Showing 57 items
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4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Booklet, McCarron, Bird & Co, Driving & Maintenance, Tanks Grant II Medium M3A5, 1944
... A loose leaf, lace bound, booklet written for the crew..., lace bound, booklet written for the crew of the tank ...A loose leaf, lace bound, booklet written for the crew of the tank as guidance for the operation and routine maintenance of the tank. The booklet was intended to be carried at all times in the tank.tank, grant, driving & servicing -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Booklet, Victorian Railways Printing Works, Instruction Book Driving & Maintenance, Tanks Infantry Matilda I.II.III.IV.V, Early 1940's
... ,written for the crew of the tank to enable them to carry out... Macleod melbourne Tank Matilda driving & maintenance Loose leaf ...Loose leaf, lace bound, booklet, including amdt No 1,written for the crew of the tank to enable them to carry out routine maintenance and operate the tank. tank, matilda, driving & maintenance -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Booklet (2 copies), M3 Medium General Grant Tanks Armament Training, 1950
... handbook for crew commanders and tank gunnery instructors... as an instructional handbook for crew commanders and tank gunnery instructors ...A soft covered booklet designed as an instructional handbook for crew commanders and tank gunnery instructorsm3 grant tank -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Book, Philip Trewhitt: Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 300 of the world's greatest military vehicles, 2000 (exact); Reprinted 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
A compendium of of the most important and influential military vehicles that have been in service since World War 1. Each vehicle featured is illustrated by a full-colour side-profile artwork, and accompanied by a detailed specifications table giving country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, armour, armament, powerplant and performance, all measurements in imperial and metric. Accompanying text for each vehicle summarises its development and service history.ISBN 1-84013-338-4world war 1, world war 2, military history, tanks, armour, armoured fighting vehicles, wheeled infantry vehicles, anti aircraft guns, military vehicles, philip trewhitt, world war 1, world war 2, military history, tanks, armour, armoured fighting vehicles, wheeled infantry vehicles, anti aircraft guns, military vehicles, philip trewhitt -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Aide-memoire, Crew Commander's Fire Orders Aide-memoire Centurion, 1970
A six page gunnery aide-mémoire printed on light card7610-66-036-0230centurion tank gunnery -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Document, Australian Army, Crew Commander's Fire Order Aide-memoire Centurion, 1974
... Macleod melbourne centurion tank gunnery ??? -7610-66-0230 A photo ...A photo copied document being a draft amendment for the fire order aide-memoirs for commanders of Centurion tanks, 1970??? -7610-66-0230centurion tank gunnery -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Order of Ceremony, The Royal Australian Amored (sic) Corps the Keeffe Family & Eoghan McDonald Celebrates (sic) the Unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque 16 November 2014, 2014
The 13th Australian Armoured Regiment was a Gippsland militia unit that had been called up for full time duty in December 1941 as a traditional light horse regiment. The early months of 1942 had seen the regiment lose its horses, a conversion to a motor regiment and finally to an armoured regiment in May. During this period there were considerable changes in personnel, however the regiment maintained its strong links to Gippsland and its former identity. Between May and November 1942, individual soldiers had become proficient in their trade training and the regiment changed its focus to troop and squadron activities. On 16 November 1942, the unit was located at the Puckapunyal Army Camp. C Squadron's training program involved a night driving exercise where a column of armoured and B vehicles would depart camp at 0245 hours and proceed to a site to the East of Seymour and set up a bivouac between Whiteheads Creek and Highlands Road. Numerous army camps surrounded the Seymour area; and much of the surrounding farm land had been acquired for military purposes. By November 1942 exercises such as C Squadron's were commonplace and had been repeated on numerous occasions since 1939. At 0400 hrs, C Squadron's vehicles reached O'Sullivan's Paddock on the Kobyboyn Road; prior to reaching the Old Telegraph Road the column turned to the North towards a known crossing point on Whiteheads Creek. The column consisted of seven M3 Medium Tanks and four Universal Carriers. In the case of Corporal McLeod's vehicle, there were seven crewmen rather than the usual five man crew. On arrival at the creek crossing, Captain C.M.I. 