Ironsides

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
I met an old soldier recently, who used to drive one and his job was to take Winston Churchill from his home at Chartwell to London...........and he said the old boy was always urging him to go faster !!!!!

Richard

Hi Richard;

The "Old Soldier" was probably driving a "Humber Special Ironside" (or "Humber Pullman Saloon") armoured car. They were used for the protection of members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet ministers. The Humber Special was a modified version of the Humberette, two types having been produced, one type had no windows and was fully enclosed, but built to Pullman standards on the inside by the coachbuilders Thrupp and Maberley. The other had the same standard of interior, but was fitted with more discreet armour and bullet-proof glass. This later type, was the type preferred by the King and Queen.

Cheers

The "Humber Special Ironside", in use by H.M. Queen Elizabeth: