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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78860

  • pfireman
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The Naval Gun was at the back of the train and was never derailed. At least not in the action. I noticed that there is a railroad tie under the back wheels of the truck; so they may have moved it off the tracks and perhaps recovered it later. Image from WSC 'My Early Life' Available from Canadian site Fadedpage.com.

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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78864

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This is a really helpful plan, which makes identifying the trucks in the various photographs much easier. Thank you Payton.

Looking more closely, it seems that the photograph of the truck in my last post was taken after its armour plating had been salvaged. It is, in fact, the same truck photographed by René Bull (when the plating was still in situ), which would have been carrying Dublins or D.L.I.
René Bull's image shows the exit hole for one of the Boer shells, which may correspond with the entry hole marked "X" in the second photograph.

Churchill's plan shows these two trucks with labels "Derailed" and "On its side".




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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78865

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From the WSC plan, this must be the "Break down men's truck overturned".



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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78866

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And this photograph, originally posted by Rob, shows one of the Dublins' armoured trucks and the Naval Gun "ordinary" truck, still on the line.



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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78868

  • Rob D
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Payton, would you write this up for one of the journals?
The SA Military History Journal would love it. I am sure you'd make a great job of it, and I can translate the telegram Botha sent to Pretoria on the night of 15th Nov, and Danie Theron's comments.
I attach a diagram of the brilliantly simple design of the armour plates. These were about 6 ft x 6ft 6ins and ½inch thick. They could be installed or removed with ease. Their weight was supported on the floor of the truck. Each plate was secured by 2 staples which could be fed through from the inside and clasped the rim of the truck, being secured by wooden wedges. The plates overlapped a few inches. Each plate had 4 loopholes, two for standing men and two for kneeling men.
The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past.
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Armoured Train Ambush 11-15-99 Churchill & Haldane 3 years 2 months ago #78874

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From South African Railway and Harbours Magazine 1921.

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