In the early 60s I was stationed in Celle, West Germany with 94 Locating Regiment R.A. Workshops. Each night one of us had to sleep in the Workshop Office to answer the phone. One night I got a call saying that the M.O's driver had reversed his Hillman Husky into some building foundations and was stuck could I send out a recovery vehicle. I got hold of the duty Recovery Driver and told him the problem. He said fine and he would take out the One Tonner and pull him out. About three quarters of an hour later he returned. I asked him was the job complete? No he said, he had come back for the Leyland Recovery vehicle (replacement for the Scammel) Why I asked? Germans build cellars in their houses.
Was a TA REME reccy mech back in the day.... remember passing my HGV 2 the day before picking up a (brand new) 1950s Scammell 6x6 petrol-powered Explorer Heavy Recovery that was unmothballed specifically for Exercise Crusader in 1980. Drove it all the way to Germany at 30mph, filling up hourly from jerry cans on the back. Don't know how we made it without smashing the crash gearbox to pieces. It took a while to master the art of changing gear. Wonderful memories.
Good to watch , bringing back memories spent with REME LAD , 63 Para Coy. RASC / 63 Para. Sqn. RCT. From Farnborough to Aldershot , becoming part of the 1st Para. Logistic Regt. 1962 to ' 77 always Airborne with several Para units ,a perpetual Corporal ! Best days of my life . Best wishes.
I actually have worked with these monsters as a kid on a Fairground ride back in 1967 the guys used to put it in 1st gear and get out and walk along side of them as they pulled what ever :-))
Sweet!! Such a treat to see these historic heavyweights, some of which I'd never have known of otherwise. TY for sharing these old beauties!! Great video & Hey from Canada 🇨🇦
I was 18 in 1968 and I had to sign for a REME Half Track with a two piece folding front Jib (crane) using the inbuilt winch that was used to raise the front part of the jib....at the same time the winch rope was also the jib hoist rope. If I recall....originally used to remove Centurion assemblies in the field. The rear drive rubber tracks were made in 1942 !!! I remember Field Wisps usually had a home made hard top fitted....others, like us an armoured infantry unit, FB 432 MK 1&2's had original canvas roofs. A pig to drive.....but fun at 18 !!! Should this equipment also have a pic on here....??
These Half tracks were used prior to the issuing of the FV434. Infantry REME fitter sections had both the canvas and the hard top. After lifting a 432 power pack one day in camp, I set out to park the Half track round the back, forgetting that the jib was still extended. Brought down all of the communication cables in the camp.
You Brits had some of the neatest recovery rigs ever, I would just love to drive a Scammell once, I think that truck has a beauty that is all its own! The Fodens the Antar (where was that?) and everything was awesome to watch till the end and you hit the Western Star, generic everyday boring truck just like almost everything in the USA. Great pics and when I get over to England I need to find a place that will let me drive some of these trucks, What a pleasure! Karl
In roughly 1970 my dad who worked on tanks at Chilwell Depot told us to get down to Raleigh island on the A609 in Nottinghamshire where a tank transporter had shed its load, a Chieftain tank. It was on its side and the army were trying to recover it, at one point a soldier asked the crowd to move back as they were in a dangerous position, they pretty much ignored him until a policeman ordered them to move. As the winch began the pull the cable snapped and whipped around just where the people had been standing slicing 30 yards of heavy duty barrier (scaffolding type tube) in half!
@@stewartbrown8115 Must of been around that time i guess cos I think I was 10 or 12. The railings were in front of the old Mobil petrol station next to the Crown (I think) pub. My dad was Albert Foster Fitter / inspector.
Always found the name "Recovery Mechanic" odd given that they never repaired anything and just recover stuff to be fixed by a real mechanic. Why not call them Recovery Specialist.
My grandad was in REME but it was Airborne and he was in TA drove scammell pioneer and explorer out in Cyprus in 63 they were desert coloured they were they had Bedford rl breakdown parked up but they never used it my grandad towed dyson trailer with a Fowler bulldozer on back and recovered a compressor and a series 2 Land Rover green jackets crashed and pioneer had cloth doors 39 model they left it on mountain by orders of Captain as it was a wreck.
Joined in Dec.57, first intake in 58 and we were raided by the IRA one of our guys got hammered. Reccy in Germany, Paderborn 4 years then to Kenya Gil Gil and sent to Kuwait when the Iraq`s torched the northern oil fields I think it was 2 para dug in on the border. Aden, Bahrain but I never served in the UK. I am in Australian now and miss my buddies. Arte et marte
When I was driving back from Warminster in the 70’s I came upon an “Antar and trailer” just off the roundabout, the driver was sitting on the bonnet filling out what I assume was an accident report (FMT3) . He’d come down the hill, obviously too fast for the roundabout at the bottom and he’d tipped his load... 1 Chieftain MBT was hanging off the trailer and the 2nd one was upside down on the other side of the roundabout, almost in a field.. I had a bit of a chuckle...