'Sandy' Pearson dismounted and with the assistance of Sergeant R.J. Ball began to guide individual tanks across the creek. Four tanks had crossed the creek without difficulty when Corporal McLeod's tank, ARN 24652, began its descent. Captain Pearson stated at the Coroner's Inquiry in December 1942, "Whilst climbing out of the ford the vehicle swerved to the left, apparently striking the tree. It was not the portion of the tank (front) that struck the tree. The tank straightened and appeared to be well under control, suddenly the bank on the left collapsed to the extent of 3ft by 12ft by15ft long causing the vehicle to slide into the creek and turn upside down." Captain Pearson and Sergeant Ball were faced with a nightmarish situation: The Grant had come to rest upside down in soft mud, six crew members were unaccounted for, escape hatches could not be opened and the weight of the tank was settling deeper into the water and mud. Compounding the problem was that the location of the tank did not allow for the other tanks to safely conduct a recovery. It was truly the darkest night.Single A4 card. folded, Contains an account of the raising of 13 Armoured Regiment in December 1941and a tank accident during a night creek crossing in which six crewmen were killed, and, Order of Ceremony for plaque unveiling, Guest of Honour LtCol Stuart Cree CO/CI School of Armour13 armored regiment, tank accident, puckapunyal -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Book, The Snelling Printing Works Pty Ltd, Tank Training Volume II Pamphlet No 3 Crew Control & Fire Orders 1938, 1938
... to effectively control their crews in action. Tank Training Volume II ...Light cardboard covered book containing control orders for crew commanders to effectively control their crews in action.26 Manuals 1828manual, tank training -
Fire Services Museum of Victoria
Vehicle - Fire Engine - Pumper "SEC Dodge", "SEC Dodge"
Maufactured for State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC) fire brigade at Yallourn township serving the nearby open cut brown coal mine, briquette manufacturing plant and electricity generating station. Donated to FSMV 19??, on closure of Yallourn Fire Brigade preparatory to closure of township to allow extension of open cut mine over township site.Unique only fire engine of design ever made.Pumper fire engine State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC) Fire Brigade, Yallourn, Vic Front mounted pump, ?, ? lpm [ ? gpm] Seat for 4 crew open cross mounted behind cab Ladder, ? m [ ? feet] Water tank ? l [ ? gall] Hose reel ? m [ ? feet] Current vehicle registration - CH6281 SEC logo on both doors Y F B on compartment door on both sides of bodyfire engine, fire engine pumper, dodge fire engine, dodge, yallourn fire brigade, sec fire brigade, yallourn, sec -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Photograph, C. 1915 - 09/07/1917
This black and white photograph of the tugboat NYORA towing the steam ship INVERNESS-SHIRE was taken between 1915, when the INVERNESS-SHIRE was dis-masted, and 9the July 1917, when NYORA tragically sank. The sailing ship INVERNESS-SHIRE was a four masted steel barque built in 1894 by Robert Duncan & Co. Limited, Glasgow, U.K. (The supervising engineer during the building was William Cumming. He accompanied every ship he’d built on their maiden voyages from UK to Melbourne.) In 1916 she was purchased by A/S Christiansand (Sven O. Stray), Kristiansand, Norway and renamed SVARTSKOG. In October 1920 she disappeared at sea, carrying a cargo of coal, and all hands were lost. The steam powered NYORA was a powerful tugboat and a salvage vessel built by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, UK. She was originally launched with the name NEPEAN in May 1909, then as NYORA in August 1909 and registered in Melbourne in November 1909 by owners Huddart Parker Pty Ltd. She was made of steel, had triple-compounded steam engines, and her dimensions were 306 ton, 135.0 x 25.1 x 13.6ft. The Melbourne