The Tank Museum chose to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in a special way – by taking a Churchill Mark III back to its birthplace. The 38-ton tank, owned by the Churchill Trust, was built at the Vauxhall factory in Luton, in Bedfordshire.
The tank was transported from the Tank Museum to Luton over the weekend of May 10-11, 2025, as part of VE Day celebrations. It was put on display in St. George’s Square, the town center, with experts from the museum on hand to talk to visitors about the iconic World War II-era tank and its production history.
Similar to other car companies during the conflict, Vauxhall Motors stopped producing cars and dedicated its manufacturing line to the war effort. From May 1940-onward, it built the Churchill tank, with over 5,500 being produced in total.
“It was a wonderful event to be part of, and felt so special to bring the Churchill home again after all this time,” Aaron Cruse, a vehicle technician at the Tank Museum, said in a release. “Speaking to the locals it seems the whole town has a connection with the Vauxhall factory.
“We talked to people that remembered seeing the tanks drive out the factory when they were young, and many people we spoke to recalled Dads and Granddads that tested, built, and drove Churchill tanks during the war.
“The factory has sadly now closed, leaving a big hole in the community.
“Everyone who was involved with the event and visited over the weekend appreciated the vehicle being there,” Cruise went on to say. “An important reminder of the contribution to the war effort made by British factories, and a poignant way to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
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The Churchill Mark III has since returned to the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.