tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81603342146566177322011-08-28T04:17:12.978-07:00Fifteen WW2 vehicles from Australia and New Zealand will travel from Istanbul to Gallipolli, across Turkey to Athens and Crete, by ferry to Italy, across the Swiss Alps to France to join the British MVT convoy at Etreham to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landing at Normandy on 6th June 2009. Support my Blog by donatıng to the Cerebral Palsy League below. http://www.cplqld.org.au/Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.comBlogger501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-28942803864066163922010-07-14T03:46:00.000-07:002010-07-14T03:52:10.974-07:00<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-2894280386406616392?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-24432924461279078462010-02-11T02:44:00.000-08:002010-02-11T02:46:21.003-08:00A Clearing Sale by nature of the concept should be and usually is the last resort for asset disposal.<br /><br />Despite three months “around the clock” preparation of vehicles they were only going to reach their “rock bottom” minimums anyway.<br /><br />Up to six inches of rain during the previous night magnified our anxiety. Every now and again we had to go out through the night to move precious furniture items closer into the large open shed when they were stored uncovered.<br /><br />The rain continued upon awakening on Auction morning. Weather reports were bad, for showers and rain all day. In total despair we considered canceling, however, continuing on with raincoats and the covers left in place. The rain petered out around 8.30 am giving forth to a cool overcast day ideal for walking around the sale items as the sale progressed.<br /><br />There are good and bad auctions and perhaps ours was a sign of the fallout of difficult economic times. A friend commented that ours’ “was the slowest auction he had ever been to.” It was more spectacular for the lack of money, in some cases recovering little more than original cost.<br /><br />The Chevy, Yankee Joe (Rob McBride, Kingaroy, QLD), Diamond T (Ian Brims, Dungay) and Commer (Graeme Lean, Maryborough, VIC) all went for $12,000. The Federal 604 $3,500 (Belgium), Le Roi $5,500 (John and Jeanette Kumerow, Jondaryan, QLD), Bristol 20 crawler $2,850 (Bluie), County Crawler $9,000 (John Overall, Toowoomba, QLD), Kaiser Reo $2,600, International R190 $1,350, Buzacotts stationary engine $275, Ferguson blade $550, “The Globe” pedestal drill $170, Clayton Welder $1,500 (Rob McBride) and a misunderstanding which lead to our selling the Chamberlain for $6,000 to Jack Kammer, Minden, QLD.<br /><br />The rain did stop people from attending, but with 200 bidders cards issued, lack of attendance didn’t stop the bidding. We had great support coming from family, friends, club members and neighbours both in the days leading up to and during the auction. We’ll always be grateful to these people.<br /><br />People knew we were in financial trouble and were genuinely disappointed for us, but they knew our beloved went to good homes and we took stock of the situation and will march on from here.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-2443292446127907846?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-79866175116719566982010-02-04T15:18:00.000-08:002010-02-04T15:28:13.241-08:00Remember start time 10.00 am, viewing from 8.00 am, (NO viewing of Kitchen and Souvenirs once Auction starts). Bring a hat and a chair and don't forget your wallet!<br /><br />KITCHEN<br />Set Susie Ann saucepans<br />Set 3 cream and green bakelite canisters<br />Set 5 Australian green/cream canisters<br />5 biscuit tins<br />Glass mixing bowl with lip<br />Pair small mixing bowls<br />Large/small glass mixing bowls<br />Green large/small glass mixing bowls<br />Pair white 6” vases - triangle 5<br />Diana cream vase 8.5” VO2<br />Old vase with flowers<br />Old 15” pitcher Stoke Dartmoor English 375D<br />Amber glass vase flowers<br />George Jones & Sons (crescent) England flower bowl<br />Blue ribbon glass vase<br />2 Casey ware vases<br />Ceramic gull sculpture<br />2 lady ceramic figurines<br />Pink lady figurine – Made in England<br />Pair green china crimoline lady’s figurines<br />Fruit bowls - Green glass bowl of fruit<br />Blue frosted glass fruit bowl<br />Collections of glasses – 13 vegemite cornflowers glasses<br />3 koalas glasses<br />3 ships at port glasses<br />Eta peanut paste jars – 5 peanuts cricketers<br />3 Eta Australian animals<br />2 Eta Circus glasses<br />3 Eta Party time <br />Collections of storage jars with lids - 5 brown jars <br />5 clear jars<br />5 green tinge jars<br />5 patterned jars<br />Pair Siamese cat figurines by Crestom …..<br />Set of 70s Nefertiti, 2 casseroles and 6 tureens<br />60s tureens - 6<br />Qty Willow pattern china, Churchill, England<br />Cut glass dressing table tray<br />Old glass decanter<br />hand blown decanter<br />Crystal - Old lead cut crystal fruit bowl<br />Holme Gaard crystal platter<br />Ritzenhoff crystal platter<br />4 brandy balloons, 2 Orrefors crystal, 1 Austrian Mikasa, 1 Stuart<br />Three legged open topped lead cut crystal bowl<br />Three legged rolled top lead cut crystal bowl<br />Signed crystal desk caddy – Linda Hammar Sweden<br />Old crystal ART Vannes FRANCE ornamental bowl 50s-70s<br />Crystal candle holder Mikasa platinum <br />Murano glass – white<br />Murano glass – green<br />Murano glass - brown<br />Green glass - green depression glass sandwich<br />green glass 3 leg bowl<br />green glass dish<br />large green glass vase<br />Green glass frosted decanter, no stopper<br />Green glass frosted dressing table tray<br />pair old green stemmed cocktail glasses<br />old Dutch ceramic Zassenhaus Coffee grinder<br />Coffee percolator – electric<br />Small Fowler electric jug<br />Large Fowler electric jug<br />Very old electric jug<br />Nilsen cream kookaburra electric jug<br />set of four small dinner plates – green yellow<br />Very old soup tureen with lid - Blue<br />Sandwich plate Royal Albert – royal blue orange, gold<br />Alfred Meakin coffee saucer and 2 cups – pink, yellow<br />Royal Staffordshire Honey glaze – flower arrangement and gold<br />J&G Meakin coaching scene - square<br />J&G Meakin crazed green thistles, oval<br />Royal Winton Grimwades – oval with handles<br />Lord Nelson sandwich plate – apricot and gold<br />Grindley sweets bowl<br />Alfred Meakin Platter – large with gold edge<br />Johnson Bros Old Chelsea platter – green ivy edge<br />2 bone handle pickle forks<br />set 4 Grosvenor Christine cake spoons<br />silver soup ladel<br />silver tray<br />Boxed set 6 setting Mytton Rodd silverware<br />Large green glass buoy<br />Small green glass buoy<br />old desk lamp <br />Juno Lamp USA brass<br />Brass naked boy foyer bell<br />2 brass bells<br />Old Velos desk calendar<br />Old Cast iron circular rubber stamp holder<br />coffee grinder Landers & Ciasa Corona<br />Mincer Beatrice No 1<br />Mincer Gem food 20 chopper Sargent & Co<br />Mincer Beatrice No 0<br />Sausage maker Chinese<br />pair Davenport collector wall plaques<br />Pates wall vase (pink fleck)<br />Diana cream wall vase<br />2 tapestries – Phar Lap 1982<br />Argus 300 E slide projector<br />Old Crane and tortoise with dragon head brass candle holder<br />old plastic black lady pad and pencil holder<br />Iron bulldog nutcracker<br />Pair brass geese<br />Persinware kitchen scales<br />Old shaving mirror<br />Conch shell<br />Large shell<br />Brain coral<br />Brown screw top jar, 2 x large Clear screw top jar, small clear jar<br />Double handled brown flagon<br />New Guinea mask carving artifact<br />Rooster coal iron<br />Green saucepan<br />Cream saucepan<br />Green saucepan and two colanders<br />Large brass plaque<br />Green print “A Friend in Need”<br />Qty assorted electrical equipment<br />Fireplace bellows<br />Cobra fireplace set<br />cast iron kettle<br />aluminium kettle, made from recycled WW2 aircraft<br />Box silverware<br />Box old bottles<br />Blowtorch Primus 632 #AT<br />40’s Ferris M94 portable car radio and speaker<br />Large SO picture frame<br />Old dressing table Mirror timber backed<br />Old dressing table Mirror timber backed<br />SOUVENIRS<br />Mack bulldog ashtray<br />Mack bulldog bonnet figurine<br />Mack bulldog L/R engine cover badges<br />Pair Mack air horns<br />Mack plastic front grill<br />Mack timber truck and trailer model<br />KW timber truck model<br />Mercedes badge<br />IH badge<br />Large Brass bulldog<br />Southern Comfort Bar mirror<br />Jimmy Barnes framed poster<br />Peter Brock Bridgestone poster<br />Jaguar XJ 220 Bridgestone poster<br />Plasterboard backed poster – ACDC<br />Plasterboard backed poster - Guns’n’Roses<br />Plasterboard backed poster - Led Zepplin<br />dozen old wine<br />brewing kit, 1 doz tallies and container<br />Box magazines, Wheels of Time<br />Box magazines, Bacon Busters, Spooting Shooters, Fishing World<br />Box magazines, Water Skiing<br />Bar/Car fridge, Maitred Mini Fridge Model TS15CF 12V/240V<br />bongo drums<br />Akubra black hat -58cm<br />Red cowgirl hat<br />Ka-Bar fighting knife – US Marine issue etched with “Kirkegaard”<br />WW1 Celebration Knife<br />WW2 Swedish ammunition belt, three crowns<br />Vietnam Viet Cong ammunition belt - manufactured in Japan<br />ship model USS Defiance<br />ship model USS Saipan LAH-2<br />Submarine poster<br /> <br />FURNITURE<br />Blue timber topped kitchen stool<br />Rocking horse<br />Portable toilet<br />kitchen stool green<br />kitchen stool beige<br />Pot belly stove fireside implements<br />Pine coffee table<br />Towel rail<br />timber high leg side table<br />pine organ pew two seater with name plaque<br />old pine washstand with single drawer<br />pine shelf and bookcase – blue paint<br />pine cheval mirror<br />pair black stools <br />3’ pine hall stand<br />witch on a broomstick<br />NSW Rail overhead luggage rack<br />wicker tea trolley and string basket<br />brown shelf white baskets<br />Vintage pedestal fan Airflow by Warner Drayton<br />2 boxes of LP records<br />Pine student desk cane sided<br />White 3 drawer laminated cupboard<br />Pianola stool<br />Chrome TV unit with colour TV<br />cane laundry basket<br />old pine ironing board<br />kitchen stool red<br />old pine cot<br />50’s blue checked Pyramid suitcase<br />Vintage scooter one wheel<br />70’s Cyclops three wheeler <br />Vintage scooter High Speed red<br />Vintage three wheeler Typhoon by Pilgrim Hi Speed metal wheels<br />Buddy L pedal car<br />Mahogany coffee table with shelf under and glass top<br />old SO coffee table intricate timber inlay<br />Folding pine book shelf<br />kitchen stool cream swivel<br />art deco 50’s smokers chrome and bakelite table<br />red 50’s laminex/aluminium kitchen table<br />red 50’s laminex/aluminium kitchen table – folding<br />Pair retro fluros and tubes<br />4 art deco white vinyl chairs<br />Malleys Warma kero heater<br />Vintage yellow Hotpoint electric heater <br />pine small vanity cabinet<br />pine 60’s sticker cupboard<br />Folding pine bookshelf<br />telephone table<br />teak coffee table<br />pine tea trolley<br />High backed tea trolley<br />SO planter stand<br />pine bow leg hall stand<br />old pine bentwood high chair<br />Lady of the Reef lamp<br />4 old pine bentwood dining chairs<br />Pine magazine rack<br />Dark stain timber stool<br />SO small coffee table<br />Old Vickers hand operated sewing machine<br />Small Balinese artifact table<br />Picnic basket<br />Singer Model 201P #EN642142 portable sewing machine<br />SO 6 x 4 desk<br />2 Bendigo pottery, water purifier, storage jar<br />2 childrens cane arm chairs<br />Dark stain mirror<br />old green cabinet door<br />dolls house<br />bevelled hanging mirror 14”x19.5”<br />1860’s cedar large partner’s desk<br />Tall vase – sunflowers<br />2 horse head swing<br />Rocket swing<br />Market trolley<br />Lewis 150 -2 Industrial sewing machine<br />Singer industrial sewing machine stand with electric motor<br />Singer industrial sewing machine stand glass hexagonal tabletop<br />Yamanto DCZ-203-D3 3 thread industrial overlocker/overedger <br />Singer 16-35 K435535 industrial HD treadle sewing machine<br />Child’s sewing mannequin<br />Singer domestic sewing machine stand<br />Helvetia Portable free arm sewing machine original instruction book and toolkit<br />Vintage dressmaker’s mannequin - female<br />Singer sewing machine foldaway treadle with electric power supply<br />Beisolt & Locke “Ana” treadle self opening sewing machine<br />Cedar shelf<br />Pair large picture frames<br />Easel<br />Octagonal laminex table<br />Pine bookshelf<br />Icebox 50’S UMI fridge<br />Blue cupboard<br />Sanyo Electric Bar Fridge<br />Orange stool<br />Grey laminex filing cabinet<br />2 x pine hutch tops and pine book shelves<br />Crown No 5 cast iron wood burning range<br />Cast iron Metters Early Kooka #12 gas range with saucepan rack<br />Westinghouse by Email Aquaria electric wall oven and grill<br />Cast iron electric oven Crown green enamel Model S Series 424 15.5”x10.5”<br />Lowboy<br />2 folding childrens stools<br />outdoor round aluminum table<br />outdoor setting bench, 2 chairs, table<br />Singer sewing machine base with marble top from washstand<br />Weber -Black <br />SO sewing machine cabinet painted white<br />Ford Fairlane Ghia 96 6 cyl gold sedan<br />VINTAGE EQUIPMENT<br />Ferguson rear bucket<br />Ferguson 3 mouldboard plough<br />Ferguson 7 tyne tiller<br />Massey Ferguson carryall<br />Ferguson tool bar<br />Ferguson quick hitch hook<br />Old tool bar<br />N series Fordson (Cork) fuel tank<br />Ferguson PTO and belt<br />Ferguson exhaust engine down pipe nos and small parts<br />Bentall Chaff cutter MODEL CEE<br />Buzacotts True Diesel single cylinder vertical stationary engine Model VD Engine Number 5090 Grain elevator chain and buckets from a Sunshine Header<br />Vintage 1939 G Model Oldsmobile curved car boot lid <br />David Brown 2 furrow plough,<br />Howard tractor cultivator rear section only<br />2 row corn planter<br />Homemade 5’ slasher<br />Tractor canopy 4 legs<br />Tractor canopy 2 legs<br />Tractor bullbar suit Fergy/Dexter<br />New ROPS kit suit Fergy/Dexter<br />Apac truck hydraulic floor jack<br />power saw 240V homemade (red)<br />Belt drive cast iron power hack saw<br />Howard terrier (incomplete)<br />cement mixer 240V Ralph McKay Ltd Port Implements Division (red)<br />Small Metal bench lathe Herbert<br />Pedestal drill “The Globe” Australia 403<br />Pedestal drill “St Wefer System 2”<br />Hand tiller<br />Brush hook<br />Brush hook<br />Scythe<br />2 old truck chaindogs <br />Cross cut saw<br />Cross cut saw<br />Sand stone grinding wheel<br />Seed spreader “Sowall”<br />Vintage fertilizer spreader Highview<br />Pallet of assorted vintage implement parts<br />Complete jackshaft<br />2 jackshaft parts and slippery clutch<br />Ajax water pump<br />Flat plough disk<br />Cupped plough disk<br />Horse drawn slide<br />Lanora hurricane lamp<br />RS Werner Rockhampton Wonder Poley Stock Saddle<br />2 way shoulder drill<br />Armstrong Pitcher Water Pump<br />Cast iron dam filter ball <br />Boot last<br />Cast iron lead smelting pot<br />Primus stove<br />Milk pail<br />Milk can, crushed R Shaw, Lowood<br />Cream can Silverwood Butter Factory Warwick no base<br />Billy can and frame<br />Lake & Elliott Braintree V821B car jack<br />Shelley LJ1757 car jack<br />Willow watering can – galvanized<br />Blacksmiths portable vice Goatleg<br />Avery ½ ton imperial platform scales<br />Homemade steel 2 wheel barrow with wide iron wheels<br />Handmade timber sack trolley with iron wheels<br />Timber sack barrow with rubber wheels<br />Sack barrow with stationary transport wheels<br />BBQ<br />Large chain block no chain<br />Tractor seat McCormick<br />Tractor seat IH welded<br />Tractor seat JD<br />Tractor seat – large white<br />Vintage 240V compressor grey working<br />Vintage 240V compressor red working<br />Button dies and handles<br />Vintage Simac hand operated 60 litre drum oil <br />Pneumatic 60L oil drum pump<br />Kelso steel wheelbarrow<br />Galvanised steel wheelbarrow with red wheel<br />Galvanised steel wheelbarrow with bent front<br />5” Little Chief wood chipper<br />Pallet of tractor parts<br />Pair vintage wooden spoke wheels<br />Foot operated stapler<br />MILITARY<br />WW2 ice chest<br />Pair troop carrier gate sides (Acco)<br />Pair Military Acco fuel tank and parts<br />Pair alloy truck rear mud guards (green)<br />WW2 Australian army portable bench<br />1 gallon red fuel can with Esso embossed brass cap<br />2 gallon Military oil tin no cap<br />2 gallon Military oil tin with brass cap<br />4 Jerry can 5 gallon (dated)<br />20L scripted Mobil Jerry can<br />Timber Ammo crate<br />Metal Ammo box no lid<br />FMC steel ammo box 1943<br />Kelco steel ammo box 1972<br />PSC rifle box 1942<br />3 small wooden 303 ammo cases<br />Australian Army Map Filing cabinet steel military 1961<br />Camoflage large<br />Camoflage brown<br />Camoflage net<br />Signals box<br />Dodge WC21 ½ ton parts<br />PTO Kaiser M35 (High Low Reverse) - Spicer<br />Diff Centre 2.5 ton Chevy ratio 6.67<br />Pallet of Studebaker tailshaft and parts<br />Studebaker gearbox<br />Studebaker/GMC Hi/Low/reverse PTO<br />air filter element suit ferret<br />Military turntable standard pin<br />Set of secondhand jeep seats<br />Fixed pintel ring<br />2 tow hooks<br />International tow hitch<br />Military folding shovel<br />4 x Holmes shackles<br />Holmes rope guide<br />Part of a Kaiser Diamond pintel hook<br />WW2 jeep front diff assy<br />TRUCK EQUIPMENT AND PARTS<br />Early Holden car rim and tyre 13” HR<br />14”Rim and tyre suit HQ HZ Holden<br />G-well under body hoist ramp with pump<br />Bench grinder stand<br />Steel workshop stool<br />Bench small angle iron<br />Pedestal fan Model CS6014<br />Rogers hydraulic tilt tray winch with cable (white)<br />Garwood chain drive chassis winch (blue)<br />Holman pneumatic/steam winch with cable (grey)<br />Light hydraulic winch with cable suit small tilt<br />Large Olding shaft drive winch no cable<br />Radicon/Davleco belt drive winch no cable<br />Large worm drive right angle drive (green)<br />2 medium truck ramps suit 2-5 tonner<br />2 steel light truck ramps suit ute etc<br />Jib crane boom suit 3 point linkage<br />Westinghouse Tu-flow 400 compressor belt drive<br />TK Bedford front bumper and small parts<br />2 Oversize load signs on frames<br />Pair wind down 2 spd semi-trailer legs<br />Aluminium truck loading ramp<br />2 winch pulleys<br />3 x 15” low loader Spider rims and spacers and 4 15” lowloader tyres<br />Ball race turntable lockable with base plate 2“standard pin<br />Vintage One ton recovery truck crane<br />Small “A” frame towing bar<br />Tipper tailgate<br />Steel truck HG toolbox 56x51x31 (blue)<br />Galvanized truck toolbox 117x40x46<br />Galvanized truck toolbox 90x40x50<br />Galvanized truck toolbox 83x47x37<br />Toolbox 53x24x28 blue<br />Big fuel tank with cap red<br />Tractor fuel tank<br />Steel base unit suit toolbox red<br />Steel dolly suit engine stand mobile black<br />large truck fuel tank 90x66x56<br />Step side steel Diamond T/White fuel tank (black)<br />Step side steel diesel tank Diamond T/White (white)<br />New Humes concrete pipe 35 ID x 2.5<br />3 pallets Assorted 4x4 tyres and rims<br />3 x 28 old tractor tyres<br />Pallet of assorted starter motors and generators<br />five truck air tanks with two breakaway valves<br />1100R x 22.5 truck tyre<br />8.25 x 16 Jap 6 stud tyre and rim<br />truck hydraulic hoist oil tank suit tipper 65x36x43 (red) with two valves and three rams<br />Roc hydraulic tank (green)<br />Heavy winch cable<br />Medium winch cable<br />Light winch cable<br />Red camper body off an International<br />pair of Inter 190 front guards and 2 grille panels and 2 step brackets<br />pneumatic truck seat, 3 single truck seats<br />Chrome exhaust end, Rockwell dome hub cap<br />Pair Hella 12V spot lamps<br />Fancy chrome spot lamp and 2 Hella fog lamps, no globes<br />Pair Jap tail/blinker lamps<br />2 large rolls of conveyor belt<br />Pallet of terra firma matting<br />White crew cab tray with canvas canopy 1.5 long x 2.17 wide<br />3 safety triangles<br />Pallet of GMV653 parts<br />GM471 motor partly dismantled but should be complete<br />Cummins starter motor<br />Pair Rockwell 38,000lb diff centres<br />No 4 Eaton 2 spd Diff centre 5.2 road tested servicable<br />No 4 Eaton 2 spd Diff centre 5.2 ratio SH unknown<br />2 pallets of Chev engine parts<br />1 bundle hardwood flooring – 40 planks<br />OTHER<br />Pallet of assorted lamps<br />Workshop mobile parts rack 3 decks on castors <br />Air conditioner<br />3 pair rubber boots<br />2 pair flippers<br />Tyco back flow preventing valve with taps, valves and fittings<br />Two Aqua metro fluid and Oil Flow Meters<br />Tack box<br />Tool box<br />Storage box<br />3 Galvanized dustbins with lids<br />Chicken feeder<br />Gardena fertilizer spreader<br />stainless steel double kitchen sink, 2 single<br />roll cyclone mesh<br />various signs<br />lawn aerator<br />Assorted irrigation pipe big and small diam<br />5 large hardwood planks<br />5 boxes of ceramic floor tiles<br />BUILDING MATERIALS<br />quantity 1” diam wooden dowel 7’ lengths<br />quantity ½” quarter round wooden beading<br />carpet board<br />quantity SO pre-used timber<br />quantity pine pre-used timber<br />three panel doors<br />pine tongue and groove doors<br />colonial double hung window sash<br />STUFF ON GROUND TO SELL QUICKLY AT END<br />Tilt a door<br />3 concrete dbl laundry tubs and pair stands<br />3 concrete tree surrounds<br />iron verandah rail<br />old fence posts<br />single stainless tub<br />yellow bathroom sink<br />2 tubs pebbles<br />aluminium flyscreen door and windows<br />garden bench<br />gate<br />plastic pots<br />3 garden ornaments, pots etc<br />tea light tree<br />box telephone lead<br />pelmets<br />directors chairs, lounges, canvas stools and seats<br />boat bits<br />white toilet<br />Timber toilet seat<br />green toilet with lid<br />rustic mirror frame<br />qty old tent poles<br />vinyl stool, white stool<br />basketball ring backboard<br />tongue and groove boards<br />pallet rack clips<br />scaffolding clamps<br />yellow cane table setting<br />quantity corrugated iron<br />Curtain rods etc<br />¼ ton potato bags, suit garden tidy bags<br />VEHICLE MANUALS<br />Diesel Engine Fundamentals Training Manual<br />Diesel Fuel System Fundamentals training manual<br />Motor’s Truck Repair Manual 11 Ed 1958<br />Bedford KMR Advertising Brochure Detroit Diesel 6V53N & Roadranger 10 speed<br />Service Training Manual Bedford Trucks & Coaches, Transmission & Rear Axle 1973<br />Bristol Tractor Series PD Operator’s Manual<br />Bristol Tractor Series D Spare Parts List<br />Bristol 20 Data Sheets<br />Bristol Tractor Taurus Series Spare Parts List<br />Caterpillar 22 Parts Catalog<br />Caterpillar 22 Operators Instruction Book (Reproduction)<br />Chevrolet Maintenance Manual 1.5 ton (right drive) 4X2 Truck<br />Chevrolet Parts List 1.5 ton (right-hand drive)<br />Chevrolet 1.5 ton (LC) 4X4 Truck Maintenance Manual<br />Diamond Reo Care and Operation Diesel Powered Models<br />Diamond T Care and Operation P, D and C G Series, Gasoline & Diesel Models<br />Federal 604 Maintenance Manual 6X4 Diesel Truck 2nd Ed, Feb 1944<br />Federal 604 Parts List 6X4 Diesel Truck 2nd Ed, Feb 1944<br />Forgotten Technology and Conversion charts by Lionel Otto<br />Willys ¼ ton Truck Maintenance Manual<br />Holden Trimatic Service Manual Statesman, Holden HQ, Torana, LJ Bedford CF,<br />International TD6 Owner’s Manual (Reproduction)<br />International TD6 TD9 Manual (Reproduction)<br />International T6 TD6 Crawler Tractors Parts Catalog (Reproduction)<br />International T6 TD6 Crawler Tractors Parts Catalogue (Original)<br />Studebaker 2.5 ton 6X6 and 2.5 – 5 ton 6X4 Truck Technical Manual 16 December 1943<br />PERSONALISED NUMBER PLATES<br />64 REO<br />US6<br />AMF 44<br />VEHICLES<br />International TD6, blade missing<br />28’ Freighter Strap Trailer Converted to tautliner <br />Small truck back board and body<br />Military truck petrol tank<br />International TD6, Armstrong Holland blade<br />Truck chassis<br />Chev Lendlease rear axle<br />1952 Chevy scrap<br />Isuzu SPG front ½ of an 8 wheeler scrap<br />36’ Freighter Strap Bogey Trailer Fair Condition <br />1939 Federal 604 Tank Transporter Cummins Diesl Winch Tractor unit Needs full restoration<br />1940 Lendlease Chevy Military Cab Chassis<br />Ford D1000 UD4 2 stroke single prime mover<br />Ford D1013 Fire truck Canadian 300 petrol<br />Studebaker tipper<br />Clayton Military Welder<br />Kaiser Reo Military Submersible<br />International R190 4X4 Tipper<br />KMR Bedford GMV653 single Prime Mover<br />Massey Harris 102 Junior tricycle tractor<br />Fordson Super Dexter P3-152 tractor <br />Fergy 1950 Petrol TEA20<br />Bristol 20 petrol 4 cyl crawler<br />Bristol PD 4 cyl Perkins Diesel crawler<br />Oliver 4 cyl diesel crawler<br />Fordson County Crawler Perkins P6 diesel<br />Le Roi 4 cyl tractorised air compressor Petrol<br />Mk II Industrial Chamberlain 6G<br />Cat 22 petrol/kero crawler R2 motor<br />Diamond T P3320 Bogey Drive 5x4 Rigid Full air 200 hp 6 cyl Petrol<br />Commer<br />Yankee Joe<br />Willys Jeep<br />Tyres SH ex army - 6 pallets x 5 1200x20 army Nato pattern (most have tubes and rustbands)<br />Tyres SH ex army - 4 pallets x4 1200x20 army Nato pattern (most have tubes and rustbands)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-7986617511671956698?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-61924580770675475802010-02-01T20:16:00.000-08:002010-02-01T20:22:38.892-08:00We are having a lot of interest in this crawler. A friend called in this morning as we were cleaning it up for a photo shoot. The one he had had a massive blade on it and a huge winch out the back. He described it as a fantastic dozer with tons of grunt! This wasn’t what we’d heard about them. But, we only play with them, clean them, tidy them up and show them off at the Rally’s we take them to.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en7p8mq1I/AAAAAAAAALo/i2nb5XuZ5Qg/s1600-h/100_1463A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en7p8mq1I/AAAAAAAAALo/i2nb5XuZ5Qg/s320/100_1463A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496118759959378" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en7aec8PI/AAAAAAAAALg/H5-wCggBNT8/s1600-h/100_1462A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en7aec8PI/AAAAAAAAALg/H5-wCggBNT8/s320/100_1462A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496114606960882" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en647YPpI/AAAAAAAAALY/3dfhi6f9CCM/s1600-h/100_1461A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en647YPpI/AAAAAAAAALY/3dfhi6f9CCM/s320/100_1461A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496105601482386" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en6s8-j2I/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZDP3Bb3hxfw/s1600-h/100_1460A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en6s8-j2I/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZDP3Bb3hxfw/s320/100_1460A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496102386962274" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en6C-KoSI/AAAAAAAAALI/syYfBIwaBZ0/s1600-h/100_1459A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S2en6C-KoSI/AAAAAAAAALI/syYfBIwaBZ0/s320/100_1459A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496091117658402" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6192458077067547580?