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Old 19-08-14, 11:49
Darrin Wright Darrin Wright is offline
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Albury/Wodonga Victoria
Posts: 606
Default don't get too excited about them...

These hulls are usually under 3-4 m of water; however, when the river is low and you know where to go, you get to see them.

I was told that they were bought from Bandiana after the war by either the SEC, Baker Motors or a truck wreckers in Wodonga. When they had been stripped they were taken to the river bank to stabilise the bank from erosion.

The willows have grown up and around them, in some cases the trees have pulled the hulls apart.
water and rust have also eaten them up, at times trees have fallen on them or they have been hit by logs floating down stream.
The mainly complete exposed hull had an air scoop in it, but a tree and rust have removed it.
The 2 pdr AT hull has either sunk into the river bed or been washed/dragged down stream.
Some of the other hulls are now so overgrown that they have disappeared into the river bank.
The armour of the LP1 has cracked and is very rusted.
All the hulls have been stripped, so data plates are gone and the rear of the hulls is down in the water and overgrown. Rust has had a big effect on these.
I have managed to salvage some parts from them over the years, but they are only good to use as patterns.
The hull under the tree (log in front) was dragged out from the river many years ago, how and by whom I do not know. It has been used as a incinerator and rubbish skip in the last few years. But the steel in places is laminating off with rust.

Just an interesting piece of local history that gave me an excuse for a bike ride.
Attached Thumbnails
BGC river1.jpg   bgc river2.jpg   bgc river3.jpg   bgc river4.jpg  
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1943 Ford GPW Jeep "Follow Me"
1943 MBT trailer
1943 Dodge WC-57 Command Car
1943 Chev C60L Army Cargo Truck
1941 LP2 VR 731 Bren Gun Carrier 3" Mortar Carrying

Under restoration:
1940 LP1 Bren Gun Carrier
194? 1 Ton Trl Ben Hur
1942 C15A with sunshine cabin

MVPA 31338
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