Greece to Normandy Convoy '09

[Lang]

With the approval of the Chief of the General Staff I would like to pass the word around the MLU members.

As a result of the successful trip Bev and I did from Aqaba, Jordan to Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day in our 1940 Dodge staff car, we want to do it again.

We have looked at a few options and come up with a pretty interesting trip but this time we want some others to come too. How about getting a convoy together (I will do all the organising)

Trip is planned to start from Athens (Pireaus Port) and jump a ferry across to Crete. A few days on this island of fantastic scenery and people going over the battlefields of the decisive campaign. I am embarrassed to admit the All Blacks did vastly better than their Wallaby and Lion team mates but still didn't prevent a thorough drubbing by a smaller but more polished team.

Ferry back to Greece to follow the beautiful coastline (and path of the original retreat) befor going across to Brindisi on the heel of Italy. Up through Italy via Anzio, Monte Cassino, Rome and Salerno then over the Alps into Austria and Bavaria.

We can then either follow Patten's 3rd Army back to Normandy or swing a bit further north to follow the British and Canadian route through Holland and Belgium.

Want to come. lang@st.net.au

Main reason for the post is to ask for leads on a "Civilian Military" vehicle which might be for sale - preferably in Australia - that I can prepare for the trip. 15cwt Chev ute or car based ute even a staff car is the type of thing but I would look at anything.

I have finished my parole after my sentence driving CMP's but I have no doubt there are people with compressed vertebra, deaf ears and detached retinas from vibration who would delight in driving this route.

Any leads on a vehicle, preferably complete but a bit of work no problem, greatly appreciated.

Lang

[Lang]

I am organising an Australian and New Zealand convoy to Normandy '09. About 6 weeks from early May to late June 2009.

We will ship 15 WW2 vehicles to Piraeus (Athens) then go by ferry across to do the battlefields in Crete before coming back to the Greek mainland. Up through Greece then across to Brindisi on the heel of Italy before visiting Salerno, Monte Cassino, Rome, Anzio etc.

All the way north to Switzerland, across France to camp with the Brits at Normandy. After the 65th celebrations we travel north through the WW1 battlefields (visiting the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian National Memorials) then ship our vehicles home to Aus/NZ from Zeebrugge or Rotterdam.

We have 7 signed up already so will have our full quota well before departure. Anyone wanting to come get in touch - we will talk to any other nationality who might like to join us in Athens for the journey (would love some Greek vehicles).

This is not a commercial profit-making operation but an enthusiast's convoy we are leading for the fun of it. Only charge is $AU500 contribution to help cover the hundreds of hours and dollars expended on organisation before departure. All other expenses are from the entrants direct to the service providers (organised and coordinated by us). Mostly camping. To see what else we have done look at the web site www.next-horizon.org

Lang

[Keith Webb]

I, along with others attended Lang and Bev's talk at Corowa. This is the trip of a lifetime.
Did anyone see the article in Melbourne's Age yesterday about the Greek campaign? How timely.

[zemsi]

I wanted to see your next-horizon site but I got a virus alert from Kaspersky: Trojan-Clicker.HTML.IFrame.mq virus => any clue?

[zemsi]

... wow, brilliant idea!

Must be a fantastic feeling driving your own truck through all the battlefields.

I'll be in Normandy for around 10 days too. Be sure you don't miss the French Tank Museum in Saumur (near Le Mans) before heading up North to Bayeux.

Just let me know if I can assist you with your travel plans through Switzerland.

Greetings
Chris

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sounds like a great trip, Lang! I might join you on the way back to Holland.

Are you going by staff car again, or by Ute this time?

Picture below shows "Australian troops embarking for Greece from Alexandria, Egypt, April 1941. (AWM 044254)