Ah, the joys of winter motorcycling - A Double-adult outfit going sideways ! The bike is a 1946 Norton Model 18 with no military connection.
Civilian Nortons were reintroduced for 1946 with a range comprising the 16H SV and the OHV Model 18. The engine was the same as used in those models from 1938 (excluding the WD SV models which had kept the older 1937 pattern engine). 1946 was the only year that girder forks were fitted post-war.
The front brake drum had moved to the right for 1939 but the forks altered slightly for 1946 as the headlamp was mounted on two brackets rather than the "prongs" used previously. The toolbox is also more rounded than the earlier models.
The range was expanded for 1947 to include the ES2 with plunger rear suspension and the Big 4 634 sv but these all had telescopic forks.
The machine in the picture has been modified by the fitment of a 1953 style pear shaped silencer but I think still has the original 500cc engine as the 600 was physically taller and the valve gear was almost hidden under the fuel tank.
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