Churchill in Scrap Yard

[Stuart Kirkham]

Hello

I caught up with a local 'scrappy' today and questioned him about ex army stuff he may come across whilst picking up scrap form farms etc.

Unfortunately, he finds little ex army stuff still remaining on farms but did tell me about a Churchill tank that is sitting in a scrap yard in the eastern states (Australia).
He says that it has had a bulldozer blade attached. Apparently the 'barwork' that attach the blade to the hull are made from gun barrels.

Anyone familiar with this Churchill?

[Keith Webb]

Maybe. I have some pics from Ron Fry of a pair of Churchills used for scrub clearing back in the 50s and 60s. One of them had a 17 pounder barrel as a tree pusher. Apparently it would bend then spring back as the tree gave way.

The second Churchill had a dozer blade and there are pics showing it dam building. The tanks reportedly took a lot of maintenance to keep them going.

They also had a large ball and chain which they used to pull between them - it was made from traction engine wheels welded together.

The pics are on a different hard drive at work. Will dig something out.

[Plushy]

Tommy ,
I have seen a photo of a Churchill with a dozer blade ,no turret sitting in a scrap yard in Nsw i will see if i can find the photo and post it up from memory the asking price was around $20,000 i cant remember if the photo was on here or not .

cheers Plushy

[Plushy]

FOund the photo

http://www.class-five.com/~mlu/forum...7&d=1185879254

its in this thread from howard apparently its near or in Griffith .
http://www.class-five.com/~mlu/forum...ight=churchill


cheers Plushy

[Howard]

As far as I know the Churchill hull is still there...
PM me if you want contact details.
HH

[Stuart Kirkham]

Thanks guys, that looks like it could be the one.

At $20 000 I would have thought that someone would have snapped it up by now.

Is there something dodgy or wrong with it?

[Keith Webb]

Taken in the 1960s by the look of the Humber Vogue

And also the ball made from traction engine wheels.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Tommy K

Thanks guys, that looks like it could be the one.

At $20 000 I would have thought that someone would have snapped it up by now.

Is there something dodgy or wrong with it?

Nope, Tommy. Just a problem with my expendable income...

[Ryan]

So what ever happened to this tank? Was it sold, or is it still there?
Just curious.

[matilda IIA]

I have spoken to Morris at leaton many times about this vehicle, 20k is the price, Higly modified internally- I will look for the photos. I was told the guy had the turretbut when push came to shove it could not be found, (Yet). I Guess we would all like to have it but parts are hard to come by and Turrets are impossible unless you import one form the UK. If you get this one and the one from oakdale you may be able to get something together.

Kind regards
Matt

[eddy8men]

hi fella's
if that churchill was anywhere near england i'd have it myself but the £10k to ship it is a little expensive for me right now. (i'd better start saving) !

eddy

[Ryan]

So is the Churchill still there and did the owner ever find the turret?

[Luke R]

Pretty sure this Churchill is one that went up to the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-A...887?fref=photo

Have a look through the gallery you will see a photo of it.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Luke R

Pretty sure this Churchill is one that went up to the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-A...887?fref=photo

Have a look through the gallery you will see a photo of it.

Hey Luke, good to see your still floating around!
Who's running that show up there, they must be rich as all get out.
Jealous, hell yes.

[Dianaa]

If it is the one that went to the Museum, it now has a concrete turret.

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by Dianaa

If it is the one that went to the Museum, it now has a concrete turret.

You don't happen to have a photo of the concrete turret Dianaa?
Sounds interesting.

[Dianaa]

Originally Posted by Luke R

You don't happen to have a photo of the concrete turret Dianaa?
Sounds interesting.

Cheaper than casting a steel turret.

No I don't have an image, perhaps someone in Cairns?

[eddy8men]

there are mk7 turrets in the uk, makes you wonder why they don't do a deal and get an original one

good to see it saved.

rick

[Tim Lovelock]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Taken in the 1960s by the look of the Humber Vogue

And also the ball made from traction engine wheels.

I wonder if someone with an 'arts degree' put that ball together, I'm surprised it hasn't been installed down by the Yarra! A cross between ingenuity and bush craft me thinks!!