Duncan Glen investigates the history of the UK’s Stanford Training Area and, in particular, the rusting hulk of a Conqueror used for target practice for many years
We have all heard the stories from the old worthies about how, for the price of a decent bottle of single malt whisky, vital spare parts for a restoration could be obtained from a friendly range officer on one of the many defence training estates across the country.
On occasion, this largesse could even extend to allowing entire vehicles to be uplifted, many of which were of little interest to the military beyond the temporary satisfaction of a direct hit during training exercises. Even allowing for a degree of exaggeration and rose-tinted hindsight, it is certainly true that many collectors, restorers and museums have done extremely well out of range wrecks over the years.
