We are immensely grateful to Alex for the "then and now" images, and Hanno for combining them in one posting.

Whenever Ballard gets back to France if we can access this beach with a vehicle, by whatever means of cajoling and argument, then we will "duplicate" the picture.

In fact DB is quite fired up to do so and perhaps we can take multiple images using the original as a placement reference which someone with a cute photo program can perhaps create a montage and replicate the line of F15 Polstens.

Even though Ballard will whinge mightily, we'll have him correctly lean in the cab as appropriate as can be seen and also fling that awkward engine cover onto the sand as can be seen too.

Currently it has come to our attention that the 15th LAA who operated these trucks is an IOM regiment and is correctly titled "15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment"; trawling around the net we have quite an amount of reference now including the official history of the regiment and the contact for the IOM military archives. According to their web site, it seems the IOM authorities are very helpful to researchers.

I have here a sheaf of papers taken from the net, duly printed with Ballard's free-issue printer cartridges which he has donated to The Signals Clerk in recognition of the years of previous free-issue printed data emanating from the Shirrell Heath Signals Office.

We shall be following the leads so generated and anything of interest that comes to light will definitely get recorded here.

All the best,

R.