New Resource British Vehicle Names and Census Numbers Version 4

Kevin Tucker and Dick Taylor's PDF of British vehicle names and census numbers

  1. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

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  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Is the pdf often updated with new information?

    Or does it come in different versions that are undated only once in a while?

    There is for example just a passing ref. I have seen to a Sherman tank called "Campanula" - at one time with the SRY.

    It's on a page in the book "Dad's War" by John Cropper.

    Campanula - Wikipedia

    [​IMG]

    But that's about the extent of what I could find out at the time.

    I assume, it was perhaps a "C" SRY squadron tank - verifiably - and may even have gone to the SRY via the 24th L - but again - would that kind of info be likely to make it into the pdf - i.e. a ref. such as in the book "Dad's War" * - as even "speculative" ? or is it more a case of taking the info, from for example the classic photos in the archives of places like the IWM? Or the vehicle records of Bovington etc.

    * e.g. Dad's War by Cropper, Andy and John Cropper: Anmas Publications, Thurlstone, Devon 9780952422204 Card Covers, Limited Edition. - C P Books Limited
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2018
  3. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Ramiles

    The database is being updated. Hopefully the latest version will on the MAFVA website which I believe is also to be updated. Dick and I had swapped spread sheets so we had the same listings, however having recently checked through the latest IWM online films I have found some more names. These have been forwarded to Dick so bare with us it will be updated soon.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
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  4. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Here are some of the ref's I have seen associated with the Sherwood Rangers... (below)

    I have been looking for info for the these for quite a good while, and particularly ref'ing the ones that might have gone to the SRY from the 24th L - hopefully one day aim(ed) to start a thread on the SRY's various tanks and finding now (and linking together) some of the pictures that there are.

    Karl's Fb. page at: The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1939-1945

    Quite regularly posts some beautiful pictures of the SRY's tanks and crews etc. and I try to keep note, when I can ;-) of the ones that "I see" - but at this stage it's all a bit rough and ready ;-) not comprehensive, just a smattering of notes on what I have seen variously dotted about ;-)

    996 - Sherwood Rangers

    RHQ

    “Robin Hood” Sherman Mk? (Mk III in 1947, Fisher style welded drivers station), CO tank
    “Little John” Sherman Mk? (Mk III in 1947, Fisher style welded drivers station)
    “Alan A Dale” Crusader AA
    “Maid Marion” Sherman Mk?
    "Friar Tuck"

    A Sqn
    "Aberdeen"
    "Achilles"
    “Akilla” Sherman M4A2 T146929 - Commanded by Sgt Dring, Cpl Gold, TroopersHodkin, Denton and Bennett
    “Arrowmanches” Sherman M4A2
    “Arrow” Sherman Mk?
    "Saeffelen" Sherman Mk? ARV
    "Vladimir"

    B Sqn
    "Beek"
    "Berjou" - Sherman M4A1 Firefly hybrid - survived the War
    "Berlin or Bust" Sherman Mk?
    “Blue Light Special” Sherman M4A2 T232668 ( destroyed 19/9/44 @ Geilenkirchen) - Comanded by Lt. Charles
    “Blue Light Special” Sherman M4A1 Firefly hybrid T269979 - Cpl Cropper, Troopers Snedker, Milner, Jackson and possibly Baker
    “Pin Up Girl” Sherman M4A2 ( ex 24th Lancers ) - Commanded by Cpl Cropper, Troopers Tutin, Richardson, Gasson and Cornish
    “Lily Marlene” Sherman Mk?

