United Kingdom Special Forces.
 

Who or what were the United Kingdom Special Forces?

In February 1945 quite a number of Australian delivered White Scout Cars were allocated to the United Kingdom Special Forces. The Australian ARN's list many vehicles as being allocated to this Special Force. I have 84 listed on the pages I am fortunate to have available. (There are a few pages which I hope to copy/photo soon at the AWM. to fill the gaps.) So how many were supplied to the UK Special Forces and where did they end up.

Each number is crossed out and the following written in the info space.

UNITED KINGDOM B19/2/45 (SPECIAL FORCE) Assignment UK B/12/12/44 W3 OSI/AE/5003.

I was investigating the records for Australian ARN. 122926 and on this one ARN page there are 10 White Scout Cars listed for UK Special Forces.



Attachment 72823

I keep a record of known Australian delivered White Scout cars and I have never come across any vehicles which were allocated to this body.


Attachment 72824

This is the Australian Registered WSC 122926, an Armoured Observation Post version, which I guess was used in a movie or something. It depicts a Russian vehicle with the red star and uniformed troops. What was this movie if it was one or was someone having a bit of fun. This photo was found on Flickr so I do not know any other details.

Over to you lot.

Regards Rick.

Hello Rick.
 

Hi Rick,

Hope your well. :)

I'm just moving house, the house i'm buying is owned by a 95 year old gentleman called frank. I took some pictures of my vehicles round for him, and he told me, towards the end of the war, he and a friend applied for the SAS. They were trained up to go to Japan, but the americans dropped the bomb, and they didn't go.
So special forces, SAS? and i wonder if these vehicles were allocated for this operation?

Best wishes

John

Hi Rick,

As I think I've mentioned previously, my understanding was the the UK Special Force (singular) was the build up UK Forces for the invasion of Japan in Nov 45. The operation was 'Downfall', with sub operations: Olympic and Coronet. British ground forces were part of Coronet (as well as Cdn and Aust).

There are several files held in the UK archives concerning the build-up and assessment of requirements for the UK contribution. Judging from the titles, one of these may well provide you with an insight into the 'UK Special Force' and its requirements. I have not looked at any of them, but ya gotta start somewhere! :bang:

We'll all be interested (I will!) in what you turn up, and to see if the theory is somewhere close to the actuality.

Good luck, Mr Phelps! :salute:

Mike