Brilliant photos as usual. That was the Welly Ward accident if I remember correctly? When I ran down to Baghdad with him one trip it was like having a 30metre trailer attached. I let him tip first and so he could go home on his own…
David Boulding MD
Southern IT Ltd
First 3 photos taken just after the accident happened. The last one has Astran’s Roger Haywood, on the left with John. It had taken me almost 7 hours to pull the lorries apart and clear the road. The army turned up 2 hours after the accident and the police 4 hours. The police thanked me for what I was doing then left as the army were there.
John and I were both arrested and told we were to be held in the army camp nearby. I wasn’t having that and told the young Turkish officer that we were British and that we would stay in a hotel 30km up the road which he agreed to. A few days later we were up before the magistrate’s in Mardin and were cleared as the state of the road was blamed. I then had to get Johns outfit to safety and the only place in southern Turkey on the TIR route was Adana customs. A Turkish lorry took the wrecked unit and later I took John’s loaded trailer. Once I had sorted out the customs I had to return to collect my own trailer.
John and I left Turkey 12 days after the accident. He wasn’t happy as I wouldn’t let him drive or smoke in my cab. Now John got his nickname ‘Wellie Ward’ because he was well known for ‘giving it some wellie’. It didnt surprise me when back into Germany he jumped ship. He had found another Brit who was going to be on that nights ferry. Next morning he was back in the office giving his version of events. I turned up a day and a half later where upon I was called into the office to see the boss to be greeted with “right, now lets hear what really happened”.
As I’m coming up to my 5 and out a reply would be appreciated.
There you go Sandway1 - fire away!
