Rare BARV makes anniversary appearance at the War and Peace Show
Press Release
2nd March 2004.
A
vehicle instrumental in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings will be
on display and involved in arena action at this years War and Peace
Show, held at the Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring, Kent (21st - 25th July).
One
of the major concerns when planning Operation Overlord was that
vehicles may fail to reach the shore and become a hazard to incoming
landing craft. Tracked tractors were able to be used on the beaches to
keep the landing areas free for other vehicles but a different vehicle
was needed in the water.
A
special version of the ARV (Armoured recovery vehicle) was
commissioned. The Sherman M4A2 was chosen as it was most easily made
watertight. The design attached a boat structure to the top of a
turretless Sherman, enabling it to wade in over nine feet of water.
The Sherman BARV's (Beach Armoured recovery Vehicle) were some of the first vehicles to land on June 6th 1944 and were instrumental to the success of the operation.
It
is thought that the Sherman attending the War and Peace Show is the
only running example in the world of only around 48 built originally.
Purchased originally by Harry Pounds Snr from the Army Dispersal's some
30 years ago, the vehicle was used as a yard tug around their marine
shipping salvage complex. Fortunately Harry Pounds' love of the unusual
saved this vehicle from the cutting torch and the vehicle was acquired
for restoration by the War and Peace team.
The
BARV will join around 3,000 other military vehicles at what has become
known as the largest military vehicle show in the world. The War and
Peace Show runs from 21st - 25th July and is open
from 9am - 6pm daily. Admission is £12.00 for adults, £10.00 for
children and seniors and £42.00 for 2 adults and 3 children. Advance
tickets are available at £9.00 for adults, £7.00 children and seniors
and £28.00 for 2 adults and 3 children. Advance tickets can be ordered
on 01622 872068 or by visiting www.thehopfarm.co.uk.
-ENDS-
Press Contact: Hollie Eastwood -The Hop Farm Country Park Tel; 01622 870809
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Note to
editors; The Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring near Paddock Wood, Kent is
situated on the A228 Paddock Wood Road, 10 minutes from M20 J4, and 30
minutes from M25 J5.
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