Morris PU: BEF Dunkirk? Unit, registration?

[Rich Payne]

De Lannoy's book can be found in the UK

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...tn%3Ddunkerque

Whether it's worth the £25 odd depends on how fanatical you are about the 1940 campaigns (I am !)

This sequence of pictures is all viewable on-line at the Bundesarchiv :-

http://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/cros...h/_1258156145/

I'm not sure what the procedure is for obtaining high res copies.

Rich

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Rich,

Many thanks. Had a quick attempt to get into the bundesarchiv photos without too much success. However of the 34 photos I did find for Calais 1940, one was of a WOC1. Unfortunately the angle and debris on the bonnet hide any serial number, but its definately a Ford this time.

Ian

[Rich Payne]

Glad to see that you're still finding pictures Ian.It probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the mods split off the WOC1 stuff to a thread of its own.

Do you know if those vehicles in Calais would have been with the Rifle Brigade or KRRCs ?

I have had another look through my bookcase and I think that I've found a Dunkirk picture as well. It's from Pallud's 'Blitzkrieg à l'Ouest' which is rather different from his English language equivalent.



I wonder if the the triangle on the N/S wing is an elongated version of 1st infantry Division ?

The photograph is credited to the French ECP archive. I'm determined to get there one day.

Rich

[Ian McCallum]

Rich,

Many thanks again, an excellent representation of the chaos on the beaches and with a WOC1 right in the foreground. Unfortunately I have no indication of what units the vehicles in the Calais photos would have belonged to. Clarity of photos seen so far makes it difficult to see any unit insignia. Of interest the first photo I published of the WOC1 in Calais you can see the serial number on the bonnet side which post dates the manufacture of mine. Reference your latest posting unfortunately again I cannot help. I can't even see the triangle you refer too, serial would be really nice to see also!

Ian

[Rich Payne]

I see that 'Pen & Sword' are using the first WOC1 picture as a book cover...

http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=1788

With a bit of luck it will give the photo credit as well.

[Rich Payne]

I had the pleasure of chatting with Ian in Dunkirk yesterday. There was a fascinating collection of 1940ish British vehicles.

His Ford really is superbly turned out and the V8 sounds most impressive amongst the straight engines.

[chalky]

Yes , the British vehicles in Dunkirk for the 70th looked fantastic , when all bunched up together in the side streets it could have been 1940. Such a pleasure to see ALL British vehicles and not a jeep or American paratrooper in sight.
Shame the real British Army didn't send a few representatives over though, I know they're busy but they could have spared a section.

[rewdco]

Originally Posted by Rich Payne

I had the pleasure of chatting with Ian in Dunkirk yesterday. There was a fascinating collection of 1940ish British vehicles.

His Ford really is superbly turned out and the V8 sounds most impressive amongst the straight engines.

Another Dunkirk picture. The census number is quite close!



Jan

[Rich Payne]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

Hi Rich,

Many thanks. Had a quick attempt to get into the bundesarchiv photos without too much success. However of the 34 photos I did find for Calais 1940, one was of a WOC1. Unfortunately the angle and debris on the bonnet hide any serial number, but its definately a Ford this time.

Ian

Back in November 2009, Ian mentioned that it wasn't possible to read the bonnet serial number. Four years later, a view of the other side of the poor old WOC1 that did its bit in the barricades of Calais has come to light. The table on the bonnet is still in the same place.



The serial looks to be Z4128426 ? No signs of any other markings. It has become clear that there were a fair number of these in Calais.

[Rich Payne]

Another snippet shedding some light on the BEF usage of these 8cwts, but still no trace of Ian's...

From 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division, R.E. Vehicle Returns.



This shows that 262, 263 and 264 Field Companies each had two WOC1s on their establishment. They should have had five 8cwts and eight 15cwts on their strength but 12th were an under-equipped newly formed Territorial division sent for Lines of Communication duties (in effect, labour and training).

When they left Gravesend prior to sailing on 14th April 1940, each field company had only twelve vehicles and six motorcycles.



These vehicles would have carried the 12th Div white diamond. Unfortunately, as they arrived in France after 11th April when the last available BEF lists were made, there is no confirmation of the Arm of Service markings which they carried although they would have followed standard practice on a cobalt blue background. '7' , '8' and '9' would have been the serials expected.

All six were from contract V3615

262 Field Company RE :-
Z4128481 & Z4128456

263 Field Company RE :-
Z4128405 & Z4128284

264 Field Company RE :-
Z4128469 & Z4128442

[Ian McCallum]

Great find Rich. Thanks for sharing the photos and info on BEF WOC1's. Slowly, slowly the past gives up some of its secrets. Take it the Calais barricade Pic is yours?

[Rich Payne]

I thought that I'd spotted this one some time ago and posted it here, but apparently not. From the Alamy Archive.