As we all think of members of the armed forces who lost their lives this Remembrance day, we also decided to take a look at the contribution of tractors during this time.
Today marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War, wearing our poppies with pride we will be remembering those on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Tractors were working hard during wartime, many were keeping busy in the fields to help to maintain crops. However many were also used within the armed forces, with tractors used as tugs for a number of aircraft.
Yorkshire Aviation Museum, 7th November 2015
This is a late example of the David Brown’s VIG 1/462 tractor which was designed during wartime and introduced in the late 1940s. Many were used until the early 1970s around RAF bases within the UK.
These compact tractors were used as tugs for the aircraft and they also transported other items such as bomb loads. Equipment was towed around on trollies and often formed a train behind the tractors up to 2.5 tons.
The model shown is the later diesel version I spotted in the Yorkshire Aviation Museum hiding underneath a Halifax bomber.
Laurence Binyon, For The Fallen
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.
Photos shown taken at Yorkshire Aviation Museum, Elvington 7th November 2015
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