Panzerjäger Bren 731(e)

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

IMHO, I don't personally think doing up a perfectly good carrier then painting it as a "capture" serves our veterans honourably, never mind anyone else. Instead, it smacks of some sort of false adoration of the Wehrmacht, seen already in too many reenactors... and I've seen first-hand the impressions some of them have left with those who once faced them for real, so long ago.

If you'd found a carrier with German colours and markings under layers of post-war paint, then I could see that being reproduced; but to the best of my knowledge, there are none anywhere, let alone in Canada. And even if I did find same and restored it accordingly, I would never wear feldgrau to parade it.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I'd ever parade it - it would mock those who once fought the Nazi horde.

The fact is that there are precious few carriers left throughout the world as it is, and each one is a testament to the courage and tenacity of those who had to ride them into battle. Better to dress them as representatives of Canadian units which once served our nation but no longer exist!

I hope that one day we might once again see a full carrier platoon on parade here in Canada... but with Canadian carriers. And lord knows, there are so many field-expedient variations which could be explored for re-creation! Not every restoration has to be factory-perfect - by the time the originals got to the front they were everything but...

Do what you wish - it's your carrier - but bear my words in mind. Yes, there were "captures"... Jeeps, trucks, carriers, everything up to and including Sherman tanks; but what does re-creating these accomplish, other than 'wasting' an otherwise perfectly good Canadian restoration??

Geoff

[hrpearce]

There are still raw emotions and fresh memories of the war with the senior citizens of all sides and I personally would not want to upset anyone. If we have smething of theirs that we captured we should keep it as we used it and if they have ours they should keep it the way they used it. It keeps the history alive without treading on toes. thats my thoughts for what they are worth.

[JTH]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

IMHO, I don't personally think doing up a perfectly good carrier then painting it as a "capture" serves our veterans honourably, never mind anyone else. Instead, it smacks of some sort of false adoration of the Wehrmacht, seen already in too many reenactors... and I've seen first-hand the impressions some of them have left with those who once faced them for real, so long ago.

If you'd found a carrier with German colours and markings under layers of post-war paint, then I could see that being reproduced; but to the best of my knowledge, there are none anywhere, let alone in Canada. And even if I did find same and restored it accordingly, I would never wear feldgrau to parade it.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I'd ever parade it - it would mock those who once fought the Nazi horde.

The fact is that there are precious few carriers left throughout the world as it is, and each one is a testament to the courage and tenacity of those who had to ride them into battle. Better to dress them as representatives of Canadian units which once served our nation but no longer exist!

I hope that one day we might once again see a full carrier platoon on parade here in Canada... but with Canadian carriers. And lord knows, there are so many field-expedient variations which could be explored for re-creation! Not every restoration has to be factory-perfect - by the time the originals got to the front they were everything but...

Do what you wish - it's your carrier - but bear my words in mind. Yes, there were "captures"... Jeeps, trucks, carriers, everything up to and including Sherman tanks; but what does re-creating these accomplish, other than 'wasting' an otherwise perfectly good Canadian restoration??

Geoff

Thanks Geoff and I will carefully add your thoughts to the process. One of the reasons I posted this question here was to get opinions on all aspects of this proposal. I am not hard over on my choice by any means.

There are of course varying thoughts on all that we do. If I chose the WASP someone would ask what it was for and while I would clearly not answer "Roasting folks from a distance" although it would be patently obvious that is what it could (and was) used for. We are very careful at the venues we attend as to whether or not dewats are displayed - even this provokes comments from some folks.

Thin skin vehicles are usually safe and we can always make the claim that "this is the vehicle that helped win the war" with no outward display of aggression ("Happy" little jeeps). Any true fighting vehicle can provoke negative comment. Heck we have even had to defend the "American" star on our vehicles to irate folks who did not know the true story. Most calm down when we explain it (especially when you point out it's crooked) but some don't.

In any event, far be it from me to provoke a veteran, since, as they say "I are one" and am very sensitive to the issues.

Clearly more thought needed.

thanks again

Jeff

[Jordan Baker]

Good points all around. However why beat around the bush about the true reasons for a wasp. Yes it was made for making people look like well done sticky BBQ ribs. Tell them that. It puts a very familiar picture (everyone knows what BBQ ribs look like) into almost everyones head and makes (correction FORCES) them to understand just how nasty war is.

You say thin skin vehicles are safe because they have no outward display of agresion. Everything in this hobby is based on aggrestion. Whether it be a tank, bomb, MG, or even a button for a BD blouse. They were all made for one purpose. To fight and win a war.

For the folks that have problems with this, thats their problem. Ive been to countless displays where I have had the typical "soccer mom" come up to me and ask what kind of gun such and such was. When I enformed her it was a Bren LMG, she was very excited as this is what her father had carried in the war. I talked to her about it and how it was used in detail. I then asked if she'd like to pick it up. She couldn't belive how "heavy" it was and that her dad could have carried it or used it. I got her to remember her dad was 20yrs at one time (not 80-90yrs) and he had a job to do.


