Manky Monkey Motors

My sister & her family are over here from Canada at the moment, so we had a day out together yesterday.
Went to the tank museum at Bovington, near Wareham in Dorset. I've been past it loads of times cos it's right opposite MonkeyWorld, but I've never been in before.
13 quid per adult but that gives you entry for a year, so you can go back as many times as you like, although the ticket says proof of ID will be required. I wasn't really expecting it to be very interesting, but all 4 of us agreed it was a fascinating place. Lots of interactive stuff for kids & dozens & dozens of different tanks in big, well lit purpose built buildings. All sorts of displays showing manufacture, armament, engines etc -even an American Sherman tank cut in half so you could see just how cramped it was for the crew inside.
It's the centenary of the introduction of the very first tanks during World War 1 in 1916, so there was a large area given over to recreations of the trenches with nearly a dozen surviving tanks of different models on show. Peering inside them, they must've been truly terrifying things to work in, though not as scary as one crashing over the top of your trench. Some very interesting information on a group of 8 crewmen, following their individual stories through the war. 
Some of the German 2nd World War machines, like the Tigers, were huge. I used to make plastic models of them when I was a kid, but you don't realise just how fearsome they were till you see them in the steel.
The museum was involved in the production of the recent Brad Pitt film "Fury", featuring the crew of a Sherman. They supplied the tank of the title & several others, as well as crewing them & making sure the actors operated them convincingly. The Sherman's on display with some of the scenery from the film. There was also a section on modern weaponry as used in the Gulf wars, Afghanistan etc.
We visited during the annual Warfare through the Ages weekend, with several different re-enactment groups doing their thing. The American civil war was in full swing when we arrived. There were also outside driving displays of various armoured personnel carriers & a pair of German built Leopard tanks, given to the museum by the Canadian army.
A great day out, whether you agree with warfare or not. The human interest side of it all was fascinating. Well worth a look. I didn't take a camera, so here's just a few fuzzy phone snaps.

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James May tank museum advert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZllTVGe9rY

Cool pics. I keep thinking of taking my grandchildren but I wondered if it would be boring. The new advert makes it seem more adventurous. Glad you enjoyed it. Did everyone enjoy Monkey World too? I hope you showed them the Manky brick.  :D
 8)

I did! Very busy there. They've got something like 200 apes there but you only ever see about 6 :)

Probably out on their trikes ? :D

Or driving tanks.

I haven't been to the tank museum for years - well it's on our doorstep.

When I first moved to Dorset and all our friends/family from Worcestershire came to visit, they all wanted to go to the Tank Museum and Lulworth cove - you can awfully fed up with going to the same places!

you can awfully fed up with going to the same places! -MonkeyWorld!  :)

My sister's Apple phone obviously takes way better photos than my HTC.

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The only monkeys I like seeing at that place are the Manky ones!

I have a funny little story about the Lulworth tank gunnery ranges.   Thirty odd years ago we used to do a lot of wreck diving off the Lulworth banks, we had just recovered some goodies from one of the wrecks and had landed on the beach to inspect our find and have a bite to eat. We knew we were within the gunnery range but as there was no activity we didnt worry too much, shortly after we landed a motor launch appeared with several armed seamen and a very important looking peaked cap type bloke.
Mr Peaked cap started to tell us that we were trespassing and would get in trouble if we didn't move on. Well being young bucks who thought they knew everything, one of our group started to spout off about being able to land anywhere on the Queens foreshore below the high tide mark. Mr Peaked cap listened very patiently to him until he finished and then said in a very plumb in mouth voice ......
' Well you clearly havn't seen the red flags, and I suggest you move forthwith, as when I get back to my ship I will be shelling the F*ck out of those tanks up there'

We packed up in double quick time and were escorted out of the area, they wouldn't even let us watch from a safe distance off shore, could hear it though.  :D

 :D

There's some info on my Gran in the museum part. She was IN the Tank Regiment which came as big news to the curator as they knew woman worked with them but were unaware they were actually signed up. They have a picture of my Gran in her uniform and her linen pass that she saved all those years.  Miss Ellen Tutton should anyone stumble upon it one day whilst visiting.

Well Kev..Full RESPECT to your old man from me mate

Please tell me your Nan drove a tank Kev! 

Unfortunately not Andy , she was a cook . She'd have been around 26 or so when she signed up having started 'in service' when only about 12 .She was quite a girl. She married my Grandad when she was 40 and he would have been only about 20 , talk about scandalous, not least the fact that there were big churchgoers with my Grandad being a verger at various churches until they ended up with him as verger at Chichester cathedral  . Likewise he wasn't your normal verger , sat out the back with a fag on and studying the racing pages !! LOL

Steven Sea Gull was only a cook too & I wouldn't mess with him either.