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Desert Rats Memorial Tank Refurbishment |
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Desert Rats Memorial Tank Refurbishment |
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CONCEPT
After over 25 years on the Plinth the memorial tank. "Little Audrey II" (a Cromwell Mk VI in the markings of 1st Bn The Royal Tank Regiment) was in need of a much needed refurbishment. So after careful consideration and selection of someone to do the work, she was removed on 17th October 2023 and will be returned in the Spring of 2024, in time for a rededication service and a special service to remember the move of the Desert Rats to their embarkation camps, in readiness for the Normandy Landings.
REMOVAL
Here are some photographs and videos of the removal of Little Audrey
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| Preparations for the lift | |
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| Strops attached | The lift |
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| Landing on the transporter | Ready to roll |
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| Off Loading | In the yard |
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| Chatting over the tank | A rather empty plinth |
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Lifting onto transporter |
Being unloaded on her own tracks |
REFURBISHMENT
The plan is to strip off the top coats of paint down to a good undercoat layer, the repair any corrosion and repaint the tank and restore her to how see would have looked in May 1944 when she left High Ash Camp for the Embarkation camp at Orwell Park School, before loading onto the Landing Ship Tank (LST) that would deliver her to Gold Beach, Normandy on 6th June 1944.
