Just a few background facts that might help you in your search for
'Pig', information Byron....
All 'Pigs', were taken out of service with the British Army and most
sold in 1967. The pig at this stage was only lightly armoured and had a
canvas cover over the armoured top giving a false impression it was a
'softskin'. With the re-introduction of IRA activity in Northern
Ireland, it was decided by the 'powers that be', that currently used
armoured vehicles were too aggresive for internal security. It was
agreed that there was no substitute for a modified 'pig'. A decision to
buy and confiscate back all 'pigs', and spares for the same was made.
Most 'pigs', had gone to Libya, but were still brought back to the UK.
Up until 1989 it was not supposed to be possible for post-war British
armour to be privately owned within the UK. All armour was only sold to
certified dealers who had either instructions to scrap or needed to meet
'end-user', certification parameters. There were however a handful of
vehicles held by collectors from various scources....some Ferret's
bought from the French Foreign Legion, some Ferrets, Saracens and
Saladins bought from the Singapore gov't (some that hadn't even left the
country and were still in store at Gem Kang Lee in Norfolk). And my
pig, reputedly the only one in the UK not bought back by the Ministry.
At that time in 1967 it was owned by a REME Captain still serving, who
was given special despensation to keep it...still being effectively
under military control. Coincidentaly supplied to him by John Marchant
who was a big time buyer at the government 'Ruddington', sales in those
days.
The 'pig', has been 'up-armoured', a number of times during it's NI
service. And using the scale and type of 'up-armour', modification, as
a guide, it is possible to discern when it was taken out of
service....and thereby who was possibly using it. Remember if the
vehicle was previosly owned by another collector, it is very possible
that any markings on it are of no relevance to it's actual service
career. But have been put on for any reason from sentimentality to pure
fiction, or even film or TV use. I aquired a very rare early British
Ford WOT3D Trucktor back in 1983, and was thrilled to find German
markings under several layers of paint on it. After much research into
whether it was one captured and re-used by the Germans after Dunkirk,
it was discovered it had been used by a film company and 'doctor'd', for
several films !
regards
Colin Brookes
Invicta Military Vehicle Preservationists (IMPS)
colbco@powerlink.co.nz
It was Will Power that kept the British Army on the move !!!