military bridging

[David Potter]

Les,

This shot is from Rhine crossing; this is a bit of a bridging cum crane post!

2 Coles cranes are visible.

In the background is "normal" Army EMA MkVI with Ford 10HP engine / generator (as fitted to Austin K6 and Diamond T 975 in 44-45; also fitted early war to Crossley IGL8 and Leyland Retriever).

In the foreground is a MkVII (without on-board generator); this is normally associated with RAF Thorneycroft Amazon, RAF AEC 0854 (with seperate Ford V8 generator) and RAF Leyland Retriever (image in following post).

I have heard that the Army also used MkVII on Leyland Retriever with generator driven by PTO (interesting because chassis also supposedly fitted with winch!) but have not seen complete photographic evidence; unril now? The tyres look big (13.50-20?) so this may be an Amazon, pity we can not see cab!

Les, my main question / request is: do you (or another forum member) have a late war (21st Army Group) image of a Leyland Retriever with Coles MkVII?

David