But...since your country has seen fit to disarm you already...and here, we
are somewhat free to own working weapons of the era and are interested in
keeping them, and the fact that our qovernment is restricting the
importation of military equipment, some of which was designed and built by
Americans, to some extent "for our own feeling of safety", makes it an
excellent subject for debate, I should think........
Also.....I think we left the majority of it "over there" as it is....I can
see why it is not an interesting, or pertenant subject, in your opinion......
Respectfully Submitted,
Jon Shoop
At 08:27 AM 8/11/99 +0100, you wrote:
>To try and bring the list away from US politics and gun laws debates ,
>which, whilst have significance elsewhere don't seem very appropriate on
>this list,
>
>I think you may be much more interested to know about the film footage i saw
>yesterday
>
>Herne Bay is a sleepy coastal town in the UK famous only for its
>contribution to the Dambusters bouncing Bombs in 1943.
>But lots of retired people live here and a local film collector acquired
>from a resident some unique colour footage taken in WW2 before and during
>Normandy
>
>He put all the reels together (the Imperial war museum say to their
>knowledge it is the only colour footage of the British D Day landings)and
>held a premier in the local cinema here.
>The camera man was on HMS Aristocrat,( by luck a amember of the original
>crew was with us at the premier) which was a command boat on D Day in the
>british sector.
>Footage includes LCT's being loaded with Churchill and Sherman versions of
>flails and the other Hobart design that lays the roadway from a roll (anyone
>recall what its called?)
>The ship is for a while lying off an American troopship which has hit a mine
>and is sinking. The "pom Pom" guns are in action as it lies off the beach
>head, surrounded by hundreds of other ships of all types
>Good shots of the vast amada and of vehicles being unloaded on KING beach,
>include DUKWS swimming and breaking through the surf, lotsc of heavy dozers
>etc.It was interesting to note that our cameraman was in Arromanches with
>the liberating troops as the blockships and Mulberries were not yet there
>when he was , and several Germans are being held at gun point by the now
>popular restuarant so many of us used last june when on the 55th.
>There are some incredible low tide beach shots of "after the battle" with
>some chilling reminders of the destruction that was reaked- a halftrack
>blown to bits near a CMP that has suffered similar fate.
>All in all an amazing film show....we were going to organise some WW2
>vehicles for the showing, but the date in the localpress was a week wrong
>and many people locallyb would have missed it , though the audience was
>full of Veterans.
>
>There is also a shot of a british soldier on King beach with a full
>beard.....this I believe can only be the Beachmaster whom i believe by some
>quaint Kings regulation was allowed to wear a beard. Any one know about this
>?
>
>
>Considering it was in damp and rusty boxes in a cellar when found, the
>quality is not bad and i think this is a very important archive of military
>history.
>
>
>Good news though, I have persuaded the owner of the film to do a showing at
>2000 War and Peace show (19-23rd july) - we had a pathe news cinema booked
>already and its also available on video.If anyone wishes to get hold of a
>copy, contact me direct and I will send you the mans details.
>
>NIGE
>
>Nigel@tanksrus.freeserve.co.uk
>
>
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