Norfolk Tank Museum

On Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2018, the United Kingdom and its friends overseas will mark the day, 100 years ago, when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War.
The Norfolk Tank Museum, together with Forncett History Group and St Peter’s Church, will play our part in remembering the sacrifice of millions of men and women by joining in Battle’s Over.
The Museum will be open from 2pm when visitors will be able to view static displays, including WW1 artefa...cts and the timeline, ‘Forncett’s Great War Project’, a tribute to the men of Forncett who fought in WW1. Deborah ll, the replica WW 1 tank featured in a recent Channel 4 TV documentary as well as the Museum’s Collection will be on display. The tea room will be open for tea and cake.
Events are as follows: 2pm - Museum volunteer staff and Forncett History Group members will be at the museum to chat with the public about their own personal family stories. The public are welcome to bring any wartime memorabilia they have that they would like to know more about or would just like to share. 5.30pm - Battle’s Over: Armistice Commemoration Service. This will take place in the Museum Hanger and will include poems, readings, music with Philip Aldred and the Dolce Choir and remembrance of Forncett soldiers who fought and those who died in the Great War. 6.45pm - Battle’s Over: A piper will play ‘Battle’s Over’. 6.55pm - Battle’s Over: The Last Post. The Norfolk Tank Museum’s own bugler will play ‘The Last Post’. 7.00pm - Battle’s Over: WWI Beacon of Light will be lit by a flaming arrow.
The Norfolk Tank Museum will join with others around the country in this important national commemoration in remembrance of the end of the Great War and the many millions who were killed or came home dreadfully wounded. A chain of 1,000 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories at 7pm on the 11 November 2018 – a century after the guns fell silent. The beacons will symbolise the light of hope that emerged from the darkness of war.
Following the formality of the day there will be a BBQ, £3, and Refreshments. Admission to the Museum and exhibits will be free. NB Please come dressed in warm clothing. It will be cold! This event will take place at the Norfolk Tank Museum, Station Road, Forncett St Peter Norfolk NR16 1HZ.
See More

Halloween Special - Sunday 28th October! Spooky BV ride, prize for best costume, Halloween trail, plus all the usual tanky stuff!

Halloween Special - Sunday 28th October! Spooky BV ride, prize for best costume, Halloween trail plus all the usual tanky stuff!

Some more pictures from Southwell Ploughing Match & Show on Saturday 29th September

FV434 Power Pack is now back in and fitted, with all 5 pack bolts......

FV434 Update.
22 Gallons of oil, 10 gallons of Antifreeze and 6 filters later our k60 power-pack and FV434 drivetrain is serviced! A few issues were noticed during the service, number two injection pipe had broken free from the union on the injector and the engine oil dipstick was snapped both have now been repaired. After having issues with the starter motor we decided to buy and fit a new/reconditioned starter motor. Next job is repairing the fuel injection pump Solenoid which isn't functioning correctly.

Deborah 2 on display at the Southwell Ploughing Match and show for the day.
Museum is open tomorrow as normal.

FV434 Update.
A nice shiney new part!

WW1 killed over 9 million soldiers and up to 7 million civilians, but the biggest killer of 1918 was ‘Spanish Flu’. The flu alone killed 30,000 British soldiers, spreading through the trenches, camps and transports, and 50 million people worldwide. This documentary has some amazing WW1 and Homefront footage from the time - a must watch for anyone who is interested in our history from this period.

FV434 Update. We have rebuilt the engine junction box, which was unfortunately heavily corroded due to one of the 3 mounting bolts missing and snapped screws on the waterproof wiring inputs which no longer prevented the ingress of moisture into the junction box. After drilling out snapped machine screws, wire brushing and painting the aluminium housing. We set about repairing the wire harness complete new wiring to the starter motor solenoid. The original Bakelite connection block is now obsolete so we opted for a modern “choc block” All waterproofed and sealed up and fitted back to the power-pack.

The Norfolk Tank Museum and Forncett History Group are pleased to be a part of the National Tribute, Battle's Over, 11th November 2018. Please come and join us at the museum to watch the beacon being lit. Service of Remembrance, from 5.30pm. Free entry to the Museum from 2pm.

Last Sunday we lifted the power-pack from our FV434 to enable us to troubleshoot why the starter motor wouldn't engage. Using the EX REME Foden 6x6 recovery wrecker lifting it out was no trouble at all! Once out the issue was soon traced to corroded wiring in the engine junction box.

Pictures taken from last weekend event at the The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley Stoke-on-Trent

It's a real pleasure when you get to meet the people that actually used to serve on our vehicles when they were in service, it puts it all in perspective. Meet Stuart Frost (Jack Frost) WO1 1973 -1994 Royal Engineers, served on the Centurion AVRE 02 BA 58, who visited the Museum last week. Also, Graham Collins, who served on our Saladin 01 CC 69 with the Royal Tank Regiment in Cyprus, 1974/75.

This is the first chance we’ve had to get a picture of Deborah II with our tank crew coveralls in front of our newly erected beacon basket. Thanks to Stephen Madden for the coveralls, and Kingdom Forge for the fire Basket.

Pictures from the Royal Norfolk Show