Army Tanks in the scrap yard!

[Billy Struthers]

  anyone remember the old second world war army tanks that were in the scrap yard ? all us kids used to play  in them at the weekends as it was a bit out of town ! there used to be old railway carraiges as well ,I remember the day my boetie and I set them on fire by accident of course and being chased down one of the main roads by some one in a bakkie and when he caught us we gave him false names and my dad only finding out years later 

[Michael Alexander]

wow, was this in the scrapyard to the south of town?

[SandyB]

Mmm  I remember a story about  those carriages  burning ...  well we all had our  fair share  of disasters with  fire , paint etc as O'mund kids ...  nearly  caused house fire  on more than one occasion ...I  seem to remember my Dad had a bit  of  inside info  on those  carriages burning but  remained Mum  .. he had  empathy for  naughty boy antics  and would not be the cause of parents getting into trouble or losing jobs ( which could have happened )   cos of kids antics ....  looking back in retrospect  he  was  a  cool  old man ...

[Billy Struthers]

 msn emoticon (12)Kid and matches seemed to be the in thing at the time !part of life ,one of the many things we got up to as kids ,if my son today went near a box of matches or a lighter I would throttle him and he`s twelve !

[toonfandangl]

        Billy


I don't know were the scrap heap was in your days there, but I remember the tanks they had out at Central Fields.

Think they were British and Americans Sherman or Lee/Grant tanks, that were used in North Africa, that's what I was told.

Remember using the armored plating from these to line some of the equipment we made in the Boiler shop, that was in the late 60s early 70s.

They were kept at Central Fields now that was a few klms from town so you are saying they moved them (or they moved the scrap yard) closer to town.

[Gordon Brown]

Play park at the east end of 38 avenue had a Sherman tank parked there for the kids to play on. The Linikers, Zandhuises, Carrs, Griffith-Richards and others will probably remember it.

[Bertie Horak]

@ Gordon - 38 avenue? 
I'm also struggling to remember where the tanks were.  I remember he ones at the moths, but I know we played on some tanks when I was small, but simply cannot remember where they were parked.  Maybe one of our new members, Janet (Carr), can comment?

[SandyB]

Yup Frank ... central fields .. the carriages and the tanks ..  Bertie , the tanks most accesible  and most likely  you played in / on were the ones at the Moth  garden of rememberance ..

[Gordon Brown]

Humble apologies Bertie. Meant 9th avenue. We stayed at E38-9th Avenue.
Kind regards
gordon

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

There are photo's some where on this forum of the tank in the park.....but like hell can I find it now.

[Bertie Horak]

@ Gordon -    I just thought there was a whole part of Oranjemund I never saw! 
@ Diana - I also know about the photo but also couldn't find it....

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

From "Diamond Beaches"
After the 2nd World War an ingenious idea of converting old Sherman tanks to tractors to cart the overburden was implemented in the mines. This idea worked extremely well and the mules, that had been used up until then were duly replaced! The tanks were later converted into stackers used in conjunction with small bucket excavators to remove loose sand overburden.

One of the early pioneers, Bill Mitchell, recounts the following story which shows particular ingenuity..........."Whilst in charge of the maintenance of thirteen Sherman tanks and carryalls at the Mining area of 100G and through a misunderstanding between the Prospecting Superintendant and the Central Fields workshop I was left to my own resources to make my own way back to town. As it was late in the afternoon and too far to work through the heavy sand after a hard day's work, I unhitched the carryall from the Sherman tank and transported those left behind, into the residential area. I lived in a small flat between the present AAC guest house and the local mess, and my very noisy arrival was greeted with amusement by some and consternation by others. Needless to say I was not commended for my ingenuity nor was I ever left behind again!"

[janet (carr) bradbury]

We only had one tank in the park in 11th ave East. I don't remember others. THAT tank was...very private inside.

[Clive Symes]

No one has mentioned those at the Shell hole

[SandyB]

Indeedy do so ...  read further up .. how you Clive ??

Yup Frank ... central fields .. the carriages and the tanks ..  Bertie , the tanks most accesible  and most likely  you played in / on were the ones at the Moth  garden of rememberance ..