Museum Visits – Lamanva Military Vehicle Museum, Cornwall July 1988

Lamanva Military Vehicle Museum, Lamanva, 3 miles from Falmouth Cornwall

Visited July 1988

The museum was created by the late Charlie Mann, I think in the late 1970′s. Charlie was a real character who I first met on the MVCG – as the MVT was first known as – commemorative tour of military vehicles to Normandy in June 1974, for the 30th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. Charlie had amazed us all with his US Half Track and Bedford QL Trooper with army unit badges showing the map of Cornwall. He was also  the military vehicle advisor to the film A Bridge Too Far, made in 1977 telling the story of the Arnhem landings. Following the film, many of the props used were bought by Charlie and used in his museum. For example, look at the replica Horsa glider fuselage, which visitors can walk through, and also the flat bottom boats that Robert Redford rowed across the Rhine River in the film.

We visited the museum in July 1988 while on holiday in Cornwall and took the photos you see below. Have a close look at the ‘German’ trucks ! These were provided by Charlie for the film Raiders of the Lost Ark, with Harrison Ford. I seem to remember they were actually based on US GMC CCKW 353 6×6 Trucks !

Sadly Charlie died in I think the late 1980′s and the collection was split up, so there’s no chance to visit the museum. Some say part of the collection was bought by Flambards Experience also in Cornwall. I noticed however that the Scottish Military Vehicle Group list their Dodge WC-51 Weapons Carrier as being ex-Lamanva, so there may be other vehicles from the collection out there somewhere.  I wonder what became of the Horsa glider section ?

Random Images From Collection
Land Rover S2 109 SAS Pink Panther (10 FG 57) Front (Kington Vintage Show, August 2009)
Land Rover S2 109 SAS Pink Panther
Normandy 1944 Collection 420
Normandy 1944 Collection 420
Seddon Atkinson 17.38 TC Strato Tractor (EB 32 AA)(Copyright ERF Mania)
Seddon Atkinson 17.38 TC Strato Tra
Panzer I (1)
Panzer I (1)
Eastern Front Collection 424
Eastern Front Collection 424
Eastern Front Collection 534
Eastern Front Collection 534
Leyland Daf 8x8 Drops (87 KH 56)
Leyland Daf 8x8 Drops (87 KH 56)
Bedford MWC Water Tanker(KFF 155) 2
Bedford MWC Water Tanker(KFF 155) 2
Berlin May/June 1945 186
Berlin May/June 1945 186
Normandy 1944 Collection 439
Normandy 1944 Collection 439
Eastern Front Collection 1085
Eastern Front Collection 1085
British Troops in France
British Troops in France
Original German WW2 Studio Photo 8
Original German WW2 Studio Photo 8
Bedford OYD 3Ton (397 GRM)
Bedford OYD 3Ton (397 GRM)
Land Rover S2 Ambulance (57 FG 54)
Land Rover S2 Ambulance (57 FG 54)
Scammell Crusader 6x4 Tractor (65 GJ 04)
Scammell Crusader 6x4 Tractor (65 G
Avro Vulcan (XL-317)
Avro Vulcan (XL-317)
Eastern Front Collection 713
Eastern Front Collection 713
Apache UH-64A Attack Helicopter (US Army) 13
Apache UH-64A Attack Helicopter (US
Original German WW2 Studio Photo 27
Original German WW2 Studio Photo 27