tug NYORA was known as “one of the best known tugs in Victoria, and carried the latest appliances for firefighting and salvage purposes.” She serviced the Port of Melbourne for most of her career. In July 1917 NYORA was towing the American schooner ASTORIA from Port Pirie to Sydney, because ASTORIA’s engines had broken down; she had been delivering a large cargo of timber. On July 9th the vessels were two days out from Port Pirie. At 10:30am NYORA foundered after casting off at Cape Jaffa, 50 miles south of Kingston, South Australia, and sank. Only 2 of the 16 crew survived; NYORA’s Master, Captain W.M. McBain (William Murray) and helmsman, able seaman Gordon Lansley. They were rescued by the two Cape Jaffa light keepers, Jamieson & Clark, who launched the rescue from the Cape Jaffa lighthouse on Margaret Brock Reef. Both men were brought to the lighthouse keeper’s cottage where they recuperated after their long exposure to the rough. (The Queenscliff Sentinal of 14th July 1917 noted that both saved men originated from the same district; Gordon Lansley was from Queenscliff and Captain McBain formerly from Point Lonsdale.) The ASTORIA was “in a very dangerous position ten miles west of the Margaret Brock reef near the Cape Jaffa lighthouse, setting towards the land.” Captain Solly from Beachport later said “Owing to the position … the ship was very fortunate in making Guichen Bay in safety, as she did” (Guichen Bay is south of Robe). Captain Bull, manager of Huddart Packer Pty Ltd, NYORA’s owner, was unable to see any reason for the foundering, as the NYORA was well known for its seaworthiness. At a hearing later on, the Marine Board could blame on no-one either, but found that the ship had been swamped by heavy seas, and had listed to one side when a load of 40 tons of coal in sacks on her deck shifted. The tow line to the ASTORIA was cut to try and save the tug but a huge wave swamped her, crashed open the engine room door and flooded the compartment. It was impossible to launch the lifeboats due to the listing of the sea and NYORA sank within 15 minutes. There was some criticism of the length of time it took Captain Solly and the lifeboat crew to get from Beachport to Cape Jaffa to help with the rescue. However, they had great difficulty in the very strong seas, taking 9 hours just to reach Robe, which was only 32 miles away. There they filled the tanks with ample benzene for the task ahead (impossible to do at sea at the time), took in food and brought on board the Robe Harbour Master, Mr Sneath. The Harbour Master was then able to safely pilot the lifeboat to Cape Jaffa in the smoother coastal waters, saving very much time, but by the time they arrived at Cape Jaffa the 2 survivors had already been taken to the lighthouse on the mainland. There was also a question as to the chances of the ship ASTORIA lowering a lifeboat to help with the disaster. Captain Solly explained that it would have been impossible without sacrificing the lives of the lifeboat crew , due to the great height of the ship out of the water and the roughness of the sea. Captain Svenson, of the ASTORIA, said himself “We are ourselves in a helpless position” and “"Cannot see anything of lifeboats”. One of the 14 lost crew of the NYORA was Hugh Edwards, whose body was not recovered. The descendants of Captain William McBain have continued the seafaring heritage. His son was also a tugboat captain (Captain Norman Clive McBain), working mostly from Reid Street Pier, Williamstown, who would often take his own grandson out to sea to spend time with him on his tugboat. Now that grandson has built a tugboat in memory of his heritage and spends time in it with his own grandson. The Cape Jaffa original lighthouse has been dismantled and moved to Kingston and is now a Lighthouse Museum. The attached photographs of Margaret Brock Reef, and the Cape Jaffa Lighthourse keeper's cottage (now in ruins) is courtesy of Capt. William McBain's great grandson, who visited the area in 2015. There is a model of the NYORA in Museum Victoria, donated by Huddart Packer & Co Ltd. in 1937. This photograph is significant for its association with the tugboat NYORA, that is part of the seafaring history of the Port of Melbourne and associated Victorian ports. Black and White photograph of the tugboat NYORA and steam ship INVERNESS-SHIRE. C. 1915-1917.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, historic maritime photograph, lighthouses, shipwrecks, steamships, j.p. rennoldson & sons ltd, huddart parker pty ltd, nepean, nyora, inverness-shire, astoria, captain w.m. mcbain, william cummings supervising engineer, cape jaffa lighthouse, beachport lifeboat, captain solly, captain svenson, margaret brock reef -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Model - Diorama, Bridge-laying Tank
