Hi Doug,
Good to hear James is still around and ok. I havn't seen him since 89.
I looked out for him in 94 but what with the unusual attitude of the
frog police towards movement (to put it mildly), I missed him and many
other intended meets. I was with a group of veterans who were refused
access by the police to a ceremony at a memorial 'in their honour',
because of the large number of French tourists who wanted to watch it !!
I have met James's friend from the Liege area of Belgium (he had a
Humber light-recon armoured car), a number of times around Europe at
various shows and tours. His name escapes me but he originates from the
US of A.
The 1984 (40th anniversary), Normandy celebrations were without doubt
the best there has been in my mind. The 'Normandy Tours', were
originated by Peter Gray from Jersey (founder of MVCG/MVT). The big
do's on the beach at Arramanche were started by IMPS. In 84 we agreed
that MVCG could join us on the beach, and I have a very good video and
photographs of the 300-plus MV's lined up in a semi-circle infront of
the town. We arranged a get-together and sing-song with Dame Vera Lynn
and many personalities from the war....Richard Todd, Cardew Robinson etc
etc on the promenade above the beach. It was televised accross Europe
and I still have a video of it.
The 40th anniversary of the 'Battle Of The Bulge', in the Bastogne area
in December 1984 with over 300 vehicles participating is the best MV do
there has ever been. The town was put back into an exact re-enactment
of the day the town was liberated. The same types of vehicles and
uniformed personell were placed in the same positions as a very famous
photograph taken from the top of a tower at the time......and it was
then filmed and transmitted accross Europe. And yes it was just as cold
as in 44 (about 16 below during the night and with snow falls, we had to
light fires under the sumps of some of the vehicles because of starting
problems). I had the privelege of meeting the commander of the first
tank to break through the German blockade and effect the relief of
Bastogne. He was tracked down by members of the Belgium group 'Indian
Head'. Found in the USA destitute and in ill-health. They brought him
back to Belgium and gave him a hero's welcome. Unfortunately with the
release of Hollywood interpretations of the 'Battle Of The Bulge', as
with all events ending up as movies.....beyond the title there is no
similarity with reality. Thousands of US troops killed and routed by an
army consisting mainly of teenagers, many as young as 14 and 15 years
of age. Only defeated in the end by superior combined allied airpower.
regards
Colin Brookes
Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society (IMPS)
colin@h-bplan.demon.co.uk