We’re delighted to share a joint statement from the Sandstone Heritage Trust and the Bannister Historic Armour Collection regarding the return of two Crusader II tanks to the UK.
The Bannister Historic Armour Collection is housed at The Tank Museum, so once fully restored these vehicles will make an important addition to the Museum’s running collection.
“The Sandstone Heritage Trust in South Africa in collaboration with the Bannister Historic Armour Collection has coordinated the return to of two iconic Crusader tanks to the UK where they were built in 1941.
“It is believed that there are only 24 Crusaders still in existence. The vehicles will now be fully restored, with the ultimate aim of being displayed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, home to the UK’s national collection of fighting vehicles and the museum of both the Royal Tank Regiment and Royal Armoured Corps.
“This exciting collaboration between two privately owned and funded ‘Heritage organisations’ has achieved a milestone in enabling the public to have access to these rare WWII tanks in the country where they were first developed.
“The shipment of the two Crusader tanks from the substantial Sandstone military vehicle collection came about as a result of extensive negotiations with the South Africa authorities who supported their relocation to their country of origin.
“The vehicles are now in the UK where restoration will begin to bring the vehicles back to display condition.”
The Sandstone Heritage Trust
The Sandstone Heritage Trust has a significant and very diversified collection of Heritage items in the Eastern Free State of South Africa. The objective is to preserve important parts of South African heritage, including an extensive collection of operating 2ft Narrow Gauge steam locomotives and rolling stock, Military vehicles, tractors and other agricultural machinery, heavy earth moving plant, stationary engines, and South Africa’s largest only breeding herd of traditional rare breed Bont Afrikaner draft animals.
The Trust’s specialised Military Heritage collection was formed as a result of the creation of a joint venture with the South African Armour Museum in Bloemfontein. Vehicles in this collection encompass examples used by the South African armed forces over many decades including WWII veterans such as a Sherman, Comet and M3 Stuart.
The collection places particular emphasis on South African designed and built Military vehicles such as the ‘South African Reconnaissance Car’ of which over 5000 were built in WW2. Others include the Casspir, Ratel and the Samil Range of utility vehicles.
