17. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Hi all
    My ambulance left my charge this Saturday and yes it was very sad, it gone to Bradford, to a man I believe will care for it well, he and some friends arrived in Colchester at 9am, loaded 2 ton of spares onto a trailer while the new owner and myself went off and fuelled her up for the journey, after a short driving lesson he set off, leaving about 12 midday, he arrived in Bradford at 8pm,then today Sunday ,took it to York for its first show.
    He left behind a number of very sad people, including my long suffering wife, my friend and his Scammel used to recover the k2 23 years ago, he wanted a last picture of them both together, also there was a friend that had been with me on many of the jaunts, Normandy, Hells Highway, many times to Arnhem. He unbeknown to me had written this Farewell to Katy, this was the hardest bit of all to cope with; it was read to me and a number of fellow ambulance travellers by him at our SOGS (Sad Old Geezers) club today.
    Where we have been, who we have met, and what we have seen in this old ambulance, has had a profound effect on many of us, for me it has been a honour to share these times with many others, it has obviously had a profound effect on this friend, I have posted a copy of his words along with some pictures of Saturday,
    The history will continue when I find out how to capture frames from video to post as thumbnails anyone got any clues.

    Regards lofty
     

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  18. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    More pictures of restoration,
    Getting Hells Highway video put into stills on CD to download thumbnails onto here to continue the story, regards lofty (Hope these aint boring)
     

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  19. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    Sorry they are not in order regards lofty
     

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  20. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    HELLS HIGHWAY SEPTEMBER 1994,
    In early September 1994 I made a phone call to one of the organisers of the Corridor Tour in Holland, asking if there was any possible chance of joining the convoy, yes he said, and after a short chat about K2 ambulances he said he remembered mine from Pont Audermer, and if I was bring it he would give it a special place in the first 100 of the vehicles in the convoy, the first 100 would travel through Eindhoven on the original route via Rechtesraat whilst the others took the bypass and rejoined the convoy the other side. Great news.
    I then mustered a crew, booked the ferry, and went and bought a video of A Bridge To Far, as I needed to know why it was happening.
    My knowledge of ww2 was very limited and I thought the film had given me a basic understanding of what we were doing.
    How very wrong I was, the 63 mile route was lined all the way by about one and a half million people, in the rain most of the time, the total of about 800 ww2 vehicles taking over an hour to pass by, and they clapped, although the convoy, towards the end was running one and a half hours late they clapped, what I had learned from a film gave no insight to prepare ourselves for this.
    The sheer scale of the day, the 220 KM of roads shut off for this, the people. the clapping in the rain, the warmth and most of all the unity amongst so many people ,was something it was going to take some time to get over.
    On driving past people of a certain age the look on their faces said, they have seen this before and such joy it must have brought them 50 years before almost to the day.
    Four of us left Harwich for the Hook on the Wednesday night boat a drove through Holland to Leopoldsburg in Belguim to the organised camp site, the beer tent was huge, no matter we only had Dutch Guilders, some kind soul loaned us some currency, and we never saw him again, however we found his Jeep on the way home and left the repayment in the glove box, unity.
    Sunday morning 18 sept, up at six making breakfast, just boiled the kettle when all hell broke loose, people realising there was only one way in and one way out of the site started moving, to form up to get to our special place we had to go ,we folded the ground sheet up with everything in it threw it in the back and went, achieving a position about 30 from the front, of a very long convoy, 7-15am we moved off, through Lommel over the border towards Valkenswaard, already people were out and before reaching Eindhoven the roads were packed on both sides, we all began to realise this was some convoy, at about 9 am we reached Eindhoven a chap outside his restaurant stopped us and we were all given a glass of cherry brandy, nice warmer, but just up the road were stopped again snaps this time, good job I only had to follow the one in front, and no breakfast.
    Have put in some pictures taken from video, hence quality, more pictures soon
    Credit to the chap that did it on his bike,
    pic 1--- Eindhoven church on the way in
    pic 6 ---No room by the road put them on the garage roof
    pic 3-- Has he seen it before
     

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