DUKW Page 1
How it all began
In 1995 my friend Dave Macdonald who I met through our mutual interest in Vintage Tractors asked me if I would like to go as his co-driver on a WW2 amphibous DUKW to take part in the Victory in Europe celebrations in London's Hyde Park.
We travelled down to London via a place called Bicester, where the Royal Army Ordanance Corps were having a similar celebration (they also provided the fuel money!!). The drive down the M40 motorway and through London was a good run and into Hyde Park being let through the heavy traffic by Londons notorious Cabs and Buses was very odd !!
That weekend saw thousands of visitors to the anniversary and many questions being asked. Veterans would stop and tell us of their wartime experiences on DUKW's and youngsters were amazed at the array of levers and controls around the drivers position.
1996 saw Dave purchase his own DUKW and in April we went off to collect it. It is a very fine example of the DUKW with very good bodywork and all original fittings and accessories. The drive home was very chilly with the DUKW being left hand drive and me sitting out on the right hand side as lookout.
June saw Dave and I paying a visit to the Royal Engineers water training site where we road and water tested the new DUKW and found some large leaks !!!
June and early July saw a lot of work and preparation on the DUKW as Dave had been invited to participate in 'Amphib 96', a rally for amphibious vehicle from Europe, meeting in the Lake District of Northern England.
Dave and I together with a fellow enthusiast, Neil set off on the Friday with our wives, family and dogs following on the Saturday. A 9 hour drive in damp weather saw us arrive on a campsite in the Lake District.
There in the wooded campsite were gathered 7 more DUKW's, 8 GPW amphibious Jeeps, a Russian GAZ (a copy of the GPW), two 1960's Amphicars and an amphibious estate waggon similar to a Land Rover. The owners came from Italy, France, Holland , Belgium and Great Britain.
Saturday the rest of our gang arrived and after a briefing and social evening it was off to bed to lookforward to what Sunday was going to bring.
Sunday saw us collect together and set off in convoy through some very narrow roads flanked by some very solid dry-stone walls around Lake Windermere to a public slipway for us to go afloat. The looks on the peoples faces as they were launching their Yachts and Power boats as we drove up, in, and away !!!
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