1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[James P]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Phil Cockburn, London's last armoured soldier to survive D-Day passes away:

https://london.ctvnews.ca/mobile/lon...away-1.4900488

One could say “Holy Roller” is now the last D-Day survivor in London... When old soldiers fade away, it is important to preserve their equipment as a reminder of their deeds.

Attachment 114780

I came to the same conclusion about 25 years ago that as the ranks of old boys who answered duties call and served in whatever role to defend, protect and liberate the oppressed diminish the equipment will be the only direct link back to that period. It is, at least for myself, something much more then a "return on investment" or "property" in that the equipment, small arms and vehicles are history with a value that DOES NOT have a dollar sign attached. Each and every artifact of that period will grow in importance and continue the telling of the story that these men and women as they pass on and cannot tell to future generations.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

“Holy Roller craft beer launched to raise money for tank's restoration“

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ks-restoration

[dcrfan]

I don't know how I've missed this thread all these years. I've visited this tank many times over the years when visiting London for an international AFV conference. I'm glad the decay is being halted and it can become a true memorial to all those mounted soldiers. It would be great for people to see be able to seen inside in the future.

Paul

[James P]

The tank Holy Roller a veteran of the Second World War should be brought indoors, restored (and kept indoors) and given the respect it deserves. Anything less then a full on, top to bottom, restoration is just kicking the can down the road as it rots away from the inside out.

[Ed Storey]

I couldn't agree more.

[James P]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...ndon-1.5975322

[Ed Storey]

Perhaps now is the time to change the 'playbook' and provide this iconic vehicle that is loved so much with the proper indoor display it so rightly deserves.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by James P

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...ndon-1.5975322

holy-roller-defaced.jpg


"More information about the fundraising campaign can be found at https://www.holyrollermemorial.ca/"

holy-roller-tank.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Holy Roller leaves Victoria Park (June 2021):

https://youtu.be/qS2OX0n-VK8

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Holy Roller leaves Victoria Park (June 2021):

https://youtu.be/qS2OX0n-VK8

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

[David Dunlop]

You’re not alone, Bruce.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

You’re not alone, Bruce.

I bet for 10 grand you could cast a decent fiberglass copy to keep the park dwellers happy (that's assuming they don't 'cancel it' because of its violent oppressor past anyway. I note that fiberglass Spitfires are replacing rare and expensive real ones on plinths) and spend all that moola to do the works on the original. Damned if it doesn't deserve it.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help????

Heh, and to think another Sherman is being restored back to presentable condition on a budget of €75,000, or about CAN$110,000 at the moment. I guess some of the difference may be explained by that one being done mostly by museum volunteers, with help to move it from the Army, but still … CAN$320,000 sounds like this one is being done entirely by commercial companies.

[James P]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

No Bruce. It is not just you who feels that way about the fate of the tank. Thats a crazy amount of money spent for what end...........that veteran tank deserves better.

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

Bruce: if we accept your interpretation of cost estimates presented in the video:
CAD $70,000.00 to move it... is that one way to the shop?
CAD $250,000.00 for refurbishment by volunteer staff and students at Fanshawe College. . .

the video may have done more fund raiser damage than good.

How alarming it is to see the disparity of commercial interests between different countries. I wager in a country that was liberated during WWII, an opportunity to participate in such an event may not be financially motivated.

Perhaps someone at the project could explain the cost estimates in terms such as time and materials? Perry? Gordon?

If the current information is accurate, I am less motivated to financially support such disbursements.


.

[Bob Carriere]

Not that we could do much about it....

But one item....sandblasting...would be huge. A commercial firm would have to contain all the sand and paint particles and dispose of it in a special contaminated soil dump site bagged and in sealed 45 gallon drums....... we are lucky to be able to sand blast in rural areas with almost total disregards to safety, municipal, provincial regulations and laws. Shhhhttttttt!

Now imagine doing the inside after stripping all the components.

.....and then some idiot will paint on it in blood red as it is an instrument of mass destruction. In my mind, so is a helpful serving of pork and beans.

Nothing to cheer about.