My uncle use to drive them, my dad said when he came out Army he got a job driving coal lorry, went round a roundabout nearly lost the load, is co driver replied your not in the bloody army now. Lol
Got screwed over by my M.T. Sargent Wanted to do my Recovery Course to advance my REME Career Landed up being there only Batt Driving Instructor Via driver training course at RAF Drifenfield Yorkshire
Too much variation, too many spares packages. The REME should have maintained its own Design Office and developed and evolved its own trucks and trailers. Done right there would have been useful Commonwealth sales.
Diamond T was a Wrecker, my father used one in North Africa after the Torch Landings, it had a twin boom crane and worked along side a Queen Mary recovering downed aircraft. He was in the RAF in a salvage unit.
Bloody heroes the REME boys, got us out of so many problems I love every greasy one of them!
My husband did his national service in R.E.M.E working on many of theses vehicles having great fun !!
In the early 60s I was stationed in Celle, West Germany with 94 Locating Regiment R.A. Workshops. Each night one of us had to sleep in the Workshop Office to answer the phone. One night I got a call saying that the M.O's driver had reversed his Hillman Husky into some building foundations and was stuck could I send out a recovery vehicle. I got hold of the duty Recovery Driver and told him the problem. He said fine and he would take out the One Tonner and pull him out. About three quarters of an hour later he returned. I asked him was the job complete? No he said, he had come back for the Leyland Recovery vehicle (replacement for the Scammel) Why I asked? Germans build cellars in their houses.
Was a TA REME reccy mech back in the day.... remember passing my HGV 2 the day before picking up a (brand new) 1950s Scammell 6x6 petrol-powered Explorer Heavy Recovery that was unmothballed specifically for Exercise Crusader in 1980. Drove it all the way to Germany at 30mph, filling up hourly from jerry cans on the back. Don't know how we made it without smashing the crash gearbox to pieces. It took a while to master the art of changing gear. Wonderful memories.
My dad(REME)loved his Scammell 6x6..He said he got out of many scraps in it .Wish he was here to tell me more.🇬🇧
Didzee 002 for me leyland. Martian
Good to watch , bringing back memories spent with REME LAD , 63 Para Coy. RASC / 63 Para. Sqn. RCT. From Farnborough to Aldershot , becoming part of the 1st Para. Logistic Regt. 1962 to ' 77 always Airborne with several Para units ,a perpetual Corporal ! Best days of my life . Best wishes.
i was in one para around that time i ended up in the MT often wished i had been R.E.M.E.
I actually have worked with these monsters as a kid on a Fairground ride back in 1967 the guys used to put it in 1st gear and get out and walk along side of them as they pulled what ever :-))
Sweet!! Such a treat to see these historic heavyweights, some of which I'd never have known of otherwise. TY for sharing these old beauties!!
Great video & Hey from Canada 🇨🇦
X reccy mech here was a leyland 6x6 loved it big heavy and arms like pop eye . Also AEC and Crusader loved my scammer EKA all in 1985-1989
I was 18 in 1968 and I had to sign for a REME Half Track with a two piece folding front Jib (crane) using the inbuilt winch that was used to raise the front part of the jib....at the same time the winch rope was also the jib hoist rope. If I recall....originally used to remove Centurion assemblies in the field.
The rear drive rubber tracks were made in 1942 !!!
I remember Field Wisps usually had a home made hard top fitted....others, like us an armoured infantry unit, FB 432 MK 1&2's had original canvas roofs.
A pig to drive.....but fun at 18 !!!
Should this equipment also have a pic on here....??
Like the 434, vm’s wagon. You’d only see recy mechs when happy hour started.
These Half tracks were used prior to the issuing of the FV434. Infantry REME fitter sections had both the canvas and the hard top. After lifting a 432 power pack one day in camp, I set out to park the Half track round the back, forgetting that the jib was still extended. Brought down all of the communication cables in the camp.
Brought back memories,loved it 👏👏👏👏👍😁
You Brits had some of the neatest recovery rigs ever, I would just love to drive a Scammell once, I think that truck has a beauty that is all its own! The Fodens the Antar (where was that?) and everything was awesome to watch till the end and you hit the Western Star, generic everyday boring truck just like almost everything in the USA. Great pics and when I get over to England I need to find a place that will let me drive some of these trucks, What a pleasure!
Karl
The antar wasn't a recovery truck. It was a tank transporter.
@@bongo9006 Gary I think I knew that but must have forgotten, thanks for clearing that up!
