Historic vehicle unveiled as gate guardian for soldiers who support Army's global response force

A historic recovery vehicle will stand guard over the soldiers who repair and maintain the vehicles of the British Army's global response force.

A Bedford Light recovery vehicle has been refurbished to go on display outside 8 Field Company (Para) REME's workshop at Merville Barracks in Colchester.

The vehicle served in Macedonia, Iraq and Afghanistan with the unit and was used by the personnel for the recovery and repair of broken-down or damaged vehicles.

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It entered service from the 1970s before being replaced by the Support Vehicle (Recovery) in the early 2000s.

Lieutenant General David Eastman, Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Master General of the REME, unveiled the vehicle as it officially started its new duty.

Sergeant Paul Gutteridge, who leads 8 Fd Coy (Para) REME's recovery section, organised the vehicle's refurb for its new role.

He said it looks "great now" following a "deep clean and a respray".

"It had been parked in our vehicle park for a few years and needed a lot of TLC and elbow grease to get it ready to go on display!" he said.

"The Bedford Light was a very capable vehicle when it was in service – it could be moved by aircraft and was small and agile enough to get to where vehicles needed recovery, often a long way off-road.

"As a gate guardian, it's come back into service to remind us of our role, history, and ethos."