... with crew. Bridge-laying Tank. Model Diorama Loughman, John ...Centurion Tank- Bridgelayer showing deployed bridge with crew.diorama, centurion tank, bridgelayer -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Model, L5 105mm Pack Howitzer
Italian designed Light weight artillery gun able to be used in normal artillery or anti-tank role. Range of 10,000 metres, eight rounds per minute maximum or 3-4 sustained. Crew of seven easily towed by jeep or land rover, lifted by a Chinook helicopter. Easily assembled and disassembled into twelve parts, replaced by M101A1Howitzer in 1967l5 105mm pack howitzer, artillery gun, model -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Model - Model, M551 Sheridan tank
A scaled model of an olive green US M551 Sheridan tracked tank which is closed up. there are no crew on it.There is a white US Army star on the side of the tank and also the top of the turret. The colour of the tanks is olive green.White US Army star on turret and side.model, tank -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Lorenz Books, The world encyclopedia of armoured fighting vehicles, 2014
This title examines the role of armoured vehicles, from the 1900's, the coming of age of self-propelled artillery and amphibious infantry assult vehicles in WWII, through to modern peacekeeping armoured personnel carriers. It features a range of wheeled and tracked vehicles, including AFVs from the two World Wars. Includes description and history of each vehicle, with a specification panel detailing information such as the official name, date, country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, armament, armour thickness, powerplant, speed and range. It is a complete reference guide to over 100 years of military vehicle engineering and warfare.Index, ill, p.256.non-fictionThis title examines the role of armoured vehicles, from the 1900's, the coming of age of self-propelled artillery and amphibious infantry assult vehicles in WWII, through to modern peacekeeping armoured personnel carriers. It features a range of wheeled and tracked vehicles, including AFVs from the two World Wars. Includes description and history of each vehicle, with a specification panel detailing information such as the official name, date, country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, armament, armour thickness, powerplant, speed and range. It is a complete reference guide to over 100 years of military vehicle engineering and warfare.armoured vehicles - history, tanks - military science -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Prowse Collection Box WP11 See details in Description section
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National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Photograph, M113 Track Replacement
A coloured photograph of a M113 APC habing its tracks replaced in the field. The rear of the APC sits on the front of a tank to lift the tracks of the ground. Crews stand on the vehicles and of the groundM113's nickname is "The Nympho" S/No 134photograph, m113, armoured personnel carrier -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Booklet, User Booklet For Centurion Mk.3
Grey hard covered booklet of refill type providing information required for crew to take over and operate a Centurion Mk 3 tank. First editionthis publication has been produced to the requirements of THE DIRECTOR, ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS, THE WAR OFFICE, to whom all communications should be addressed.booklet, centurion tank -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
In 1961, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equipped with Humber trucks to fulfil an Armoured Personnel Carrier Role. A troop comprised 3 vehicles each with a 2 man crew, commanded by a sergeant.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of seven soldiers beside Humber truck." Cpl. Roberts, Sgt. Hartung, Tpr. Doyle, Tpr. McCluskey, Tpr. Vincent, Tpr. Cameron, Tpr. Madjeric, 2 Tp. " -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
