Bob Ferrari photos

4 Troop "B" Sqn 1969

Bob was an operator and also served as  Crew Commander in Vietnam

Bob serving as the operator on C/S 24 A    ARN 169007

Bob Ferrari with Java Jones

A young Chris Sweeney - finished as  Lt. Col.

ARN 169007 C/S 24 A   Buka Boom Boom 

169007 was retired back to Australia after achieving her maximum mileage.

169007 C/S 24A the only Centurion I have seen with a spare road wheel on the rear tank

A shower was no trouble as long as you had a mate to traverse the gun and another to refill the shower

L to R  Java Jones Gunner,  Moe Burgess Driver , Bob Ferrari -Operator,  

Jock Browning Troop Sgt. Crew commander

The crew of " Buka Boom Boom 11." 

This is the replacement tank for 169007 " Buka Boom Boom." 

Different rounds used in the 20 pounder. Note the stack of ammo containers at the center right

While moving up Route 2

The mine was noticed by the mini team (a couple of engineers attached to the troop)

The engineer noticed a wire that had become exposed after the rain, and Mo Burgess on his instructions, brought the tank to a very fast stop

Mini Team checking for mines

 Digging out the mine

The Engineer was Sapper Tony Lilse. Tony was killed not  long after in a mine incident in an APC

Tony had a daughter and his wife was expecting with their second daughter.

He is well remembered by the troop

 There it is in all its glory-----one big mine

The bamboo switch, homemade, cheap and effective

This was a very close call

The crew at this time was Bob Ferrari Crew Commander, "Winga" Williams Operator,

 "Java" Jones Gunner and Mo Burgess Driver

The mine removed and safe

Bob Ferrari with all the bits and pieces and a big smile

The Centurion had been moved back from the mine area

C/S 24 A Commanded by Bob Ferrari, hit a large mine. This is the blast area

I feel this was the replacement tank for 169007 

C/S 24 bogged ---and they can laugh?

C/S 24 today  Being unloaded at the home of the new Civilian owner

C/S 24 --- ARV 169067

C/S 24 with the IR light mounted and the two roadwheels on the Glacis Plate

Bob Hamilton (left) and Bob Ferrari (right) at the Horseshoe

Mud at the Horseshoe

C/S 24 on guard

Getting things ready to clean the gun barrel

And that is how you do it

A good shot showing the storage on the left of the .30 and .50 cal ammo liners and the 20 pounders in the sliding bins. -- Note the view out the operators scope

Sign work on original 169007

The sign work on  replacement for ARN 169007

Fast return to Nui Dat

Chris Sweeney, Troop Leader, with "Been Seen and Done" well bogged

At times when the troop leader was away on other duties this tank was Commanded by  either Bob Ferrari or Jock Browning

 The rest of the crew were the regular crew, either Alan Scott or Alan Murphy as Driver, Mick Hunter as Gunner, and Rick Smith as the Operator

ATTACK ON A BUNKER SYSTEM

ARVN infantry found a bunker system up near the Courtenay Rubber

After some softening up by a Huey Cobra, 4 troop who were on another mission diverted to assist the Infantry.  Two VC bodies were recovered

The barrel art of 4 Troop

The names of the Centurions of 4 Troop now proudly displayed on the wheel cover of Barry Hodges 4WD

Barry was the driver of 24C

Royal Australian Engineers

Tony Lilse

As mentioned above 4 troop thought very highly of Tony and in 2005  Chris Sweeney brought both daughters and grandson to Melbourne for the Anzac Day March and the Armoured Corps Reunion

Chris Sweeney - Julie - Anthony - Kathy

The March honoured all the fallen from the Armoured Corps by carrying an Australian Flag for each member that died---

There were 24 Flags

Nobby Clark center carrying the flag of Jim Kerr one of two Centurion Drivers killed in Vietnam

To his right is Anthony (Grandson ) of Tony Lilse and his daughter Julie behind him

Anthony is carrying his Grandfathers flag.

L-R      Julie, Eldest daughter and mother of  Anthony, Grandson.    Kathy Youngest daughter

Bob Ferrari - Chris Sweeney - Anthony - Kathy

Chris and Julie

Laurie Sullivan and Kathy

Bob - Peter Serle - Chris - Kathy

Anzac Day is always a very emotional day - I cannot begin to imagine how it was for these people.