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-48692608118658774212010-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:002010-02-01T20:16:15.934-08:00I have had an enquiry about driving our vehicles home from the auction. All current registrations are held in the name Dale Darrell Barnard. All vehicles are sold with correct title and unencumbered. Vehicle Chassis, Vin and Engine numbers have been supplied in the various advertisements we have placed and will be available on the sale day or by application to us.<br /><br />All vehicles (with the exception of the Ford Fairlane) will be sold deregistered, with no RWC due to Queensland Transport requirements regarding vehicle registration on concessional (Club) registration. REVS certificates are not applicable. Club registrations and RWC are not transferable.<br /><br />Upon sale, all number plates will be removed and retained by Dale Barnard. Previously registered vehicles will be able to be driven home on a trade plate or permit obtained from the appropriate State Transport Department(s).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4869260811865877421?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-68132690314751869432010-01-21T13:37:00.000-08:002010-01-21T13:46:07.870-08:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S1jJ5whDSjI/AAAAAAAAALA/9gxQg9Xh2NY/s1600-h/100_1438A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S1jJ5whDSjI/AAAAAAAAALA/9gxQg9Xh2NY/s320/100_1438A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429311344908388914" /></a><br />If someone doesn’t fall in love with this thing now, I’ll be amazed. I’ve always loved it”<br /><br />“God, this is even uglier than the Kaiser.<br />It’s awesome.”<br /><br />“This has got to be the King of all 190’s,” says Dale. <br /><br />When I came home from a day’s babysitting my grandchildren, I was dragged up the back to look at “something very exciting.” Dale was so excited and couldn’t wait to show me.<br /><br />He’d cleaned out the cab of the R190 and found all sorts of things which were originally from the truck and had busied himself fitting them back on. There was an IH badge, door handles, park lights and headlights. Then the winch and bumperettes were bolted back where they belong out the front!<br /><br />The effect is quite a different truck eh? What a brute!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6813269031475186943?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-51497418271595695622010-01-17T04:57:00.000-08:002010-01-17T05:00:57.024-08:00Our excitement levels soar as we put the finishing touches to those of our vehicles going under the hammer on Feb 7th 2010 at the auction.<br /><br />Yesterday it was the Chamberlain, which was fired up after an adjustment was made to the throttle lever which wouldn’t hold its position.<br /><br />On Tuesday, Dale finally got the 4 cylinder UD 2 stroke running in the Ford D1000. That sweet sound only a two stroke can make. He also had to install a replacement ignition switch because as is always the case, the key was missing.<br /><br />Today we fired up the Clayton Military Welder. A new fan belt, an exhaust repair, a couple of radiator hoses, press the button and that magic V8 1942 Ford side valve thumped into action. We even got a reading on the volt meter for the welder.<br /><br />Actually having an auction sale to dispose of your possessions seems like an easy option until you try it yourself.<br /><br />We’re running ourselves ragged with the endless repairing, writing up and placing ads, cleaning and preparing our property.<br /><br />Don’t let anyone till you its easy, there’s a lot to do as well as to consider.<br /><br />We’re trying to tend to all the trucks to present them as well as we can. You know how it goes; every time you get in one something else goes wrong. And, it was going alright until you tried to fire it up for someone else.<br /><br />Other jobs have included fixing an idler and installing new lateral torsion bushes on the Fordson County, tidying off the Cat C22 after removing its blade, installing the new grill in the Fergy, changing the tyres and painting the Dexta.<br /><br />We’re also replacing accessories removed by previous owners on some of the vehicles. As Dale goes around cleaning up he keeps finding bits purchased for the trucks, puts them on the ones going to auction and yet again stowing the rest for safe keeping.<br /><br />Batteries are always a problem with an old fleet which is only driven once or twice a year. Luckily Dale picked up nine batteries from a depot which was closing down.<br /><br />As you can imagine our garden blitz is well under way, metre high grass is being mown, felled trees are being carted to the dump. It’s a bit tricky trying to keep the grass down and timing putting the pallets and machinery out without their being overgrown by auction date.<br /><br />Hmmm, we have had the hottest 6 months in recorded history and unusually high rainfall periods as well. Hope to see you all at the auction.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5149741827159569562?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-49051117538178976412010-01-13T00:10:00.000-08:002010-01-13T00:31:49.058-08:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S02ENf_FANI/AAAAAAAAAK4/AaPzTQtiiZc/s1600-h/100_1436.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S02ENf_FANI/AAAAAAAAAK4/AaPzTQtiiZc/s320/100_1436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426138493510549714" /></a><br />Check out Dale and Leigh checking out the 6 speed Chamberlain, inspecting the remote rear hydraulics, 3 pt and PTO as well as its drawbar. Although delighted with what they saw, after a test drive and close inspection, Leigh and Judy Atkinson, "weren't giving anything away!"<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4905111753817897641?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-6440577635904024352010-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:002010-01-11T16:18:28.710-08:00<strong>SOUVENIRS</strong><br /><strong>Mack bulldog ashtray, Mack bulldog bonnet figurine, Mack bulldog L/R engine cover badges, Pair Mack air horns, Mack timber truck and trailer model,</strong> KW timber truck model, Mercedes badge, IH badge, Peter Brock Bridgestone poster, Jaguar XJ 220 Bridgestone poster, Repro metal sign Cobra car, Plasterboard backed poster – ACDC, Plasterboard backed poster - Guns’n’Roses, <br />Plasterboard backed poster - Led Zepplin, Quantity aerial tourist pennants<br /><br /><strong>MILITARY</strong><br /><strong>Ja-Bar hunting knife – US Marine issue etched with “Kirkegaard”, WW1 Celebration Knife,</strong> WW2 Swedish ammunition belt, three crowns, Vietnam Viet Cong ammunition belt - manufactured in Japan, WW2 ice chest, Pair troop carrier gate sides (Acco), Military Acco fuel tank, Military Acco fuel tank, Pair alloy truck rear mud guards (green), WW2 Australian army portable bench, Australian Army Map Filing cabinet steel military 1961, ship model USS Defiance, ship model USS Saipan LAH-2, WW2 fuel can, Jerry can 5 gallon (dated), Timber Ammo crate, Metal Ammo box, Ammo case, Camoflage large, Camoflage brown, Camoflage net, Signals box, Signals box, Studebaker gearbox, PTO suit Studebaker or GMC (High Low Reverse), PTO Kaiser M35 (High Low Reverse) – Spicer, Diff Centre 2.5 ton Chevy ratio 6.67, 10 stud Diff banjo and brake drums Lendlease Chevy, Pallet of Studebaker tailshaft and parts, Oil filter elements suit Studebaker, Olding military shaft drive winch (khaki), Davleco/Radicon belt drive winch military (yellow), Military turntable standard pin<br /><br /><strong>FURNITURE</strong><br /><strong>1860’s cedar large partner’s desk,</strong> Mahogany coffee table with shelf under and glass top, Cedar shelf, Pair large picture frames, Folding pine book shelf, 3’ pine hall stand, old Silky Oak coffee table intricate timber inlay, 3’ SO encyclopaedia book case, SO planter stand, Large SO picture frame, old pine bentwood high chair, 4 old pine bentwood dining chairs, pine bow leg hall stand, pine 60’s sticker cupboard, pine 4’6” table, telephone table, Icebox 50’S UMI fridge, kitchen stool red, kitchen stool beige, kitchen stool green, kitchen stool timber, pair black stools, cane laundry basket, old pine ironing board, red 50’s laminex/aluminium kitchen table, <strong>red 50’s laminex/aluminium kitchen table – folding, art deco 50’s smokers chrome and bakelite table, Fryside kero heater, Argus 300 E slide projector, Vintage pedestal fan Airflow by Warner Drayton, 40’s Ferris M94 portable car radio and speaker, Pair fluros and lamps, Beisolt & Locke “Ana” treadle self opening sewing machine, Singer sewing machine base with marble top from washstand, Singer sewing machine foldaway treadle with electric power supply, 50’s blue checked Pyramid suitcase,</strong> SO 6 x 4 desk, SO small coffee table,<strong> pine organ pew two seater with name plaque,</strong> pine single drawer washstand, pine hutch top, pine cheval mirror, pine wardrobe, pine student desk, SO sewing machine cabinet, pine small vanity cabinet, pine sideboard base, pine tea trolley, pine shelves – blue paint, pine bookcase – blue paint, teak coffee table, timber high leg side table, sewing table, rocking horse, dolls house, witch on a broomstick, acoustic guitar, 2 school trestles, glass hexagonal tabletop, bevelled hanging mirror 14”x19.5”, mirrors, single water bed soft sided, single water bed timber sided, bassinet on stand, Lysaght sifter, portable toilet, Window awning canvas yellow/white stripe “Wall Markise” 3.6m wide x 2.5, outdoor setting round table with stools, outdoor round aluminum table, outdoor setting bench, 2 chairs, table, BBQ Skyline Series 4, Weber -Black <br /><br /><strong>KITCHEN</strong><br /><strong>Cast iron Fowler gas range with saucepan rack, Cast iron electric oven Crown green enamel Model S Series 424 15.5”x10.5”, Crown No 5 cast iron wood burning range,</strong> Chef wall oven, Set 5 Australian green/cream canisters, <strong>Small Fowler electric jug, Large Fowler electric jug, Very old electric jug, Nilsen cream kookaburra electric jug, Electric coffee jug,</strong> Set 3 cream and green bakelite canisters, Pair white 6” vases, Diana cream vase 8.5” VO2, Green glass bowl of fruit, Old vase with flowers, <strong>Old 15” pitcher Stoke Dartmoor English 375D, Large green glass fishing buoy, Small green glass fishing buoy,</strong> Ceramic gull sculpture, Amber glass vase flowers, Fireplace bellows, Cobra fire set, Pot belly stove fire set, Chrome tripod base fire set, Conch shell, Vintage Jar cowries, Large shell, Brain coral, <strong>Boxed set 6 setting Mytton Rodd silverware, Sandwich plate Royal Albert,</strong> Blue frosted glass bowl, Old lead cut crystal fruit bowl, Holme Gaard crystal platter, Ritzenhoff crystal platter, Pink lady figurine – Made in England, Pair green china crimoline lady’s figurines, Blue ribbon glass vase, Cut glass dressing table tray, 4 brandy balloons, 2 Orrefors crystal, 1 Austrian Mikasa, 1 Stuart, pair green stemmed cocktail glasses, hand painted gold/green plate by Gwenda Condie, lead cut crystal bowl, lead cut crystal bowl, <strong>green depression glass sandwich, green glass 3 leg bowl, green glass vase, green glass dish,</strong> Green glass frosted decanter, no stopper, Old crystal ART Vannes FRANCE fruit bowl 50s-70s, Crystal candle holder Mikasa platinum , 2 lady ceramic figurines, George Jones & Sons (crescent) England flower bowl, Set 7 English plates, Alfred Meakin coffee saucer and 2 cups, Casey ware vase, Old glass decanter, pair Davenport collector wall plaques, hand blown decanter, Persinware kitchen scales, <strong>old Dutch ceramic coffee Zassenhaus grinder,</strong> 2 bone handle serving forks, set 4 Grosvenor Christine cake spoons, silver serving ladel, old plastic black lady pad and pencil holder, small green glass mixing bowl, large green glass mixing bowl, large glass mixing bowl with lip, set three glass mixing bowls, Set of 70s Nefertiti, 2 casseroles and 6 tureens, <strong>lady of the reef lamp, New Guinea mask carving, Bali carved table, Iron bulldog nutcracker, Large brass bulldog figurine,</strong> Large brass plaque, Brass naked boy foyer bell, 2 brass bells, pair brass geese, old rooster coal iron, old brass tortoise and crane candlestick holder, coffee grinder Landers & Ciasa Corona, Mincer Beatrice NO 0, Mincer Beatrice NO 1, Mincer Gem food 20 chopper Sargent & Co, Mincer Chinese, cast iron kettle, aluminium kettle, made from recycled WW2 aircraft, stainless steel kettle, <strong>old brass NSW railways overhead shelf</strong><br /><strong>OFFICE</strong><br />Vertical card file system, Velos calendar, Velos stapler, Cast iron circular rubber stamp holder<br /><br /><strong>OLD BOTTLES AND JARS</strong><br />Vinegar bottle, Brown screw top jar, Clear screw top jar, Box square jars with screw tops, Collector glasses old vegemite glasses<br /><br /><strong>VINTAGE EQUIPMENT</strong><br /><strong>Bentall Chaff cutter MODEL CEE, Buzacotts True Diesel single cylinder vertical stationary engine Model VD Engine Number 5090,</strong> Grain elevator chain and buckets from a Sunshine Header, Vintage 1939 G Model Oldsmobile curved car boot lid, Clayton welder, David Brown 2 furrow plough, <strong>FERGUSON IMPLEMENTS: Ferguson exhaust down pipe nos, Ferguson front blade, Ferguson 3 mouldboard plough, Ferguson 7 tyne tiller, Ferguson rear bucket, Massey Ferguson carryall</strong>, 2 row corn planter, Lake & Elliott Braintree V821B car jack, Shelley LJ1757 car jack, 240V power hack saw (Fastcut), power saw 240V homemade (red), Belt drive cast iron power hack saw, cement mixer 240V Ralph McKay Ltd Port Implements Division (red), cement mixer 240V (silver), Small Metal bench lathe Herbert, Miniature lathe, Pedestal drill “The Globe” Australia 403, Pedestal drill “St Wefer System 2”, Hand tiller, Brush hook, Scythe, Mower blade, Cross cut saw, Cross cut saw, sandstone grinding wheel, Seed spreader “Sowall”, Vintage fertilizer spreader Highview, Vintage fertilizer spreader Hodges Rotospread, Lanora hurricane lamp, Old stock saddle RS Werner Rockhampton Wonder Poley, Horse drawn slide, 2 way shoulder drill, Fruit picking stand, Armstrong Pitcher Water Handpump, Engine on trolley, Cast iron dam filter ball, Boot last, Avery ½ ton imperial platform scales, Cast iron pot, Primus stove, Son of Hibarchi BBQ, Milk pail, Milk can, crushed R Shaw, Lowood, Cream can Silverwood Butter Factory Warwick no base, Billy can and frame, Willow watering can – galvanized, Button dies and handles, Homemade steel 2 wheel barrow with wide iron wheels, Handmade timber sack trolley with iron wheels, Timber sack barrow with rubber wheels, Sack barrow with stationary transport wheels,<strong> Tractor seat McCormick, Tractor seat IH welded, Tractor seat JD, Tractor seat – large white,</strong> Vintage 240V compressor, Vintage 240V compressor, Vintage Simac hand operated 60 litre drum oil <br /><br /><strong>TOOLS</strong><br />Box planers, Hand drills etc<br /><br /><strong>TRUCK EQUIPMENT AND PARTS</strong><br />Early Holden car rim and tyre 13” HR, 14”Rim and tyre suit HQ HZ Holden, G-well under body hoist ramp with pump, 2 x heavy industrial G clamps, Bench grinder stand, Bench small angle iron, Pedestal fan Model CS6014, Porta power pump, Light truck/dual crew cab covered drop side tray suit Dyna/Delta, Red tray body, <strong>WINCHES:</strong> <strong>Rogers hydraulic tilt tray winch with cable (white), Garwood chain drive chassis winch (blue), Holman pneumatic winch with cable (grey), Large worm drive right angle drive green), Vintage Olding M66 chain drive winch shaft drive, Vintage compressed air winch,</strong> Small bevel drive right angle drive (yellow), 2 medium truck ramps suit 2-5 tonner, 2 aluminium light truck ramps suit ute etc, Ball race revolving lockable turntable on plate, Jib crane boom suit 3 point linkage, Westinghouse Tu-flow 400 compressor belt drive, Westinghouse 2 cyl compressor belt drive, 2 Oversize load signs on frames, Pair wind down 2 spd semi-trailer legs, Aluminium truck loading ramp, Right angle gear drive, 2 winch pulleys, 3 x 15” low loader Spider rims and spacers, Ball race turntable lockable with base plate 2“standard pin, Vintage rim 500x22”, <strong>One ton recovery truck crane,</strong> Small “A” frame towing bar, Small “A” frame towing bar, Heavy duty right angle drive for reduction, Ring hitch on towbar, Tipper tailgate, Steel truck HG toolbox 6x51x31 (blue), Galvanized truck toolbox 117x40x46, Galvanized truck toolbox 90x40x50, Galvanized truck toolbox 83x47x37, 2 x acco fuel tanks, large truck fuel tank 90x66x56, Step side steel Diamond T/White fuel tank (black), Step side steel diesel tank Diamond T/White (white), Pallet of air and hydraulic hoses, Assorted 4x4 tyres and rims, 2 x 28 old tractor tyres, Pallet of assorted starter motors and generators, five truck air tanks, truck hydraulic hoist oil tank suit tipper 65x36x43 (red), loading board and tray body, winch cable, winch cable, part of Inter 190 truck chassis, Steel 6” bench vice, Lendlease 10 stud Chev rear diff assy ratio 6.7, Scrap 52 chevy, Scrap Isuzu 8 wheeler front half only, Chrome exhaust end, Rockwell dome hub cap, Pallet of GMV653 parts, Pair Rockwell 38,000lb diff centres, Pair 12V spot lamps, No 4 Eaton 2 spd Diff centre<br /><br /><strong>OTHER</strong><br />Workshop mobile parts rack 2 decks on castors, Generator petrol 2 stroke Weihong WHF950, Homemade 5’ slasher, Drum pump 60 litre pneumatic Yamanda Yukiseizo, <strong>SEWING: Yamanto industrial sewing machine, 2 Industrial sewing machines, Vintage Dressmaker’s mannequin adult, Dressmaker’s mannequin child, Vintage Singer Model 201P #EN642142 portable sewing machine, Vintage Helvetia Portable free arm sewing machine original instruction book and tool kit,</strong> Boxes of LP records, Box hunting magazines – Bacon Busters, Sporting Shooters, Box Wheels of Time Magazine, Box silverware, Yellow metal trunk, Tack box, Tool box, Storage box, Banana crate, Galvanized dustbins with lids, Chicken feeder, Gardena fertilizer spreader, Child’s swing, Billy cart, Vintage three wheeler Typhoon by Pilgrim Hi Speed, Vintage scooter Hi Speed, Vintage scooter, Tilt a door, Bar fridge, Car fridge, Air conditioner, 5” Little Chief wood chipper, 6’ Mote aluminium ladder, Kelso steel wheelbarrow, Old wheelbarrow, 3 pair rubber boots, 2 pair flippers, possum trap, easel, 2 stainless steel double kitchen sinks, single stainless steel laundry tub, 3 concrete dbl laundry tubs and pair stands, 3 concrete tree surrounds, roll cyclone mesh, various signs, lawn aerator, Tyco back flow preventing valve with taps, valves and fittings, Two Aqua metro fluid and Oil Flow Meters, Jabsco Par-Max 2.9 50 PSI Automatic Water System Pump, Four wheel garden trailer suit ride on, Assorted irrigation pipe big and small diam<br /><br /><strong>BUILDING MATERIALS</strong><br />quantity corrugated iron, quantity 1” diam wooden dowel 7’ lengths, quantity ½” quarter round wooden beading, 4 large planks, 1 bundle hardwood flooring – 40 planks, quantity SO pre-used timber, quantity pine pre-used timber, three panel doors, pine tongue and groove doors, colonial double hung window sash, 5 boxes of floor tiles<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-644057763590402435?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-40555734371755697412010-01-11T15:43:00.000-08:002010-01-17T05:05:17.930-08:00<strong>Diamond T 1964 Bogey Drive Trayback</strong><br />Engine: #6-200 307584 6 cyl 200 hp White Mustang <br />Model: P3320, Chassis # 3320-1069D-41512 <br />Transmission: 5 spd Clark with 4 spd Spicer with 6041 Joey overdrive<br />Manufactured: USA, Diff Ratios: 30,000lb Eaton 7.1 ratio, Rockwell Front Axle, HP: 200 hp, Diff Lock, full air, brakes, no leaks, 16’ 6” timber tray, good tyres, earlier restoration, looks good. Rare truck.<br />Starts, runs, drives, perfectly. Economical to run, at 85 kph, currently registered. What can we say about this beautiful girl which we love, its Karen’s truck and it has to go! A pleasure to drive with its long slow gearchanges. We drove it to the inaugural White muster at Echuca.<br /><br /><strong>WW2 1944 Willys Jeep 4X4</strong><br />Engine: Willys 4 cylinder Petrol # MB370760<br />Chassis:#GPW6860, ¼ ton, Transmission: 3 spd HI/LOW transfer, Diffs: Spicer 4.88<br />Wheels/Tyres: 6.00 x 16”, Left Hand Drive, 6,000 miles only<br />Canvas top, rifle holder, axe, jerry can, matching good rubber<br />No dents, no rust, absolutely straight body<br />Drives perfectly, pleasure to drive, currently registered<br />Used often in military parades and displays<br /><br /><strong>Bedford KMR-XT5 Prime Mover</strong><br />Engine:#V82185P GM6V53, Chassis: #A11-697178<br />Date of Delivery: Late 1970s, Model: KMR, Power Steering<br />Transmission: RT610 (Direct) Roadranger<br />Manufactured: UK, Assembled in Melbourne, English cab modified to suit GM <br />Wheels: 10 stud 900x20 2x4 single axle, No 4 Eaton two speed diff. Clayton full air over wedge brakes with maxis<br />Not Running, Engine partly dismantled but complete. Standard Turntable supplied<br />Cab in reasonable condition. An interesting truck<br /><br /><strong>Commer Prime Mover</strong><br />Engine: Was TS3 and now retrofitted with a GMV653 2 stroke, 6 cylinder. #506750406<br />D65169<br />Date of Delivery: 1968, GVM 28,900, turntable<br />Model: CCG Long Wheel Base (141”) 12 Ton Forward Control Diesel Tractor Unit<br />Transmission: RTO 609 Roadranger<br />Manufactured: Commer Cars Ltd, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK<br />Differential: 2 spd Eaton No. 4. Full air brakes, good rubber<br />We drove it thousands of kms down to Beaufort to the Rudolf Diesel Rally and up to Rockhampton to the Qld Heritage Rally. It towed a huge Rogers low loader loaded with vehicles. A very popular vehicle, perched up high, it flies! Pleasure to drive. Looks and sounds great.<br /><br /><strong>Ford D Series D1000 Prime Mover</strong><br />Engine: UD4 two stroke diesel 24 volt #UD4-317752N 4 cylinder Model: D1000<br />Transmission: RT610 Roadranger (direct)<br />Manufactured: UK, Single Axle No 5, Diff: two speed Eaton diff 5.2 ratio<br />Wheels: 900x20 10 stud 2WD Dual Wheel<br />Full air over wedge brakes. Air assist park brakes<br />Very good cab – factory custom cab<br /><br /><strong>Ford D Series D1013 Fire Truck</strong><br />QLD Fire and Rescue former Texas Unit<br />Engine: #CG5ANJ16358D, Petrol 300 cc 6 cyl <br />Speedo: 28,582 miles, Series: D1013<br />Date of Delivery: 1/1973<br />Model: D1013, 5 ton, (GVM 9,000)<br />Transmission: 6 speed Ford clamshell<br />Manufactured: Dagganham, UK<br />Wheels: 20” 2WD Dual Wheel, single speed diff.<br />Hydraulic brakes with servo vacuum booster. Ratchet handbrake.<br />This is a rare all original example. VG tyres, VG cab. Drives well, very smooth. PTO driven water pump, good size water tank. The motor, brakes and mechanicals are excellent, comes with some equipment, no ladders. All electricals, siren, lights all working. Canadian motor.<br /><br /><strong>WW2 1945 6x6 Studebaker Dump Truck</strong><br />Engine: Hercules 6 cylinder Petrol # DK1545634JXD<br />Chassis: #694873, 2 ½ ton, 6X6<br />Serial: #100031<br />Transmission: Warner Gearbox T93 5 spd overdrive, HI/LOW transfer<br />Diffs: Timken 6.6:1, Wheels/Tyres: 7.50 x 20”<br />Winch: Garwood<br />Has a later model International tipper body fitted, in working order.<br />Runs and drives, recently registered for shows and very useful for low speed towing on our property.<br />A valuable part of Australia’s military history<br /><br /><strong>1942 Clayton WW2 Military Mobile Welder </strong><br />V8 Ford side valve engine, starts and runs well, with very powerful Clayton welder. Push button start.<br />Generator by Oliver J Nilson & Co<br />Switch gear by Clayton Joel & Co Melbourne<br />Weatherproof, lockup, single axle trailer with pintle eye hitch<br />This is a rare all original example.<br /><br /><strong>WW2 Chevrolet 4x4 Yankee Joe Military Truck</strong><br />Engine:Petrol 6 cylinder #R1296722, 1939 216 with military sump<br />Model: G series, Short Wheel Base 145” <br />Chassis: # RC42G71M179 <br />Transmission: Toyota Dyna 5 spd gearbox with a Toyota Landcruiser lid<br />Rated: 1.5 ton, Manufactured: 1944, Diff Ratios: 6.17, HP: 90 hp,<br />Cubic Capacity: 216 ci<br />Right Hand Drive <br />Australian Army# 192806<br />Undertook 8 month restoration to make the vehicle safe and reliable for living in throughout Europe, whilst trying to retain its authentic appearance. See article about restoration undertaken on www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com<br />Drove 6,500 km around Europe through 6 countries without an engine hiccup in 2009. It was listed as part of Australia’s cultural movable history and an export ban imposed, which was later removed. <br /><br /><strong>International R190 Tipper 4x4 Rare Military Dump Truck</strong><br />Engine: Petrol 6 cylinder #132840<br />Model: R190, Engine Model # RD450 ci<br />Chassis # FA84636, Transmission: 5 spd<br />Manufactured: 1958 Australian built, RH drive<br />Formerly RAAF runway maintenance vehicle at Amberley Air Base<br />Huge original winch, tipper rock body<br />Full air brakes and power steering<br />Motor damaged, rusted bores, replacement cab supplied and most panels. Well worth restoring this rare vehicle.<br /><br /><strong>Vietnam War Era 60’s Kaiser Reo</strong><br />6x6 Submersible Military Cargo Truck<br />Engine: Reo Gold Comet Petrol 6 cylinder waterproofed #M331-208581<br />Model: #M35<br />Chassis: #M38879<br />Transmission: 5 spd Spicer, with Hi/Low transfer box<br />Manufactured: USA, Left Hand Drive<br />Garwood winch complete, but broken crownwheel<br />Starts, runs and drives well<br /><br /><strong>WW2 1939 Federal 4x6 Military Tank Transporter</strong><br />Engine: Cummins HB60 Diesel 6 cylinder #122155 (not running)<br />Model: 604, Chassis: #604-120057, Manufacture: USA <br />Comes with a large 10 ton hydraulic extendable jib crane (no slew)<br />Would make an awesome military restoration as a tow vehicle<br /> <br /><strong>Bristol 20 Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Austin 1800 Petrol 4 cylinder <br />Model: Bristol 20<br />Transmission: 3 spd<br />Manufactured: 1948-1953, Earby, Colne, Lancashire, UK<br />Track shoes: 7”, HP: 22, Cubic Capacity: 134.1 ci <br />Displayed and driven around at rallys. Press button or crank to start.<br /><br /><strong>Bristol PD Tractor</strong><br />Engine: P3 Perkins Diesel, 3 cylinder, electric start <br />Date of Delivery: 09-04-65 for 2,250 $UK<br />Model: PD48, Tractor #10999<br />Transmission: 3 spd<br />Manufactured: 1961-1968, Earby, Colne, Lancashire, UK<br />Track shoes: 12”, HP: 32, <br />Displayed and driven around at Rallys. Turn key, press pedal start.<br /><br /><strong>1937 Caterpillar 22 Crawler</strong><br />Engine: Petrol/Kero 4 cylinder #2F7328<br />Model: 22, Frame #IJ5041SP<br />Transmission: 3 spd, Manufactured: Illinois, USA 1936 - 1939<br />Track shoes: 10”, HP: 25 <br />Very popular on the Darling Downs. Largely used in grain paddocks on the Black Soil plains where it was too wet for conventional tractors.<br />Good tracks, runs well, very popular, collectable vehicle. Crank handle start up only.