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UNIQUE ID 2024: FV3903 CHURCHILL MARK VII AVRE TANK

The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection, Bovington, Britain

(Location: Status Unknown)

With Photographs From Contributor: Trevor Larkum - Armour Archive


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Sample Photo from Tank with UniqueID 2024


Unique ID: 2024
Added to Database: 3 January 2012
Last Edited: 18 April 2014
Type (ID): A22 Churchill AVRE (3905)
Model (ID): FV3903 Churchill Mark VII AVRE (3907)
Location Category (ID): The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection (3016)
Location (ID): Status Unknown (3018)
Serial Number:
Registration: 39 ZR 17, converted from T252356K (source: Museum Vehicle Record).
Name: “Buster” painted on left side air intake.
Other Identification:
Collection Reference: E1989.7. (Accession 789, Entry 1989.1076).
Links: Churchill Register
Museum Vehicle Record
References:
Associated Tanks: A22 Churchill Crocodile Flame-Throwing Tank - Defence College of Management and Technology, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, South East England, Britain (Transferred to Shrivenham in exchange for this tank)

Location History:
(see map)

1: Vauxhall Motors Limited, Luton, Bedfordshire, East England, Britain (Primary manufacturer of base vehicle)
2: Defence College of Management and Technology, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, South East England, Britain (1960-88)
3: ATDU and Solitary Vehicles, Bovington, Dorset, South West England, Britain (ATDU gate guardian – dates unknown)
4: The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection, Bovington, Dorset, South West England, Britain (Current location)


Text in original Preserved British Tanks publication:

[No entry]

Text in Preserved British Tanks Update:

[No entry]

Text in original Preserved Tanks In Britain publication:

Exchanged for a Churchill Crocodile, less trailer, sent to RMCS Shrivenham for instructional purposes. Registration records note that this tank was at Shrivenham in August 1960, recording earlier engine numbers (18659R6 and 12360) and original serial. Marked ‘LOAN OUT’ in museum record on 8 October 2007. (Source: Museum Vehicle Record).
Gate guardian for the newly built Royal Wessex Yeomanry RHQ at Allenby Barracks, Bovington. Previously ATDU gate guardian and before that from Shrivenham R.C.M.S. where it was used as a nuclear physics test vehicle. Cosmetic restoration by B. Grundy. (Source: Churchill Register).
While at Shrivenham in the 1980s this tank could be seen on display beside the service entrance of the Rutherford Laboratory lecture theatre on Beckett Drive. It appeared to be in a rather poor condition.
This vehicle does not appear to currently be visible near Allenby Barracks.


Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

November 1984

Front right view
1: Front right view

Taken: 9 November 1984
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 6770
Added: 19 February 2012
Filename: ScanFR_C...
Views: 183
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    

 

Front left view
2: Front left view

Taken: 9 November 1984
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 6771
Added: 19 February 2012
Filename: ScanFL_C...
Views: 1106
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    

 

Front right view
3: Front right view

Taken: 9 November 1984
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 6772
Added: 19 February 2012
Filename: ScanFR2_...
Views: 228
Select/Has Priority: 21/0