Post by aghart on Jul 19, 2023 17:30:28 GMT
19 people sat down with a mere 4 logged in via Zoom for the July 2023 branch meeting. I suspect there was a slight IT issue, not surprising as this was our first meeting in our new home so "something" had to go wrong. Green Fields? we stood for General Sir Richard (Dickie) Lawson who died on 5th May and George Rodgers ex 1RTR who died only a couple of days ago.
Minutes of the June 2023 branch meeting were available to view.
Recap of activity where branch members were present included the 2 D-Day Memorials on Poole Quay (UK & US Coastguard) Falklands Memorial in Poole, Budmouth (Weymouth) CCF recruitment day, Armed Forces day in both Weymouth & Taunton, Oxford Branch Memorial Lunch, and Founders day parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Future activity currently scheduled is the Korea 70 commemoration in London ( we have 2 x Korea veterans in the branch), the branch BBQ on 12th August, and VJ Day in Poole Park, 14th August.
Home HQ asked for a name to attend the Garden of Remembrance on Thursday 9th November 2023.
A Ladies Lunch update was given confirming menu choices would be available from the Branch BBQ onwards.
It was agreed to present a 3rd Kings Own Hussars Flag to Frank Howell and flowers to June in recognition of them hosting the BBQ over the years.
It was announced that the Xmas social gathering in December will include entertainment, a musical duo.
The guest speaker was then introduced, Stevan Bennett is a member of the Dorset Military Enthusiasts Group, He came in a WWII Jeep and had a .30 browning MG, a Bren Gun plus a selection of steel helmets. Stevan gave us a history of the group and highlighted the events they attend, the vehicles they possess and the different backgrounds of the group members. He then explained the history of the Jeep, how it was designed by the Bantam Motor Co but the US Military concerned that Bantam were too small to deal with the numbers passed the design to Willis (now Chrysler) and asked them to improve it. Willis did that and the US Military then also gave this design to Ford and got both Willis & Ford to produce the vehicle. Poor old Bantam ended up getting a contract for trailers.
Stevan's Jeep was built by Ford on 6th August 1942, he has no information on any of it's history as the vehicle history were not recorded. This was because of the number produced and the short life expectancy of 3 months for a Jeep during WWII. So once issued the Jeeps simply disappeared as far as inventory purposes are concerned. The result was a mass of Jeeps all over the world including Europe at the end of WWII. A mass of Jeeps that the USA did not know about, did not care about, and were available to anybody who get their hands on one.
Stevan said that a WWII jeep can sell for £25k today so they are not cheap. Spare parts are plentiful, being manufactured in several Asian countries. You can get any spare part you need, you could actually build a complete Jeep from brand new spare parts if you wanted, a bit expensive but possible. Stevan said it rarely happens because enthusiasts want the genuine article, a WWII jeep not a modern replica. His jeep has been restored on several occasions, but the bodywork is original. An interesting presentation enjoyed by all.
Minutes of the June 2023 branch meeting were available to view.
Recap of activity where branch members were present included the 2 D-Day Memorials on Poole Quay (UK & US Coastguard) Falklands Memorial in Poole, Budmouth (Weymouth) CCF recruitment day, Armed Forces day in both Weymouth & Taunton, Oxford Branch Memorial Lunch, and Founders day parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Future activity currently scheduled is the Korea 70 commemoration in London ( we have 2 x Korea veterans in the branch), the branch BBQ on 12th August, and VJ Day in Poole Park, 14th August.
Home HQ asked for a name to attend the Garden of Remembrance on Thursday 9th November 2023.
A Ladies Lunch update was given confirming menu choices would be available from the Branch BBQ onwards.
It was agreed to present a 3rd Kings Own Hussars Flag to Frank Howell and flowers to June in recognition of them hosting the BBQ over the years.
It was announced that the Xmas social gathering in December will include entertainment, a musical duo.
The guest speaker was then introduced, Stevan Bennett is a member of the Dorset Military Enthusiasts Group, He came in a WWII Jeep and had a .30 browning MG, a Bren Gun plus a selection of steel helmets. Stevan gave us a history of the group and highlighted the events they attend, the vehicles they possess and the different backgrounds of the group members. He then explained the history of the Jeep, how it was designed by the Bantam Motor Co but the US Military concerned that Bantam were too small to deal with the numbers passed the design to Willis (now Chrysler) and asked them to improve it. Willis did that and the US Military then also gave this design to Ford and got both Willis & Ford to produce the vehicle. Poor old Bantam ended up getting a contract for trailers.
Stevan's Jeep was built by Ford on 6th August 1942, he has no information on any of it's history as the vehicle history were not recorded. This was because of the number produced and the short life expectancy of 3 months for a Jeep during WWII. So once issued the Jeeps simply disappeared as far as inventory purposes are concerned. The result was a mass of Jeeps all over the world including Europe at the end of WWII. A mass of Jeeps that the USA did not know about, did not care about, and were available to anybody who get their hands on one.
Stevan said that a WWII jeep can sell for £25k today so they are not cheap. Spare parts are plentiful, being manufactured in several Asian countries. You can get any spare part you need, you could actually build a complete Jeep from brand new spare parts if you wanted, a bit expensive but possible. Stevan said it rarely happens because enthusiasts want the genuine article, a WWII jeep not a modern replica. His jeep has been restored on several occasions, but the bodywork is original. An interesting presentation enjoyed by all.