<br /><br /><strong>Oliver Crawler Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Hercules Dooc Diesel 4 cylinder #AB450 905 DOOC<br />Model: AD, Serial # 87242<br />Transmission: 3 spd, Manufactured: 1940’s Cleveland, OHIO, USA<br />Track shoes: 12”, Cubic Capacity: 226 ci <br />Starts and runs well. Push button start. Highly sought after tractor, very collectable.<br /><br /><strong>Fordson County Crawler</strong><br />Engine: Perkins P6, 6 cylinder, 4 stroke, water cooled Diesel #3042429<br />Model: FC2951 Full Track, Chassis # 1213073<br />Transmission: 3 spd, 4.3 ratio<br />Manufactured: 1940’s, Track shoes: 14”<br />The Fordson Major E27N tractor was used as the basis of this County Crawler. Starts and drives well, a brilliant crawler, just needs the paint to be finished. Push button start. Has been driven and displayed at Jondaryan, Macksville and South Coast Restoration at Pimpama Rallys. Good tracks on this machine, have not be rebuilt, original. This is a good rare vehicle to add to your collection<br /><br /><strong>International TracTracTor TD-6 Dozer</strong><br />Engine: Petrol/Diesel 4 cylinder #TDBKM24281<br />Model: TD-6 IH <br />Transmission: 5 spd, Manufactured: USA 1950’s<br />Track shoes: 12”, HP: 40, Cubic Capacity: 247.7 ci <br />Factory Supplied Armstrong Holland Arms and rams and dozer blade<br />Engine rusted up, suitable spare parts, appears to be complete.<br /><br /><strong>International TracTracTor TD-6 Crawler</strong><br />Engine: Petrol/Diesel 4 cylinder #TDBKM22857<br />Model: TD-6 IH <br />Transmission: 5 spd, Manufactured: USA 1950’s<br />Track shoes: 12”, HP: 40, Cubic Capacity: 247.7 ci <br />Engine is free and spins over but has one pitted liner which needs replacing. Cylinder head will clean up. All parts are there.<br /><br /><strong>Le Roi Tractaire Mobile Compressor Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Le Roi Petrol 4 cylinder #237613TA<br />Model: #105G1<br />Serial No: #124765, Transmission: 3 spd gearbox<br />Manufactured: USA 1947<br />Rear axle is chain drive reduction<br />Inboard multiple disc plates brakes <br />Unique motor design with 6 cylinders on a common block and crank, 4 small pots to drive the engine and the rear two large cylinders drive the huge compressor.<br />Huge restoration undertaken. The bonnet being divided into two so that it can be opened to display the engine at rallys (Originally a two hour job to remove the bonnet). Key start.<br />Starts, runs and drives perfectly, compressor still operates, good crowd pleaser. Featured in TOMM magazine.<br /><br /><strong>Massey Harris 102 Junior Tricycle Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Continental Petrol/Kero 4 cylinder Original Engine Stamping #MFA162D22314<br />Separate Plate Chassis # 387924<br />Plated on Bellhousing #Massey Ferguson EN 212U42142 FGH572008<br />Model: 102 Junior Twin Power<br />Transmission: 4 spd gearbox<br />Manufactured: 1942<br />Row Crop, has been converted to a two seater bench seat. New front tyres, rears OK, working lights, mechanically good.<br />Distributed by HV McKay, Massey Harris Pty Ltd, Sunshine, VIC<br />Driven in the 2008 Lockyer Tractor Trek, starts and drives well. Has starter, but is easier to start with the crank handle.<br /><br /><strong>Fordson Super Dexta Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Perkins Diesel P3.152, 3 cylinder #1628458<br />Transmission: 3x2 gearbox, 2 stage clutch<br />Serial No: 615, Manufactured: UK<br />Cubic Capacity: 152 ci <br />New tyres on rear, 90% on front. Recently painted the wheels whilst fitting the tyres. In good working order. Key start.<br /><br /><strong>Grey Ferguson TEA-20 Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Vanguard Petrol 4 cylinder #S81078E<br />Model: TE20A, Transmission: 4 spd, Electrics: 6 volt<br />Manufactured: 1950 UK, HP: 20 <br />Straight, original, narrow wheels, good tyres all round<br />Starts easily, runs and operates perfectly. Original gear lever start.<br />This has been a long time asset on this property and has been used for slashing, towing the carryall, and best of all, driving the woodchipper, 3 point linkage and PTO, she’s got the Fergie badge, and is always shedded. THIS IS ONE YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS<br /><br /><strong>Chamberlain Champion MII Industrial Tractor</strong><br />Engine: Perkins Diesel 4-270 4 cylinder #626062<br />Model: MK II, Chassis: #IND3525, Transmission: 6 spd gearbox<br />Hours: 1483 <br />Manufactured: 1966 Western Australia<br />Gason Cab, Full air brakes with maxis, remote hydraulics at rear, 3 point linkage, PTO. Starts easily, runs sweet, popular, very collectable tractor, supposed to be road speed vehicle, but untested. Ideal for tractor trekking with dual seat. Key start.<br /><br /><strong>Chevrolet Lendlease 1952</strong><br />Rolling Cab chassis, no motor, suit spare parts<br />Has 2 speed diff<br />Purchased for spares for Yankee Joe restoration<br />Note: Concrete ballast for crane in seat<br /><br /><strong>Isuzu SPG540 Twin Steer Front Section Only </strong><br />Engine: #E120-248665<br />Engine damaged, no gearbox<br />Good for parts only, good windscreen, diff assembly and radiator etc<br /><br /><strong>Chevrolet Lendlease Military Cab Chassis 2x4</strong><br />Engine:Petrol 6 cyl #TR788583, 4 speed gearbox, 1940, Tare: 1.5 ton<br />Enclosed torque tube driveline<br />Rolling chassis<br />Has Army numbers still visible on bonnet<br />Complete truck<br />Would make a nice restoration project<br /><br /><strong>Freighter Strap Trailer</strong><br />35’ bogie axle, flat deck timber OK, 9.00x20 spiders, vacuum brakes, spare wheel rack.<br />Needs tidy up, ideal farm, easy vintage restoration. Excellent camber, not often found.<br /><br /><strong>Freighter Tautliner Strap Trailer</strong><br />28’ single axle, dual 10x20 spiders. New radial tyres, lights, barn doors, canvas usable, wind up legs, toolbox, storage rack, S-cam air brakes, last registered 2005.<br /><br /><strong>Ford Fairlane Ghia Sedan 96</strong><br />Engine: Petrol 6 cylinder #WTE66664<br />Model: NF, Transmission: Automatic<br />Vin: 6FPAAAJGLWTE66664<br />Registration: 385LXJ<br />Speedo: 249,815 km<br />Registered up until 22 Feb 2010 <br />Manufactured: 8/96<br />RWC # Dealer Licence # 3115443 Dale D Barnard<br />4 door, gold, CD stacker, cruise control, climate control, power steering, air bags, ABS brakes <br />Good condition, large, luxury car with all the goodies, lovely car to drive<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4055573437175569741?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-68924817180089872822010-01-09T17:51:00.001-08:002010-01-09T18:04:45.084-08:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0juptL8I/AAAAAAAAAKw/k252gyC0rMg/s1600-h/100_0932.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0juptL8I/AAAAAAAAAKw/k252gyC0rMg/s320/100_0932.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424925014567497666" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0jIrKdiI/AAAAAAAAAKo/3xbm966l-Q4/s1600-h/100_1098A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0jIrKdiI/AAAAAAAAAKo/3xbm966l-Q4/s320/100_1098A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424925004373063202" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0i4PjulI/AAAAAAAAAKg/lLFhf-yOvNU/s1600-h/100_1374.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0k0i4PjulI/AAAAAAAAAKg/lLFhf-yOvNU/s320/100_1374.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424924999962311250" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6892481718008987282?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-49018337688695123192010-01-09T17:40:00.000-08:002010-01-09T18:05:21.170-08:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyL0tGZEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cFv2tp5iKFA/s1600-h/100_0946A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyL0tGZEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cFv2tp5iKFA/s320/100_0946A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424922404852229186" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyLjz9jvI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/3zuFlYXkfyg/s1600-h/100_1395.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyLjz9jvI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/3zuFlYXkfyg/s320/100_1395.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424922400317607666" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyLGq1LFI/AAAAAAAAAKI/fe_wCbenrWk/s1600-h/100_1411.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyLGq1LFI/AAAAAAAAAKI/fe_wCbenrWk/s320/100_1411.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424922392494681170" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyKkXbJgI/AAAAAAAAAKA/4xwLsAm3bBA/s1600-h/100_2780.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyKkXbJgI/AAAAAAAAAKA/4xwLsAm3bBA/s320/100_2780.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424922383286478338" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyKOD36AI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/dRAqdfVLC1Q/s1600-h/100_2150.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kyKOD36AI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/dRAqdfVLC1Q/s320/100_2150.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424922377298896898" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4901833768869512319?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-47106496712285224422010-01-09T17:29:00.000-08:002010-01-09T18:05:47.487-08:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvrmvlEvI/AAAAAAAAAJw/xMZzxJobgWM/s1600-h/100_0515.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvrmvlEvI/AAAAAAAAAJw/xMZzxJobgWM/s320/100_0515.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424919652325462770" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvrJgkbdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/8nthkGFfzTU/s1600-h/100_0931.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvrJgkbdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/8nthkGFfzTU/s320/100_0931.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424919644477877714" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvqmoRUcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/rlrLdp8B1P4/s1600-h/100_1387.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvqmoRUcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/rlrLdp8B1P4/s320/100_1387.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424919635114938818" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvqEfGw2I/AAAAAAAAAJY/TNAbFvRBtZs/s1600-h/100_1385.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvqEfGw2I/AAAAAAAAAJY/TNAbFvRBtZs/s320/100_1385.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424919625949692770" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvpvYcuyI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/pzENF6Z236c/s1600-h/100_0531.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0kvpvYcuyI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/pzENF6Z236c/s320/100_0531.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424919620284627746" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4710649671228522442?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-90582263961148341872010-01-09T17:20:00.000-08:002010-01-09T17:29:45.661-08:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktIdhrL4I/AAAAAAAAAJI/FCXfJIhUEtU/s1600-h/100_0985A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktIdhrL4I/AAAAAAAAAJI/FCXfJIhUEtU/s320/100_0985A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424916849532546946" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktIAVsZ4I/AAAAAAAAAJA/QwAqlR6ZOm0/s1600-h/100_1389.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktIAVsZ4I/AAAAAAAAAJA/QwAqlR6ZOm0/s320/100_1389.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424916841697666946" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktHiQs6vI/AAAAAAAAAI4/2YnGW1lPolQ/s1600-h/100_1344.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktHiQs6vI/AAAAAAAAAI4/2YnGW1lPolQ/s320/100_1344.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424916833623665394" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktHXgNemI/AAAAAAAAAIw/OrwtXQ8Ghr8/s1600-h/100_1349.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktHXgNemI/AAAAAAAAAIw/OrwtXQ8Ghr8/s320/100_1349.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424916830735923810" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktG3IHsqI/AAAAAAAAAIo/st5pnAc2j8Y/s1600-h/100_1403.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ktG3IHsqI/AAAAAAAAAIo/st5pnAc2j8Y/s320/100_1403.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424916822044947106" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-9058226396114834187?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-11291697350159577442010-01-08T16:23:00.001-08:002010-01-09T17:12:16.212-08:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko9ioIkfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/-tHGbcTpmIM/s1600-h/100_0618A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko9ioIkfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/-tHGbcTpmIM/s320/100_0618A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424912263876743666" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko9X_RsLI/AAAAAAAAAIY/3WjTPrk72Rw/s1600-h/100_0842A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko9X_RsLI/AAAAAAAAAIY/3WjTPrk72Rw/s320/100_0842A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424912261021020338" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8ynsorI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Pj1yWNGymvY/s1600-h/100_0843A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8ynsorI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Pj1yWNGymvY/s320/100_0843A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424912250990011058" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8_gYd9I/AAAAAAAAAII/fgwE0zPySTs/s1600-h/100_0685A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8_gYd9I/AAAAAAAAAII/fgwE0zPySTs/s320/100_0685A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424912254448990162" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8vnmaCI/AAAAAAAAAIA/sqToW_v4IMY/s1600-h/100_1318.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0ko8vnmaCI/AAAAAAAAAIA/sqToW_v4IMY/s320/100_1318.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424912250184296482" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-1129169735015957744?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-14124028620491735442010-01-08T16:11:00.000-08:002010-01-09T17:19:37.946-08:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLySSV9LI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/qCEbYOOJ2lg/s1600-h/100_1100.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLySSV9LI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/qCEbYOOJ2lg/s320/100_1100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424528340953724082" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLx_xmCAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9U1wz496HOs/s1600-h/100_0941A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLx_xmCAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9U1wz496HOs/s320/100_0941A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424528335984527362" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLxTt8rsI/AAAAAAAAAHA/i9a8qtYXrDg/s1600-h/100_0751A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLxTt8rsI/AAAAAAAAAHA/i9a8qtYXrDg/s320/100_0751A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424528324158074562" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLxIjnOCI/AAAAAAAAAG4/xRlAxhqpjrA/s1600-h/100_1415.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLxIjnOCI/AAAAAAAAAG4/xRlAxhqpjrA/s320/100_1415.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424528321161934882" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLwmkD01I/AAAAAAAAAGw/JWOk8v9qWRw/s1600-h/100_1024.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/S0fLwmkD01I/AAAAAAAAAGw/JWOk8v9qWRw/s320/100_1024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424528312037004114" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-1412402862049173544?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-42722058541552895622009-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:002009-12-12T14:29:39.936-08:00WE’RE DOWNSIZING!<br /><br />Dear All<br /><br />This will be the only form of Christmas good wishes coming from us this year. We hope that you have a great time doing whatever it is that you plan to do over the festive season. We are anxious to ‘put to bed’ 2009 and look forward to the challenges we face in 2010.<br /><br />Two significant factors affecting the potential of our farm are occurring:<br /><br />Firstly, our part of Blunder Road will soon become a backwater. A new road will be built connecting Stapylton Road to Blunder Road, cutting off the S bends, passing through properties at the back of us, and we will no longer be a major traffic thoroughfare from which to sell off our goods. Due for completion in March 2010.<br /><br />We’ve just this week had the good news that the section of properties “cut off” by the new road will be absorbed into the neighbouring suburban allotment size suburb called Heathwood. The proposal is due to obtain Govt approval by June 2010.<br /><br />So we will have to look for an alternative high profile selling avenue from which to flog our goods.<br /><br />Please help out by spreading the word about our auction to anyone who may be interested and come along on the day for a look. Your help on the day will be appreciated. We’ll try to have a BBQ and sing a long afterwards.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from<br /><br />Karen and Dale<br /><br /><strong>BRISBANE AUCTION - CLEARING SALE - Goetsch & Notley<br />Sunday 7th February 2010 at 10.00am<br />(day after the Toowoomba Swap)<br />A/C Karen Bracken & Dale Barnard</strong><br /><br />On site at Karen and Dale’s property at 1494 Blunder Road, DOOLANDELLA QLD 4077 (From Toowoomba take the Stapylton exit 17 off the Logan Motorway in the direction of Forest Lake).<br /><br />A significant sale not to be missed of vintage vehicles, vintage machinery, antiques, collectables, household furniture and bric a brac, over 400 items including 27 vehicles, something for everyone, so bring along the ‘missus’!<br /><br /><strong>Viewing:</strong> From 8.00am on the day or by appointment. Start time 10.00am<br /><strong>Parking:</strong> Enter the property next door at 34 Wadeville Street<br /><strong>Amenities:</strong> On site and catering available<br /><br /><strong>TRUCKS:</strong>1964 Diamond T P3320 Bogey Drive 5x4 Rigid Full air 200 hp 6 cyl Petrol Registered;1970’s Bedford KMR Prime Mover GMV653 RT610 Roadranger P/S Full Air No 4 Eaton single needs full restoration;1973 Ford D1013 D Series Fire Truck Good Cab Canadian 6 cyl pet Runs great all operates GC; 1976 Ford D1000 Prime Mover UD4 2 stroke RT610 roadranger Good Cab Suit restoration; 1968 Commer Prime Mover GMV653 RTO609 Roadranger No 4 Eaton 2 spd 5.6 ratio, Registered; 1958 Inter R190 4X4 Airforce Runway Dump Truck Eng # 132840 (not running) Chassis # FA84636 winch, needs full restoration. <br /><br /><strong>TRAILERS:</strong> 36’ Freighter Strap Bogey Trailer perfect camber, needs tidy up; 28’ Freighter Strap Trailer converted to tautliner, lights, good rubber, barn doors has been registered. <br /><br /><strong>MILITARY:</strong> 1939 Federal 604 Tank Transporter Cummins Diesel winch Tractor unit Needs full restoration; 1942 Dodge WC21 4x4 6 cyl side valve petrol half ton Chassis # 81523361 USA regn# 252211 soft top styleside pickup drivable; 1945 Studebaker US6 6X6 Dump truck Good condition Has been registered; 1944 Chevrolet 4X4 6 cyl militarised petrol engine Yankee Joe Troop Carrier 6.1 diffs Chassis #RC42G71M179 Registered; 1962 Kaiser Reo 6X6 M35 6 cyl pet submersible Eng# M331-208581 Chassis# M38879 LH drive Cab Chassis Running Needs full restoration; 1944 Willeys Jeep LH drive Engine# MB370760, Vin # GPW6860 No rust Low mileage Registered; Clayton mobile welder with V8 Ford running. <br /><br /><strong>CRAWLERS:</strong> Bristol 20, 1948-53 Austin 1800 Petrol, 3 spd, 4 cyl, 22hp; Bristol PD48 1965, P3 Perkins Diesel, 32hp; Caterpillar C22 1936-38 Pet/Kero 25hp; Fordson County E27N 1949, P6 Perkins diesel; International TD6 1950’s Pet/Dsl 40hp Bulldozer; International TD6 1950’s Pet/Dsl 40hp; Oliver AD 1940’s Hercules Dooc Diesel; <br /><br /><strong>TRACTORS:</strong> Chamberlain MKII 1958 Perkins Diesel Industrial, Cab; Ferguson TE20 Vanguard Petrol 20hp; Fordson Super Dexter P3 Perkins Diesel; Le Roi 105 GI 1947 Pet 6 cyl Mobile Air Compressor; Massey Harris 102 Junior 1942 Continental Petrol Tricycle Twin Power.<br /><br />Vehicle sale will follow the sale of over 380 items of collectable crockery, furniture, vintage machinery and equipment, souvenirs, militaria and sundries. Features 1860’s cedar two sided desk, bentwood chairs, pine church organists settle, silky oak items, cast iron stoves, oven, Royal Albert, Alfred Meakin and other English china, old crystal and Murano glass, sewing machines, brassware, mincers, Mytton Rodd Duchess silverware and many more.<br /><br />Further details & terms contact Neil Goetsch on 0417 719 671 or Geoff Notley on 0427 001 787 or Karen & Dale on 07 3879 1200 or 0408 749 012 or rock4wd@bigpond.net.au<br /><br />More details and photos available at www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com or<br />www.geoffnotleyauctioneer.com.au or www.goetschandsons.com.au<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4272205854155289562?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-47747088353766029692009-06-24T11:49:00.000-07:002009-06-24T12:34:20.777-07:00OUR NORMANDY EXPERIENCE INCLUDING D DAY ACTIVITIES<br /><br />MEMBERS OF THE 15 WW2 VEHICLE ANZAC CONVOY 2009 LANG KIDBY EXPEDITION<br /><br />LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT!<br />Article written by Karen Bracken 7th June 2009 (for more details see www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com)<br /><br />A visit to Normandy needs to be at least a week’s duration. Get yourself into some “digs” in Bayeux and rent a little run around. Come for the week long celebrations 1-7 June. Most of the villages in the area are twinned with an English village and hold relevant memorial services related to acts of bravery, liberation, outstanding military events and famous battles associated with the liberation of France from German occupation in WW2. If you can spend a week prior to “D Day” week familiarizing yourself with the terrain and glancing through the museums your trip would be even better.<br /><br />This was our first ‘Normandy experience’ and it’s certainly wonderful to be able to say we did it in a 1942 Chevy 4X4 SWB troop carrier of the type used in WW2. We visited many of the museums, cemeteries, bunker sites, camps, beaches, townships and battlefields, all poignant reminders of the horrors of war.<br /><br />There are so many activities going on leading up to and including “ D Day” that you need to do a prior check of appropriate websites and choose which you would like to be a part of. A Sat Nav and accurate map of the area is essential.<br /><br />Make this summertime period your preferred time to visit. Villagers are encouraged to beautify their gardens and homes. Pro French sentiment is obvious with flags flying from their houses with some even using paint to detail in the red, white and blue theme. (We only noticed one Australian flag flying from a window.) Four flags dominate those flying from public buildings, French, Normandy, US and British.<br /><br />By sharing the Reine Mathilde campground at Etreham with the British MVT we were able to enjoy good company of like minded vehicle enthusiasts. If it were possible for us to join in any of their planned activities we did so. Many new friendships were forged between us.<br /><br />Neither of us came with any preconceived experience of the area and as the scale of it evolved we realized that without prior planning to guide us we should just go with any forthcoming offers made from fellow campers.<br /><br />Our Itinery for the week:<br /><br />Visit to Port en Bessin where we saw a WW2 motorbike on the beach. Visit to Wrecks museum and later on welcomed (videoed) arrival of BVT members at Etreham camping site<br />Visit to Grand Camp Maisy the German bunker and later on the German Cemetery<br />Vierville open air market for military merchandise, met the French contingent in the US camp and Norge. Omaha Beach museum, drive on beach, and saw Willem Poelsma and family in his duc.<br />Village convoy trip to Baron sur Odon with British MVT<br />British paratrooper drop at Pegasus Bridge and sight seeing along the western beaches, sword, juno, gold with Henri de Wailly. Watching the fireworks at Port en Bessin<br />Arromanches beach with the Normandy Veterans Association and Asnelles. D Day banquet at the Chateau de Amaye sur Seulles<br />US Paratrooper drop at St Mere Eglise with Henri de Wailly<br />Bayeux Cathedral<br /><br />Thankfully, we had good, clear, sunny days until the deluge around 4.30 pm on D Day itself. If it’s normally “raining, or thinking about it” in Normandy, we were blessed.<br /><br />It’s the little extraordinary things which happen and “make” it for you, like the presentation of two clips full of spent 303 cartridges given to us by Jeffrey Wilson MVT of Somerset. Jeffrey wanted to give back the bullets which were marked “small arms factory No 2 Footscray, Melb, Aust” on them.<br /><br />Also, we kept a mock auction going with Dick Shepard MVT for his Pioneer Chicago Generator, which he’d thrown on top of his “fixed” load of equipment on the GMC.<br /><br />What about the lunch break we shared with a group of US visitors who were amused that they had “bum rushed“ our table. Turned out to be Major Ted Deguzman (AF) and his son, from a B52 command and Dan Caster a former pilot and others. <br /><br />Or, accidentally coming across the French contingent camped in the US camp where they had a totally original WW2 field hospital set up on display. We were very surprised to once again bump into Serge Levy there who most generously chauffeured us around the camp in his Dodge command car.<br /><br />Sadly, as is a sign of the harsh economic times, numbers were down on the former anniversary year in 2005. Serge said “5 years ago the sight was full!” It was virtually empty. Preston Isaac of the MVT said of the 298 members coming, 235 had registered.<br /><br />There was no shortage of veterans around. There was a large number of British Veterans to meet and thank at Pegasus Bridge and also assembled on D Day at Arromanches for the address by the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. We met leading seaman Royal Navy, Ron Black and petty officer Les Stuart, also Richard Paxman from the diesel room. One veteran told us “5 years ago when we were here we were completely surrounded by people coming up and congratulating us and wishing us well, and this time there’s one or two like yourselves.” Ken Howes and Frederick Wright were two other veterans who we met at the German Cemetery.<br /><br />We’d had plenty of warning that traversing the “beaches” area on D Day would be extremely restricted due to road blocks strategically placed for the Presidential visit by Barrack Obama.