Alan Barnwell

  General Notes:

My father

Whilst in the army from 1945 (Army No.14045354) was a tank driver (Cromwell, Comet, Churchill and Sherman Tanks also White Half Tracks) in the HQ Squadron of the 7th Armoured Brigade (drove Brigade Major's Churchill tank), the 4th Hussars and the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. While with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment he recovered wrecked tanks from the Egyptian desert, with the assistance of a German POW. Transferred to the army voluntary reserve 18th May 1948 for about 6 years (fortnight's camp each year), drove Scammell Recovery Truck (6 wheeler) collecting breakdowns from around the country.

In the early fifties he raced motorcycles, including the Junior Manx Grand Prix in 1954 where he finished 54th. Worked at the Old Dalby Army Depot from 1948 to about 1954, then BTH at Lutterworth, then Bentley Engineering (Parker Drive), then Powerjets, the Whittle jet engine manufacturer (generators), then Kings Motorcycles (Mike Hailwoods father owned the company), from here returned to Old Dalby, after 12 months went to Libya for a 3 year spell in Benghazi (BFPO 55) from 1962 to 1965. Returned to Old Dalby and then later worked for Pedigree Petfoods at Melton Mowbray. Took early retirement but after 3 or 4 months went to work for Carter Engineering Services and stayed for nearly 10 years.

Alan married Jean Sergent, daughter of Arthur William Sergent and Margaret Ann Thornton Rattray, on 29 Aug 1950 in St Peter's, Highfields, Leicester, Leicestershire. (Jean Sergent was born on 29 Aug 1931 in 18 Mount Road, Leicester, Leicestershire.)