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Local military enthusiasts have been putting the finishing touches to some of their prized possessions ahead of a special display, which will be staged to mark’s Warkworth 170th anniversary this month.
Their vehicles and equipment will form part of the US Commemorative Street March through the town on Saturday November 11 and then, after the parade, will be on display outside The Oaks Retirement Village.
One of the collectors, Steve Murphy, says the plan is to have at least nine World War II vehicles in the parade, as well as an anti-aircraft gun.
His first military vehicle was a WWII L134 Willys jeep, nicknamed Go Devil, that he bought from a collector in Bulls. He now has eight jeeps in various stages of repair and restoration, plus a 40mm semi-automatic Bofor anti-aircraft gun that was still in service in the 1990s, a couple of anti-tank guns and a Bren gun carrier, which was used mainly to transport personnel and equipment, or as a machine gun platform.
Steve says he has had a lifelong interest in military weaponry and vehicles.
“NZ’s armed forces have always punched above their weight,” he says. “It’s great to bring things that are part of our history back to life and it’s interesting to learn about the different types of technology that went into manufacturing these machines.”
His interest is shared by many collectors around the area who regularly get together at his workshop in Kaipara Flats to work on various projects.
Regulars at the working bees are Matt White, Grahame McKenzie, Kim Subritzky and Allan Ford.
Matt, a long-time volunteer at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland before moving north, says military equipment that was quite common a few decades ago is now becoming increasingly rare. Restoration requires a certain amount of detective work, as well as engineering skill to sometimes re-manufacture missing or damaged parts.
Steve says anyone with an interest in military equipment is welcome to join the Wednesday workshops. He can be contacted on 021 237 0480.