<br /><br />Sadly, we missed the dawn vigil on the British/Canadian beach at Asnelles attended by 30 MVT vehicles. We did however convoy to Asnelles and then onto the beach convoy to Arromanches for a huge assembly of vehicles including the146 WW2 bikes for the “Guinness World Record” attempt. A huge crowd of Normandy Veterans (more than there were seats for) were waiting for Gordon Brown to address them.<br /><br />I learnt a lot about a British Veteran in a short while as I caught him sitting alone for a moment. Ex NCO Sergeant Major Richard Jones 85 years old from Shropshire, UK, was a D Day veteran. At the time he was with 282 GT Coy 8th Beach Group and landed at Juno Beach on 6th June 1944. Volunteering at 19 years of age, he was put in the 3rd Canadian Division to come over for engagement in France. Dick was a driver and remembers driving a 3 ton K5 Austin 4x4 ammunitions carrier. Three months before the end he went to Burma with the Scots Guards. It was a privilege to meet you Dick, thanks for coming over to help us commemorate this event, all the very best to you.<br /><br />A wonderful D Day banquet at the Chateau d’Amaye at sur-Seulles owned by Anna and Frank put the finishing touch on a fun filled week touring around in Yankee Joe! A 1944 D Day theme complete with a banquet of pheasant decorated meat pressings, wines, cheeses and red, white and blue meringue pyramid will forever remain in our thoughts.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4774708835376602969?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-39548500746693791302009-06-17T04:35:00.000-07:002009-06-17T07:23:43.092-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZ4W3JoPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/gjtgHEDjURQ/s1600-h/DSCF1198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348264119735263474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZ4W3JoPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/gjtgHEDjURQ/s320/DSCF1198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZ35wDBvI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KvwDwjEIc3Q/s1600-h/DSCF1249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348264111920842482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZ35wDBvI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KvwDwjEIc3Q/s320/DSCF1249.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNt0fV5I/AAAAAAAAAGI/CsnJDdB54aM/s1600-h/DSCF1197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348263387163744146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNt0fV5I/AAAAAAAAAGI/CsnJDdB54aM/s320/DSCF1197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNVe3baI/AAAAAAAAAGA/7urO1Q_UmLc/s1600-h/DSCF1199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348263380630597026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNVe3baI/AAAAAAAAAGA/7urO1Q_UmLc/s320/DSCF1199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNBp99nI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Cq8JfnyQRuU/s1600-h/DSCF1202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348263375308453490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZNBp99nI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Cq8JfnyQRuU/s320/DSCF1202.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZMl_sVEI/AAAAAAAAAFw/U3j_UDqa7CI/s1600-h/DSCF1201.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348263367883379778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZMl_sVEI/AAAAAAAAAFw/U3j_UDqa7CI/s320/DSCF1201.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZMeIkxSI/AAAAAAAAAFo/QENS1Xn2DzY/s1600-h/DSCF1193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348263365773149474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjjZMeIkxSI/AAAAAAAAAFo/QENS1Xn2DzY/s320/DSCF1193.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-3954850074669379130?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-53535274851936827332009-06-13T15:35:00.000-07:002009-06-17T05:01:01.452-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuvj3rFI/AAAAAAAAAFg/L7h5uOsGaOE/s1600-h/2009_06_06_1049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347538276892257362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuvj3rFI/AAAAAAAAAFg/L7h5uOsGaOE/s320/2009_06_06_1049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuTUDM5I/AAAAAAAAAFY/RVoY2b3IpPE/s1600-h/2009_06_06_1011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347538269309711250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuTUDM5I/AAAAAAAAAFY/RVoY2b3IpPE/s320/2009_06_06_1011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuGA7taI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_s4yfywx8HI/s1600-h/2009_06_06_0955.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347538265739867554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjZFuGA7taI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_s4yfywx8HI/s320/2009_06_06_0955.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Karen driving Yankee Joe</div><div>David and Maggie Mottram in their Chevy</div><div>John and Fiona in their Ford</div><div></div><div>Photos taken and supplied by John Blackman from Classic Military Vehicles taken on D Day on beach at Asnelles whilst the Anzac convoy was part of the British MVT convoy. With Thanks from Karen.</div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5353527485193682733?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-44331054569868822332009-06-09T03:48:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:09:46.374-07:00Dieppe - unfortunately the War Museum was closed on Mondays!<br />Amiens - had a great look around this beautiful city.<br /><br />Still having troubles with the truck. The right hand axle came loose again today. May have to try it without a gasket to try and clamp it up tight.<br /><br />Mick and Graham also did a starter in their jeep. This one sheered a bendix bolt. Hitting the starter while it's in gear doesn't help especially with a 12 v battery and a 6 v starter, as can happen to anyone. Mick borrowed a spare starter from Tony Comber.<br /><br />Wednesday 10th June 2009<br /><br />WESTERN FRONT MEMORIALS<br /><br />The past couple of days have been sunny, but showery and windy, not the best for sight seeing, but not too cold.<br /><br />Travelling from grave site to grave site is a sobering experience but one you should undertake in your life time if you can. Of course the Western Front is where my Grandfather Frederick William Perkins was awarded his "Military Medal" so I keep this in mind as we drive along.<br /><br />Starting at the Australian War Memorial at Le Hamel, then on to Villers Brettoneux and then stopping at the underground tunnels of the Somme War Museum at Albert. Next was the memorial at Pozzieres and the Windmill.<br /><br />We raced on to Ypres to hear the playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, arriving at 4.30 for 5.00 pm, but it turned out to the 8.00 pm; entering the very busy motorway at Bapaume and exiting it at the Belgium border to find Ypres. Lieutenant Feney explained that there were 100 soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment attending the service. The buglars were joined by 3 young army cadets from Cornwall aged, 13, 14 and 15. This daily service has been held since 1928, only stopping for the war years. The Menin Gate Memorial honours 58,000 soldiers for whom there are "no graves, no bodies" from WW1, and is treated with absolute dignity.<br /><br />I drove most of the day today, you know why, Dale reckons they've gone square now.<br /><br />LOCKED OUT OF THE CAMPING GROUND!<br /><br />Another muck up with the GPS (Dave), due this time to the confusion over which country we were in, led to our arrival at the Le Mont Noir camp site at 10.30 pm. The farewell party was nearly over. Sam Cutejar won the crazy hat competion with his "halo" which he'd fashioned from a coat hanger. We thought his wife Lorraine should've won it, as "Mrs Bucket" in her WW2 canvas water bucket. Mick and Graham's matching peasant's hats appeared to be the Romanian equivalent to our Akubra. Fiona Hedges was also a close contender in her Greek Fez. The difficult job of judging was given to Rick Cove.<br /><br />Thursday 11th June 2009<br /><br />LOADING THE CONTAINER IN ANTWERP<br /><br />Today was the first day of the trip that I woke early at 5.00 am. We were outside the camping park due to our getting lost and getting back after "lock out" the night before. Perched on the side of the road and on a steep hill, I was worried we were going to 'take off' down the hill.<br /><br />So we left at 7.45 am and made a bee line for Antwerp on the busy A17 making only one orientation error and luckily being directed straight back by the GPS (Dave). The foggy conditions lifted to cold driving winds. It was through blinding rain in extremely heavy traffic of mostly semi-trailers that we drove around the Antwerp ring road to the St Job In't Goor camp site. This was the first time we'd seen arrow markers in the truck lane with road signs instructing trucks how many arrows were needed between them to allow a safe driving distance at varying speeds.<br /><br />JEAN BAPTISTE MALFAISON<br /><br />After breaking the back of the cleaning of the truck at a car wash, we commuted by bus and then by tram into Antwerp to the City Hall to look up Dale's birth father in the register. Nothing was conclusive, but it looks as if his full name was Jean Baptiste Florimond Malfaison, born on 25th May 1921 in Bressoux. In 1948 he married Delphina Spenders and died in 1983. If we apply for his birth certificate in Liege and find that his father's name was Georges Marie Malfaison then we would be certain and could seek out either Delphina or see if they had any children.<br /><br />The thought of having to ship out the next day with wet tarps was depressing; we were assured that the next day would be fine for loading. Just as we were thinking how lucky we were to have everything dry, suddenly, without warning we had a hail storm followed by a massive rain storm with deafening thunder. Fortunately the next day was glorious sunshine, perfect for drying and sorting everything out.<br /><br />Friday 12th June 2009<br /><br />STUDEBAKER SALE<br /><br />Shipping out had been arranged for eight of us by Hans Sprangers and we started rolling up for final jet washing and loading in at a nearby holding yard at 8.30 am. Sam and Lorraine Cutejar chose the same depot to hand over their Studebaker. Hans and Marcel De Vrij were two extremely happy men with their purchase for 12,000 euro of such an original rare beast. We didn't see another at Normandy. It was a magic moment for Marcel as he drove away.<br /><br />JOURNEY'S END<br /><br />Then the first group was ready for departure. They all set off together dragging their possessions behind them as they walked to the bus stop to go to Antwerp and then on to Brussells. Someone reckoned they looked like a gaggle of geese going along! Lorraine Cutejar said, "I feel homeless, for the first time in my life, I feel like a homeless person!"<br /><br />The Kiwis completed loading their container and were picked up by Jim and Sandy Sewell to return to the campsite.<br /><br />Dale and I unceremoniously set off for the one km trudge to the bus stop. Within one hour we had boarded a second train to Brussels, before boarding the Euro Star for the "two hour" journey to London to stay with Dale's sister Lynne in Stowmarket.<br /><br />The consensus seemed to be that we were all "over it" by the past few days. The return to colder clime and the on and off again rain hadn't helped and we were all looking forward to going home for a few creature comforts.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4433105456986882233?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-63779884190514513192009-06-08T02:26:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:00:17.612-07:00WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!<br /><br />We're just said our passionate farewells to the good people we have met here at the camping ground at Etreham. With heavy hearts we grab the last minute photo shoots, exchange clothing and souveniers, hugs and kisses. Goodbye, Au Revoir, - till we meet again!<br /><br />When we can we'll do a big wrap up on Normandy!<br /><br />PUT BAYEUX ON YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY<br /><br />The Cathedral is breathtaking - actually inspirational. The old town with it's water wheels and canals is simply gorgeous. We didn't see the "tapestry." We'd paid 8 euros each to see through St Mont Michel which we felt was "steep," so I tried to put over a story about driving all the way from Oz in a WW2 truck and that after all we did help them out in the War. I hoped we might qualify for a concession on the 7.20 euro each. (I usually don't have any trouble if I ask for "one and one" because they think I'm Dale's daughter!) "No reductions" she said and we walked out! Around Normandy, there are say 30 museums and at 6 euros each, that would be $720 for two. Tickets to the Moulin Rouge were $720 for two!<br /><br />WE HAD ANOTHER OF THOSE WONDERFUL CO-INCIDENCES TODAY!<br /><br />We'd left Bayeux quite late and were having "medium" degree of difficulty finding our way across Caen. For some reason Navman wouldn't let us get on the motorway. The spin off of getting lost is that you discover all of these fantastic landscapes and house styles. "Gingerbread houses in Disneyland," Dale reckons. Some of them have roofs resembling thick royal icing draped over a good fruit cake.<br /><br />Well, we passed over "the world's largest suspension bridge" followed by an equally magnificent bridge which looked like the Olympic Stadium in Paris with it's rolling curves. Getting off the toll road by accident and finding ourselves being flagged over by two Belgium Pattondriver trucks (a dodge 3/4 tonner and a GMC driven by Jos Knapen).<br /><br />What do you reckon? One of them, Nick, had seen the Yankee Joe advertisement on Milweb and had emailed me for a price! It was such fun to see them all "under the bonnet" and under the truck. They were fascinated by the 5 speed Dyna/Toyota gearbox conversion. Nick couldn't believe the 216 had done 6,400 kms on 4 litres of oil without missing a beat. He said to Dale "a secondhand engine, didn't you rebuild it for the journey?" Dale said "No, I changed the oil."<br /><br />They didn't have any coffee, and were trying to make Antwerp with only only one more day - 400 kms. So we convoyed with them for awhile before they turned south towards Rouen. They took details of Dale's (real) father and promised to help us find him!<br /><br />HOW WELL ARE WE DOING?<br /><br />Well every now and again as Dale is trying to do a U turn (yet again), he slams the truck into 2nd and yells "I've had enough of this crap, I've a mind to scrap it (the truck) and fly back home!"<br /><br />ANOTHER TRUCK HITS THE DUST!<br /><br />Lang's starter motor gave up just outside the Etreham camping ground, and he had to get a push start. He ran into Adrian Snell from the MVT, his hands dripping with oil as he carried the starter along. We'd been with Adrian to the Swap Meet at Vervuille, opposite the US campsite, where we'd seen all the "starters" and said "if only you needed one." Adrian took Lang to the swap, bought the starter for 150 euro and he's back on the road!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6377988419051451319?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-32202006137021976962009-06-07T09:53:00.000-07:002009-06-18T02:51:29.913-07:00US Paratroopers - article to follow!!!!<br /><br />Henry turned up to pick us up under heavy skies and strong winds. We sped to St Mere Eglise and arrived as it started to pour! As we walked into the village two planes let their paratroopers out at the minimum level of 800 feet! They did their best, but most couldn't jump on the day.<br /><br />St Mere Eglise is famous for the US paratrooper getting caught up on the steeple as you would have seen in the movie. He survived!!<br /><br />If you've read some of our "unedited material" you'll understand the trouble I'm having particularly with the French keyboard. I'm a touch typist and with the a, w, z, q, m, x, comma, fullstop, and all punctuation not where it's supposed to be, I get a bit "snootty" about paying 4 euros an hour when 1/3 of my time is spent correcting. We never quit early, we get told "its time to leave because we are closing."<br /><br />We're feeling the pinch so badly we either eat "MACKERS" or "DONER KEBABS", endearingly refered to by Lang as "bacteria rolls!" Two big Macs cost 7.40 euro and the doner kebabs are under 10 euro. We'll gladly give the Mackers a miss, but will probably go looking for doner kebabs when we get home. "Mustard Nose" is an unpleasant side effect of eating a sausage in baguette here. Try it some time!<br /><br />Most of the women on the convoy have cooked an evening meal right through, and good for them, but I can boast that I haven't used my saucepan yet and now that the gas bottle is empty we don't even have a cuppa.<br /><br />It's been windy since leaving Peter Tombs farm, in fact it's turned very cold especially at night and a lot of people are admitting that they are sleeping in their clothes.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-3220200613702197696?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-7362969355987523632009-06-05T09:43:00.000-07:002009-06-17T05:20:33.867-07:00With what has become typical of our luck, we missed the jump by the British paratroopers because we were inside looking at their beautiful museum, and didn't know another jump was taking place!<br /><br />HOSPITALITY CLUB<br /><br />On Saturday night at the fireworks display at Port en Bessin, we were "picked up" by a young Iranian fisherman called Amir. I'm sure he was genuine, but Dale and I weren't familiar with the concept. He wanted to offer us "refuges" for the night. We would sleep at his home (our first night out of the truck sounded great) but would have to bring our own sleeping bags.<br /><br />I think the idea was that he was moving to Marsellles and would need to accept others free hositality, so he wanted to get some credit points for himself.<br /><br />LOSER'S CAR!<br /><br />We'd noticed these cars around which sound like motorbikes. In fact they are a car you are allowed to drive when you've lost all of your points. They are slow and can only carry two people. No one admits to manufacturing them. They are so underpowered that they don't require you to have a licence to drive them. E.g. get booked for DUI and just go and buy one of these. The local opinion is that they are more dangerous underpowered and in the hands of unlicenced, inexperienced drivers. Just go and buy one and ride away like a push bike!<br /><br />6th June D DAY<br /><br />I hate to say it, but we didn't get up to convoy to Arromanches beach with the MVT at 5.00am to wait on the beach for the sun to rise. The 27 attending said it was very stirring but a hiccup in the convoy led to members arguing, laying blame, with organisers stressing out and vehicles scattering.<br /><br />At 10.00am we convoyed with about 77 MVT vehicles from the campsite at Etreham to Asnelles, where we stayed at the memorial until 3.00 pm.<br /><br />Then we all convoyed along the beach to Arromanches (Mulberry Bay) for a massive photo shoot.<br /><br />Rob Miller a MVT member had hoped to assemble "65 WW2 bikes for 65 years" and got 146 submitted for a world record attempt.<br /><br />Many of the bikes were in camp in the "field" at the MVT camp at Etreham. Keith J Leech had his BSA M20 pillion beauty there. Nigel Silver (told me to mention here that he is available!) and Pino Lombardia had their M20s as well as their "air drops" with them. The two of them went for an evening run around camp on the airdrops - noisy lttle critters. Sadly, Nigel's M20 was run into by an "intoxicated" French driver as he was on his way to Normandy. Nigel was fine, stiff with bruised legs, and will be able to rebuild the bike.<br /><br />The bikes formed part of the display, with reanactments and up to three amphibs floating around in the sea in the background.<br /><br />There was a huge crowd assembled at the waterfront with hundreds of Veterans. They were hoping that Prince Charlie was going to turn up and when the broadcaster announced that Gordon Brown was coming, a loud "boo" went up. The announcer said, "I'm not asking you to vote for him." It was a shambles, not even enough seats had been provided for the Veterans and the pommies were saying that the British Government hadn't provided for them.<br /><br />THIS YOU WON'T BELIEVE! US GETTING LOST!<br /><br />After making our own way to Noyes Bocage we shot off to "find petrol," made a wrong turn on the way back and completely missed the placing of the wreath on the Anzac WW2 Memorial neaq the village. We'd dug out our medals we had especially mounted for the trip to wear on this occasion. My miniatiure set didn't draw any attention, but two people came up to Dale and asked why he was wearing the medals as supposedly they were only for presentations. Dale got out of that by saying he was attending a ceremony later in the day, but the other man thought that Dale shouldn't be wearing Pacific medals in Europe?!<br /><br />IT RAINED ON OUR PARTY!<br /><br />Anna had created a garden setting at the Chateau resembling the Yalumba advertisement. Returning from a rest she discovered that it had rained. So instead of arriving to a garden party we were welcomed by Anna and Frank into their rather palatial 18th century Chateau. Their business address is Paris.<br /><br />White linen, flowers, ornate platters with layers of cold cuts, real pheasants (dead) decorated both ends of the pressed aspic, champagne and the best red and white wines. Mirrors highlighting the tapestries, brocades, maroon marble fireplaces, paintings, clocks, piano, marble staircase, statues, renaissance furniture, with the stiring tones of the music of the forties.<br /><br />It was a once in a lifetime experience, never to be forgotten, a real privilege. Thank you again Anna and Frank.<br /><br />We spent the evening with Alejandro Gomez, Marianne, his wife and son, Alejandro, from Paris (formerly from Venezuala). They'd flown in from Paris and were staying in the nearby town of Villers Brocage. Their cab home had to come all the way from Caen at 1.00am, so we offered them a lift in the truck. With three of us lying in the back of the truck, we gave them a ride to remember on that rainy D Day night!<br /><br />D DAY WRAPUP TO FOLLOW!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-736296935598752363?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-2494892989008340062009-06-03T10:00:00.000-07:002009-06-18T02:49:43.710-07:00Fancy Dan and Helen Dennis and their friends, Michael, Emile, and Ross Prince all turning up at Etreham today.<br /><br />Sometimes it's afterwards things seem to fall into place and you realize the significance of the event to some people.<br /><br />HOOKY'S TRUCK "LOADS-A-GRUNT"<br /><br />Four of our trucks convoyed with the British MVT to Baron sur Odon, and we broke down outside it's town hall. Dale had said he didn't know what to make of the Dodge wrecker owned by Hooky (Mike John) of the Gloucester MVT club. It was a Korean war truck ambulance which had been converted to a wrecker, but when it was summoned to "retrieve" us from the road, it was a " beauty."<br /><br />Everyone went to work on it and it turned out to be "frosty" points again.<br /><br />The convoy was led by a Daimler Dingo (owned by Leslie Thacker of Surrey), which depicts a geboa or desert rat, from the 7th Armoured Division which was the favouorite of Field Marshal Montgomery. The Dingo was one of 80 sold to the Biafran Government in 1960. This one broke down whilst being loaded and was returned to the REME workshops, and was left behind!<br /><br />It was fantastically organised and co-ordinated, and went the hour long journey without breaking or incident. Three outriders on motorbikes did a splendid job, moving ahead to junctions and holding the traffic back to allow for the convoy to process through. They included father and son team, Edward and Simon Bromley, John, and Susie Johnson.<br /><br />This is a delightful event which takes place on each 5th D Day anniversary between the British and French twinned cities of Baron sur Odon and Chittlehampton. Winning Hill 112, just outside the village was a major strategic victory for the British and an impressive monument featuring a restored Churchill tank together with a battlefield map stands out as a great reminder.<br /><br />The placement of the Churchill was the brainchild of MVT member Albert Fig and among others, 2,000 pounds was donated by the MVT to the project which was in readiness for the 60th D Day anniversary.<br /><br />The MVT solemmnises the event by the laying of wreaths on the tank and respecting a minutes silence.<br /><br />Members of Chittlehampton and locals greet the convoy, enjoy light refreshments, then pile on board the assembled vehicles to convoy to the monument and back again.<br /><br />This year Richard Jones (Sargent Major) who was enlisted in the British Army from 1939-1945 was again present to lay the wreath to fallen soldiers, and Peter Burne Vice President of the MVT laid another for fallen citizens.<br /><br />Having the Dodge there for the first time made the event particularly significant to Dan Major (looking resplendent in his officer's uniform) and his family and friends. They are members of the Solvent chapter of the MVT which is mentioned on the dedication plaque.<br /><br />When we left the convoy with John Hedges to find fuel, we took Mark Hervey's phone number in case we needed help with the Yankee Joe. We went straight back to Bayeux. We thank the MVT members who were concerned about our late arrival back in camp and were considering trying to find us. We thought we'd left the convoy, but should've reported our intention to stay in Bayeux for the evening.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-249489298900834006?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-66557350345937358442009-06-02T08:10:00.000-07:002009-06-03T10:08:35.936-07:00Monday 1st June 2009<br /><br />Trips today included a visit to Port en Bessin (once again looking for fuel, internet and food) and enroute we discovered the museum of "wrecks." These items have been salvaged from the ocean and are fascinating. A "marinised" tank with it's two propellers intact was one of 32 dumped into the ocean 4 miles out, all but two sunk.<br /><br />The thought of all those Pommies turning up from the Channel ferry under police motorcycle escort was exciting us all day, and we got a vantage point by the gate amongst some very excited Pommies who were waiting for their vehicle to turn up. They had a bottle of champagne ready and were monitering the convoy's progress by mobile phone every two minutes or so. The 3/4 ton Dodge had taken Mark Hervey and Richard Rixon only 6 months to completely strip down and rebuild and a nice job too, congratulations guys! It was it's first trip and what a welcome Mark received from family and friends. I got some good footage of them arriving once again as they approached, led by a fully equipped Daimler Dingo. There were probably 50 or 60 of them, possibly down by half on previous years due to the financial situation. Sadly one of the motorbikes was hit by a drunk and written off. The rider is okay, but devastated. The driver tried to run away, and had to be forcibly apprehended.