2012 SMVG Military Swap Meet, 18th March

The 4th SMVG Military Swap Meet will take place at the Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn on the 18th of March. Come along and buy and sell your militaria. Some military displays on show. Plenty to eat and drink in our famous NAAFI.
Book your table now to avoid disapointment, contact Al Smith on 07704 187739 or eml secretary@scottishmvg.org

The "Piston Broke" Trophy

Every year at the club AGM this prestigious award is made to some deserving individual.

Rivalry is fierce, and extreme indeed are the lengths some members will go to in order to win this coveted prize, mechanical failure, causing traffic jams, oil slicks, running out of fuel, you name it - they have tried it!

Recent recipients include Dave Croy, Cris Ryckewaert, Sandy McAulay, Keith Richardson to name but a few.

So, if you know of anyone who you think may be worthy of this accolade, please send your nomination to me, preferably without the knowledge of the nominee, along with a few details of why you think they merit the award. All that is required to qualify is that the victim has had an "embarrassing incident" involving a military vehicle.

Contact John Webster roofoverbritain@btinternet.com or phone 01655760215

Here's some examples below, notice how they are all Jeeps?

Twenty Minutes – 4000 dead.

The HMT Lancastria Memorial Unveiling, 1st October 2011.
Will you help the forgotten to be remembered?

The 17th June 2011, marks the 71st anniversary of the worst single disaster in British maritime history.
It claimed more victims than the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania combined.
It is the largest single loss of life for British forces in the whole of WW2.
Yet, thanks to a D-notice slapped on it by Winston Churchill, this grave disaster is mostly unknown and has remained largely forgotten by the history books. This silence would continue if it were not for the efforts of The Lancastria Association Scotland.
During the Evacuation of France the troop ship Lancastria was sent to St Nazaire to rescue British Expeditionary Forces which included many Scottish Regiments, refugees and civilians (including women and children).
On Monday the 17th of June, 1940 at 3.48pm the requisitioned Cunard Cruise liner, Lancastria came under attack from enemy aircraft. She received three direct hits from a German Junker 88 Bomber and within 20 minutes, the 16,243-ton luxury liner sank, taking with her an estimated 4,000 victims.
Since 2005, Fiona Symon (Kinross-shire) who lost her father in the disaster when she was only 10 months old has campaigned, along with the Lancastria Association Scotland to raise enough funds to erect a fitting memorial in Britain. The Lancastria Memorial Fund have succeeded in their mission and on 1st October 2011, a permanent memorial to those who paid the supreme sacrifice aboard the troopship Lancastria and whose souls have been lost and effectively forgotten by history, will be unveiled.
The memorial will be erected on a site of great significance, in the grounds of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank. This is hugely symbolic as this was where the ship was built and launched.
The ship was launched in 1924, under the name of Tyrrhenia but after complaints from the American passengers who cruised in her, that they could not pronounce the name, she was changed to the Lancastria. It is widely known in the sea faring world that it is unlucky to change a ships name. This would certainly be the case for the Lancastria.
There is a memorial at St Nazaire in France, campaigns for the wreck site to be made an official war grave and campaign for medals. The erecting of this significant memorial in Clydebank to those who were killed in action, the first major memorial in the UK to the Lancastrian fallen, will complete the circle and mark the sacrifice, courage and determination of those who paid the ultimate price in defence of freedom.
Some SMVG members have been involved in fund raising for this cause and the Chairperson Fiona Symon has asked the SMVG to take part in the unveiling ceremony on 1st October, 2011. This is a great honour for the club and we are looking for vehicles and bodies in WW2 uniform to take part.
The ceremony is in the planning stages and it would be helpful for a show of interest at this stage. It would appear that there might be overnight parking on the night before (Friday).
The Lancastria Association Scotland has a comprehensive web site and it is well worth a visit, www.lancastria.org.uk
Please contact Alan Barnes Tel 01577 863138 email alfibarnes@btinternet.com
Material used in this article by kind permission of The Lancastria Association Scotland.

