This is Volume 6 showing the next batch of 250 photographs from a collection of photos taken by many servicemen on the Eastern Front, also known as the Russian Front. Starting in 1941 with the German invasion of Russia with the sunshine and the dust, then going on through the hard winter months that the German forces were unprepared for. The Russians forces were well used to the cold climate and so were better placed for winter warfare. Then the advance turned into a long retreat with bitter fighting and heavy casualties leading to the Fall of Berlin in May 1945.
The collection features uniforms and vehicles from both sides of the conflict and many of the photos illustrate the harsh conditions and the reality of warfare, which must have been a horrific experience whichever side your were on. Again, we have to say that Miliblog is NOT a political website at all. There are many enthusiasts across the world interested in the equipment and uniforms of the Second World War. Many are serious model makers and may even find an idea for a model diorama or even for painting of model figures. The aim of Miliblog here is to bring together photographs for these students of history.
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 5 APRIL 2010
Welcome to this week’s newsletter of what we’ve been up to at Miliblog. Well last week/this week has been the Easter holidays with Monday being a national holiday here in the UK. But in typical British style it has been cold and wet ! The show season kicked off over the holiday with the first local Midlands one being held at Weston Park, a stately home in South Shropshire. Famous for it’s rally stages in the old Lombard RAC Rally in the late 1970′s and 1980′s, it’s a lovely location with acres of open parkland.
Here we attended the Festival of Transport which included many different types of classic vehicles, from classic cars, tractors, buses, classic caravans and our particular favourite, the green machines. With the wet and cold weather, I think the attendance was down from last year, with many empty spaces. In fact we only saw four military vehicles, namely three Land Rovers and a Bedford RL Green Goddess fire engine. There was a fifth vehicle, but as we were walking over to the MV section, the owner was just driving off. It was a nicely turned out Austin Champ complete with side screens all fastened up, keeping the crew nice and snug inside.
Still it wasn’t without success as I found a nice 1940 dated WD fuel can on one stand and for £7 I thought it was a real bargain. I’ll add some photos of it soon when we start the military equipment section in the future. There were some other jerrycans, dated 1951 and 1952, but at £20 and not in very condition, they remained on their stands.
So after our venture out it’s back to the trusty scanner and the boxes of photographs.
Have agreat week !
Cheerio !
Simon
Bedford RL Green Goddess (SYH 102)
Land Rover 101 GS (SOH 53 R)
Land Rover 110 Defender (40 KF 04)
Land Rover Series 1 80 (86 BR 33)
Held over the Easter weekend, The Festival of Transport is organised by Geoff and Linda Price. They are well known in the Midlands for organising classic car shows and I think this is their first show of the season.
Set in the lovely grounds of Weston Park in Shropshire, a stately home just off the main A5 just East of Telford. It’s usually a great event for classic car enthusiasts but with many other attractions as well. These include a small military section, commercial vehicles and a nice autojumble.
Miliblog is soon to launch a sister website devoted to classic cars and so we were wearing two hats when we visited the show. After a large family gathering on Easter Sunday, we set off early on Easter Monday morning for the show. In typical British style, the weather for Easter had been cold and wet which I think persuaded many classic car owners to stop at home in the warm !!!
Once we found our military vehicle section, it was a little disappointing to find only four vehicles. It was nearly five, but a nice Austin Champ had had enough of the cold and was driving off with all it’s side screens in place keeping the driver and crew all snug inside.
So our selection has three types of Land Rovers and a Bedford RL Green Goddess fire engine. However the day was not without a find, as I managed to buy a genuine 1940 petrol can for £7. Marked with ‘petroleum spirit’ and a famous ‘WD 1940′ stamped on the top, it had layers of paint on it added over the years. I’ll certainly enjoy stripping it down and finding the original colour green underneath. If only it could talk and tell you it’s story !
So a good day out for old vehicles, but if you only wanted to see green machines, then you may have been dissappointed.
NEW THIS WEEK – MONDAY 29 MARCH 2010
Hi and welcome to what’s new on Miliblog this week.
Been another busy week at work so I haven’t been able to add some more photos for your delight. Just another story I heard from the WMMS show we visited.
Not so many years ago, a farmer in the Republic of Ireland was ploughing this field and his plough blades struck something large and metallic in one of his fields. Thinking he’d found treasure, he dug round to see what he had found and was amazed to find three old army tanks !
The story continues that either during or after WW2, the Republic of Ireland Army added at least three British Churchill Tanks to their forces. When they had finished with them, a hole was dug in a field and they were buried there.
Now the mystery to this tale is what did the farmer do with these rare tanks ? Did he:-
A) Sell them for scrap metal
B) Bury them again
C) Contact the Army and they ended up in museums
Answers on a postcard please !!!!!!
Or even email us at info@miliblog.co.uk with your thoughts or even if you can add to the story if you know what happened to these tanks.
Have a great week ahead. Weather permitting Miliblog will be visiting the Easter Festival of Transport at Weston Park in Shropshire, so we will hope to see some green machines there.
Cheerio !
Simon