<br /><br />It's been very easy to strike up friendships in the camp and helping Mark's partner Sonja celebrate her birthday with a drink of "calvados" - locally made apple brandy gave us our second hangover.<br /><br />I noticed a sign "Rappell" 50, kept recurring as we shot through towns and I told Dale I thought we'd been through here before. It means "obey the 50kph speed limit!<br /><br />Tuesday 2nd June 2009<br /><br />Today we went touring with another group of Pommies, Steve and Sally Bennett and Mike and Ann Manning and Tony Fitzgerald. They are a lot more involved than us Aussies and it's interesting listening to their take on events which took place.<br /><br />Today was German day, with a visit to the German War Cemetry where we visited the grave site of Michael Whitman (and his crew) who was the most decorated Tiger tank commander by whom most Allied tanks were taken out. Then, a visit to the area's newest attraction, a German subterranean bunker complex called Grand Camp Maisy or Maisy Armerie. It had one of two radar stations, the other being at Brittany. It was said that three large guns pointed at Omaha beach wouldn't have reached the beach. The complex was said to be totally self contained.<br /><br />We heard that the Gendarmes were pulling up German dressed motorcylists and checking for swastickers. They were forced to cover them up or threatened to send them back to the UK.<br /><br />A group of US paratroopers were admiring our Yankee Joe. They told us that bad weather and high winds were expected for the weekend which could sadly, make the big jump unlikely.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6655735034593735844?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-85708576666029891452009-05-30T02:12:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:03:03.107-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjqAUYwSHgI/AAAAAAAAAGo/SCYG5ldHjpU/s1600-h/Mont_St_Michel_30_-_31_May2009_017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348728595186589186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SjqAUYwSHgI/AAAAAAAAAGo/SCYG5ldHjpU/s320/Mont_St_Michel_30_-_31_May2009_017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Photo courtesy Sprangers Blogspot with thanks.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>The Hans Spranger's incident on 31 May would take the prize for the worst traffic accident, when he pulled over to give way on the road from Mont St Michel to Periers, and accidentally dropped off the side of the road. Hans was alright, but it was a bit scarier for his passenger Rene sitting on the RH side. Ray McKinney came to the rescue in the NZ Dodge pulling him upright once again.</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Our only incident was scraping against a large concrete flowerpot as we edged out of a petrol station. Sandy Sewell said they'd had a few as well.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A TRIP TO L ABBAYE!<br /><br />We were permitted to park the vehicles up close to the Abbey for a photo shoot and afterwards we had a good look around the monastery and it's surrounding village.<br /><br />IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET!<br />Pontorson, North Western Italy.<br /><br />We'd gone hunting for camera batteries and film and of course, internet, and checked with the local tourist office who confirmed that there was nothing "on" in town tonight.<br /><br />Then, whilst scooting up the aisles of the "carrefour" supermarket, two beaming faces popped up in front of us. Anthea and Ron saw our truck in the carpark and came in to find us. They'd been away for 4 years and just wanted to hear some good old Aussie lingo like "pikelets." They're renovating a cottage in town and called at the campsite later on to look over the trucks.<br /><br />Over a delightful meal of prawns, salad, blinis and red salmon, a cheese platter, beer and wine, we formed a solid friendship based on grandchildren, ebay and our Australian heritage.<br /><br />A film crew joined us this afternoon from the history Channel. Stewart and Joel are here to film the "Normandie" 65th and will stay with the convoy 2 days before moving on to the Normandy beaches.<br /><br />Monday 1st June<br /><br />ETREHAM CAMP - CONGRATULATIONS LANG AND BEV<br /><br />THE PERFECT CONVOY!<br /><br />All good things must come to an end and With our instructions on "how to convoy" refreshed by Lang? we set off for the short journey to join the British at Etreham camp.<br /><br />We proved that a convoy was possible as we all pulled in around 9 am intact and without incident. Lang reckoned we'd still be coming if we'd set out as a convoy from the beginning, but there's a difference between travelling 130 kms and 35 kms an hour. The speed was cut down this morning to allow the film crew to race ahead to get a vantage spot three times, and to film from the back of the vehicle as we convoyed along behind it. Anyway, it's a fantastic effort and we're all here safe and remarkably without a traffic incident.<br /><br />CONGRATULATIONS LANG AND BEV! YOU DID IT!<br /><br />You've got to hand it to Lang and Bev. They take all the wingeing and whineing from a lot of us when things go wrong, fees are high or campsite bookings fall through. They somehow manage to keep composed and smiling and "soldiering on" towards Normandy.<br /><br />Sunday 31st May<br /><br />Ron and Anthea picked us up at 10 am and took us to visit their steam buff friend Simon Burch (who loaned us his Turkish flag to complete our set) and dropped us back in to pick up the truck.<br /><br />We put the Navman on and headed straight for Peter Tombs farm arriving at 3.00 pm.<br /><br />Our last night was spent camping on a 6 acre farm 15 km between Periers and Lessay. Peter and Marjorie Tombs long time friends of Lang and Bev, invited us all to stop over. It was a BBQ to remember; drinks, chips, dips, meats, salads (a whole baguette each) followed by a selection of tarts and a cake iced as an Australian Flag all home baked by Marjorie. A quilt handmade and generously donated by Jenny McKinney was presented to Marjorie as a thank you gift and memento from the "Anzac Convoy." Sam (on sax) and Dale (on guitar) supported a very talented local guitarist to bring a close to a great evening.<br /><br />Peter had a wonderful collection of very complete vehicles for us to look over in his brand new purpose built shed. There were 13 trucks, 7 motorcycles, pushbikes, a penny farthing, advertising signs, 2 toy jeeps. Civilian vehicles included a 1939 Austin 8, 1930 Citroen C6 milk truck, 1930 Citroen C4. Also, Daimler Dingo, 3 Dodge Command cars, one very rare 1/2 tonner, a scripted ford jeep, pedal powered pedestal tripod generator, one 1/2 ton Dodge styleside pick up with civilian interior.<br /><br />A 1917 James Model 6 motorcycle with side car, looked very awkward to ride and in Peter's own words it was "like riding an Octopus on heat!"<br /><br />BLACKMAN CHEVY<br /><br />As Peter was showing us around, he told us how in England our Yankee Joe or rather its GMC equivalent was endearingly refered to as a "blackman chevy." This was because the United States command kept its black GIs local in the UK fearing they would be dealt with more harshly by Hitler's forces. Whenever you saw a GMC, the driver would be black.<br /><br /><br />Friday 29th May 2009<br />THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!<br /><br />Lang had arranged a tour of the UNIVEM PARIS ILE DE FRANCE workshops at Versailles. Serge Levy gave us 1 1/2 hours of his time to explain the vehicles that are garaged there at the moment. The Organization was started in 1984, as the MVCG and has around 160 members with approximately 160 vehicles, 50 housed privately at the moment.<br /><br />Blitzes are Serge's passion (about which he is a published author) and Nigel and Lisa and their 2WD Chev Blitz troopy "Leisa Jane" formed an intstant bond! He also was very complimentary about our "Yankee Joe" referring to it as a "very beautiful Chevrolet".<br /><br />I took a 45 minute video which can be made available. He thought we fought under a "red" flag in WW2, so I presented him with "The Australian Flag," once again compliments from our Federal Member of Parliament, Bernie Ripoll. Serge gave the MJCQ an inscribed English War Department fuel can.<br /><br />The vehicles included Pacific Dragon Wagon, 980 Diamond T tank transporter complete with ballast box, Scammell coffee pot recovery, Sherman tank (5 Dodge engine type), GMCs, Dodges, Jeeps, Inter semi and trailer, Laffly with its extra forward and centre trench crossing dolly wheels, Ward le France wrecker, Humber gun tractor, Weasels, Matchless, Pacific tractor and low loader trailer, 969 Diamond T wrecker super complete with tools.<br /><br />From the campsite in central Paris we drove to Versailles where we stopped for a photo shoot outside Louis XIV summer palace - an unexpected pleasure!<br /><br />Keeping to the motorway then for the 300 km journey to Le Mont St Michel one of the most picturesque strategic island monastries in the world. Seeing it loom up on the horizon is like something out of a fairy tale.<br /><br />I thought the drive today most pretty and interesting with yet another architechtural style, herds of dairy cattle and beef cattle. Whilst in a picnic spot a former Aussie couple introduced themselves as Sue and Bernard David. They said their local Motor Vehicle club would love to have spent some time with us.<br /><br />I'll leave you to ponder on a large hand painted advertising sign I noticed - "DETACHMENTS VEHICLES OCCASIONS" - used car parts!<br /><br /><br />Thursday 28th May 2009<br />PARIS A CITY OF ARTS AND ROMANCE<br /><br />Thanks to the desire of Napoleon to leave an artistic legacy, and to the German General who defied Hitler's orders to destroy Paris, we have a city centre which is an internationally recognised arts smorgasborg. The Eiffel Tower is the only high rise building in the precinct. A look at the Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower and the windows of the Notre Dame were a few of the things we wanted to see. We were joined by Anne and Bob Ward as we cruised around town twice on the "Big Red Bus," and in doing the odd bit of souvenier shopping. Four heads are better than two when finding your way around on the Metro!<br /><br /><br />Wednesday 27th May 2009<br />PARIS OR BUST!<br /><br />Once again Sam and Lorraine led off the group of five as we convoyed from Le Breuils to Paris taking the Champagne Valley Tourist trail.<br /><br />I had my first drive for a while. Actually, since I got the RH rear stuck fast against the kerb in a seaside village in Italy. Italian, Swiss and French roads are a much better standard and have formal kerbing. Our RH rear is suffering due to the front driving axle being one wheel width narrower than the rear axle which has duals on it. It keeps getting chunks taken off it when we don't allow for it on kerbsides, narrow streets and right-hand corners!<br /><br />I only drive to give Dale's balls a rest, but I know he wouldn't like me repeating that! I'd noticed the guy on his motorbike stand up every now and again and do a pelvic giration.<br /><br />We received a call for help from Nigel on the UHF. He had a broken water pump flange! Yesterday it was the Jeep with a broken axle, and today the Blitz water pump. They'd sought help in a local Caterpillar Dealership, where it was welded and replaced. Dale left his spare water pump and some all size link belt in case he needed it.<br /><br />The early evening trip into Paris was our scariest yet, due to the speed of the traffic. In fact French drivers have been good and couteous, they seem to recognise the convoy for what it is, and tend the give us right of way so that we can keep together. Many of them associate us with "Normandy."</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-8570857666602989145?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-85178124347468239692009-05-26T11:47:00.000-07:002009-05-30T03:30:12.448-07:00Lay day today at Les Breuils. The weather did a complete U turn and we were all back in jeans and overcoats. It was perfect weather for driving around looking at the WW1 memorials at Verdum.<br /><br />We had a good day with little trouble finding our way. The town is well worth a visit. It has been recognised as a people with valour honours from many countries. There were 340,000 French soldiers and 320,000 German soldiers killed in the battle of Verdum 1914-1916.<br /><br />Everyone is kind to us. What a break we had today!<br /><br />Lang took Dale off looking for a replacement regulator. They couldn't see anything likely looking, but noticed a fellow in overalls working on his own car, and asked him. He knew where to go, but the directions were too complicated so his wife led them to a small truck repairer. They didn't have one of course, but an elderly mechanic was called from the workshop and retrieved a Peugot Bosch regulator which he said was secondhand and could be faulty, so we could have it!<br /><br />It was fitted on and went like a dream! Other maintenance included topping up the engine oil by 1 1/2 L of oil, replaced the top radiator hose with a better fitting one, tightening up some cross member bolts, and shimmed up the D tent spring in the transfer box hoping it will improve the jumping out of gear problem.<br /><br />THE OLD MACHINERY MAGAZINE<br /><br />In a recent edition of TOMM I read an interesting article about the "Allen" sicklemower. Driving through the hilly counties of Italy, Switzerland and now France, I was wondering how they mowed their blocks, until I saw an Allen sicklemower in operation. Then I noticed them standing in fields waiting to continue mowing the next day.<br /><br />You will have noticed a lack of reference to tractors, trucks and machinery in our blog. We'd seen little which excited us until we pulled up at a servo in Switzerland and noticed Toni Gisler's collection, some Swiss tractors, Fiat, Deuts. I don't want to tell you about the Porsche or the Massey Harris Pony! I didn't have any film to even take a photo. However another convoyer took photos for me.<br /><br />New European trucks don't excite us, sometimes their axle arrangements are interesting - all lazy axles can be raised up and triaxle trailers can run around on one axle when empty, all on super singles. We've seen a couple of dumpys and a couple of stationarys. There's no heavy vehicles on the roads on Saturdays and Sundays, so you see them sleeping over in lay bys and servos ready to launch at midnight.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-8517812434746823969?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-74076452150914884862009-05-25T10:53:00.000-07:002009-05-26T11:47:06.490-07:00H'mmm. It was good fun while we were able to give help, but now we are needing help it's all just a bit too much in this absolute extreme heat. All day we required a push start. We only got lost four times and enjoyed the scenic, yet, very hot ride through the French countryside from Mulhouse to Verdun.<br /><br />There's plenty of barley, rye, oats and mustard being cultivated and newly planted. It's the first time we've noticed large numbers of cattle, all in very good nick.<br /><br />The truck really started playing up on the journey down the Alps and across the French border into Mulhouse. There was nothing we could do, just put up with it. It wouldn't take charge. We had to wait until we got to a suitable place to buy a replacement regulator.<br /><br />In the stinking heat we set off to find the National Auto Museum. Lang had David Mottram in his cab so couldn't fit us in so we had to commute in the 35 ° heat by tram. It took us 1 hour to make it. We didn't even know in which direction to start. You will remember that siesta is 1-4 pm, so the campsite office was closed. The French people we asked turned out to be "our guardian angels" and followed us after having given us directions. Step by step they (Grandpapa and two grandsons all on pushbikes) kept turning up guiding us to the tracks and station. Once again we felt like turning back, the heat getting the better of us when we found we didn't have coins for the tickets. The elder person rode "home" to get change for our 10 euro note. He also fetched us a map! Later on, we had the same help from a young man who escorted us to an internet cafe. We were the only customers, the air conditioning had collapsed!<br /><br />The car museum was fantastic. We saw a "gullwing" Mercedes and Vassel Vager. "There would have to be 200 Bugattis, in your lifetime you could expect to see 1," said Dale. The entire Schulmpf collection was donated to the government in 1981. I photographed a 1923 tricar built by Alfred Angus Scott for towing canons and the 2 cylinder French Jacquot 1878 Tonneau Vapeur vehicle.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-7407645215091488486?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-55744018371488772382009-05-24T10:27:00.000-07:002009-05-26T01:52:01.515-07:00CROSSING THE SWISS BORDER AT THE SIMPLON PASS<br /><br />We knew before we left Lake Maggoire that the Simplon Pass hadn't opened for the season yet, and that we would have to take the train tunnel to the other side.<br /><br />Again, the heat and the effect on the vehicles was unexpected. "No one was expecting overheating," said Dale. "I was evern worried about not having anti-freeze in the engine." Others came prepared. The sight of the snow piled up on the side of the road while the vehicles were overheating and their occupants stripping down to cool off was strange. People were sunbaking in the snow. Dale even spotted a couple of pairs of white pointers!<br /><br />Before we set off, in his vague way Lang said, "You can't miss it, there's no turns. Just don't go on the autostrada or take the 42 km tunnel or you will come out at the other end." Our convoy, and the Wards, both got lost 4 times again trying to finding our way out of Lake Maggoire! Hitting the Pass later in the day magnified our overheating problems. The convoy had to split up to get a run at it.<br /><br />We were expecting cold, rainy weather and most dressed appropriately. It was so hot that most of the trucks had trouble getting up the pass. Even Lang boiled (pulled over, stopped and boiled). Vapourising and overheating was an all day ordeal for most.<br /><br />We couldn't get started at an earlier rest stop. Jim Sewell towed us with the fisherman's rope we "trophied" from the beach at Crete. "It seems to be charging all over the place," says Dale.<br /><br />Towards the top of the Simplon Pass, Tony and Marilyn's jeep developed fuel starvation problems. Dale and Tony tried everything to get it going, finally having to put on a replacement fuel pump. Alas, it was still vapourising. Marilyn was pouring water over the fuel pump to try to cool it. We heard Tony say "Not on the manifold!" The other Kiwis in the half ton Dodge were also waiting around to help.<br /><br />The next time it failed on a switch back the four Kiwis uncoupled the jeep trailer and shoved it uphill for Ray and Jenny McKinney to tow it. We took the jeep under tow, uncoupling for the downhill runs and recoupling for the uphills. Dale had said it would be freezing and to rug up but we reckon it was 35 degrees and all of the vehicles were in trouble.<br /><br />All the while we knew we weren't last. Nigel was also having trouble making it up the pass. Michael and Bob were waiting for him further up.<br /><br />The train ride through the pass was fantastic, like a ghost train, just drive on and sit there in the darkness for about 20 minutes.<br /><br />THE PRETTIEST VALLEY YET<br /><br />I keep thinking that this is the prettiest everywhere we go, and once again I felt like it was today.<br /><br />Onwards again down the pass to our campsite, and the jeep once again couldn't get fuel so Tony and Dale decided to pull the carby apart and found a sticky needle and seat and removed a small fleck of plastic. He's had no problem since.<br /><br />From the time Jim tow started us, we realised we had a charging problem and had to find the source. On arrival at the campsite, we pulled the generator off and found the brushes not sitting correctly on the comutator. We fixed that but it was still erratically charging. We now appear to have a faulty "new" regulator and will have to look for a replacement. A rebuilt generator and a new regulator were installed before we left Oz to ensure that we wouldn't have a problem.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5574401837148877238?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-36711439210760455322009-05-22T02:31:00.000-07:002009-05-26T02:03:04.845-07:00So greatly revered are Lang and Bev Kidby for their epic journey around the world in a Fiat 500, that club members welcomed them back to their small city with a civic reception!<br /><br />Bewildered motorists were held up as we paraded through the narrow streets of the 700 strong medieval town of Garlenda.<br /><br />Leading the way, a very accurate 25 member marching band. Lang and Bev followed in their 1945 Chevy Utility with Dale and I hanging off either side running boards. The five Jeeps covered with Australian and New Zealand flags and loaded with other convoyers slowly processed under the banner "Welcome Australian and New Zealand Convoyers" and up to the Fiat 500 museum. Another banner paying tribute to Lang and Bev was hanging outside the museum. The museum was opened, approriate speeches made, and several little 500's joined our vehicles for a photo shoot in front of the museum.<br /><br />BLOOPER OF THE TRIP<br /><br />After entreaties from John Hedges (who is known for getting all misty eyed on such emotionally overwhelming occasions such as this) for me to sing Waltzing Matilda, I decided to let it rip with the National Anthemn (after first asking the band leader). After two lines the band burst forth with another marching tune directly behind me, so I abandoned!<br /><br />Cocktails, spumante, soft drinks, pizza, pastries, chips etc were provided for all by the Fiat 500 Italian Car Club and gave us a chance to socialise with the band and a couple of Carabinieri (soldier police). We all then piled into the local Tennis Club Rooms where they catered for the best quality meal on the trip so far. More brief speeches including one from the Deputy Mayor (a very young female lawyer). An interpretator (Enrica Scotto) was present. They were worrying about catering for such a big crowd, but did an excellent job and everyone enjoyed themselves. I appreciated the opportunity to get to sit by an English speaking local like Wilmy, to ply her with questions about what we are seeing along the countryside, thanks Wilmy.<br /><br />Our thanks to Ivo Barbacini and Yves (founding members), Domenico Romano, Sandro (President) and Wilmy Scarpa, Silvio Pittoli (deputy Mayor) Fabrizio Amerio (community organizer).<br /><br />TEMPERATURE IN OUR CAB!<br /><br />I expect you're wondering how it's going travelling along in our truck?<br /><br />At times it's quite moderate (congenial) and at others, its extremely heated! Slanging matches are common and we've both learnt to use the big "F". However, I'm comforted by Bev's assuring me that the same sort of thing goes on in their cab. David Mottram added, "It's a wonder anyone comes out of our cab alive at times."<br /><br />It's quite noisy with the high pitch whine and the low pitch groan of the transfer box; communication, including the UHF, happens when Dale backs off and the gears stop meshing. "I wish I'd tried the transfer from the other spare G I Joe, " says Dale as it jumps out of gear once again when lugging up a slope in third gear.<br /><br />But the oil dipping engine is brilliant, it's only used 1 litre of oil in 3,500 kms. I think we have some of the most comfortable sprung seats too. They were newly reupholstered for the trip. The driver's however, slopes out the door, so now and again you have to lift yourself up and plop down again a bit to the left!<br /><br />We have been blessed with beautiful moderate warm and sunny weather since crossing the border into Greece. A sudden, very short lived, heavy shower in the mountains sent jeep occupants diving for side panels!<br /><br />TUNNELS AND BRIDGES<br /><br />Most of the 120 kms roadway on the Autostrada travelled between Savona and Tollina (Turin) is elevated, so you either travel on bridges or tunnels. The day before we noticed there was a section which was three tunnels high. It's a great sight looking out at the raised sections dotting the heavily treed hillsides.<br /><br />Harvesting and planting are well underway at all levels of production. Individuals have good home gardens. White flowering acacias line the Italian countryside at this time.<br /><br />DAVID AND MAGGIE MOTTRAM<br /><br />If anyone's having bad luck, it's the Mottrams! They were stung with cash theft twice in Istanbul, suffered a broken spring in Crete, then Maggie lost her $200 watch when it dropped from her lap as she opened the door to pay for the toll on the autostrada.<br /><br />David was worried about driving around with the broken spring and fell victim to an opportunist hanging around on the docks at Pireaus. He offered to help David with the repair, and got David to pay for a cab to something like a Greek version of the RACQ. He then rang a tow truck, for which David had to pay 50 euro for the call out, and then told David he needed money for his time and telephone calls. He wouldn't accept 20 euro, but he did accept 30 euro!<br /><br />Maggie's very theatrical. She was describing how they had misplaced a note (containing directions to a repair shop) she thought she'd left on a counter in front of the toll booths. She said she was darting between lanes frantically looking about everywhere, dodging oncoming cars, "like a headless chicken." This is exactly how I feel everytime I try to cross a road, with cars coming at you in every direction; say a quick prayer and try a little darting back and forth dance, and express extreme relief when you get to the other side!<br /><br />Thanks to the help of the Italian Military Jeep Club back in Florence, the Mottrams were able to get help with their rear spring problem firstly by finding them a workshop. The workshop couldn't locate a replacement spring, so welded a plate over the cracked spring, after pulling it into line. They effectively lost a day having to stay over in Florence, but were treated to a privately conducted night time tour by Luca from 9.30pm to 1.00pm. The club also wanted to treat David and Maggie by paying their night's stay in a hotel whilst the truck was in the workshop, but David had already paid the tab. Our thanks to everyone from the club who did their best to help David and Maggie.<br /><br />A NEAR MISS!<br /><br />Honestly, I don't know how we've all managed to stay traffic incident free. Travelling this way in these trucks is dangerous, constantly trying to push our way through to keep up regardless of traffic lights, stop signs and intersections. The nearest incident so far, was hearing the screeching and bang of the impact behind us knowing that the jeeps were following. Ken Bathurst who has his sister Potsy and her son Zeb travelling in his jeep, had to furiously swerve to miss this rear end incident.