I was only a VM, but I often got lumbered to drive the recovery truck. Did the Scammel, Leyland and the AEC.
Arri Mayers I was same loved leyland Martian although. Drove all types rl my mj leyland scammed. 3types
Ex Reccy Mech here. Thanks for posting. I operated Scammel EKA and Foden. Samson ARV, Craav. Great days.
Love the Scammell Explorer, I had a Corgi one
The Shadows, Mountains of the moon. Very appropriate 👍🏻😁
In roughly 1970 my dad who worked on tanks at Chilwell Depot told us to get down to Raleigh island on the A609 in Nottinghamshire where a tank transporter had shed its load, a Chieftain tank. It was on its side and the army were trying to recover it, at one point a soldier asked the crowd to move back as they were in a dangerous position, they pretty much ignored him until a policeman ordered them to move. As the winch began the pull the cable snapped and whipped around just where the people had been standing slicing 30 yards of heavy duty barrier (scaffolding type tube) in half!
Must admit,i didn't hear about that,i worked at chilwell from 66 to 75
@@stewartbrown8115 Must of been around that time i guess cos I think I was 10 or 12. The railings were in front of the old Mobil petrol station next to the Crown (I think) pub. My dad was Albert Foster Fitter / inspector.
@@fossy4321 yes I remember Albert Foster,I was in the test house, the same time,Albert was on the Allison gearbox test rig
@@stewartbrown8115 He had an old Morris 8 car BBC 75 1937 we still have it. Cantankerous old bastard but he really knew his stuff!
@@fossy4321 i think he had a mg 1300 which he sold
Always found the name "Recovery Mechanic" odd given that they never repaired anything and just recover stuff to be fixed by a real mechanic. Why not call them Recovery Specialist.
You’ve forgotten the International Harvester M543, but an excellent collection .
My grandad was in REME but it was Airborne and he was in TA drove scammell pioneer and explorer out in Cyprus in 63 they were desert coloured they were they had Bedford rl breakdown parked up but they never used it my grandad towed dyson trailer with a Fowler bulldozer on back and recovered a compressor and a series 2 Land Rover green jackets crashed and pioneer had cloth doors 39 model they left it on mountain by orders of Captain as it was a wreck.
Very nice.
Rec mech from 1957 to 1963 Germany and Libya are 6x4 6x6 cent are diamond t half -track good days in reme
Not forgetting all the tracked recovery vehicles....
missing is "samson" 430 series tracked recovery vehicle also ARV and BARVE.
My dad used to drive a scammell in the marines. Be the best be an air tech Arte et Marte
Mas William Carington bahasa Inggrise pinter banget.
Joined in Dec.57, first intake in 58 and we were raided by the IRA one of our guys got hammered. Reccy in Germany, Paderborn 4 years then to Kenya Gil Gil and sent to Kuwait when the Iraq`s torched the northern oil fields I think it was 2 para dug in on the border. Aden, Bahrain but I never served in the UK. I am in Australian now and miss my buddies. Arte et marte
My dad owns the scammell explorer he’s doing it up and I would like to own one as well
Last four ones: Two German, one Swedish, one American: the sad end of British automotive industry...
Good old scammels
REME. No job too small, no price too large. We're rough, but we are expensive!" Ha Ha.
No Antar ? ....No Diamond T ?
No Mighty AnTar ?
The Antar wasn't a wrecker , I know there were a couple in there that weren't either.
When I was driving back from Warminster in the 70’s I came upon an “Antar and trailer” just off the roundabout, the driver was sitting on the bonnet filling out what I assume was an accident report (FMT3) . He’d come down the hill, obviously too fast for the roundabout at the bottom and he’d tipped his load... 1 Chieftain MBT was hanging off the trailer and the 2nd one was upside down on the other side of the roundabout, almost in a field.. I had a bit of a chuckle...
My uncle use to drive them, my dad said when he came out Army he got a job driving coal lorry, went round a roundabout nearly lost the load, is co driver replied your not in the bloody army now. Lol
Got screwed over by my M.T. Sargent Wanted to do my Recovery Course to advance my REME Career Landed up being there only Batt Driving Instructor Via driver training course at RAF Drifenfield Yorkshire
Too much variation, too many spares packages. The REME should have maintained its own Design Office and developed and evolved its own trucks and trailers. Done right there would have been useful Commonwealth sales.
No Diamond T?
The Diamond T wasn't a recovery vehicle , nor was the Antar.
@@brianjones9345 Correct , used for tank transportatiion , Centurions mainly .
diamond t would not pull your hat off
Diamond T was a Wrecker, my father used one in North Africa after the Torch Landings, it had a twin boom crane and worked along side a Queen Mary recovering downed aircraft. He was in the RAF in a salvage unit.