1940 SA Fords

[nuyt]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for replying.

Here's another pic of Oosthaven the same day (courtesy AWM as well).

The Vickers Mk VI B belongs to B squadron 3rd Hussars (ex-Middle East) that had just landed and was shipped out again to Java at that very moment. They left their RASC vehicles in Oosthaven, with the argument that these were to heavy to take them along again! No idea what heavy trucks they might have been.

On this particular pic you can see the Ford WOT2 (thank you) again as well as a (KNIL?) Chevrolet(with trailer?). The British troops at Palembang were mainly RAF and AA units AFAIK. I guess this might be reflected in the types of vehicles used.

About Bedford OY's: on Java the Australian/British/US composite brigade Blackforce would use these in abundance in the weeks to come (there are pics of this at AWM as well). They had steel bodies and camouflage pattern paint all over them (ex-Middle East or shipped from England?).

I think it is possible that some of the trucks you mention came back with Australian units that has served in the ME and were now taken back to defend the homeland?

Kind regards,
Nuyt

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
'A number of Reconnaissance Cars S.A. Mk I (left) and Ford OIT/81, 3 ton 4 x 2 GS trucks (right) lined up prior to leaving the camp of a South African Army unit for exercises and manoeuvres in the field'.

Photo goes attached below as it no longer shows in David's first posting.

Details:
AWM ID Number: 002486
Maker: British Ministry of Information
Place made: South Africa
Date made: September 1940

[dcrfan]

There are two MH AC in the Zimbabwe Military Museum Gweru ex British South African Police from the Rhodesian era.

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/police...ot/police.html