<br /><br />LEANING TOWER OF PISA<br /><br />It's not everyone can say they drove up to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in their WW2 vehicle for a photo shoot. We weren't supposed to be in there so it was to be a quick drive by, grab a photo and "vamoose!"<br /><br />TURIN<br /><br />We only had one night in Turin, so Dale and I took Bev's advice and visited the National Cinema Museum, which has an important worldwide collection housed inside the "Mole Antorelliana" the symbol of the city of Turin.<br /><br />The next day was an easy drive in our five vehicle convoy lead by Ray McKinney to Lake Maggoire in the north of Italy. We had one and a half days here, but no one seemed much in the mood for sightseeing, a swim was a nice change.<br /><br />With the exception of petrol getting dearer, Italy seems to have it all over Greece. Better roadways, tidier streets, quieter traffic. There's still no bicycle helmets, but definitely is on motor bikes.<br /><br />VEHICLE UPDATES<br /><br />Ken Bathurst's jeep turned out to be a new electric fuel pump failure, not only was it not pumping, it was also blocking the supply. He pulled it off and threw it away and had no further problems.<br /><br />Bob Ward's jeep developed a misfire and stopped. It ended up costing them the day. Replaced everything around the motor except the coil, still to no avail. Ended up towing it in. Turned out to be a condenser.<br /><br />Michael O'Sullivan's Blitz had developed a short, so it flattened the batteries all the time to a point where it just stopped. It turned out to be a bad connection.<br /><br />Nigel Ward's Blitz voltage regulator was flattening the battery. After cleaning the regulator points it appeared to be okay.<br /><br />John Hedges hired an auto electrician to replace the distributor caps and faulty leads on the Ford utility. It seems to be running well.<br /><br />We mentioned that our rear RH hub seal was leaking. Dale removed the hub, cleaned up the seal area with Nigel's emery tape, cleaned the seal and reassembled it. It took three hours. He reckoned he couldn't have done without the large outdoor umbrella brought from home. It didn't look as though it had been touched for awhile. It must've been the LH seal he did at home!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-3671143921076045532?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-24284053642940502302009-05-18T12:05:00.000-07:002009-05-25T10:53:17.969-07:00Oh! Oh! It could've been so good!<br /><br />We were greeted by Andrea Gatti, President of the local Italian Military Vehicle Club and Herman Pfaulter, a German born US citizen with whom Andrea caught a ride with, when we left the boat at Ancona, Italy. Herman drives a US Navy Yankee Joe and is coming with us on the trip all the way to Normandy.<br /><br />They were the perfect pair to lead the convoy to the next camping ground but for some reason they did not. So away shot our fragmented groups in every direction once again arriving at the camp site which hadn't opened for the season, so a decision was made to travel a further 100 km on to Urbino. We arrived late to a remote pine forested hillside campsite with no running water or toilets and everyone did their block, all deciding to make the most of yet another night on bread and canned foods.<br /><br />I felt extremely disappointed to have missed the company of Andrea with whom I had set up the Italian liason after his reading my "Anzac Convoy" article in the British Motor Vehicle Trust magazine called "Windscreen." With his local knowledge this part of the leg would be so enjoyable.<br /><br />He was staying with Herman, and Lang didn't know where they were to enable me to give him a call. I planned to drive him at least part of the way in Yankee Joe the following day, so he could give me the run down of the area we were passing through. It's all very well to go on scenic mountain runs but it's costly in a 65 year old truck not knowing what you're looking at and it's only pretty.<br /><br />We could see an interesting medieval city across on the opposite hilltop from the camp ground, and headed towards it to find some Saturday night "action." A new outdoor commemorative sculpture honouring Raphael was in progress and the military General was also attending the exhibition of some of Raphael's work. An impromptu performance by one of their leading sopranos in the icecream parlour was especially enjoyable.<br /><br />HAVING DINNER IN THIS SETTING WAS OUR SECOND MOST ENJOYABLE CONVOY EXPERIENCE!<br /><br />As soon as we found this wonderful place we radioed back to camp about it. No one had mentioned that this was one of the prettiest and relatively unknown of all of Italy's historical cities - no tourists!<br /><br />We'd all over reacted and there was proper facilities at the camping park further down the hill.<br /><br />We met up with Andrea when we got together in San Piero the next evening. Last year he had arranged the "Column of Victory" convoy for 140 military vehicles which followed the path taken by the US liberation forces in WW2. He just shook his head at our convoy!<br /><br />Groups of us wandering into Scaperia were rounded up by members of the Italian Military Vehicle Club for a photo shoot downtown in a narrow street. Unfortunately it was Sunday afternoon siesta time, so there were very few people around.<br /><br />Seven well decked out jeeps met us and escorted us to the camping ground where we enjoyed members hospitality over a beer provided most generously by Philipo.<br /><br />We presented them with an Australian Flag which was generously given to us by our Federal Member of Parliament, Bernie Ripoll, and agreed to meet up again at Normandy!<br /><br />FLORENCE AND PISA<br /><br />A group of us caught the train into Florence for a look around in the morning. We then followed Nigel and Lisa, Bob and Anne for the 120 km picturesque journey through to Pisa.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-2428405364294050230?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-57488791607126441222009-05-16T10:17:00.000-07:002009-05-16T11:25:18.960-07:00Something none of us was prepared for was the stowaways. We were approached in the street and at the post box by Iraqi and Afghani men.<br /><br />Their plan is to get into the docks any which way and hide under the trailers whilst waiting their opportunity to find a hiding place to get onto the boat.<br /><br />David and Maggie Mottram whose Chevy troopy is open at the back, had two of them jump in as they were approaching the docks. Passersby allerted them to the first one whom they told "to get out of there!" David noticed the second one leap at the back. He slammed on the brakes causing the poor fellow to slam into his tailgate.<br /><br />Another seized the opportunity to board Lang and Bev Kidby's Chevy utility in the loading area. Lang was stopped and searched by the army who pulled the guy out. He was let run away.<br /><br />Everyone then had to do their own thorough search of their own trucks. The guard's search includes running a heat sensor over bedding and torches under the chassis, even checking under the bonnet. Five men were pulled out of a pantec and sent on their way.<br /><br /><br /><br />LEAVING GREECE - RUINED!<br /><br />Our last night in Greece was in a beautiful park on the water's edge at Rion, near Patra. Before we left we visited the ruins of the Rion Fortress built in 1499 to protect the western sea passage. A beautiful new 5 year old suspension bridge now spans the passage, but all the ferries still run. It's called "The Bridge."<br /><br />Once again we had a dreadful time trying to find the correct ferry gate and the right boat, trucks scattered everywhere.<br /><br />This time we were on the Hellenic Spirit on the "camping deck" for the first time and could sleep in the back of our vehicles with toilets and showers provided. The ship was relatively empty so it was very comfortable setting up our camp facilities. People upgrading to cabins were charged 34 euro each (steep) those who had to do it rough at least this time could get into their jeeps to get a change of clothes and shower by using our security card. This ship was the most luxurious yet, with its bars and disco!<br /><br />The Greeks are a friendly enough people. It's the same as in Oz, people in service roles don't seem to want to be bothered. Add to that the language problem and you get no where.<br /><br />There is always a military presence of some sort in Greece. You'll see them convoying or patrolling along the roads or from lookout towers, always happy to acknowledge you. Photos however are "forbidden."<br /><br />The style of homes varied a bit in Greece and Turkey, the Turks building a bigger second storey than the first. Greece is noticeably scruffy, dirty and unkempt. It's a bit to do with the awakening from a hard winter with everything needing a good mow, cutting back and sprucing up. Although you'll notice these cleanups underway, what will be more obvious is the number of commercial establishments in particular left abandoned. They seem to build a new set of premises leaving the old one a crumbling eyesore next door.<br /><br />Many private dwellings are three tiered, the family finishing one level or the other to live in, whilst the rest of the home looks like a derelict building site with rio spikes sticking up. There are thousands of unfinished projects dotted through the vast housing estates. We're told that tax isn't paid on a dwelling until completion and there is no such thing as a housing loan, so you build as you can afford to.<br /><br />In some places along the coasts there seems to be thousands of empty apartments. Probably condamindiums for seasonal occupancies. Whilst passing along you'll come across cities of look-a-like multi-tiered dwellings. With no industry obvious one can't help but wonder where all of these people find work.<br /><br />Rubbish removal seems to be something they are hopeless at! Piles of it lying around. An attempt is being made to recycle, with blue, green, yellow and galvanized iron skips being dumped along the roadways always over flowing.<br /><br />The advantage of travelling early in the season is that you can get into parks. Cheerful bulbs are in full bloom bursting their way through the scruffy winter mantle. The world econonic downturn is obvious with parks delaying their openings up to a month. We often appear to be the only occupants.<br /><br />Like the Turks, the Greeks are generous, they will give you a little extra, like a free carafe of wine, loaf of bread, box of tissues, biscuit, mandarin or "shot of racki"!<br /><br />"One pleasant observation was how refreshing it was to see the day to day operations of life and traffic working in perfect harmony without a trace of the dreaded "workplace health and safety," unlike our own over regulated bureautic crap. Examples are hubbie and wife and two children on a motorbike with no helmets, builders scaffolding made of 6" nails and wood, workmen with no boots, hats, goggles earmuffs etc. Live wires coming out of posts with a bit of sticky tape around them, open holes in the footpath with no fencing, spray painting with no masks; but somehow it all goes along smoothly and everything gets done, " says Dale!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5748879160712644122?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-611947169276822672009-05-14T23:17:00.001-07:002009-05-15T00:10:59.257-07:0014th May 2009<br /><br />Well, well, well, the trucks have started to fall to bits! John and Fiona Hedges in the 1941 Ford Heritage listed utility developed distributor problems which Dale thinks is a real concern. They still haven't found the problem. They had to be towed on and off the Crete ferry.<br /><br />Ferry loading is done with clockwise precision, so this caused a frenzied arm waving, yelling, shouting, radios going, communication panic from the deckhands as they tried to turn around on the deck.<br /><br />Worse still, David and Maggie Mottram in their Chevrolet Mapleleaf have broken a rear main leaf spring, which isn't surprising considering the potholes! Although still drivable whilst crabbing to the left, he decided to remain behind to try and replace it in Athens . It's sad to leave them behind, but Dale would've continued onto France with it where help and spares will be available.<br /><br />Other truck problems include Mike and Karen O'Sullivan with their Chevrolet Blitz blowing an oil line over the exhaust which ignited. They were able to spurt a fire extinguisher through the hatch in the bonnet of the cab and instantly put it out. Karen noticed the fire, because she had been pouring water over the bonnet to keep it cool while travelling up a 20 km winding mountain path over the mountains on route to Sfakia. They had stayed behind to help Nigel and Lisa file the leading edge off the brake linings of their Chevrolet Blitz 2X4. Brakes were grabbing all over the place, linings too long so borrowed an angle grinder and chamfered them off.<br /><br />LEAVING PIREAUS PORT ATHENS FOR PATRA FOR FERRY BOARDING FOR ANCONA, ITALY<br /><br />This morning, fearing yet another frustrating drive trying to find our way from Pireaus Port at Athens, around Athens to Patra via Korinthos, Lang was asked if we could follow him. Lang said, "Don't follow me, I'll see you in Patra." So we fragmented and headed off and hours later, after making 5 wrong turns, driving through all stop signs, and stop lights, doing 3 point turns amongst the traffic etc, we kept ending up back at one of the many wharves. Eventually, we were on the right road! It's moments like these, that one or the other of the group "loses it!"<br /><br />Quote of the day goes to New Zealander, Ray McKinney who after a stop for a photo call remarked to his wife Jenny, "Shall we move off? We can be the first to be lost this time!"<br /><br />ITS A LONG WAY WITH LANG KIDBY<br /><br />"IT'S A LONG WAY WITH LANG KIDBY" to music "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," by Karen Bracken. Lyrics written by Karen Bracken and Dale Barnard.<br /><br />It's a long way with Lang Kidby, it's a long way to go,<br />It's a long way with Lang Kidby, so take your CB radio;<br />Goodbye, dear old Aussie, farewell Kiwi land,<br />It's a long, long way with Lang Kidby, but ain't it just grand!<br /><br />Pack up your Navman in your old tin truck, and Go, Go, Go,<br />Get out your maps and turn your CB on to UHF four 0;<br />Directions will be far and few, you won't see Lang for dust,<br />So, pack up your Navman in your old tin truck, for Normandy or bust!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-61194716927682267?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-78421320908269188532009-05-13T07:30:00.000-07:002009-05-13T08:42:19.536-07:00I'll tell you what, it's a good way to wear out a truck travelling over those narrow ill-defined city streets. It's impossible to avoid road repairs and manholes and both of us have caught the RH rears on the gutter more than once. Things are shaking loose, like the RH door catch came apart, the door swinging out; and the LH window winder coming off. Tail lights come loose. The worst has been the RH rear hub seal which we can do nothing about whilst on the road, just keep checking the diff oil which is leaking out through the hub seal, "I should've left the old seal alone," said Dale.<br /><br />Our stay at Elizabeth Camping was a "lost opportunity." Lang wasn't to know that the owner, an American retiree called Elizabeth, a long term resident of the island, had an intricate knowledge of the invasion of Crete in WW2. She had books and maps and told us about the recent naming of Campbell Street after NZ CO Campbell. She felt that local enthusiasts would be disappointed about not meeting up with us and reckoned they would love to buy our trucks! Elizabeth reckoned the farmers would love the trucks! She wanted us to visit a private New Zealand WW2 museum, but we couldn't find it!<br /><br />She insisted we take a book with us which was left by the occupants of another convoy member who was "lost" and hoped that her camping ground was the park for the night.<br /><br />Later in the day, when we caught up with the convoy again at Creta Camping at Gouves, the story of the book unfolded. The McKinneys and Angela in the 1/2 ton tin top Dodge, had called by and fell under Elizabeth's spell the same as we had (accidentally leaving the book behind). They told Lang about Elizabeth, but Lang "wasn't interested!"<br /><br />Another Blogsite for you to watch is: hedgesnormandy.blogspot.com - unfortunately, without a laptop I am a bit handicapped, but these other blogsites are good reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-7842132090826918853?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-21633075783166754132009-05-12T03:37:00.000-07:002009-05-12T04:05:45.681-07:00The need for another trip to the emergency centre for me yesterday, meant we had to leave the convoy for two days once again. Then the truck was going nowhere because Dale left the fridge on and drained the batteries once again, so we took the opportunity to catch up on a bit of washing, log on, maintenance, while the 2 amp charger supplied by the caravan park slowly charged them up!<br /><br />We booked into the caravan park called "Elizabeth" after its American owner. It was a run down park, but did we find help and friendliness like we'd never seen before.<br /><br />One of those magic dinners for two was served at our request on the beach, alone with just the sun going down ( 8.35 pm) over the Old Harbour Town of Rethymno!<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I'm starting to feel "hoodwinked" about this trip and it's starting to feel like "the most expensive way to drive through Europe". No attempt has been made at all to get in touch with locals, RSL bodies, military, truck or car clubs, to let them know we are coming and be able to offer their hospitality to us.<br /><br />Lang doesn't believe in convoys, which would be another way of attracting attention to us. So I don't blame you if you think this blogspot thing is boring.<br /><br />Today I had a personal lesson about how to "convoy" from Lang. I was driving behind him and kept pulling the speed back to hopefully let the others catch up. He would pull over, and every time I would catch him, he'd take off again. Upon reaching the cemetry (destination), he came over and asked "Are you having trouble with your truck," "Is the truck going alright?" "Yes, why?" I replied. "Couldn't you keep up?" When I explained the reason why, I got the lecture like others before me both individually and collectively have, about how a convoy works. I explained that there is no point in tearing ahead not giving the others a chance and why not take advantage of a photo shoot now and again to give them a chance. Only four of us had made it!<br /><br />Two points arise, sometimes we know little about our destination, and any of the following; no map, no direction, no name and address. No one checks if everyone is ready, or can get out of the park, or is broken down. Lang just takes off, leaving the convoy to its mercy!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-2163307578316675413?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-87604467103563841192009-05-09T07:17:00.000-07:002009-05-11T03:00:17.262-07:00Those of us who chose to sleep in the airline seats on the ferry put in a hard night trying to sleep on the floor without pillows or sleeping bags etc. Those who took cabins said that they were so hot and stuffy sleeping was difficult. Lang had told us that we could upgrade to cabins on the boat, but when Mike O'Sullivan tried he got a typically icy reception; turned his video camera, and when told to turn it off, explained that he was doing a travel documentary on how friendly the hospitality was on the boat. She asked for a moment and returned to him with a totally changed attitude!<br /><br />After disembarking, our orders where to convoy to a vantage point some 15 kms above Heraklion (wife of Zeuss) for a military briefing by Lang. I have to mention this, because it was our worst attempt at convoying yet. Four vehicles made it up with Lang, the rest turning up nearly two hours later!<br /><br />On the move again travelling from Heraklion to Chania on Crete. This time it was the Navman which gave us a bum steer. We'd all bought the Chinese Cheapie off Ebay and you were lucky if you were supplied with the maps you needed. It seems to have a different way of working. It suggests letters for you to choose from when entering your place names, (you don't get the whole alphabet). We can't hear it over the engine noise. It finds the destination and waits for you to move before starting up.<br /><br />Many of us went to dinner at the famous Old Harbour in Chamia for a slap up seafood platter and a Happy Birthday song from an accordian player (which we had to pay for.)<br /><br />SUNDAY 10TH MAY 2009<br /><br />On the road again first to visit the WW2 German Cemetry above the original Meleme airfield. Lang has a passion for the history of the WW2 German invasion of Crete and under an olive tree he explained to us the strategies, counter strategies, command blunders, capabilities of the soldiers etc. in great detail. He had reproduction German aerial invasion maps pointing out the positions of the troops, attacking and retreating paths.<br /><br />It's an attention seeking way of travelling. A motorcyclist came up alongside shouting "ossie, ossie, ossie, oi! oi!oi!". Another delighted admirer asked if we were the Australian Occupying Forces!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-8760446710356384119?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-59472087747212655952009-05-07T10:26:00.000-07:002009-05-09T07:50:32.982-07:00Yesterday we were once again faced with navigational chaos on the 350km journey from Velos to Athens. It was our longest and toughest test yet trying to navigate our way around Athens and out to the camp site doing battle with the road signs and nose to tail traffic congestion.<br /><br />We got separated from our first pairing up and travelled 50 kms the wrong way up the<br />E75 motorway.<br /><br />After regrouping, we had no trouble driving through the city mayhem. We were an hour behind, all of us in the group having mechanical problems. The Ken Bathurst jeep with Postsy and Zeb on board, was surging, the Sam and Lorraine Cutegar studebaker had a massive fuel blockage in the filter, and then our starter motor collapsed.<br /><br />Everyone else took a wrong turn, even Lang! We were the only sucessful team! Nigel Ward had had our spare starter repaired and carried it with him as part of his spares, but it was sluggish. Jim Sewell with the Blitz Chevrolet radiovan from Perth was also carrying one which Dale successfully installed.<br /><br />Full marks again to John Neild on the Harley Davidson. I thought it was difficult riding the clutch for an hour but John said it "was really difficult" keeping the bike upright with the foot clutch.<br /><br />BOARDING THE ATHENS TO CRETE FERRY<br /><br />The next day, after a fabulous morning tramping around the Parthenon, Temple of Athena, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the 1896 Modern Olympic Stadium and Hadrian's Gate, we convoyed with the bike and the Cutejars to the Piraeus Port to board the ferry for our overnight journey to Crete.<br /><br />These ferries are absolute luxury. Two elevators take you upstairs to either 4 berth cabins, or airline seats with TV, games rooms, Internet, lounges, shops, discos, bars and dining rooms. Fantastic, and travels along about 40 kph. Dale saw two dog trailers (truck and dog) reversing up the ramps into the boat with no problem. He would not have thought it possible. Semi-trailers backing in like a string of sausages, not even one semi had to correct. Amazing to watch. A semi could do a U turn once inside the boat.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5947208774721265595?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-46071590831297826352009-05-06T09:12:00.001-07:002009-05-07T10:23:18.212-07:00It was only a short run through from Litochiro at the foot of Mount Olympus to the camping site at Velos, so I had my second turn driving.<br /><br />Most of the way was via the E75 Motorway so was straight going. Most often there is a good size shoulder which we travell along in to allow overtaking. However they all seem to be expert at overtaking us even in narrow conditions. Takes the pressure off us. (The roadside both in Greece and Turkey is kept tidy and free of rubbish, with gardeners more obvious on the outskirts of Istanbul.)<br /><br />The tolls are outragiously priced at 5.80 e, 2.50 e, and 7.50 e for "4th" grade roads.<br /><br />Since we left Istanbul we noticed that few fuel stations take Visa. Fuel in Turkey was about $3 yt about $3 AU but in Greece it averages about .90 euro approximately AU$2 (which means it's much cheaper). With us filling up 2 or 3 times a day it's too heavy a drain on the cash so we now ask and if they don't accept Visa we put $20-30 in and drive on. One would take it after checking out passport.<br /><br />When convoying with Lang we pulled into one such fuelstop. The owner couldn't believe his luck - he had a roll of cash the size of two fists from which he was pulling off change.<br /><br />Unfortunately each time we would fill up the fuel would pour out of the breather when it got to overfull . We would have to look and yell out as it was going on the ground. There is full service still in all servos. Now Dale has stopped it by plugging off the breather and venting the cap.<br /><br />DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE<br /><br />Once you leave Turkey behind you realize how you miss the good things. Everything you purchase becomes twice as dear, except petrol. You still get the squat style toilets but you get a rude shock when it hits you that ALL toilet paper must be put in a separate container next to the toilet. It seems no one was prepared for this and it is a hard habit to break! Toilet and shower facilities vary, sometimes and toilets are very ordinary.<br /><br />Bottles of water in Turkey were only 50 c per 500 ml and got cheaper as you bought larger amounts. Both in Turkey and Greece we noticed people stopping to refill at the natural springs you find all along the roadways.<br /><br />Navigating your way around Turkey is much simpler than in Greece mainly due to its closer resemblance to the English language, but also to excellent signage. In Greece the names only closely resemble the English version and both the Greek and English version are displayed, but when the town names are at least 10 characters long or more and are in the Greek alphabet its just about impossible.<br /><br />I had no problem squeezing my way through the busy streets of Velos and out along the seaway to Sikia campground, which was the nicest we have stayed at yet. It was even warm enough for us to take a swim!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4607159083129782635?