Ok so I got a bit off topic.

Restor your vehicle the way you want to. Just remember one point. If you are going to do it right do it right and stick with it. On my UC, I painted a "Hells Angles" logo on the sides. Around these parts they are an outlaw motorcycle club that run the drug trafficing in the province and cause a lot of other problems. I chose to paint that on the side as that is what the Rgt had for a time while in England. Whenever I do static displays I have a framed picture done up with an excerpt from the War Diaries. In it explains about the Carrier Platoon got the term. Basicaly these guys lived up to the true meaning Hells Angles. Anyway I guess what I am trying to say is make up some kind of info to provoke discussion if you are going to do something a bit out of the norm. However be prepared for people to come at you with questions on why you did it that way.

[JTH]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Good points all around. However why beat around the bush about the true reasons for a wasp. Yes it was made for making people look like well done sticky BBQ ribs. Tell them that. It puts a very familiar picture (everyone knows what BBQ ribs look like) into almost everyones head and makes (correction FORCES) them to understand just how nasty war is.

You say thin skin vehicles are safe because they have no outward display of agresion. Everything in this hobby is based on aggrestion. Whether it be a tank, bomb, MG, or even a button for a BD blouse. They were all made for one purpose. To fight and win a war.

For the folks that have problems with this, thats their problem. Ive been to countless displays where I have had the typical "soccer mom" come up to me and ask what kind of gun such and such was. When I enformed her it was a Bren LMG, she was very excited as this is what her father had carried in the war. I talked to her about it and how it was used in detail. I then asked if she'd like to pick it up. She couldn't belive how "heavy" it was and that her dad could have carried it or used it. I got her to remember her dad was 20yrs at one time (not 80-90yrs) and he had a job to do.


Ok so I got a bit off topic.

Restor your vehicle the way you want to. Just remember one point. If you are going to do it right do it right and stick with it. On my UC, I painted a "Hells Angles" logo on the sides. Around these parts they are an outlaw motorcycle club that run the drug trafficing in the province and cause a lot of other problems. I chose to paint that on the side as that is what the Rgt had for a time while in England. Whenever I do static displays I have a framed picture done up with an excerpt from the War Diaries. In it explains about the Carrier Platoon got the term. Basicaly these guys lived up to the true meaning Hells Angles. Anyway I guess what I am trying to say is make up some kind of info to provoke discussion if you are going to do something a bit out of the norm. However be prepared for people to come at you with questions on why you did it that way.

Thanks Jordan

When I made my comment about thin skin vehicles it was mostly tongue in cheek. The impression that they moved food, water and troops is upper most in peoples minds. Moving ammunition, and the fact that the troops being moved are probably headed to combat, doesn't often come up. Want a really safe vehicle? A radio vehicle is probably it as you can talk about the radio. Mount an MG on a jeep and the attitude changes a bit. I am not above passing on the reality of war. I have been in, or involved with the CF for all my adult life (nearing retirement now) so I have a better understanding than most. Sensitivity is still the name of the game!

Jeff

[The Bedford Boys]

Hi all, I'm new to this superb forum of yours, so I don't want to cause to much of a stir! Haha But, I feel I must share my opinion. My Dad got into restoring military vehicles as a hobby because he liked the vehicles. I too have become enthusiastic about them through his involvement with them and because they are so rarely seen by the public. We are in a hobby that preserves history, not clouds it. I truely believe that building a carrier up to be one of the afformentioned captured german ones would be an excellent project, as it would show the public that both sides sometimes used each others vehicles.(And no-one else would have one like it! Haha) Of course you would not run it in a commemeration parade for fallen soldiers as that would be completely innappropriate. Just remember what we are in this to do: Keep military vehicles from fading from existance, be they rebuilt to "out of the factory" or done up as they were not originally.

[Lynn Eades]

Welcome to the forum! Its great to have another Kiwi on here,
I think it would be polite to have some names.
You can only stay anonymous for so long, being into carriers, and bedfords, and being a father/son combo severly reduces the slice of the population pie, down to an almost transparent slice.
The next thing is that the world should see your vehicles via this site, so you will need to post some pics.( which will help to I.D. you of course)
There are some amazing people on here. for an example, I was reading a post from Tony Smith about CMP brakes. In about 20 seconds he made a fog of thirty years disapear.
A truly great site with some truly great people. (thanks to Geoff W-B )

[RichardT10829]

i dont like this site i think its rubbish,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NOT !

no getting round the fact that it is the premier group for carrier owners / enthusiasts "online" so thanks to Geoff. well I am off to try and black my other eye today.

JTH keep us posted on the resto and get some pics posted up buddy.