Centurion MkII

[Martyn]

Well, I blew the dust off the camera this afternoon. I took a drive to have a look at this Tank parked on the side of the road near the Leyland factory where is was built

 

 

 

 

[NannyFerret]

I like that, Martyn.

[Denis]

That is a really atmospheric shot Martyn.... The Centurian looked how a tank ought to look !

[ChrisLumix]

The steel colour really suits the subject.

[FUJI]

This brought back memories Martyn......it is exactly 59 years ago today that I travelled up to Hadrian's Camp Carlisle to begin my hated National Service,  Basic Training. 

After forcibly given a very short haircut I spent the next six weeks in utter misery.......then eight weeks training to be a Wireless Operator and Driver on Centurion Tanks. After embarkation leave, I found myself in a battered post war Germany as a trooper in the 4/7 th Royal Dragoon Guards ( it's well worth looking up their history) they not only had four Squadrons of Centuriun Tanks but amongst the very first of the mighty Conqueror, at the time, the biggest military tank in the world.

Sadly, Despite me having passed my Signaller trade tests, I never got to drive a tank, because, far too late it was discovered that my eyesight was far too poor ( how I was graded A1 I will never know) .....but, I did get to guard dozens of tanks, armoured cars and all kinds of other military gear during two horrible German winters, at Fallingbostel, just a few kilometers from Bergen Belsen concentration camp.

I became a Batman, to one of this famous Cavalry Regiments officers, who saw most of the war as. POW, he rose  through the ranks from trooper to Lt Colonel before he died in the 1960s....National Service took away my freedom, but gave me pride in my regiment and pride in my demeanor and appearance...QUI SEPARABIT.

 

FUJI

[colinb]

As above - the processing works very well.