Commer Q2: Truck, 15-cwt, 4x2, Van

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Speaking of RAF markings:

Ted Angus remarked that early vehicles had aluminum RAF letters screwed on the door. Once camouflage came in the RAF they were painted over, as seen on this Commer Q2 Tractor. These letters were done away with when the roundel was introduced.

75F18F93-DB28-45B7-AFCE-F5FEB8135B76.jpeg

[Keith Brooker]

Two photos from my collection.
Keith

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Brooker

Two photos from my collection.

Thanks Keith!

[Radek]

another picture of Commer Q4

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Radek, also for sending me this picture. Had seen it before but somehow not posted it here. This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off? The Bedford-based one is better known.

56F9A40C-79B8-4267-B61D-3CB0469776C8.jpeg

Source: https://flic.kr/p/fgLYic

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off?

Richard Allebone sent me a screenshot, a quick search yielded the original of another Commer Q2 flying food truck. This is another vehicle, note “Jamaica’s Women War Material and Comforts Committee” on the side. It was supplied to UNNRA so this is a postwar picture.

Read more about how Caribbean women supported Britain’s war effort in a variety of ways at http://westindiacommittee.org/caribb.../women-in-war/

S-1167-0009-00001.jpg
Source: https://search.archives.un.org/unrra...-flying-squads

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Over on HMVF in the excellent thread Guy vix-ants - queens messengers "Runflat" posted two files identifying all the Commer chassis supplied as "Welfare Vans". A total of fifteen Commers were supplied as Welfare Van (pictured here) and Canteen.

I have attached the details of the particular example posted above, as well as the files by "Runflat". Commer Q2 "CUN 351" was transferred to UNRRA where it was registred as "UNRRA-Y9".

Welfare Van_Jamaica Womens Committee.png

Welfare Van_Jamaica Womens Committee_2.png

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Richard Allebone sent me a screenshot, a quick search yielded the original of another Commer Q2 flying food truck. This is another vehicle, note “Jamaica’s Women War Material and Comforts Committee” on the side. It was supplied to UNNRA so this is a postwar picture.
S-1167-0009-00001.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The file with the listing of Ministry of Food & Queen's Messengers vehicles lists the Commer Welfare Van donated by Jamaica Mutual Life Association Society as CUN 353:

Commer Welfare Van CUN 353.png

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Thanks Radek, also for sending me this picture. Had seen it before but somehow not posted it here. This Ministry of Food variant is a rare one, it may even be a one off? The Bedford based is better known.
56F9A40C-79B8-4267-B61D-3CB0469776C8.jpeg

[Alan McGuinness]

Glad you appreciate the lists.

Here are some more Commer photos from the IWM archive, though you may need to squint a bit.

A1863
A1863.jpg

CH12890
CH12890.jpg

CH14815
CH14815.jpg