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?
large_NA_010165_1.jpg


Look at the LH front mudguard: is it angular? Could it then be a Morris-Commercial PU 8/4?
135369173_1326483931022145_566767184683097648_n.jpg

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

[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...

[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?

[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