1941 Fordson WOT 2H truck. After 10 years

[chrisgrove]

But some of these would have different coloured backgrounds. While the Div Provost Coy and the Mobile Bath Unit would probably have a black background; the Corps Medical Supplies unit probably would too, but with a white bar at the top; the transport company should have a red/green diagonal ground and the signals unit, by 1943, would have a white over blue ground with red figures.

Chris

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, Chris, I agree with you that the background colours vary as you say, however, as Ian hasn't provided any info about the background (it does appear to be black in the images), I simply provided some examples of the application of '79' to illustrate my point, ie, '79' was not confined to Divisional Provost units.

The application of the white bar was also quite variable within the Australian context.

As for the Div sigs unit, you're right: the numbers would have been in red, so not a possibility in this case.

Mike C

[Ian Mastin]

Hi Guys,

Just to confirm the No 79 is white on a black background in colour.



Regards
Ian

[Larry Hayward]

A quick look through British Army Markings 1939-45 by Peter Hodges and Michael D Taylor throws up Provost Coy in nearly all the references to 79 on black, whether in NW Europe or the Middle East or Italy.

[Mike Cecil]

Just to re-iterate the Australian context of 79 on black in more detail (the vehicle is, after all, in Australia):

79 on a black background was the unit sign of an Aust Divisional Provost Units 1940-1941. In 1942, Aust Divisional Provost Units were assigned the Unit sign 95 on a black background. This they retained until the end of the war, firstly as the single numeric sign '95' on a black background, and from 1944, '95' as the lower (denominator) with the actual unit number above. (As an aside, Aust SOVOs in 1960 also assign '95' on black to Provost Units.

From early 1942, Aust Mobile Bath Units in any formation (Army, Corps, Division, Lines of Communication Area, District Commands, etc etc), were assigned the unit sign 79 on a black background, examples being:

1 Aust Infantry Division: 105 Aust Mobile Bath Unit;
2 Aust Infantry Division: 106 Aust Mobile Bath Unit;
Northern Territory Force: No.s 115 & 116 Mobile Bath Units.

'79' was also assigned to AIF(ME) Base 1 Advanced Depot Medical Stores, initially with a 2 inch white bar across the bottom, later the 2 inch white bar was deleted (once a Formation sign was issued).

Mike C

[Larry Hayward]

But Mike didn't you suggest earlier that this WOT might have been a vehicle used by AIF in the Middle East which 'returned' to Australia?

[Mike Cecil]

Larry,

Yes, I did. What I have been trying to say is that, just because the sign is 79 on black, does not indicate that it could only be a Divisional Provost Company, as seems to have been the assumption based on a couple of references. Rather, in the Australian context, both in Australia and in the Middle East, there were other possibilities, depending upon where, and when, the sign was applied. I am not saying it is not a Div Provost Company, but that there are other possibilities that should be considered as well.

Mike C

[rupert condick]

Hi Ian
I should mention that British WD dos were Sometimes painted under the bonnet,
Just in case repainting covered them up,

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by rupert condick

Hi Ian
I should mention that British WD dos were Sometimes painted under the bonnet,
Just in case repainting covered them up,

I think you will find these numbers are receipt or voucher numbers when they arrive at a Vehicle Depot and were used post war. For instance if the WW2 Austin in your photo had gone through a rebuild programme later in its life and returned to a Vehicle Depot the number would be applied then. I am pretty sure the numbers were not applied during WW2 era. You will find them on many British Army vehicles that were in service in the 1950's.

[rupert condick]

Hi Richard,
the number in the picture is a a pre 1949 number L761926, AUSTIN 3T.GS. (MM?)and post war these would have been on a number plate, rather than painted on the vehicle, in some case's, as with things there are always exception's.

with British Army trucks sometimes also painted on the dash board.
the Australian army tended to paint the vehicle type, and weight under the bonnet during the war,or in the engine bay. a so maybe guess,guess, or hope the vehicle no.
worth a look anyway.
regs
Rupert

[Mike Cecil]

Under-bonnet nomenclature was an Australian Army requirement on new Aust vehicles, and was supposed to be painted on in-service vehicle (but was not always) from mid-July 1942.

The specification did not include the registration number of the vehicle, just the model and year, but sometimes the make was included, for ID purposes.

Mike

[rupert condick]

Hi Mike
the lower picture (circa 1942) shows a refugee cargo Austin K2Y Ambulance (1941) of the 2AACC, NSW Driver Harris.
with the year make and weight painted on the toe board.(light bit under right arm)
(I have seen the original picture)
most Ambulances (Austin's) with 2AACC are in the record books,
those Ambulances in the record books should have both British WD Nos. and Australian Army numbers, painted on the vehicle.
those not in the record books kept the British Army Number, But were reissued without the prefix letter, as those in the 1AACC Queensland.

But despite this some continued with the British Army number in full, and some had names instead, i.e. AUSTIN 1 etc of the 3AACC Victoria.
although against regulations of the time.

this may apply to other refugee vehicles

The other picture is of another or maybe the same Austin Ambulance,(2018)
for better clarity,
regs
Rupert