In 1961, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equippedSergeant Peter Hartung, later Caprain with Humber trucks to fulfil an Armoured Personnel Carrier role. A troop comprised 3 vehicles, each with a 2 man crew, commanded by a Sergeant.Sargeant Peter Hartung, later Captain, served in WW2 with German Panzer Corps. Trooper lou Madjeric served with German Navy. After immigrating to Australia after the war they joined 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of seven soldiers lined up in front of Humber trucks" Trooper Vincent, Corporal Roberts, Troopers McCluskey, Doyle, Cameron, Madjeric, Sgt. Hartung. " -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
In 1964 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equipped with wheeled armoured vehicles. Driver training was undertaken by Regiment during weekend training so as to have trained crewmen ready for tactical training at Annual exercise.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of column of five armoured vehicles about to depart Buna Barracks, Albury on a driver training exercise. Two Ferret Scout Cars and 3 White Scout Cars.Crews of Ferrets named " Crew Commander Cpl Redman, and Driver Tpr Madjeric, and second vehicle " Crew Commander Tpr Mildren,and Driver Tpr Tehaar. " -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Functional object - Crew relief object
Object is unmarked and no definite purpose has been established. Suggestion is that it is part of the British tank CES and is intended to enable crew to relieve themselves while closed down possible when operating in area subject to nuclear radiation.Stainless steel funnel with lid and rubber bag attached to one end. tank, nuclear -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
Peter Hartung migrated from Germany following WW2. He joined 8/13 VMR rising through rank to Captain. He had WW2 service in Panzer Corps, and seved in South Vietnam.Black and white photograph of four 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles soldiers on turret of Centurion tank at Puckapunyal c. 1967" Peter Hartung and crew " -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
Centurion tank was able to ford a water obstacle of 1.4 metres but bank collapse of eroded hole could cause drowning.The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Black and white photograph of ' drowned' Centurion tank during 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles annual exercise at Puckapunyal 1969." Crew Commander Capt Skeen, Driver Tpr Park, Gunner CFpl J Clay, Loader/ Operator l/Cpl Froulins"centurion, skeen r captain -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - THE RESTORATION OF THE BENDIGO GASWORKS BOILER HOUSE COMPLEX
The Restoration of The Bendigo Gasworks Boiler House Complex, A Community Jobs Project March 2002 - June 2002. Final Report. Researched, compiled and written by: Fiona Gust and Simone (Mona) Krause. Front cover is purple, back cover is black and some inside pages are red or yellow. Topics in the book are: History of the Gasworks, How a Gasworks Works, Heritage Requirements, The CJP Crew, Crew Profiles, Initial Condition of the Boiler House Complex, O, H & S, Work Begins - Asbestos Removal, Clean-up, Iron Removal and Glazing. Artifact Cataloguing, where artifacts and where they were found were cataloged. On Going Discoveries. Exhauster ad Tank Room Ceilings, Pipes, Oil Spray Tower, Skillion over the Amenities Block, Posts, Beams along the Exhauster Room Wall-NE side, Beams on the SW side of the gable .. The join between the skillion and gable roof, Donuts on the Exhauster Room Wall - NE side, Trusses, Gutters and down pipes, Paint and Whitewash, Brickwork, Iron Fittings, Internal Fixtures, Generator Room/Compressor Room, Floors and Conclusion. The Captains Last Words by Peter Roberts. Acknowledgements. The coloured pages in the back are Edition One - 19.4.2002, Edition Two and Edition 3 of Combustible News which gives a progressive account of the work.buildings, gas company, the bendigo gasworks, the restoration of the bendigo gasworks boiler house complex, fiona gust, simone (mona) krause, city of melbourne gas and coke company, the bendigo mercury, the gas and fuel corporation, central deborah, community jobs project, peter roberts, chrysalis constructions, cvgt industrial training center, rod mclaughlin, allan fox, david gilroy, glen slater, aaron ott, ron whitford, daniel keogh, paul atkins, nick pearson, leigh williams, des leahy, anthony jennings, heritage victoria, the bendigo shire, central deborah, david bennear, david wright, deborah simm, community jobs unit, james thompson, mac booth, mine, tramways, discovery centre, mandy