Morris PU: BEF Dunkirk? Unit, registration?

[Alex van de Wetering]

Interesting pictures Ron, especially with that Wireless frame. There is another pic of a WOC in Wehrmacht service in Jochen Vollerts book "Britische LKW im Dienste der Whrmacht" as well. Will try to scan the picture in the next few days.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Scanned from: "Britische LKW im Dienst der Wehrmacht" Jochen Vollert, Tankograd

[Rich Payne]

This looks to be close to the church of St. Eloi in Dunkirk, near to where I photographed Ian's truck. In fact, I think that he drove along here.



I can't see a formation sign but there appears to be an unreadable AoS plate. I wonder if the lack of formation sign on all these WOC1s is because they were used by GHQ and there was never a BEF GHQ formation sign, the only clue being the bar on the usually missing AoS plate ?

[Ian McCallum]

Rich,

Where do you manage to find all these great shots, certainly recognise the church, just can't quite figure ourt the orientation without checking a street plan.

Are my eyes playing tricks or is there another vehicle behind the WOC? You can quite easily define the cab and rear tilt frame devoid of any canvas but there also appears to be another 'tilted' vehicle beyond it. Also interesting as this is the first photo I have seen of the bridge plate painted in this position.

Ian

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

Where do you manage to find all these great shots

Ian,

Check other forums like Axis History Forum > Beute- and Umbauwagen. Here's the latest crop.

Regards,
Hanno

[Rich Payne]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

Rich,

Where do you manage to find all these great shots, certainly recognise the church, just can't quite figure ourt the orientation without checking a street plan.

Are my eyes playing tricks or is there another vehicle behind the WOC? You can quite easily define the cab and rear tilt frame devoid of any canvas but there also appears to be another 'tilted' vehicle beyond it. Also interesting as this is the first photo I have seen of the bridge plate painted in this position.

Ian

Ian, eBay Germany is the treasure trove but it rather takes the place of a social life and uses up valuable workshop time. 'Axis History' of course likes vehicles in German service but my preference (oh, alright, obsession then) is for them to still show their BEF markings.

I'm pretty sure that there are two vehicles there and thought that there was another WOC1 front mudguard low down.

Reading through BEF marking instructions, they do tend to be a bit vague and open to interpretation so I'm not surprised that there are variations.

[Ron Pier]

Will you stop going on Rich and Just get back to finding a picture of a Morris PU8/4 in BEF markings. Ron

[Rich Payne]

It's not for want of trying that I haven't found anything Ron. The only written suggestion that I've seen of the PU 8/4 in BEF service was in Michael D. Taylor's old article about M/C recce units in which he says that 4 RNF appear to have had "Morris 8cwts (PU or PU 8/4)" - I don't know whether he was suggesting that it was both or simply that he didn't know.

They seem to have come on the scene a little late for BEF service but I'll keep looking.