Announcement

Adrian Flux Insurance Services are pleased to be associated with the Scottish Military Vehicle Group including all supporters of the club and Military Vehicle enthusiasts.

"We offer high quality, low cost insurance for ex-Military vehicles covering everything from ex-military Willys Overland Jeeps to Tanks and just about everything in-between".

In addition to Military Vehicles we can also cover modified Jeeps, Q-plates, left-hand drive models, truck and pickups and classics.

We also offer owner's club and limited mileage discounts so, along with our already competitive prices and specialist knowledge, you know you're on to a winner!

Classic policies are also available with agreed value and limited mileage discounts being just two of the many benefits offered to eligible vehicles.

All our policies are designed to suit each customer’s individual needs. We offer flexible and competitive quotes for all circumstances, sourcing the best available scheme- with of course the club discount!

Because our staff are used to finding policy to suit unusual and even completely unique cars, they know which insurers offer the best policies and at prices to suit almost any budget.

Due to the type of vehicles insured, all our policies are designed especially for the out of the ordinary and our staff have a high degree of knowledge in this field. This is not an on-line quotation system using computer rates. Instead each risk will be individually calculated by our expert staff.

Call us on Freephone: 0800 089 0035 (9am to 7 PM Monday to Friday & 9am to 4pm Saturday) for an immediate, no-obligation insurance quote.

Alternatively visit our Military vehicle 'Home page' - http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/ex-military/

25% Discount for SMVG Members !

The 2011 S.M.V.G Military Swap Meet

The 3rd SMVG Military Swap meet was held in the Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn on Sunday the 20th March. It proved to be another busy event with the hall once again filled to capacity. The Club NAAFI proved to be particularaly popular with the ladies run off their feet for most of the day.

Thanks goes out to all the stallholders who supported us and came in from far and wide, this gives us the confidence to plan another at a later date. Special thanks to all those who contributed time and resources, from the supply of vehicles and items for display to the PA system. We are all especially indebted to all the ladies who worked tirelessly in the NAAFI and saved us all from starvation!

Date for the 2012 Swap Meet is the 18th of March.

The Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn.

SMVG NAAFI...

Wanted!

Any information regarding Land Army and Timber Corps in Scotland. Have you or did you have a relative who served in either organisation ? Do you know of anyone in your area who could assist ? Do you know of any locally published books on either subject ? If you can help in any way please contact Audrey Webster by telephone on [01655] 760215 or by e-mailing audreywebster@btopenworld.com

CALLING ALL EX - LAND GIRLS AND LUMBER JILLS - a badge to commemorate service in the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps has been instituted by the government. It is available for surviving members of both organisations from World War 1 and 2 who were alive on 6 December 2007. It is not available to families or next of kin of deceased members, except where the member died after 6 December 2007.

Members who wish to apply will need to complete an application form which can be found on the Defra web site. This can then be filled out online or printed off and sent by post to : Defra, 5E Millbank, c/o 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR

Also e-mail: womenslandarmy@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Helpline : 08459 335 577

COMMENT-

I know several women have already received their badges, but I also know there are a lot of women who either do not know how to apply or feel that after such a long time, this is a very small gesture. I am therefore appealing to all club members to pass the word on and let as many people know about the badges as possible.

These girls did a wonderful job and they deserve full recognition of their service.

Audrey Webster

The Bill Ireland Collection

Regretfully, due to lack of interest / borrowing, this facility has now been withdrawn.

SMVG Takes on Everest !

Club member Graham Phillp was proudly flying the flag for the Scottish Military Vehicle Group whilst on expedition up Mount Everest in November.

We are still awaiting the promised photo of his Series One Landie parked on the summit !

Well done Graham !

New Delivery of Pennants

The new pennants have arrived ! Made from a heavy duty flag quality woven fabric stitched at the edges, they come complete with integral aerial sleeve and ties for easy attachment. The pennants are priced at £17 each. Sounds a tad expensive perhaps, but they are a quality piece of kit and its well proven they do last for years ! Contact Alan Barnes for further details. You know you want one ! ( Mount Everest even has one now )