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
Thornycroft Nubian Major Dennis Mk9 Crash Tender (28 AJ 33)
Thornycroft Nubian Major Dennis Mk9
Panzer 35t (1)
Panzer 35t (1)
Ford Pierce Fire Tender (70L-692)
Ford Pierce Fire Tender (70L-692)
Fox Armoured Car (09 FD 77)
Fox Armoured Car (09 FD 77)
AEC 0860 Militant Mk1 10Ton Cargo (17 EK 71)
AEC 0860 Militant Mk1 10Ton Cargo (
Ford Pierce Fire Tender (82L-38)
Ford Pierce Fire Tender (82L-38)
Eastern Front Collection 125
Eastern Front Collection 125
AEC 0853 Matador (VLD 594) 2
AEC 0853 Matador (VLD 594) 2
Land Rover 90 Defender (78 KF 32)
Land Rover 90 Defender (78 KF 32)
Morris MRA1 1 Ton GS (79 BF 94)
Morris MRA1 1 Ton GS (79 BF 94)
Ford GPW Jeep (617 GRO)
Ford GPW Jeep (617 GRO)
Eastern Front Collection 208
Eastern Front Collection 208
Normandy 1944 Collection 360
Normandy 1944 Collection 360
Scammell SV1T Breakdown (YFO 818) Rear
Scammell SV1T Breakdown (YFO 818) R
Land Rover 110 Defender (36 KL 64) Rear
Land Rover 110 Defender (36 KL 64)
US 20 Corps
US 20 Corps
AEC 0853 Matador (MUB 647)(Copyright Ken Reid)
AEC 0853 Matador (MUB 647)(Copyrigh
Leyland Daf 8x8 Drops (86 KH 39)(Copyright ERF Mania)
Leyland Daf 8x8 Drops (86 KH 39)(Co
Eastern Front Collection 487
Eastern Front Collection 487
Eastern Front Collection 1283
Eastern Front Collection 1283