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Armoured bulldozer, Juno Beach
In honour and commemoration of the valiant lads that landed on D day here is, I believe, a previously unseen photo of the Highland Light Infantry landing near Bernieres-sur-Mere. There is a tremendous amount of personnel, kit, and equipment on the beach, some of which is being pulled off by one of our armoured bulldozers. I'm not sure what is on the trailer being pulled by the dozer, anyone have any ideas?
CHIMO! Derek.
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Hi Derek
The load on the trailer could be gas cylinders for barrage ballons, they used these as a deterrant against low flying aircraft but in the end they proved to be good aiming points for German gunners. Its unusual to see cylinders on this type of trailer but that said every item of equipment was used to the full in the first few months of the landings cheers Les |
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I too have pondered over this, and other similar trailer loads, seen on D Day photos.
Les: hadn't thought of baloon cylenders before but I thought that the initial baloons were the smaller ones taken (ready inflated) from the landing craft which flew them on passage. have not seen any referance to vehicles/trailers associated with the initial BB units Sapper: how about rolls of PBS as mentioned recently in relation to the possible Tar Boiler. At this site http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold...page=69landing there are some fairly good landing tables for Gold Beach - these include 6 "Freuhauf" trailers landed for 235 Fld Pk Co and 3 of same plus 2 "20 Ton low loading Trlr" for 51 Mech Equip Sect but no mention of what any carried See also this picture which I posted some time ago http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...4621#post64621 this trailer appears to be carrying some sort of trackway ? Noel |
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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? |
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armoured bulldozer, juno Beach
Having attended Cardington on several occassions and watched demonstrations of the result of mishandling cylinders of Oxy and hydrogen there is no way hydrogen cylinders would be transported like that. As noted initial balloons were the mini variety which came ashore inflated. I have pictures of the MT used by the Balloon sqns that eventually landed and both the winches and cylinders were on fordson sussex 38-39 model. what is interesting is in late 1944 these Fordson's photographed on the Belgium Dutch border still bore their Middlesex CC reg numbers without a sign of an RAF number. Sqn support vehicles were Bedford QL and CMP 30cwt.
my money is on trackway matting being carried. TED |
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You are probably right Ted, as the photo is very fuzzy its not easy to see the load clearly. Mine was only a suggestion but the trailer and load did not seem to link, how about posting some of the pictures you mentioned
cheers Les |
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Armoured Bulldozer
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Armoured Bulldozer pic.
Thank you very much Ed for an excellent and informative addition to the Armoured Bulldozer thread...I especially enjoyed the comment about RCE's charging for shaves with razors attached to the scraper! I've recently discovered another pic of an Armoured Bulldozer taken on Juno beach on or soon after DDay. A veritable beehive of activity in this pic.
CHIMO! Derek.
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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? |
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Trailer Load
Just found this picture from a modelling forum here I think this trailer may be carrying somerfield track on the bottom and another type of temporary surface above it [cant remember the name for the wood strips wired together]. Later in the thread we are told the vehicle is - 50 Mech Equipt Sect - 3 men - 1 D10 + Trailer Jahn(?)
What do you think guys? Noel |
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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? |
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Chespale
Thats it of course "Chestnut Paling" - split chestnut sapplings orginally, apparently as the war porogressed there was a shortage of chestnut saplings as with everything else.
I'm sure I have seen a picture of this [with the wire (snow fence)] used as a road surface over the sand - showing a light utility leaving the beaches on D+?. On the "other" forum the picture is higher resolution and I'm sure that the "hessian" is interleaved with wire mesh. The uses for this load are probably many - throw it in a hole, make a trak for wheeled vehicles, as Sapper says "reload" an AVRE or light a fire for a brew up Noel |
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