John Collier

[Doc Vernon]

Wonder if this would perhaps be the Canon! 40mm Bofor Anti Aircraft Gun!? In Cairns
Cheers

[judith george]

Hia Doc will have to get the photo off my Mother and put it up for you to see

judith

[John F Collier]

That is Townsville Doc, just like Judith said I can remember there was three of us and because there was nothing to do
we started climbing the big hill until we saw snakes, we came down a lot faster than we went up , thats a great photo
the gun is a Bofor anti aircraft gun as you say, I have been in their factory at Ramsden Heath near Wickford Essex when
I worked for BT. The one thing that stuck in my mind was two boys aged about 12 both had a rifle and a box of shells, they
were walking out into the bush to go hunting, I had a airgun at that age they had the real thing.

[Doc Vernon]

Well John
Just goes to show that Pics do bring back memories!
Funny I too had an Airgun when I was about 13 it was a really nice one though!
Later I got a .22 Rifle and that was my dream at that stage I had turned 14 and my late Dad bought it for me!
Did a lot of Shooting in them days!
Cheers

PS By the way John,so sorry I never said Welcome to the site!
So belated but most honest! Welcome here with us old band of Geezers! LOL

[John F Collier]

I've seen Doc's photo and I just can't remember seeing the Bofor, but I recognise the big hill I think those houses were
on stilts as there was so many snakes there, I was there early 1957 maybe the gun wasn't there until later. cheers John.

[Doc Vernon]

Those Bofor Guns were there a long time before that John!
I think that Pc was from about the 1940 Era! So possibly by the time you talk of they were long gone!
Cheers



Any memories here at all?

[John F Collier]

You must have had a great childhood Doc, my air rifle was called a Milbro Scout and it was worn out when I swapped it
for something or another, the funniest thing was when my Dad got so peed off with a cat that kept doing it's business in
our front garden that he took the gun opened the window and loaded a slug, the cat just sat there looking up at him he
took aim pop, nothing happened he couldn't understand how he had missed at that distance he tried two more times and
then he realised the slug was dropping out of the gun because it was so worn and pointing downwards .
Thanks for the welcome it's much appreciated, all the best , John.

[John F Collier]

I was thinking maybe they were there as a show piece,if they were wartime would that be in case of a Japanese invasion?
the last picture looks like a little bit of paradise. but I've no idea where it is, they are lovely photo's, thank you.

[Doc Vernon]

Indeed John
A really good Childhood with many good and some bad memories,but it was all taken as part of ones life I suppose!
Another time I was really chaffed was when I got my brand new Drop Handlebar Bicycle,it was a lovely Blue and looked so spanky! Gee was I proud! Thise days of course there were only three speed gears ,but that was the top of the line then!
Had many a good day out with my bestest mate Richard in Cape Town,we used to leave on a Sunday Morning really early,my Mum used to pack us a Lunchbox,then it was off starting in the Gardens and making our way up towards the Cable Station of Table Mountain,then over the Glen towards Hout Bay,the futher along towards Paarl and the coming back the other side through the Suburbs,took us all of the day and boy we were really bushed! But loved it and did that many a time!
Took our Air Rifles with of course as then one could shoot almost anywhere ,lots of Bush and trees all over!

Yes the past Years have been good and Bad but the good really outweigh the bad!
Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Have gander at this thread John
A lot of us here did many other jobs along the way,so possibly you too can join the list!?
Would be interesting!
And for any others that are new here too!
Cheers

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/g...aving-sea.html