1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[Ed Storey]

Sadly, there seemed to be more interest in that silly coin then in the tank.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Sadly, there seemed to be more interest in that silly coin then in the tank.

I had a civilian car guy I know send me a link to this story because he knows I tend towards the military stuff. Long story short he was affronted I spoke negatively about it. From that I gather the average joe is quite happy with a new paint job and return to the concrete slab of death for $200K.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Detail photo showing the extent of rust damage on the commander's hatch. Looks like it was properly de-rusted and coated, a job well done.

How long will it last when sitting outside in the open again?

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Source: https://london.ctvnews.ca/holy-rolle...iled-1.5924194

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

I had a civilian car guy I know send me a link to this story because he knows I tend towards the military stuff. Long story short he was affronted I spoke negatively about it. From that I gather the average joe is quite happy with a new paint job and return to the concrete slab of death for $200K.

Yes, the average Joe is more than happy to see vehicles on outdoor display slowly disintegrate; but it only takes one person with some influence to change things. A good example is Forceful III, the GGFG's trophy tank that used to sit outside of their drill hall in Ottawa.

It was during the construction of the new CWM in 2004 that I was approached to see if the Guards would be interested in having their tank on permanent display in the museum. Don't get me wrong, I only served with the Guards for two years back in the early 1980s so I didn't have any influence with the Regiment. I made a few contacts and found out that the Guards were not interested in moving the tank to the CWM as they liked having it in front of the drill hall. I thought the idea had died until a member of the Guards Senate (an oversight committee of retired senior Guards) had heard of the proposal via their RSM and liked the idea. He was able to convince the Senate of the validity of the proposal who in turn swayed the Regiment into allowing their beloved tank to be on permanent indoor display to be seen by more people then it ever would sitting in front of the drill hall.

I wouldn't say that the museum capitalized very well on the tank's history or did much to make it look like it did during the war; but Forceful III is on permanent indoor display in the CWM since 2005 and I count that as a 'W*'.

* W = Win

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

I wouldn't say that the museum capitalized very well on the tank's history or did much to make it look like it did during the war; but Forceful III is on permanent indoor display in the CWM since 2005 and I count that as a 'W*'.

* W = Win

Hear, hear, well said and well done!

Now, how to we influence and convince the city council?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

From: https://globalnews.ca/news/8880090/h...ng-london-ont/

“Retired lieutenant-colonel Ian Haley says some of the biggest challenges with restoring the Holy Roller stemmed from finding original parts, most of which were still in Europe as most tanks never left after the war.”
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“A glimpse inside the restored Holy Roller Sherman tank, which is much more spacious than it would’ve been in the Second World War.”
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And:

“ Volunteer David Wyatt got to sit in the commander’s seat when the tank rolled out to the public during Thursday’s unveiling, a show of gratitude to him and two others for their work on the project.

“It meant a lot to me, it meant a lot to honour all the veterans that have served, especially with what’s going on with the world right now,” Wyatt said.

“These guys were all really, really young when they did and they gave up lives to go to Europe and serve, so it’s the least you can do.”

The tank is now set to return to its home in Victoria Park just in time for the 150th anniversary of the 1st Hussars and Wyatt says it’ll be tough to say goodbye.

“On Saturday, which was our last workday, one of the fellas said ‘it’s almost bittersweet,’ because we came together as a group of strangers, we spent a year together, it’s really nice to be at the end of the project, but it feels sad that it’s over,” Wyatt said.

“I hope it stays in the park in this condition for a long time.””

[David Dunlop]

Why is it more spacious inside now than when it was in the Second World War?

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Why is it more spacious inside now than when it was in the Second World War?

Because all the interior has been stripped out. Notice the temporary 2 by 4's for a seat. I also wonder what all the brass screws and washers are for on the right side.