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-47167081917459822212009-05-03T11:49:00.000-07:002009-05-05T07:51:51.317-07:00We've moved on from Istanbul now and crossed the border into Greece. The crossing went smoothly except for Hans Spranger unknowlingly dropping his passport at the first of five checkpoints. Luckily his brother Jan found it in a puddle and we were on our way again in the pouring rain.<br /><br />Yes, its been pouring with rain about one day on and one day off and raining unfortunately on scheduled driving days. John Neild being the worst off on his Harley Davidson and resulting in the jeeps and others finding a motel for the night.<br /><br />Finding our way out of Istanbul was a nightmare for everyone (except Lang). Unfortunately our UHF wasn't transmitting but we could hear the nasally Aussie accents making comments like "I saw Sam Cutejar going past at great rate of knots," and "We're on a huge round-a-bout and everyone's scattered in different directions," throughout the 350 kms journey.<br /><br />It's amazing we didn't catch up with them but kept in radio contact all day.<br /><br />We took a coastal route and found ourselves cautioned over and surrounded by an armed military patrol. They didn't know what to do with us, so I suggested they check our passports which they did, and then posed for a photo shoot. The Cutejars were also pulled over by another patrol - called Jandarmes.<br /><br />Somehow we arrived at the scheduled campsite at 9.00 pm when all our lights failed. Within minutes the UHF crackled into life and instantly the Ward mob pulled up behind us. The ferryman came to investigate and recognised us as the "Normandy Convoy" and escorted the seven vehicle convoy 5 kms up the road to the "Hotel Kum" with us in the middle of the pack with no lights, because the other camping ground didn't open until mid-May! We'd helped a Kiwi couple out by picking up their friends and baggage at Istanbul airport. We got separated on our way out and didn't see them again until midnight when they turned up to collect their bags to stay in the Hotel Kum at Gallipolli.<br /><br />The next day, in fabulous sunshine we explored all around Gallipolli peninsular which is largely a one way circuit allowing better access for small groups rather than for a convoy, with parking off a problem.<br /><br />We carried with us decals depicting the route to be travelled and applied them to the truck whilst camping at Gallipolli, which attracted huge interest with photo shoots and questions.<br /><br />All vehicles assembled at Anzac Cove the next morning for a photo shoot before leaving for the Greek border. Scaffolding and seating was being dismantled from the Anzac Dawn Service, so we couldn't pose directly in front of the memorial.<br /><br />Once again most of us had the same difficulty finding our way to the campsite at Alexandroupolis (except Lang) , many members forced to retreat to motels for the night due to bucketing rain.<br /><br />The next day we were faced with another day of navigational chaos, however, Lang decided to escort us all via the motorway this way avoiding the mess we had getting out of Istanbul and into Androupolis.<br /><br />The illness I had suffered from our arrival meant that we had to break from the group to seek out the emergency centre in Kavala, afterwards taking a different ferry ride for the one and a half hour journey to Thassos Island to join the others.<br /><br />No major breakdowns apart from the McKinney NZ Dodge 1/2 ton almost losing a wheel coming loose, Lisa's jeep having to be pushed off the Istanbul ferry, Ken Bathurst having to replace a distributor, our headlight fuse holder melting, and due to the pouring rain several of us had clutch thrust bearings dry out which we fixed with the long spout WD40 - quick fix.<br /><br />Unfortunately we also had to be pushed off the ferry due to the fridge flattening the battery<br />while at the hospital for four hours.<br /><br />Today we hired a noddy bike and lapped this beautiful Greek Island called Thassos in style, reaching 70 kph at 8000 revs downhill, tailwind. Scarry stuff!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-4716708191745982221?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-11773464832423369522009-04-29T00:07:00.000-07:002009-04-29T00:18:27.452-07:00They loved us in Istanbul. After a full days waitıng on the docks (for no reason other than to get another days demurrage out of us) , fifteen of us left the port boardıng a ferry to get back to the hotel.<br /><br />Leaving at 6.30 pm (daylight) we quickly fragmented into groups of 2, 3, 4, 5 and tried to find our way windıng through the busy evenıng streets. Passersby were surprised by the sight of the first truck, amazed by the second and then getting the idea by the third.<br /><br />They loved us cheerıng and laughing and wishıng us goodluck. It felt so good I wıshed we could've done another lap before entering the hotel carpark.<br /><br />An obliging cabbıe personally escorted a lost John Hedges ın hıs Australıan Movable Cultural Heritage listed 1941 Ford utility, the oldest vehicle in the convoy.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-1177346483242336952?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-12843738702778637942009-04-27T05:39:00.000-07:002009-04-27T05:55:28.124-07:00ISTANBUL - STREETS LINED WITH TULIPS AND THEIVES!<br /><br />Ocean liners bobbing in the glistening waters of the Bosphorus as we race in our TAKSI through the narrow streets of this ancient city.<br /><br />Turkish Delights for breakfast at the Erboy Hotel.<br /><br />Don't miss Istanbul with its easy access to bazaars , harbours and ancient mosques. Watch out for a friendly face, it'll want to sell or steal from you.<br /><br />The local currency or LIRA on a par with the OZ dollar.<br /><br />Bright, sunny, dry, 8 degree days to explore this magnificent battlement encircled city - A MUST SEE TOURIST MECCA!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-1284373870277863794?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-65900769301600517712009-04-22T07:02:00.000-07:002009-04-22T17:17:37.919-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Se-yf-5HNRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/jAAGST89E2E/s1600-h/cercle+polaire+aout+2008+(2)+resize.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327673146730820882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Se-yf-5HNRI/AAAAAAAAAFI/jAAGST89E2E/s320/cercle+polaire+aout+2008+(2)+resize.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>CAN WE HELP?<br /><br />As we were growing up, Dale and I were always very aware of our father’s roles in the second World War. Dale is in fact a War Baby and a natural spinoff from the undertaking of a trip as militarily significant as this one is to think about the difficulties experienced during the war. It has stimulated him to try to locate his biological father.<br /><br />His name is Jean Baptiste Malfaison (born in Antwerp, Belgium) and as a young Free French Merchant seaman he met and married Dale’s mother in London in 1942. The marriage didn’t survive the war and in due time Dale’s mother met and married another former seaman, Cyril Oliver Barnard.<br /><br />Great help was given to us last year by Tracey and the team from the ABC “Can We Help” programme to attempt to find the whereabouts of Jean Baptiste Malfaison. We didn’t find Jean, but we did find a person by the name of Rene Malfasion from Belgium whom we are looking forward to meeting up with in France.</div><br /><div>Photo shows Myriam and Rene at the Arctic Circle in August 2008</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6590076930160051771?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-50427217840198219442009-04-21T20:52:00.000-07:002009-04-21T21:01:00.665-07:00Part I<br /><br />WHICH VEHICLE WILL WE TAKE ON “The Trip of a Lifetime”?<br /><br />We looked not only at the suitability of any in our own vehicle fleet but considered buying anything else. Barry Hodges took us to look at an old Blitz radio van at Laidley, but it turned out to be a 60’s unit which interestingly had been used by a previous Governor to go star gazing back then.<br /><br />DODGE ½ TON 4X4 WEAPONS CARRIER<br /><br />Initially we chose the Dodge ½ ton which we’d swapped through Prices, Dalby. Its’ previous long term owner was Dan Dennis and everyone knew that the motor was “always stuffed”. On a stopover in Dalby we included a visit to our old mate Neville Morris, and as luck would have it he agreed to sell us a replacement engine. Dale went back with the tilt tray whilst up at the Dalby Museum open days in May, and picked it up. Neville had picked me a large bag of prickly pear from which I made a treacle honey, which was passed onto Russell to deliver a bottle of it back to Neville.<br /><br />CHEVROLET 2.5 TON 4X4<br /><br />It wasn’t long after getting the engine home that we realized that I would be too exposed to the elements in the cab of the Dodge, with its lack of doors and canvas hood, so we switched back to Dale’s most favoured vehicle, the 1942 Chevrolet Yankee Joe bought from the Dubbo Military Museum auction sale in November 2006.<br /><br />The Chevy which was little more than a running wreck, with its transplanted running gear, Ford V8 flathead engine and gearbox, after market RH steering conversion, collapsed seats, six shot tyres; there wasn’t any door linings! An enormous later model tray body had been dumped on its back, and the spray gun had gone right over it transferring it to camo desert tones, right over the windows, headlights and all!<br /><br />Dale had a burst of enthusiasm, set himself an easy three months to completion and went at it hammer and tongs. His goal was to have it ready in time for the Canungra Rally and Swap October 2008.<br /><br />AND SO BEGAN A NINE MONTH RESTORERS NIGHTMARE – NOTHING WENT TO PLAN, NOTHING WAS EASY, EVERYTHING HAD TO BE ESPECIALLY PROCURED OR REMADE, AND THE PRESSURE WAS ON TO HAVE IT READY TO BE CONTAINERISED BY FEB 21ST 2009.<br /><br />After making the initial assessment we concluded that there was extensive panel work required to repair the back of the cabin which had holes all along the seam. The bonnet was badly dented, had lost its bracing and was all loose and floppy, windscreen repairs, there were no wipers, the doors had no guts in them, so there were no windows, brackets, winders, frames or any structure at all. We got a quote for the panel work for $5,000.<br /><br />RARE UNITS<br /><br />There seemed to be few around to compare ours with to enable us see what we were missing and how to go about it.<br /><br />A spare civilian Chevy of the correct vintage acquired locally for a couple of cartons was snapped up! You may remember the picture of it with the concrete ballast for its crane under the seat!<br /><br />We had hoped to be able to recover its’ engine for our project, but it wouldn’t turnover.<br /><br />So, we were now also on the hunt for a new motor, Dale had been given a list of Chevy people to look up by Warren Kerle from the Military Jeep club. The first contact lived at Toowoomba, which we thought was too far away, so decided to meet up with another prospect, Gordon Buteux at Laidley. Gordon said he had doors and quite a bit of other stuff.<br /><br />We shot out there and couldn’t believe our luck. There was his old Chevy which he had owned for 20 years together with a recently imported one. He had parts stacked about the place everywhere. At first we started out by buying a bonnet, side panels and doors, and then came up with the bright idea to buy the whole vehicle and anything surplus to his needs. This would save us thousands of dollars on the restoration of the doors, give us a better cab and short cut the work no end. Also his was still left hand drive, whereas ours had been converted to right hand drive. Additionally, our chassis had an angle end on the chassis rails and was fitted with a Blitz tow bar set up.<br /><br />So, with the deal done and Gordon now on side, we loaded up and headed back to Brisbane with Gordon promising to hand over extras as they turned up!<br /><br />Back in the workshop though, it was a different story. We considered taking our cab off and replacing it with Gordon’s which had already been lifted off the chassis rails. But in reality Gordon’s had been stripped of so much that it was better to go with our own, and using his doors.<br /><br />AUSTRALIAN ARMY CAB (DUBBO) VERSUS USA ARMY CAB (GORDON’S)<br /><br />With the two Chevy’s together, suddenly we were looking at different windscreens, different locks and handles, vents, fuel tank locations, and RH and LH fuel filler holes.<br /><br />GMH CAB<br /><br />“What is unique to Australian Chevy’s, on the instrument panel you’ll notice the gauges are rectangular, while the USA has round dials and on the Oz the back lighting is built in, whereas with the American version the lights are down light stalks!” said Dale.<br /><br />“Windscreen hinges are internal on the Australian cab and on the American one they are exposed on the outside,” he continued. “You’ll notice that the fuel tank is under the seat with a LH filler cap, whereas on the American one the tank is mounted between the chassis rails behind the transfer case at the back of the cab with the filler on the right.” “The advantage for the USA is that the seat vacuum becomes a tool box.” “Also, the Australian Cab has an exterior door lock fitted on RH side.”<br /><br />Part II<br /><br />PARTS FROM TOWNSVILLE MUSEUM<br /><br />Whilst talking about the Yankee Joe at the South Coast Restoration Rally at Pimpama in July 2007, we were offered 2 pallets of Chevy leftovers from the Townsville Museum. It was shipped by McAleese and at the time little did we know how useful it was destined to be to us.<br /><br />THE ENGINE<br /><br />The decision to R &amp; R the powerful Ford engine was one of the worst we made. Dale considered that as the Ford was too large for the engine bay, it would be difficult for him to work on it in the event of it’s failing whilst on the open road. He should’ve left it alone!<br /><br />It seemed a pity to undo the Ford V8 Customline engine transplanted into it earlier and conversion to RH drive as well at the same time. The Engine bracket had been removed and adjustments made to fit the Ford into the engine bay, and this had to be reversed. Because of this conversion, it was considered to be too time consuming to try to start reversing the steering conversion, so he decided to leave the steering as it was.<br /><br />Photo shows the two added engine mounts for the Ford engine and how the chassis has been cut around for the RH steering box (good job with its welded on bracket).<br /><br />NONE OF THE MOTORS WOULD TURN<br /><br />We expected to be able to build a motor out of the free Chevy truck we had picked up at Browns Plains, the 235 motor out of Gordon’s Chevy, and the ones in the Townsville parts.<br /><br />Water had got into Gordon’s. It had no oil pressure and no compression. The head we’d hoped to recover from the concrete Chevy was sadly also water affected. Nothing was worth repairing with the limited time we had left.<br /><br />CHEVY SLOPER 216 ON EBAY<br /><br />In despair, on Thursday 24th July Dale decided to do a Landcruiser HZJ diesel transplant so we researched the internet to find a motor. To our shock we found we’d be looking at $4,500 - $8,000 range and with that Dale said, “just type in Chevrolet motor”. Wow, up it came, a 1939 motor with all the trappings out of a Sloper in Nowra. We want to here acknowledge the owner’s Sonja and Dave Clarke because they were put to a lot of inconvenience as far as packing and strapping, arranging for a crane, and the failure of the pick up to turn up time and again. They were rodding their car and were thrilled about our D-Day trip with the Yankee Chevy. The engine was, as they said, a beauty, turned over and ran as quiet as a mouse. The tiny 3 spd gearbox was sold to Lang Kidby. All we needed to complete the picture was a truck radiator. “Look, even the horn is hanging off it and it still works”, said Dale, “and best of all it came with an original large type starter button”. Dale reckoned he’d never seen one before.<br /><br />MILITARISING THE SUMP<br /><br />THE 235 MILITARY MOTOR V 216 CIVILIAN MOTOR<br /><br />With the 216 and the 235 side by side, several differences were obvious. Apart from the length, the 235 has a deeper sump and is offset to clear the front diff.<br /><br />The 216 car motor has a 2.5 to 3 L oil capacity only, whereas the militarized larger 235 has the larger capacity for lugging, driving for longer periods and coping with undulating terrain.<br /><br />“My plan was to increase the oil capacity by deepening the sump to give me 6 Litres. I cut the sump off Gordon’s 235 and mig welded it onto the bottom of the car sump. Then by cutting a hole through the bottom of the 216 for the oil pump, I extended the pickup using a 235 oil pump which has longer gears.”<br /><br />“By building a baffled sump extension it was a much improved set up for a splash fed system reducing the risk of oil starvation as was so common with the splash system,” said Dale.<br /><br />Not only did Dale increase the depth of the trough, but he built baffles inside it to ensure that oil will always be available regardless of the length of the climb.<br /><br />Dale likes to reengineer things if it can’t be noticed and it makes for a better driving situation.<br /><br />LIGHTS AND ELECTRICALS<br /><br />As per usual the wiring loom had been snipped right through in several places without being labeled, and so the tedious job of testing and eliminating began.<br /><br />The original vacuum wiper motors were both missing. “They are known to be very inefficient especially going uphill, when the throttle is pressed, the wiper stops.” “I used a cut down two speed electric Daihatsu dual wiper assembly found at the Moore dump. Using two Morris Minor wiper arms and blades gleaned from a swap we now have a synchronized performance at a choice of two speeds with only one switch. It was tricky, I managed to conceal the entire unit inside the bulkhead you would not spot the difference.”<br /><br />While the body was off it was an opportune time to fit a VH power brake booster and vacuum tank. Brake lines had been brazed up in places so all were replaced.<br /><br />BRAKES:<br /><br />The footbrake linings came off the old crane Chevy and they were brand new all round. The handbrake band assembly was missing and you wouldn’t know it, a brand new one was found in the Townsville parts, new linings, springs, pins, levers, everything.<br /><br />“On 23 August 2008 I pulled the timing cover off to replace the timing seal and the timing gear fell off the camshaft. It was a fibre one which was loose on the shaft and had to be replaced, which I found whilst hunting up the back from the boxes of parts from Townsville.”<br /><br />Part III<br /><br />11 SEPTEMBER 2008 – THE TURNING POINT<br /><br />“At last with the new brake lines installed all round I can start putting bits on and not just taking bits off,” said Dale.<br /><br />ANOTHER SETBACK<br /><br />“On 13 September 2008, Karen was helping me lower the newly painted and kitted up motor into the engine bay using the Coventry Climax ½ ton forklift bought from Reg Schuster’s auction at Pimpama. Extended to the full height of the mast, it got stuck. I climbed up, freed it, and got it working again, but suddenly it dropped a couple of feet crashing into the engine bay and on to the radiator couling. The engine slumped into the recess. Miraculously, it had only bent the throttle lever as it wedged itself against the firewall, making a slight indent in the cowling,” said Dale<br /><br />THE GEARBOX<br /><br />“The Ford gearbox was not compatible with the Chev so here I had another problem to solve. The Chev was too slow, so I gave it a bit of thought and decided on a Toyota Dyna 5 speed overdrive, which I plucked from gearbox stock. By fitting a Landcruiser lid I was able to have the gear lever through the floor in it’s normal position. Dyna’s have two side levers to operate the gears, which wouldn’t come through the floor. So a LC lid fitted perfectly and looks the part.<br /><br />“At this time I decided to pull apart the transfer to check it out. The gears looked perfect. The bearings are so tiny that I rebearinged and sealed the transfer which came with the vehicle just in case we had a bearing go on us to eliminate the risk of bearing failure.”<br /><br />The transfer hangs off a crossmember under the seat independent of the gearbox.<br /><br />A VISIT FROM NIGEL WARD<br /><br />It was the last Friday before Christmas. “I’m at my wits end. I’ve been trying for hours to fit the rear cab window rubber and inset.” “Every time I get it lined up the whole assembly pops out the other side. I’ve had it,” declared Dale. So with Nigel working on one side and Dale on the other a couple of hours later “and twenty bandaids” said Dale, it was installed.<br /><br />THE CHRISTMAS FAIRY<br /><br />The savings we were going to make by switching cabs didn’t bear out. When the panel beating doubled from the earlier quote, we got done what we could afford to pay for, and then fell into despair.<br /><br />A friend came along and offered to finish off the bonnet, doors and mudguards in return for mechanical work after the trip – we were back on the trip!<br /><br />TRIP TO FRANKLINS<br /><br />It was the Sunday before Christmas, 21st December 2008, on its’ maiden voyage, to set up a photo shoot and get our friend to witness the signature on Dale’s pommy passport. Everything ran beautifully, except on the first hill the transfer case popped out of high range. Hoping it was only a once off, we tried again, with no such luck, the transfer had to come out again. Dale performed a quick backgrind on high range, the gear which had looked perfect!<br /><br />CUPPA’S WITH MIKE O’SULLIVAN<br /><br />January 2nd 2009 – Fresh vegemite and cheese rolls over tea and coffee to sustain us. Mike too was feeling the financial pinch due to the world economic downturn. He was so inflated with enthusiasm about the trip – said he’d flown over parts we were visiting.<br /><br />Mike was on his way to his hanger at Watts Bridge and provided the post New Year’s break we needed from the daily ritual “work on the Chevy”, “work on the grass cutting.”<br /><br />Looking around Mike concluded, “The risk of having too many trucks is like my friend with his plane collection, he never gets to fly them.” Wow!<br /><br />Seeing Mike’s “little” Chevrolet Blitz winding its way up our summer green driveway was inspirational. It was fun to compare the ride each of us would have. Mike with his “no frills” machine with the engine between him and Karen, nothing overhead, just the hoops and canvas; yet a better measure of comfort with his modern fit out including high backs - pneumatic suspension seats!<br /><br />Mike was impressed with our Chevy, the cabin was tidy, its wind up windows!<br /><br />THREE BODIES TO CHOOSE FROM<br /><br />Once again we took the opportunity to seek an outsider’s opinion on which of the three bodies to go with. Unanimously, we voted in the 1950s Toyota troop carrier body. It would need to be cut down the middle and brought in 8 inches to fit the narrower chassis rails of the 1942 Chevy.<br /><br />YOUR OWN WRECKING YARD<br /><br />Dale just loves to go to his own parts supply and pick out something which can be slightly modified and used again without having to go to the wreckers. Time and time again he would proudly tell the story about how he had kept something which would now do the job. Like the mudguards for the rear wheels which came out of a scrap yard years ago, perfect fit!<br /><br />BENDIX WEISS KNUCKLE JOINTS<br /><br />Two faster diffs had been supplied by Warren Kerle and John Hill (deceased) and we put the best one in the back with new bearings and seal for reliability. There was no rear diff and the front diff was a slow ratio.<br />“I changed the front diff when I did the brakes,” says Dale. “I cleaned John’s diff and adjusted it and fitted a new seal.”<br /><br />“When I pulled out the front axleshaft to check the front diff I wanted to show Karen the old way CV joints were made for trucks. The Bendix Weiss knuckle joint is a constant velocity joint, with 5 constantly loaded balls at all angles. Brilliant design, smooth and very hardy due to the large surface area around the balls, compared with modern CV joints that only have three moving parts for cheap production (limited life span).”<br /><br />BUDDY NUTS<br /><br />“I’ve decided to put extra wheel nuts on the front rims, not only do they look good, but they are handy to stand on when looking under the bonnet. They are on the back to carry the second dual wheel.” Buddy nuts on the front allow the fitting of a second rim as an option for extreme snow or mud conditions.<br /><br />PINTLE HOOK<br /><br />You can see from the photo of the rear of Yankee Joe and the one we got from Gordon that our chassis has been cut at a 45 degree angle which makes us think ours was a tipper dump truck. Also, you’ll notice that it was once fitted with a Blitz spring leaf type tow bar as compared with the Chev GMC pintle hook. Dale converted it back into Chevy specs.<br /><br />WANTED ADS<br /><br />Email: On the 12th January a challenge went out to convoy members to find us engine side covers and bumperettes. Ray Ward was one who kindly replied directing us to our old mate Russell Price! Herman Pfaulter also obliged by ensuring us that we would pick them up in France whilst on our travels! Wanted ads bring an unusual response – everyone looking for the same part ring you up wanting to buy them off you!<br /><br />THE BED<br /><br />After traveling all over town to look at an unsuitable bed, we found just what we needed at the recycling centre. The old style angle iron frame with mesh with the webbed slats from a later type laid in the frame and we had a base. Dale installed the legs to give us enough height to allow for our storage containers to go underneath.<br /><br />TWO CONVOY TRUCKS HERITAGE LISTED<br /><br />It was both flattering and frustrating to have Yankee Joe come under the scrutiny of the “Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986”. The second truck was the 1941 Ford 4x2 Ute V8 1 ton. We had to continue with our truck restoration right up to February 10th, not knowing if the truck were going to be allowed out of the country.<br /><br />ALLORA RALLY JANUARY 17TH – 18TH<br /><br />The ultimate road test was to get it up and down Cunningham’s Gap. There was no need to worry, it had good power, ran cool, good brakes, a comfortable 90 kph road speed, but developed a wheel wobble in the front which is common for old four wheel drives. So Dale installed new tie rod pins and bushes and retracked the steering with his measuring stick. With my help he then rechecked his work with a plumb bob line. A hydraulic steering damper completed it, perfect.<br /><br />Without Les Turner’s help finishing off lights etc we wouldn’t even have had it ready for Allora. The Toyota body was not ready for pickup at the upholsterers, so we had to install a replacement to give us a sleeping compartment for the weekend. Les Turner helped us install the temporary body we picked up from Wanless.<br /><br />COMMISSIONING OF YANKEE JOE - VALENTINE’S PARTY – FEB 14TH 2009<br /><br />We held a great send off party for the Brisbane contingent. It was a shed opening party and birthday party for Lang and others. I was able to practice my selection of songs I’d been practicing to “entertain the troops with” whilst on convoy.