Vehicles used by Dutch Prinses Irene Brigade

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

If it does show the Prinses Irene Brigade coming ashore, it would mean they had Bedford MW's on strength. As far as I know the Brigade was equipped with Fordson 15-cwt trucks. Do you know if they had Bedford 15-cwt trucks also?

Hanno, I don't know for sure if they had Bedford MW's in service. Some pictures show 15cwt GS trucks from the rear and make if hard to determine if they are Fordsons, Bedfords or even Morris Commercial. Just like you I thought they had Fordson WOT2's (and a WOT3 which is shown on one of the pictures in the national archive). But, they did have Beford QL's as well, so logistically wise, it wouldn't be too strange to have some Bedford MW's on strength. Below is picture from the National Archives, which shows a 15cwt, supposedly from the Irene Brigade......Can anyone ID the truck....maybe the rear axle?

source: http://beeldbank.nationaalarchief.nl/

Alex

338509[1]B.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Can anyone ID the truck

Do I see a split rear axle differential? From this grainy picture I would not wager to ID a vehicle. But the tow hook is the typical British one, leaving Fordson, Morris-Commercial or Bedford to choose from . . .

I´m sure one of the MLU members has a census listing from which one will be able to deduct what type of truck Z4846358 was.

On the TWENOT forum, I read the Dutch were allocated the census number block 1283563 to 1288562. However, these must have been supposed to be allocated to their own vehicles. I´m pretty sure those supplied by the British War Department were meant not to be renumbered.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Going slightly off topic, but interesting pic. Reportedly showing Bedford MW from Prinses Irene Brigade coming ashore in Normandy (via KTR list).

The Nationaal Archief contains the same picture with the same caption:

Beschrijving: Koninklijke Nederlandse Brigade Prinses Irene. Landing in Normandië
Datum: augustus 1944
Trefwoorden: tweede wereldoorlog|leger|militairen|invasies, Prinses Irene Brigade, Frankrijk|Normandië
Collectie: Collectie Anefo / Londen
Fotograaf: RVD
Fotonummer: 934-9670

NL-HaNA_2.24.01.03_0_934-9670.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

On the TWENOT forum, I read the Dutch were allocated the census number block 1283563 to 1288562. However, these must have been supposed to be allocated to their own vehicles. I´m pretty sure those supplied by the British War Department were meant not to be renumbered.

Fordson 7V L1284657 was clearly allocated a number from this block (source: www.arnhemsoorlogsmuseum.com)

[Rich Payne]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Do I see a split rear axle differential? From this grainy picture I would not wager to ID a vehicle. But the tow hook is the typical British one, leaving Fordson, Morris-Commercial or Bedford to choose from . . .

I´m sure one of the MLU members has a census listing from which one will be able to deduct what type of truck Z4846358 was.

Just noticed that no one has answered this.

Z4844001 - Z4847000 - Ford - Truck 15cwt 4x2 G/S

Rich

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Rich Payne

Just noticed that no one has answered this.

Z4844001 - Z4847000 - Ford - Truck 15cwt 4x2 G/S

Thanks Rich!

Interestingly, the picture shows a Fordson, but the census number range was allocated to Ford trucks

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

On the TWENOT forum, I read the Dutch were allocated the census number block 1283563 to 1288562.

Here's an example of a Chevrolet PAG-trekker, one of reportedly only two which were shipped to the UK by retreating Dutch troops (via Dunkirk, Brest?).
It has been assigned "L1284684" and is shown while use in training in the UK in 1940. (Surely the "L" is a mistake, a utility vehicle / light truck like this should have been assigned either an "M" or "Z".)

Ref: The Great DAF PAG-trekker thread!, picture source: http://www.prinsesirenebrigade.nl/

oefening_Engeland_1940_pagtrekker.jpg

[Rich Payne]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

It has been assigned "L1284648" and is shown while use in training in the UK in 1940. (Surely the "L" is a mistake, a utility vehicle / light truck like this should have been assigned either an "M" or "Z".)

Perhaps the vehicle still had a luggage compartment full of peanut butter when it was put on the weighbridge and this brought it above the 1 ton mark ?

I have had a quick flick through the re-printed Chilwell census lists and can see no trace of 'Fordson'. It looks as if for contract purposes, the supplier was always Ford.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Rich Payne

Perhaps the vehicle still had a luggage compartment full of peanut butter when it was put on the weighbridge and this brought it above the 1 ton mark ?

Nah, must 'ave been Gouda cheese!

I have had a quick flick through the re-printed Chilwell census lists and can see no trace of 'Fordson'. It looks as if for contract purposes, the supplier was always Ford.

Check!

Thanks,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Below is picture from the National Archives, which shows a 15cwt, supposedly from the Irene Brigade......Can anyone ID the truck....maybe the rear axle?

Here's a better picture of Z4846358 from the new NIOD BeeldbankWO2.nl:

Image number: 8696
Collection: Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogsdocumentatie
Caption: Dutch forces in Normandy. Air protection is provided by the defense platoon.

8696-hi.jpg

Edited to attach larger scan and updated link to source:

Beschrijving: Koninklijke Nederlandse Brigade Prinses Irene.
Landing in Normandië [luchtafweergeschut gemonteerd op een vrachtwagen. Een soldaat wast zijn haren]
Datum augustus 1944
Locatie Frankrijk, Normandië
Nummer toegang 2.24.01.03
Bestanddeelnummer 934-9669

NL-HaNA_2.24.01.03_0_934-9669.jpg
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ad84e3...8-003048976d84