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
Bedford MJ 4 Ton Cargo (10 KH 70)
Bedford MJ 4 Ton Cargo (10 KH 70)
Eastern Front Collection 150
Eastern Front Collection 150
Eastern Front Collection 583
Eastern Front Collection 583
Normandy 1944 Collection 377
Normandy 1944 Collection 377
Eastern Front Collection 807
Eastern Front Collection 807
AEC 0853 Matador (XUO 718 K)-718-k.jpg
AEC 0853 Matador (XUO 718 K)-718-k.
Bedford QLD 3Ton (WAA 836)
Bedford QLD 3Ton (WAA 836)
Chevrolet C8 8cwt HUP (KVS 365)
Chevrolet C8 8cwt HUP (KVS 365)
Eastern Front Collection 116
Eastern Front Collection 116
Thornycroft W2-YC4 3Ton 4x2 GS Canvassed Up
Thornycroft W2-YC4 3Ton 4x2 GS Canv
Grenadier Guards on Exercise, Germany, March 1957 5
Grenadier Guards on Exercise, Germa
Berlin May/June 1945 110
Berlin May/June 1945 110
Bedford MWD 15cwt GS (MSU 877)
Bedford MWD 15cwt GS (MSU 877)
Austin Champ (MDT 470 D)
Austin Champ (MDT 470 D)
Blackhawk UH-60 Utility Helicopter 17
Blackhawk UH-60 Utility Helicopter
Mack NR9 10Ton 6x4 Cargo
Mack NR9 10Ton 6x4 Cargo
Normandy 1944 Collection 711
Normandy 1944 Collection 711
Scammell Crusader EKA Recovery (HWR 408 T)(Copyright ERF Mania)
Scammell Crusader EKA Recovery (HWR
Daimler Ferret Mk2 (00 EC 25)
Daimler Ferret Mk2 (00 EC 25)
Daimler Ferret Armoured Car (XFO 235)
Daimler Ferret Armoured Car (XFO 23