A 96-year-old veteran who learned to drive a Buffalo armoured vehicle of the kind pulled from out the Crowland earth recently was lifted on to the vehicle by current serving personnel while watched on by comedian and historian Al Murray today (Friday, June 4).
The Crowland Bufallo LVT Association, who recovered the vehicle from the mud, held a special media event at Crowland Cranes as they to look to raise money to create a museum to house it.
The vehicles that were used as part of the flood defences in 1947 had previously been used as part of the Normandy landings.
As a lorry driver conscripted into the army, Ernie Covill of Wyberton actually learned to drive the Buffalos.
He was lifted on to the vehicle for the first time since World War Two by members of the 32 Engineers Regiment who have taken on the legacy of the 79th armoured division who operated the vehicles at the time.
Ernie said: “I think its marvellous. To see one of them today has made my day.
“It was lovely to see. It’s triggered a lot of memories.”
Ernie said that he felt he could still drive the vehicle if it had a working engine, something the association are looking at giving it.
“It was easy to drive,” he said. “It was like a toy.
The 32 Engineers also presented Daniel Abbott, who has led the efforts to recover the vehicle, with a special pennant of the regiment to say thank you for uncovering a part of their past as well as ties for the members of the association and for Al Murray and historian James Holland who attended to record an episode of their podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk about the Buffalo.
The episode is due to be broadcast in a couple of weeks.
Murray, who is known for portraying The Pub Landlord comedy character, said: “The way the community has come together to bring this piece of history up out of the mud so that we can all learn about it and remember it is exciting.”
North Level Internal Drainage Board (NLIDB), Crowland Cranes and Tear’s Recovery worked with
Daniel’s committee on the 50-man project.
Daniel said: “It was a complete surprise to be given the honour from the regiment.
“The day was all about raising awareness and funds for the museum.”
You can donate to the Crowland Buffalo Restoration & Museum via a Go Fund Me page and also a Facebook Fundraiser.
Caphi Elphee, Sapper Rodney Ragoonanan, Christine Chapman, Corporal Jimmy Back, Jessica Day, Sapper Tom Palmer, Nicholas Day and Colin Baker 
Daniel Abbott is interviewed for TV 
Harold Payne brought his DUKW. 
Members of the Crowland 
Comedian Al Murray meets Ernie Covill. 
Ernie speaks to Buffalo Association members about his memories of the vehicle.