cooper, delwyn douglass, cindy tassie, helen yorston, brenda stanley, greg o'connell, kym smith, darren hutchesson, julie cain, john bullen, joe slaviero, mario joh;ns, norm harris, paul green, len cutting, jim morrissy, melissa tuddenham, fiona beckwith, leo trainor, gary anquetil, helen lynch, abbotts supply, action auction, garry floyd, bendigo trailers and hardware - matt, ron & jack, brennans - butch & robbie, bunnings - evan, brett crapper, hip pocket, jason kiel, country victorian scaffolding, paint right bendigo, alan gladman, deborah simms, graeme jennings, hugh ward, leigh williams, paul eccles, peter sporn, barb & mal krause, peter & shirley turner, bendigo copy centre -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph
8/13 VMR was equipped with M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers in 1970 for reconnaissance training.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and White photograph of M113 armoured vehicles of 8/13 VMR in street of Wodonga, Victoria leading ANZAC Day march." Anzac Day Wodonga ". Crews are named. -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Vehicle - Artefact, 1930s
Retrieved from crashed (during W.W.2) Avro Anson aircraft at Propeller Bay near Lady Julia Percy Island in 13 metres of water. Found adjacent to the remains of the engine and propeller in June 1993 by Peter Ronald. It was possibly used to adjust control cables. The plane went down on the 15th February 1944 Flight Sgt. J.H. MacLellen, Flight Sgt D.l. Baulderstone, LAC N.T. Kruck, LAC B.C. Ladyman were killed. A memorial was erected at the 'Crags' on the 14th of February 2015 . " At 0800 Anson AW878 of 2AOS took off from Mount Gambier to carry out a radius of action navigation exercise to Lady Julia Percy Island (located off the Victorian coast, midway between Portland and Warrnambool) and back to Mount Gambier. By 1230 it was overdue, and that afternoon a search was instituted. No radio messages had been received from the Anson, although it had been seen during the exercise by another aircaraft. At 1430 part of the mainplane was sighted on Lady Julia Percy Island. Subsequently a fishing boat searched in the vicinity of the island and passed through small pieces of wreckage strewn over about 3 miles. A further search uncovered wreckage which identified the plane beyond doubt, including fuel tank bay cover with AW878 penciled on it, and a Mae West which had been signed out by one of the crew. The bodies of the four crew were never located." This information comes from a report at Mt Gambier Airport where the plane was stationed.Two small pieces of metal that bring the reality of war to our shoresArtefact from crashed aircraft at Lady Julia Percy islandlocal history, transport, aviation, aircraft, lady julia percy island, j.h. maclellen, d.l. baulderstone, n.t. kruck, b.c. ladyman -
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Bedford M Series fire tanker
Ash Wednesday Veteran This Bedford M Series tanker spent its working days at the Forests Commission depot at Gembrook, and among its many forays, fought the deadly Ash Wednesday bushfires at nearby Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo on 16 February 1983. Earlier in 1975, the M Series tankers underwent a design change at the Altona North workshops, replacing the cylindrical water tank with a “V” bottom 4090 litre water tank that sat low between the chassis rails to reduce its centre of gravity. Aluminium heat shields were also added to protect the pump operators on the back. While generally considered "bulletproof" the petrol fuel lines on this particular model were very prone to vaporise in the heat causing the motor to stall, often at the most dangerous moment.... in this case frightening the hell out of its driver, affable knockabout bloke, and firefighting legend Lex Wade. Some jokingly said this design quirk was an inbuilt safety feature to stop crews getting too close to the fire in the first place. The Gembrook tanker was later sent into the workshop and all its brake and fuel lines fitted with heat resistant lagging. Fortunately, this remarkable bushfire survivor was rescued from the scrap heap by Lex and fire equipment wizard Barry Marsden upon its retirement from a loyal and lengthy service. After a lick of fresh paint and most of its battle scars "buffed out", this time-honoured veteran now takes pride of place at the Altona North workshop.Bedford M series fire tankerMZF 347fire pump, fire tanker, forests commission victoria (fcv)