    “Berjou”

    C Sqn
    “Bardin Collos” 3070165 Sherman DD sank D-Day
    “Companula” Sherman M4A2 - British Vehicle Names and Census Numbers
    “Calligula” Sherman M4A2
    “Mersa Metru” Sherman M4A2
    Recce Troop

    HQ
    “Issum” ( C.O. ) T271223 Stuart M5A1
    “Homs” Stuart M5A1
    22A
    “Sfax” Stuart M5A1
    “Wyler” Stuart M5A1
    “Akarit” Stuart M5A1
    22B
    “Beek” Stuart M5A1
    “Flesselles” Stuart M5A1
    “Gabes” Stuart M5A1
    22C
    “Dinxperlo” Stuart M5A1
    “Cahanges” Stuart M5A1
    “Le Parc De Boislonde” Stuart M5A1

    Other names and numbers
    “Armageddon” Sherman Mk? ( ex 24th Lancers)
    Stuart M3A1 T153845
    Humber Scout F195807
    Sherman M4A2 T146960
    Sherman M4A4 T212028
    Sherman M4A4 Firefly T212721
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2018
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  5. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I had a look at what I have of "a list" for the 24th L - but it's in not too decent shape and will require a bit of work, particularly in light of quite a few recent discoveries I have made over over the last few months and clues I have been "following" ;-).

    Here's what I have at the. mo. just "to hand"... but'll it'll need editing / a bit of adjustment and corrections etc...

    995 - 24th Lancers

    RHQ - 24th L - Alphabetical

    Some 24th L RHQ tanks were named after "The Four Horsemen" - i.e.

    DEATH
    DEATH II
    DEATH III
    DEATH IV
    FAMINE
    PESTILENCE
    WAR

    A Sqn - Alphabetical

    'APPY 'AMPSTEAD - Sherman

    "ARAB" - Crusader - see... George Alfred Taylor, Royal Armoured Corps ...for the details on "ARAB" there.

    ARMAGEDDON - Sherman - Some refs note that this "A" Sqd 24th L tank went from the 24th L to SRY? Though I am not currently quite sure when, or if the SRY just happened to have their own Sherman with the same name. It might even have been prior to the disbandment of the 24th L. It is possible perhaps though that either of the two troops sent to the SRY were missing a tank around the time of the 24th L's disbandment and this tank may have taken that missing, damaged or KO'd (speculatively) "B" or "C" Sqd - 1st troop's tank's place in the transfers to the SRY. Also the SRY had one Firefliy in each of their fighting Squadrons troops, rather than the distinct Firefly troops (one troop per squadron of 3xFirefly 17pdrs in the 24th L). Ref: Sherman Tanks of the British Army and Royal Marines

    ARRAN - Ian Kerr's (Crusader 1942 - whilst the 24th L were in the 11th Armoured Brigade) - Ref.
    Allied WWII AFV Discussion Group: Crusaders (24th Lancers, 11th Armoured Division, July 1942) Photos

    To Quote" "The photos were taken in Sussex in July 1942 during a training and PR exercise. Commander of the lead tank (Arran) was Ian Kerr who is shown in the first picture. Ian was tragically killed during the battle to capture Tessel Wood and Rauray in Normandy on 26th June 1944." (SDP ;-)

    I don't know yet if the 24th L conserved this name for one of their later "A" Squadron Shermans, but this seems possible, perhaps.

    B Sqn 24th L - Alphabetical:

    BANDIT "B" trp 5
    BLACK PRINCE "B" trp 4 - Lt. Richard Leather's tank
    BLIMY BILL "B" trp 5 - pictured KO'd nr. Boislonde.
    BLOODY MARY "B" trp 4 - hit by a bazooka near Brazenville D+1. Lance Corporal Mintoft's tank
    BRIGAND "B" trp 5
    BUCCANEER TC.Lt Frank Fuller brewed up at Tessel Wood Normandy 25th June 1944.
    BUQ-BUQ Hints it might have been lost around 7th June? (if it was the re-used name of the Sherman tank used by Ernest Payne)
    BUTCHER OF CUMBERLAND "B" trp 4 - Sgt Norton's tank (at one point)

    B Sqd 24th L - By Troop (To do)

    Position just prior to D-Day - courtesy SDP ;-)

    B_Squadron_24th_L_Org.JPG

    Nb. many changes due to losses and reorganisation ensued etc.

