Morris-Commercial PU8/4 in Italy?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See this picture captioned "EIGHTH ARMY: CANADIANS CLOSE IN ON ORTONA / Observing 25-pounder fire from a belfry at San Leonardo"

What’s that 8-cwt to the left?



Look at the LH front mudguard: is it angular? Could it then be a Morris-Commercial PU 8/4?


Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205524770

[Ron Pier]

It is indeed Hanno. The flat rear mudguards and Z45???? census number are also proof.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for the confirmation, Ron.

Do you know of any other wartime pictures of the PU8/4 in action?

[Alex van de Wetering]

I think I have posted this one on the forum before, but can't find it, so here goes.....One in Holland 1945!

Source: http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/collectie...134/false/true

[Ron Pier]

Yes I've got that one. Someone sent me the video of the parade. Oops! the bloke driving the carrier who nearly ran over revelers as he obviously couldn't see past his passengers. Ron

[Alex van de Wetering]

Yes I've got that one. Someone sent me the video of the parade.

Yes Ron, that was me a couple of years ago.

that was a near hit indeed......but if you look at footage of the liberation, near accidents are all over the place......people hanging from vehicles moving at speed. It makes the Bayeux parade of a few years ago seem like a walk in the park

[Ron Pier]

That's right Alex. Thanks again.
Pictures of these are few and far between, there are the factory pictures that I guess we've all seen. Here are the ones that I've collected so far.
The first one is captioned South African troops in North Africa and one PU8/4 in the line up. Ron

[Ron Pier]

And this picture came as a surprise when I was on one of my regular visits to well known UK MV enthusiast Pip Biddlecombe (Ower in Hants). His old dad was there in his yard that day, and when I mentioned my PU8/4 he said "We used to drive those bloody things in Egypt" I thought, usual thing! It was probably some other make/model. But the next time I called in, true to his word, he had left a photo with Pip for me. Pip's dad is the smaller guy on the right. Ron

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Pip's dad is the smaller guy on the right. Ron

Hi Ron,
I know Pip well, and can see the resemblance!

[Ron Pier]

Absolutely Richard. More so when you see him in his younger days. Ron

[Alan McGuinness]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

The flat rear mudguards and Z45???? census number are also proof.

When I looked at this image a few years ago I noted the serial number as Z4568690, which I assumed was a 4x2 PU based on the Chilwell listings. I assume that has an error?

[Alan McGuinness]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Do you know of any other wartime pictures of the PU8/4 in action?

Other IWM pictures in the NA series include, if my eyes don't deceive me (you have to squint at times): 617, 837, 1949, 2617, 8774, 18856 and 18857

Ron has posted a couple of them already, apologies for the duplication.

[Alan McGuinness]

and these as well...

[Ron Pier]

Alan thanks for deciphering the number on that PU.

I have a copy of the order card for the PU8/4 Contract number V3991 dated 13 June 1940, Chassis numbers 002-1193, census numbers Z4568069 - Z4569260.
I have record of Chassis 001 going to MME for evaluation.

As far as I can make out Z4568518 - Z4569260 where Wireless Trucks.

Mine is chassis number 1189, so right near the end of production.

Ron

PS a couple of pix there I haven't got. The one in the water and the one with the bike.

[Mike K]

The radios in the pics appear to be WS22 ( in Z4568532) ? Not the usual WS11 which was maybe seen as obsolete by this time .

[Ron Pier]

Does that mean you shipped me the wrong wireless and ancillaries Mike? What is your returns and exchange policy?

Ron

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Does that mean you shipped me the wrong wireless and ancillaries Mike? What is your returns and exchange policy?

Sorry no returns on used goods Ron. A company policy

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This photo was taken in North Africa I believe.

Note: picture contains graphic content

[Ron Pier]

Thanks Hanno. Another one for the archive. Sad about the content though.

Ron