<br /><br />The finishing touches were now going on. We tricked it up by adding a yellow water tank, made stencils and copied its Australian Army number. We made up a unit number 85 and a divisional platypus sign, which was my father’s 9th Division Cavalry Regiment badging.<br /><br />LOADING INTO CONTAINERS AT HEMMANT<br /><br />Tuesday 21st February, loading in holding yard.<br /><br />“Driving ie reversing the truck in was easy enough, but then as the day went on, I was working under the truck in unbearable heat like I’ve never felt before, no air, no circulation, putting the chains and straps around the axles,” says Dale. The container cleats were so small we couldn’t get the chains or tie down straps through them, so Nigel had to find a store to buy a bag full of shackles before we could even start.<br /><br />Everything had to be done under the diffs on the back or belly, you couldn’t stand up to do anything because there was only 50ml clearance all round the truck. Lang couldn’t get under his Chev which was in front of ours. He had to jack it up on blocks of wood under the axles to give him the clearance to tie it down.<br /><br />We had a five week break from the Chevy to complete the two Kaisers in time to take them to the Clubs Canungra Rally and Swap October 18 and 19th. Another week was taken up visiting Dale’s new grandson in Sydney in November, and then it took another few days to pick up our Chamberlain MKII Industrial tractor in Bargo. Apart from this, and Dale’s Jury Duty stint, we can’t remember a day going by without working on the truck.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5042721784019821944?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-7612295293386762152009-04-19T18:03:00.000-07:002009-04-21T21:12:13.769-07:006.30 am THIS MORNING<br /><br />Mobile call from Cameron McFadyen, “Ha, Ha, Karen I think you had better check out your blogsite?” Karen, “Why?” “Well, when I opened on the link in your email it opened up on a live chat sex site!” said Cameron.<br /><br />My reaction was one of disbelief and then denial, how did this happen, why me?<br />I’ll never know how long had lapsed between Cam opening on the blog address and the time he rang to kindly notify me, but he was wondering how the rest of the mail recipients were waking up to my newsy email?<br /><br />He tried cutting and pasting the link to another computer and the link worked properly. Cam does a bit of editing on the Heritage Truck Association club website and he could see that I had corrected a typo in the web address when preparing the email. Those cheeky devils had picked up on the error and had redirected 107 emails on my friends list, to one of those sites “you know are there, but are never game to click on them”.<br /><br />Cameron told me I’d have to delete my web site and start again, get in touch with Norton’s and Bigpond etc. Whilst he was thinking about it, I rang my daughter who had the computer unplugged, Toly Kijaska who was sleeping the night shift off, then Lang Kidby who got very excited about it, wondered why Bev hadn’t told him about it, and quickly set about investigating it for himself. Lang confirmed that yes he had entered another website, and because he seemed extremely jolly about his predicament, it buffered the shock I was experiencing.<br /><br />I’d sent the email to my friends in every organisaton, the church, celebral palsy, the fruit club, Marburg dancing partners, truck and tractor clubs, politicians, friends and relatives local and overseas, government organizations, the press – I was becoming deliriously panic stricken.<br /><br />A quick check on my mailbox confirmed that early risers had also gone into shock and instantly tried to inform me of the folly of my ways. How was I going to cope with the flack I was going to get from this?<br /><br />Following Cameron’s advice, I cut and pasted my web address and quickly redrafted a new email correctly pointing out that you would only click on the blogspot address in my previous email if you wanted one thing only!<br /><br />Thanks to Cameron McFadyen, Graeme Person, David Freeland, Leo Caunter, Tony Wright, Tony Butt, Arun Chacko, Becky Carroll, for their timely feedback. Luckily the church replied “I do not know you please remove my address from your book”, and I’m happy to remain anonymous.<br /><br />Setting up my blogspot has been a huge learning curve, I am having all sorts of editing dramas and are not at all happy with the presentation. I do not have HTML knowledge. I had wanted it all to be perfect before informing you all that I was up and running. Last night at midnight, I thought, “well, this is it, time to go for broke, fes up, and get some feedback from you before I leave!<br /><br />Honestly, I’m sorry, how will I ever live it down? Seeing is believing!Happy computing, Karen Bracken<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-761229529338676215?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-38276140776894971992009-04-19T06:07:00.000-07:002009-04-26T06:09:55.391-07:00Article written by Lang Kidby<br /><br />DATE FROM TO DISTANCE HOURS NOTES <br />May-01Istanbul Gallipoli 270 5.5 Starting from Selimpassa Camp to Gallipoli National Park camp site.<br />2 Gallipoli Day in Gallipoli. Can take 15min ferry to Canakkale and Troy and return if desired.<br />3 Gallipoli Alexandropolis 187 3.5 Enter Greece<br />4 Alexandropolis Thassos 1 2.5 Get 30min ferry from Keramoti. Stay in one of several beachside camp grounds.<br />5 Keramoti Day off on rugged island of Thassos. Spectacular views and great seafood.<br />6 Thassos Thessalonika 230 4.5 1hr ferry to Kavalla then on to the pretty second city of Greece.<br />7 Thessalonika Volos 222 4.5 Via magnificent scenic route past Mount Olympus<br />8 Volos Athens/Piraeus 292 6 Board Ferry to Crete at 2000. Arrive Iraklion 0630<br />9 Iraklion Chania 125 2.5 Lunch at Rethimnon. Outdoor café dinner on ancient harbour wall.<br />10 Chania Sfakia 95 2 Morning Maleme airfield/war graves then mountain drive to south coast evacuation point.<br />11 Kastelli Chania/Suda 105 2 Walk up spectacular gorge, winding drive to Souda (Main Crete war Cemetary.)<br />12 Souda Iraklion 125 2.5 Explore ancient harbour town and lost city of Knossos<br />13 Iraklion 2100/ Piraeus at 0630.<br />14 Piraeus/Athens Korinthos 60 1 Day exploring Athens then short drive over Corinth Canal to camp site.<br />15 Korinthos Patra 120 2.5 Relaxed coastal drive. Visit ANZAC evacuation ports. Board ferry at 1700/ Ancona 1300.<br />16 Ancona Arrive 1300 rest and explore. Meet up with Italian Military Vehicle Club members.<br />17 Ancona Scarperia 200 4 Cross Italian mountain spine to Scarperia. Picturesque Tuscan village 20km from Florence.<br />18 Scarperia Pisa 82 1.5 Sight seeing Florence and Pisa.<br />19 Pisa Garlenda 268 5.5 One of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. Garlenda village welcome.<br />20 Garlend Turin 180 2.5 Pretty drive to probably the nicest big city of the whole trip.<br />21 Turin Feriolo 160 2.5 Drive up the picture postcard Lake Maggiore. Camp ground on lake waterfront.<br />22 Feriolo Day off to catch up on washing, shopping, sightseeing and swimming.<br />23 Verbano Seelisberg 200 5 Winding Semplon Pass, Furka underground railway, Seelisberg mountain-top lake camp.<br />24 Seelisberg Mulhouse 160 3 Three great museums - Automobile, Firefighters and Railways.<br />25 Mulhouse Verdun 250 5 Enter France<br />26 Verdun Day off - The Citadel, visit untouched WW1 battle sites and French National War Memorial<br />27 Verdun Bois de Bologne 270 5 Night visit to Paris if desired.<br />28 Bois de Bologne Paris day. Drive or catch the train. Visit French Military Vehicle Club large workshops.<br />29 Bois de Bologne Bagnoles de l'Orne 170 3.5 Beautiful small spa town nestled in forested hills.<br />30 Bagnoles de l'Orne Pontorson 80 1.5 Straight on to Mont St Michel (9km) for day before returning to camp.<br />May-31 Pontor Periers 60 1 Nice drive to Peter Tombs' farm. Clean-up, look at Peter's collection, barbecue.<br />Jun-01 Periers Etreham 50 1 Join British MVT at campground. <br />2 .<br />3 <br />4 <br />5 Normandy Activities<br />6 <br />7 <br />8 Etreham Dieppe 220 4.5 Via coast road and outstanding scenery.<br />9 Dieppe Villers-Bretonneux 1 2 Australian National War Memorial<br />10 Villers-Bretonneux Amiens 13 2.5 Ancient cathedral town. Many war cemetaries and museums enroute.<br />11 Amiens Eiper/Ypres 180 3.5 Canadian Memorial Vimy Ridge, tunnels. Last Post/ Lowering of Australian flag Eiper Menin Gate.<br />12 Eiper/Ypres Zeebrugge 60 1 Loading, customs etc. Expected 1-2 days before train to Brussels or Paris etc for trip home.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-3827614077689497199?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-51122110411787429552009-04-17T04:32:00.000-07:002009-04-26T06:15:02.884-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeiJYa-dI3I/AAAAAAAAAFA/rHEeNkq5q9o/s1600-h/P1030418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325657612016755570" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeiJYa-dI3I/AAAAAAAAAFA/rHEeNkq5q9o/s320/P1030418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeiBTVrZ4EI/AAAAAAAAAEg/BL1dhmyJZoo/s1600-h/Convoy+Bris+Group2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325648728602304578" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeiBTVrZ4EI/AAAAAAAAAEg/BL1dhmyJZoo/s320/Convoy+Bris+Group2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The Brisbane Group lined up for a photo shoot with their vehicles in the background on Valentines Day <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh-Cu5jo_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/GDcS_bSgY88/s1600-h/Sydney+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325645144779891698" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh-Cu5jo_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/GDcS_bSgY88/s320/Sydney+group.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Sydney contingent on container loading day<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9sLsuSrI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/sNkm0JOi3QA/s1600-h/Personjeep2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325644757373700786" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9sLsuSrI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/sNkm0JOi3QA/s320/Personjeep2.JPG" border="0" /></a> Michael Jericevich (owner) and Graeme Person's 1944 Willey's. They've got everything covered!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9r_PnwmI/AAAAAAAAAEA/pLI9FyOqBGA/s1600-h/Personjeep1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325644754030412386" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9r_PnwmI/AAAAAAAAAEA/pLI9FyOqBGA/s320/Personjeep1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Sam and Lorraine Cutejar's US6 Studebaker<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzmm7bBJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/DNPfpJOQ5_A/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Copy+of+studebakerA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325633666487616658" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 213px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzmm7bBJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/DNPfpJOQ5_A/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Copy+of+studebakerA.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehwk8HrYDI/AAAAAAAAACw/5sIknRrbF9M/s1600-h/Hedges+Ford+UteA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325630339281543218" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 314px; height: 229px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehwk8HrYDI/AAAAAAAAACw/5sIknRrbF9M/s320/Hedges+Ford+UteA.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>John and Fiona Hedges – 1941 Ford utility 4x2; V8 85 hp 1 ton</div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzmohhe8I/AAAAAAAAADY/ymWwyrh_aRE/s1600-h/Chev+Ute+June+08A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325633666915859394" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 316px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzmohhe8I/AAAAAAAAADY/ymWwyrh_aRE/s320/Chev+Ute+June+08A.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzm0OmUzI/AAAAAAAAADg/a2V1ZSacmuU/s1600-h/100_3161A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325633670057710386" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 239px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehzm0OmUzI/AAAAAAAAADg/a2V1ZSacmuU/s320/100_3161A.jpg" border="0" /></a> From this to this. Expedition Leaders Lang and Bev Kidby's Chevrolet Utility<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehwlJsoblI/AAAAAAAAADI/mYNxklZ2m8M/s1600-h/ward+JeepA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325630342926200402" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 213px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehwlJsoblI/AAAAAAAAADI/mYNxklZ2m8M/s320/ward+JeepA.jpg" border="0" /></a>Nigel and Lisa Ward's 2 vehicles going, the 1942 Willy's and the 1942 Chevrolet Blitz 3/4 ton general service vehicle 4x2. Nigel's taking his Mum and Dad, Bob and Anne Ward, to keep an eye on him<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehwlCQG3XI/AAAAAAAAADA/Jmv1gbeWrf0/s1600-h/Ward+BlitzA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325630340927511922" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehwlCQG3XI/AAAAAAAAADA/Jmv1gbeWrf0/s320/Ward+BlitzA.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehwk72JrUI/AAAAAAAAACo/7ZvKqTptlgQ/s1600-h/half+t+Dodge+008A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325630339208031554" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Sehwk72JrUI/AAAAAAAAACo/7ZvKqTptlgQ/s320/half+t+Dodge+008A.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A New Zealand truck owned by Ray and Jennifer McKinney's 1/2 ton Dodge<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuI8G2aQI/AAAAAAAAACY/H3aleCuwSrc/s1600-h/Sewell+Blitz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325627659218479362" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuI8G2aQI/AAAAAAAAACY/H3aleCuwSrc/s400/Sewell+Blitz.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9ry3CnfI/AAAAAAAAADw/Rhpk9p_UTlA/s1600-h/container+11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325644750706089458" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh9ry3CnfI/AAAAAAAAADw/Rhpk9p_UTlA/s320/container+11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Meet Jim and Sandy Sewell of Perth. This gives you an idea of how far seriously they took their 1942 Chevy Blitz radiovan restoration<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuI4JPuVI/AAAAAAAAACQ/Ze1EdUX0Bxw/s1600-h/JimandSandySewell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325627658154785106" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuI4JPuVI/AAAAAAAAACQ/Ze1EdUX0Bxw/s400/JimandSandySewell.jpg" border="0" /></a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuJEjgB-I/AAAAAAAAACg/fTFQ1sKXwJ4/s1600-h/Willys_MB_1942_Sprangers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325627661486131170" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 379px; height: 353px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuJEjgB-I/AAAAAAAAACg/fTFQ1sKXwJ4/s400/Willys_MB_1942_Sprangers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hans and Anjolien Spranger's Jeep<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehrD5v1ufI/AAAAAAAAACA/LfdLpuGlVEA/s1600-h/100_3063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325624274150865394" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehrD5v1ufI/AAAAAAAAACA/LfdLpuGlVEA/s400/100_3063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Mike and Karen O'Sullivan's 1944 Chevrolet Blitz C15A 4x4 Utility<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh7GQMy-vI/AAAAAAAAADo/RaDDGD1nybs/s1600-h/IMGP3554A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325641906723683058" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/Seh7GQMy-vI/AAAAAAAAADo/RaDDGD1nybs/s320/IMGP3554A.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />John Neild's 1942 Harley Davidson's motorcycle. This is one vehicle to keep your eye on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Six Chevrolets, five Willy’s Jeeps, a Dodge, a Ford, a Studebaker and a Harley Davidson constitute our Convoy.</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SehuIpwqOaI/AAAAAAAAACI/K_AzihkrHls/s1600-h/Dodge_SC_Frnt.jpg"></a><br />Others:<br /><br /><br /><div>Dave and Maggie Mottram – 1942 Chevrolet 3 ton 2x4 truck with general service military cargo body<br />Tony and Marilyn Comber – of New Zealand Willys Jeep and trailer<br />Ken Bathhurst – 1944 Willy’s MB<br />Zeb and Dorothy Quigley<br /><br />Five vehicles have left from Brisbane, one from Perth, two from Sydney, five from Melbourne and two from Tauaranga, New Zealand, all containerized and enroute for Haydarpasa a new big port for Istanbul on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-5112211041178742955?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-36527961050835496762009-04-16T06:30:00.000-07:002009-04-16T15:57:42.373-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeekjRn4slI/AAAAAAAAABY/q3UYrLaNqA4/s1600-h/100_3263A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325406010321973842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeekjRn4slI/AAAAAAAAABY/q3UYrLaNqA4/s400/100_3263A.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#33cc00;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#009900;"><strong>Yankee Joe For Sale</strong></span> </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Buy yourself an Australian 1942 WW2 Chevy which has just completed a 5,000 km historic journey through Turkey, Greece, Crete, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium.From Istanbul to Normandy.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Truck Specs:<br />Short wheel base 145” 4X4<br />Chassis No: RC42G71M179<br />216 Engine No: R1296722<br />Australian Army No: 192806<br />Registration No: S18280<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">D-Day Anniversary - 6th June 2009 - Normandy Australia New Zealand ANZAC Convoy<br /><br /></span><strong>Details:</strong><br />Rebuilt diffs - back one has new bearings and seal to make it more reliable<br />Front one rebuilt, adjusted and new seal – both diffs ratio changed from 6.67 to 6.17 to give 90 kph and better economy<br />Fitted with 5 spd Toyota Dyna gearbox<br />New clutch, brakes rebuilt<br />Rebuilt radiator<br />Low mileage 216 car motor with modified sump to suit military specs<br />Transfer box rebuilt with new bearings and seals<br />New front tyres<br />Australian GMH cab<br />New canvas and seats, Cargo body 50’s model Japanese<br />Converted to 12 volt<br />2 speed electric wipers<br />Modern brake booster fitted for reliability<br />Generator &amp; water pump rebuilt, new belt<br />New tie rod ends and tailshafts<br />RH drive after market conversion<br /><br />Phone:<br />+61 0408 749 012<br />Email:<br />rock4wd@bigpond.net.au<br />Owner:<br />Dale Barnard and Karen Bracken<br /><br /><strong>ALL THE WAY FROM BRISBANE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-3652796105083549676?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-13337973360994405302009-04-15T06:58:00.000-07:002009-04-15T07:12:12.594-07:00ANZAC NORMANDY D DAY CONVOY 2009<br /><br />Article written by Karen Bracken<br />Published in the 2009 Spring Issue No. 122 Windscreen MVT<br /><br />The Lang Kidby led expedition of 15 Australian World War II Vehicles is now a reality. With members airline tickets booked and containers allocated for vehicles and a definite port/deport plan in place Lang says “things are coming along nicely.”<br /><br />The convoy will leave Istanbul on 1st May 2009 travelling through Europe via Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium. Their object will be to reach Etreham, France, on 2nd June where they will join the British MVT group and participate in the activities associated with the 65th anniversary of the 6th June Normandy D Day landing by the Allied Forces in WWII. “As excitement grows, and the word gets around the scale of the experience significance is overwhelming,” says Lang.<br /><br />Fifteen WWII vehicles will be containerized and transported to Istanbul from NZ, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle on or around the 21st February 2009.<br /><br />Expedition members carrying only their personal gear will then follow up to help with the unloading and preparation of vehicles for the Anzac Military Convoy, “a trip of a lifetime,” says Lang. “Hoops, tarps, bumpers and wheels are some to the items needing to be reinstalled and tyres will need to be pumped up.” “Once general maintenance is completed, then we’ll be ready to take to the road,” added Lang.<br /><br />“Our first stop will be Gallipoli which will really emotionally stimulate those participants who haven’t been over before.” “Then south westwards into Greece and Alexandropolis, Keramoti, Thessalonika, Volos, Athens and Piraeus.” “A visit to the Maleme war graves is a must.”<br /><br />“We’ll spend five days looking over the militarily significant island of Crete before departing from Patra by ferry for an overnight journey to Ancona.” “We’ll also spend a week in Italy traveling across the mountains from Florence via Pisa, Garlenda, Turin and Verbano, crossing the Swiss Alps via Seelisberg and onto Mulhouse in France, where at Etreham we’ll meet up with the (British) Military Vehicle Trust to participate in the Normandy activities.”<br /><br />Finally leaving Etreham to travel to the Australian National War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and then preparing for our departure home from Zeebrugge, Belgium on 12th June.<br /><br />“I expect to cover 5,000 kms and with 30 days of travel this averages out at 160 kms per day.”<br /><br />“Putting the military significance of this trip aside, it is about relaxation, and explorative sight seeing and the pace reflects this. After all, the unpredictability of traveling in these old vehicles goes without saying,” says Lang. “Members have done their best preparation wise but deadlines are always stretched with the result that most vehicles would never have been tried under these daily driving conditions, sometimes on large motorways, sometimes on country lanes and sometimes winding through the Alps.”<br /><br />Photos Karen and Dale Barnard with their 1942 Chevrolet without its body in place at this stage<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-1333797336099440530?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160334214656617732.post-67936434464162566022009-04-13T00:47:00.001-07:002009-04-16T21:21:02.226-07:00<strong>D Day – 65th Anniversary – 6th June 2009 - Normandy – Australia New Zealand ANZAC Convoy</strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeLw2ApeIxI/AAAAAAAAAAM/oGljF0PPfHI/s1600-h/100_2961a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324082520182891282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 10px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeLw2ApeIxI/AAAAAAAAAAM/oGljF0PPfHI/s320/100_2961a.jpg" border="0" /></a> I wonder what your idea of a “trip of a lifetime” is?<br /><br />My past experiences of driving around in an old truck with Dale have bordered on being called “trips of near death experiences.”<br /><br />Though scary at times, I’ve always enjoyed myself, and so it was, with the seed sown into our imaginations by Lang and Bev Kidby, we began preparations for our “trip of a lifetime” – the 2009 Brisbane to Ariomanches self-drive or bust traveling 5,000 km from Turkey to Athens, Crete, Florence, Pisa, Swiss Alps, Verseilles, Etreham, terminating in Zeebrugge, Belgium.<br /><br />Our goal is to drive an appropriate vehicle to attend the 65th anniversary of the WW2 D Day landing at Omaha beach, Normandy on 6th June 1944.<br /><br />With now only 10 days to go I look back on a lot of sadness which has enveloped us, particularly in these past 6 months, and I look forward to the exhilaration that the trip will bring.<br /><br /><strong>YOUR SUPPORT FOR BARNABAS – LIFELINE CHARITY AUSTRALIA</strong><br /><br />For 8 years now, we have shared our love with a group of aging parents whose handicapped children have been nurtured in their homes and who, now that they are in their 80s, fret about their children’s future placement when they die. The children, victims of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or other mental disorders do not receive any Government financial help. This little group is so excited about us going on this trip, it’s just as if they were going, and ask you to:<br /><br /><p>1.Make a once off donation towards their support by clicking on the link to the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland <a href="http://www.cplqld.org.au/">http://www.cplqld.org.au/</a></p><p>2. Sponsor a truck and follow our journey along the way via the Cerebral Palsy link <a href="http://www.cplqld.org.au/">http://www.cplqld.org.au/</a></p><p>3. Do nothing – just continue to follow along with the adventures of Karen and Dale and other members of the Anzac Convoy!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeehQY2j7nI/AAAAAAAAABQ/WgA7GBSGpgw/s1600-h/GusChristening.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325402387310177906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeehQY2j7nI/AAAAAAAAABQ/WgA7GBSGpgw/s320/GusChristening.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Family photo of Dale’s daughter Jo, Irish husband, Clem Wall and our delightful little grandsons, Jack 2, and Aonghus 5 months (recently diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy)<br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOvxBAsrtI/AAAAAAAAAAU/JA6BgsJtqoU/s1600-h/DianeKarenMar09.JPG"></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOvxBAsrtI/AAAAAAAAAAU/JA6BgsJtqoU/s1600-h/DianeKarenMar09.JPG"></a><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOvxBAsrtI/AAAAAAAAAAU/JA6BgsJtqoU/s1600-h/DianeKarenMar09.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324292441101872850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOvxBAsrtI/AAAAAAAAAAU/JA6BgsJtqoU/s200/DianeKarenMar09.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOvxBAsrtI/AAAAAAAAAAU/JA6BgsJtqoU/s1600-h/DianeKarenMar09.JPG"></a><br /><p><br /><p>Karen and Dianne Lawrence at a Barnabas meeting held at the Oxley Uniting Churc<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOw6W-eMhI/AAAAAAAAAAc/UiaaykPXCu8/s1600-h/100_3490.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324293701128565266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B1wMuzm7h8U/SeOw6W-eMhI/AAAAAAAAAAc/UiaaykPXCu8/s200/100_3490.jpg" border="0" /></a>h</p><br /><p><br />Peter Hall on one of his regular visits to help Karen and Dale out on their farm at Pallara, south west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8160334214656617732-6793643446416256602?l=anzacconvoy.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Karen Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10314509975937528667noreply@blogger.com1