Centurion Arrives in BC

[Aide Memoire]

Originally Posted by Dan Martel

I posted this tank's ROF serial number on another site to (...) I was referred to the Tank Museum at Bovington. For a small fee it appears they will provide a vehicle history card for those who request it.

Yes, once I see if there's any proper data plate inside this thing I'll be talking to Bovington...but I didn't have that link, so cheers.

The source of the Korea-thing initially was a communication from Borden to Cornwallis which reads:

“They [Borden] have researched the history and that particular Centurion was the only one [currently in Canada that was] in Korea”

That became a sound bite fragment which got picked up by one press outlet and reinterpreted into "the last Centurion in Canada" - which other press folks just quoted and ran with. Had we known in advance that the copy was going to read like that we would've corrected it before it spread, but it didn't work out that way, and once things get out into the media they take on a life of their own. No surprises there to any of us who've been interviewed and misquoted or quoted out of context before, or quoted in a jenga-like puzzle of reordered sound bites.

The 'stolen valour'/ hitching-a-ride thing from someone up there aways...really? Despite the fact CN's community spirit and generosity got it transported across the country - and Brent and Carrie Hill from Lumpy's Lowbed got it to our local Legion for Remembrance Day...there were still huge costs involved in craneloading at Cornwallis - transporting it to the railhead - craning it on to the flatcar...all of which was borne by Mr. Newby so at least *some* vets and other folks *West* of the Rockies would have a chance to see an example of something they'd otherwise have to book WestJet for. I don't really see a downside to that - but I notice throughout this thread that some folks are grasping for one regardless.

It's a lot easier just to ask the people involved some basic questions vs. some of the stuff in this thread, but...with some folks there seems to be this compulsion to get political over everything and take the Low Road. Not really sure who that serves. Certainly not the museum community. Certainly not the collector community. And certainly not the public.

Andy Hill

[Ed Storey]

I'd be really curious to see the chain of documentary evidence which traces 53-81190 back to service use in Korea. It would be a stunning revelation IF such documentation actually existed - I hope it does, but I am not holding my breath.

[Aide Memoire]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

I'd be really curious to see the chain of documentary evidence which traces 53-81190 back to service use in Korea. It would be a stunning revelation IF such documentation actually existed - I hope it does, but I am not holding my breath.

Again...without knowing what Borden found or how they found it...this is all we have.

Opening the hatches today for a look inside for a data plate. If that doesn't work I'll see if Bovington can work with the ROF number alone. Either way when they get back to me...I will get back to MLU.

[Ed Storey]

Why not first check with the Base Borden museum to see what they have?

[jdmcm]

Our military vehicle community in BC is a bit splintered to say the least, most of the groups seem to harbor more than a little animosity for the others, and some of our more colorful characters are known Canada wide. Andy has a good point that when Newby is involved people always assume the worst, but I think everyone would have to admit, even Ian's camp that he has brought a great deal of this on himself over the years, so the reputation he has garnered is not totally undeserved.

Very glad to see the Centurion here...much like tanks in general, you can never have enough Centurions

John

[Aide Memoire]

Originally Posted by jdmcm

Our military vehicle community in BC is a bit splintered to say the least, most of the groups seem to harbor more than a little animosity for the others, and some of our more colorful characters are known Canada wide. Andy has a good point that when Newby is involved people always assume the worst, but I think everyone would have to admit, even Ian's camp that he has brought a great deal of this on himself over the years, so the reputation he has garnered is not totally undeserved.

Very glad to see the Centurion here...much like tanks in general, you can never have enough Centurions

John

Hmm. Ian supplied all the permits, fuel and HEMTT, Ferret etc. we took out to your show, John Though we were there as part of Western Command of course. Hope to next year as well. That was a really good event.

With the rest of stuff...personality clashes, ambitions, competition, one-upmanship, status hounds, people wanting to be biggest/ best/ first or whatever -- not my thing at all. I'm in it for the exact same reasons I was as a 9 yr. old. It's just now the toys are bigger, the sandbox is bigger, and there are more kids to share with. Anything off-mission from that I have zero interest in and when I get my way - zero part in.

[Aide Memoire]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Why not first check with the Base Borden museum to see what they have?

Yes. On that too. Didn't have a POC there until just this a.m.

I've sent info off to Bovington to see what they come up with, but sadly there aren't any data plates left inside (getting the partially ajar driver's hatch open enough to crawl about inside required the help of the M816 wrecker - despite lots of heat and penetrating oil.)

Anyone know if the CFR would be stamped somewhere on the hull or turret the way we did with other things like M37s etc.?