Churchill Tank Chat

Rick,

You are embarking on a terrific project and I wish you well.

Do you have any history of the tank?
I only ask as it looks like it has been the subject of a peppering when you look at the side skirt.

Regards
Tom

 

TCS -
I also noted those holes but rejected them as bullet/shrapnell entry points thought they might be rusted out rivets - until I looked at the drivers escape door - one hole there - on plain sheet ?...... Strange !
Cheers

 

hi fella's
i was told the churchill came from catterick garrison and was used for infantry anti tank training so i would assume the holes were made by the hand held 84mm carl gustav rocket launcher also known as the charlie g, a bloody heavy lump to carry around the training area i can tell you !
i've a freind that's an expert on churchill's so i'm hoping when it finally gets moved to my neck of the woods he can come up with some history for me, there's some original painted markings that have survived but will require careful cleaning/sanding to expose them and if this can be done i might be able to come up with it's id.

 

Rick -
you are right - it will take really fine careful work to expose this insignia - could be from anywhere - but might be favourite to start with Hobo's 79th (Funnies) Div. as it doesn't appear to be a standard AVRE....might have been at Catterick throughout the war of course - a lot of Tanks passed through that depot
Cheers

 

thanks for the info tom, if you're ever passing by manchester you are more than welcome to come for a shufty at the collection and if you're feeling really keen bring a spanner with you

all the best

rick

 

Rick -
Would love to do just that but I am afraid that my travelling days are getting close to the end of the line - I had planned to visit the UK once more this year- and have a session with Spidge around Maytime in London - but things are working against that at this time.....but good luck in your endeavours...
Cheers

 

that's a shame tom, i suppose you'll just have to make do with the pictures but it would have been nice to get a real insight into the workings of a churchill at war, i reckon it would have all come back to you like it was only yesterday

all the best

rick

 

Rick -
there are times when it comes back like the day before yesterday- most of it good though as all the bad stuff is in the exterior hard drive and only the good stuff comes forward- Gerry Chester is always popping into the Uk though - he might make a trip to see you and the restoration..
Cheers

 

Hi Rick,

Tom's suggestion that we get together is a timely one, as it so happens that my next meeeting with Nigel Montgomery is slated for late May or early June. The first of the three Churchills he is restoring, a Mark IV, is finished and will be going to Bovington at June's end, prior to which he has requested that I be intervieved. It would be most helpful for you and your project if it is possible you could join us.

Nigel's website http://www.churchilltank.com/Home_Page/Home.html

Cheers, Gerry.

 

Gerry,
I am really impressed with the Renovation work.
Thanks for supplying the link.

A quick question for you and Tom regarding the exhaust on the Churchill Tank.

Was the exhaust usually quite clean or was it a giveaway at distance?

Regards
Tom

 

TCS
The exhaust was always sort of red hot - and moving in line ahead at night - we never needed those very small lights to the differential as we could see the red hot exhaust U shape - unless we all fell asleep which was not uncommon - then the CMP's would wake us up and we had to go like hell to catch up..also handy for heating up our M&V dinners - but again we usually forgot them and had to clean up the whole engine before eating .....wonderful target for the Luftwaffe though - but they didn't do too much flying at night ..
Cheers

 

Rick / Gerry -
Now that is a very tempting thought and while I had almost cancelled my trip - I might give it another think to see how I can wangle it - so Gerry keep me posted on dates etc ....I would love to be there..as we can nip in and visit Sapper after that ..
Cheers

 

hi fella's
i'd love to tag along when you meet nigel if you can get me in, i could kill 2 birds with one stone as i've yet to visit bovy aswell

happy days

 

Rick -
if it all comes about - then you will be in for a rare treat as Bovvy is the very home of Britah and other armour examples - including the Tiger which was killed by 4th Troop of 48th RTR of the 21st Tank Bde in Tunisia and was hauled back to the Uk and finally restored by Bovvy just a few years ago.

I have my thinking cap on at this time to try and figure a way to be there also- and anyone else which would be a real hoot !
Cheers

 

Have you looked at the Churchill on warcop ranges? it's a hard target and well shot-up. the one at kirkcudright ranges is in better condition. i am going to kirk in May to do some photography of pre-deployment training, if I have time I can take a look for you. I do have some video of the Kirk Churchill somewhere (we used it as a target for 30mm) and can take a screen-shot if that helps. this target might have some useful spare parts but it has been lying in a very remote bog for at least 50 years....

 

hi fella's
i've been wanting to visit bovvy for ages and this sounds like the perfect opportunity to meet a few guys that served in churchill's during ww2 and maybe do a bit of parts scrounging off nigel aswell and if there's any time left i might get to have a quick shufty at the tanks

i've been on warcop and seen the churchill's, there's 6 all told or should i say the remains of 6, 5 are close together on a ridge line and are pretty hammered and 1 is further out on it's own and more complete than the others but is still dire which is to be expected seeing as how the british army has been shooting at it for 60 years.

hi takrouna1943
any pics of ww2 range wrecks you can come up with would be greatly appreciated, i've made it my mission to try and save as many as i can.

all the best

rick

 

Rick -
Would love to do just that but I am afraid that my travelling days are getting close to the end of the line -
Tom is there a thread about your service in WWII? cheers

 

Freebird -
If I had a thread- it would be a very short one - there are one or two atricles in the BBc war series archives which might be of interest although I tended to look for the humour of the whole time in the King's uniform...

told him it wouldn't fit but that didn't stop them from insisting that I had the cooks tour with four Luxury cruises two Mediterranian and two Adriatic in better ships - all painted white- illuminated - and better beds and food ...all free...was glad they insisted really.. !
Cheers

 

talking about rusted churchills, dont forget the one by the footpath on the downs in sussex. Google findon tank or read this

THIS IS FINDON - The Last Tank

 

Interesting read MrEd, thanks for posting.