Paras Having A Brew.... Location ??

[SHEARING-CROSS]

Hiya, below is a very tatty snap shot of a group of para `s having a brew , with a tea truck `church army ` behind them , very long shot chance but would any one recognize the truck from certain location ? i know its war time and i think its an airfield ?
i presume many camps , airfields had these trucks but may be you guys might know some thing ? thanks ,Michael.

[Gary Jucha]

Famous tea wagon ?

It might ??? be the famous tea wagon at Ringway ?

Gary J.

(Although the troops look to be in a more tropical climate that Manchester ?)

[SHEARING-CROSS]

MANY THANKS GARY , if you know of a book that shows details of ringway please let me know ,best regards ,Michael

[DJT]

Hi Gary,

Can you elaborate on the famous Ringway tea wagon?


[QUOTE=Gary Jucha]It might ??? be the famous tea wagon at Ringway ?

[SHEARING-CROSS]

me too please ?? i did not know either !!

[Gary Jucha]

Tea wagon

Des,
There was a tea wagon that used to be sited at the DZ at Tatton Park, where the trainees used to jump from the aircraft.

There is mention of the tea wagon in the "Commando" series of documentries, as the para's after a drop would gather to "grab a cuppa" !

Gary J.

..We'll have to wait for "Encylopiedia Ade" to get home for further details !!

[Adrian Stevenson]

Nice photo

"Encylopiedia Ade" here

The tea wagon was a very well know feature about jump training. All the Vets I have spoken to all remember it well

Here is a nice extract from the book "Parachutist" (grab a copy of this if you ever see it for sale. Published 1943. Ilustrated too )

" I was drifting towards the YMCA tea van on a light breeze that must have sprung up since we left the airfield. At the sight of the van and a lady already issuing from it with a cup of tea in her hand, I gave the Army full marks for organization! I landed only 20 yards from the van and had already drunk my tea when my Number 2 came limping up with his 'chute bundled underneath one arm. The tea van was always there and it was to become an unwritten rule for the first man down to order tea for ten. It helped make those winter days very pleasant and put parachuting in the category of afternoon sports with tea, cake and feminine society provided"

Cheers, Ade.

[Ciaran Byrne]

" I was drifting towards the YMCA tea van on a light breeze that must have sprung up since we left the airfield. At the sight of the van and a lady already issuing from it with a cup of tea in her hand, I gave the Army full marks for organization! I landed only 20 yards from the van and had already drunk my tea when my Number 2 came limping up with his 'chute bundled underneath one arm. The tea van was always there and it was to become an unwritten rule for the first man down to order tea for ten. It helped make those winter days very pleasant and put parachuting in the category of afternoon sports with tea, cake and feminine society provided"

Don't you think a cup of tea makes everything so much more civillised doesn't it ?
Thats why I love cricket. Any sport that stops for a cup of tea is alright by me