    I believe (currently) it was perhaps the 3xSherman 75mms of the 1st Troop of "B" Sqd the 24thL that were transferred on the 24th L's disbandment to the SRY

    C Sqd 24th L - Alphabetical

    Unknown - though there are possible ref's to the 3x75mm Shermans of the 1st troop of "C" Squadron of the 24th L going to the SRY under Lt.Cameron at the start of August 1944. Though I think Lt. Cameron's ext-24th L (now) SRY tank was lost nr. Les Haies in Normandy, shortly after this, on the 14th August 1944.

    "C" Squadron 24th L - by Troop

    Position just prior to D-Day - courtesy SDP ;-)

    C_Squadron.JPG


    Nb. many changes due to losses and reorganisation ensued etc.

    Unknown - though there are possible ref's to the 3x75mm Shermans of the 1st troop of "C" Squadron of the 24th L going to the SRY under Lt.Cameron at the start of August 1944. Though I think Lt. Cameron's ext-24th L (now) SRY tank was lost nr. Les Haies in Normandy, shortly after this, on the 14th August 1944.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2021
  6. Ramiles,

    Nice lists of possible names for 8 Armd Bde tanks.

    It would be interesting to discuss them one by one with the available evidence for each, in order to separate the wheat from the chaff :D

    For example, the vehicle exhibited at Groesbeek under the markings of 'ROBIN HOOD' has nothing to do with the original(s), apart from the fact that it was offered by the regimental association.

    Michel
     
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  7. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Yep ;-) That's going to be a problem with such very "raw" data - if I don't keep it up-to-date with the stuff when I find it, when I can.

    i.e. if it gets re-quoted with any current inaccuracies sustained.

    The Robin Hood in Groesbeek has previously intrigued me as the yellow tac markings seem to represent what was once the 24th L - albeit after reorganisation - start of August 1944 - the SRY might have moved from "BLUE" to a "YELLOW" tac scheme - though that seems - in the field - it might have been done quite simply on one of the few days when they weren't in combat - and it may have been necessary, with the Brigade's reorganisation etc. But I just haven't seen that noted - yet - as a fact of August 1944. Otherwise it seems an oddly specific thing to have got wrong.

    Tank Robin Hood terug in Groesbeek

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2018
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

  9. Old Git

    Old Git Harmless Curmudgeon

    Hi, Kevin, I've been talking to my old China, Al Bowie, about some stuff I've been finding in TNA, casualty lists for AFV crews etc. Some of the reports contain information on AFV's giving their unit, T-Number and names. I was looking through several pages of stuff last night which not only gave this information for actions in North Africa (lots of Shermans) but also gave information on crews in each tank including names and what happened to them, i.e. "HE shell landed on turret when hatch was open, commander seriously injured and died 30 minutes later, rest of crew shaken but OK". I was looking for home for this stuff and Al suggested you (I had posted a more limited list on the Sherman Register page on Facebook but got the sense that nothing was being done with it). I notice from this thread that you've been compiling this list with Dick Taylor, I have Dick's email addy from when he and I shared some research on AFV crew clothing (just prior to the publication of 'Men Inside the Metal') so I'm now wondering if I should just email the info direct to Dick or give it to you, which one of you is actually the spreadsheet king?
     
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  10. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Pete,
    Yes please send this it would be much appreciated. Dick and I have been sharing names, census numbers etc, Dick compiles the pre and post war stuff as it is mostly his speciality, post war that is. We have recently traded spreadsheets so that the Name and Vehicle Census Number database can be updated.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
  11. Old Git

    Old Git Harmless Curmudgeon

    Hi Kevin, got your PM and will send you a link later this evening, there are nine pages of typed data in one file and about four in another file. Should be very interesting for you,albeit if you haven't seen it before. Do let me know if it's useful.

    Pete
     
  12. Old Git

    Old Git Harmless Curmudgeon

    On it's way to you mate, I hope it proves to be as useful as it looks!

    Pete
     
  13. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    Hello, do you have since the last update information on a Dingo F206732 chassis number S4901.
    Regards
     

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