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Memories of Libya
1956 to 1959
Contributed by Trevor
STUBBERFIELD 52A
Libyan Extras Continued.
Following publication of these Memories of Libya a very good
friend came up with a selection of
contemporary photos from his own collection. To keep all the Libya
material together in one section, with his agreement, I have incorporated his
contribution into the main pages. Therefore all photos in this page are
from….
David Croton R.E.M.E.
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David, pictured on the left, and I served together at
the LAD, 10th Armoured Division, Royal Signals Regiment, in Tripoli and
subsequently at the LAD 38 Coy. Royal Army Service Corps which was the unit
responsible for transport in Tripolitania District. He then moved on to the
LAD No.1 Coy. Royal Army Service Corps which maintained the tank
transporters used to move the armour around the area. Armoured regiments
rotated regularly as they came to get experience of operating in desert
conditions.
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LAD REME 10th Arm’d Div
Royal Signals Regt. Gialo Barracks, Tripoli. 1957
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Rear Rank:
1.Hughes, 2.Spain, 3.Hutchenson, 4.Croton,
5.Piper, 6.Fryett, 7.Matthews.
Centre
Rank: 1.Todd, 2.Smith, 3.Taylor, 4.Wilkes, 5.Wilson, 6.Williams, 7.Reddy,
8.Davies, 9.Jones,
10.Peacock,
11.Ford.
Front
Rank: 1.Purcell, 2.Evans, 3.Stubberfield,
4.Wilson, 5.Pearson, 6.Wakely, 7.Buckley, 8.Hutson,
9.Tunney,10.Harris.
Looking at the line up of personnel, all the Z
Reservists who joined us for the Suez
episode, appear to have left. The feeling is that this photo was taken at
the break up of the LAD in 1957 before we were posted to new units in the
region.
Taff Evans, 2nd left, front row, was a
Chepstow AAS lad about the same vintage as myself, an Arborfield lad. He moved on to the Queen’s Bays at
Sabratha. Putting this photo on the web may lead to finding him and that
would be a bonus. Fingers crossed.
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Two photos showing the vehicle park. We had a very
wide range of vehicles to look after, some were relics from World War 2 and
some right up to date which didn’t make life easy for the team. With some
of the older vehicles we were reduced to visiting the vehicle dumps to
cannibalise some of the wrecks just to keep our charges on the road.
The list included our Morris Commercial 15cwt Wireless
Cars, Gin Palaces, and also GS
bodies, and the more modern Morris Commercial MRA. Bedford QL in many
guises along with the Bedford RL models. Ford WOT8 and WOT6 as machinery
and bin wagons. Land Rovers, Austin Champs and even a stray Austin Gipsy.
Humber 1ton as Wireless and GS, Austin K9 Wireless Cars and GS, AEC
Armoured Command Vehicle, International Half Track, Saracen, Scammell
Recovery, plus trailers and water bowsers, we even had some Triumph, Matchless
and BSA motor cycles which should have gone when the Champs arrived, but
which were retained for Motor Cycle Trials Competitions.
Carrying spares for that lot when we set out was a
logistical nightmare and we relied heavily on the R.A.O.C. to carry the
bulk of our requirements.
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Austin K9 1Ton Wireless Car
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Austin Champ.
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Humber 1Ton.
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Bedford RL 3 Ton
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A selection of Bent, Broke and Beyond
Local Repair vehicles.
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The Morris Commercial MRA on the left is a bit of an
oddity. In the build up to Suez the vehicles
we received from the U.K.
were painted in standard Deep Bronze Green and we quickly re-sprayed them
in Libyan Sand. This wreck is still in green livery and looks as though it
was written off before it was prepared for action.
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LAD REME 1 Coy RASC (Tank
Transporters)
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Rear Rank: 1.Crowe, 2.n/k,
3.Fryett, 4.n/k, 5.n/k, 6.n/k, 7.n/k, 8.Dodds.
Front
Rank: 1.Wilson, 2.Falzon, 3.Morgan, 4.n/k,5.n/k.
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Published: 1st June 2008
  Libyan Extras Continued.
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