LOOK what the container held!!!!!

[Barry Churcher]

Over the last few years I’ve been selling off a few of the vehicles in my collection. Brian Gough and I joked about whoever died first would get to leave the other the chore of cleaning up the junk.
After the deaths of Janet’s ex husband and my ex wife you begin to believe that you won’t be around forever. This was probably the most contributing factor for the deal just completed. My restoration schedule was running me into age 115 so maybe more stuff goes and I get a vehicle I have coveted for a few years. Dirk Leegwater has wanted to go shopping in my barn and I have wanted one of his trucks. Let’s make a deal! After driving this truck in France and in parades in Holland I really wanted to own it. Stefan and Dirk felt that the truck going to Canada would keep it in the family and continue to provide a good home for it. Hanno and Geoff played a part in it as you will see in the photos. James Gosling’s enthusiasm for his truck in Beltring made the deal all the more attractive to me. The real kicker was that Janet was happy. I was finally bringing something home that was actually driveable. After an unbelievable three week screw up at Canada Customs I finally have the C15TA home in Castleton. Thanks to all who contributed in any way to making this deal possible.
A happy Barry.

[Barry Churcher]

The appropriate part was Dirk being in Canada to drive it out of the container.

[Brian Gough]

Wow Barry, that's a great purchase. I'm glad you did it, and thanks to Stefan and Dirk for letting it come to Canada. It was a real pleasure to be in this truck in Normandy in 2004 and in the Apeldoorn parade in 2005. Did you ever think then you would someday own it?

I believe you now have the only privately owned C15TA in Canada that is restored and running. It's too bad one of the other guys who has a TA doesn't get busy and restore his - but then, maybe now he doesn't need to.

I'm looking forward to a drive in it very soon.

Brian

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Welllllll..... Barry you old bugger!! Congratulations on an outstanding acquisition!! I too remember that vehicle from Normandy (there are pictures of all of us in front of it on the forum here) and as Brian said, it's truly a gem! I look forward to getting a ride in it soon...

Ya done good, y'old bastard!

[Barry Churcher]

Geoff, that was a great day in Aromanche. I wanted to post that photo also but for some reason my scanner isn't working. I remember going up for a beer and telling Stefan we could just leave the truck on the beach. He said that the tide might come in and we must park it up on the street. Well he was right because if we had left it there it would have been under the water. I guess we probably had more than one beer.
Cheers,
Barry

The photo is my first ride in Canada.

Brian, I figured it was easier to get this truck than restoring yours.
When you have this truck at your place in Oshawa it may be the only one that has gone to war and returned to it's birthplace.
Barry

[Stefan Leegwater]

Well Barry, that truck sure looks great driven by you.
Finally after many sleepless nights the container arrived!!!
Too bad I didn't take the trip to my Canadian home this year, maybe better luck next year!
I was surprised to see Albert in one piece at the gate this morning after all those coyote and wolves chasing Albert when he took his numerous tobacco brakes at night.....

Cheers,

Stefan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Barry, well done! Great to see a running C15TA back on Canadian soil. You really look the part behind the wheel.

The pics below show it while in Normandy in 2004.

Big question is: what was in your barn that was interesting enough for Dirk to be traded in for this C15TA

M.vr.groet,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

The real kicker was that Janet was happy.

Say Barry, does Janet know the C15TA is a bird puller?!?

[RHClarke]

Barry, Congrats! The "new" truck looks fantastic. I hope it is an inspiration to at least two of our fold who own C15TA bodies...

[john hoffman]

OUTSTANDING !!! You must be delighted. Well done, Sir.

Cheers, Johnnie.

[Gunner]

Well Done Barry!

We should get together to compare notes on Customs and CFIA!!!

Unfortunately, our TA will have to wait a few more years as priority has to go to increased housing space for the stuff thats already restored!!

OK gang! We've managed to drag home a C15TA and a Windsor Carrier this year... what other rare and outstanding examples of Canadian wartime production should we be eyeing?

Mike

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

After three "unbelievable" weeks Castleton Canada,
sitting behind my desk over the pond in our North
of Holland, is starting up to me a sort of "Flashback"
about Steven's fantastic restoring job of the C15TA.

Mvg. Dirk

[Barry Churcher]

Hanno, I have only told Janet about the veteran's wives I had taken in the truck. This is the photo I showed her and not the one you have.
Groet,
Barry

[Bob Carriere]

...so that was the surprise everyone was wispering about at the Kingston OMVA show......

Impressive to say the least..... fantastic job by the Leegswater family.... well deserving for Barry.......

So tell me Mr. Clarke..... when do we start working on your dream C15A..... you are young enough.........from what I have seen posted by Dirk..... we already have the C15A power train in all our spare parts pile.... we just need the shell...... I would build an annex to the barn to be able to work on one of those.....!!!

Brian..... youhou..... are you getting older...????

...or let get the C60X frame an build an Israel like ...circa 1947 ...armor plated 6x6 monster.....

...got to hurry up before I get too old....!!!

BooB

[Barry Churcher]

Here are the two old guys trying to decide whether they can lift the spare on or not. In the end the Allis Chalmers loader did the trick.
Barry

[M38CDNBill]

Hello Barry,

Very nice acquisition. Well, your wallet must be empty and to fill it again, I suggest you buying your Chevy G506... Ok, Ok, I'm go out

Best regards

Guy

[Darrell Brown]

Amazing Barry , well done , cant wait to have a look at er, hey Barry maybe that "other" guy will get his done, you have inspired us all, cheers Darrell

[Barry Churcher]

Thanks Darrell, for posting that photo of Brian and his TA. I should have had a photo but I couldn't find any. I imagine you already know he is going tomorrow to look at another HUP. I can't go with him as I have to go to Bancroft to store my ex wife's husbands boat in my barn up there. Brian and I will be in the same vicinity but there is no cell service there in order to meet up.
Cheers,
Barry

[Barry Churcher]

Today we had the first outing for the TA. Janet and I took the day off to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies in the small village of Castleton. There was quite a turnout for the size of the village and even the public school brought all the children. As usual CFB Trenton sent a small contingent of soldiers from the base. A minister from a church in Cobourg who is a veteran of the British Army, in the 60's, gave a real nice speech. There wasn't a peep out of any of those school kids. Amazing. After the service some pre teen boys came and asked about the truck and wanted their pictures taken with it. I couldn't believe how polite they were. Janet stepped right up and gave the adults a history of the truck, where it was made, where it went, where we got it and who restored it. I couldn't believe it and I sure was proud of her. Now it goes back to the barn for the looong winter.
Cheers,
Barry

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Barry,

Congrats on your first "official" outing, and what an occasion!!! You surely should be proud of Janet too, mainly for putting up with you all these years....

What I need from you is a selection of good, hi-res digital photos of your wee beastie before you put it to bed for the winter. The select one will go in Cliff's calendar for 2009. Can you do this for me? Call me if there's a problem, you know the number (for some reason I don't have yours).

Thanks,

Jif

[Stefan Leegwater]

Wow Barry,
Right time, right place.
That truck looks good in Canada!!! (home sweet home eh!)

Cheers,

Stefan

[Gordons]

Absolutely a beautiful piece of history, sure to be a popular attraction with the MLU.

[Walter Brand]

well done barry.A top notch looking truck.As peter simundson once said,how many of these effing things can onerestore in a lifetime? walter