What type of cooker was stored in the Bren Gun carrier

[David Perrott]

Hi all , quick question can anyone tell me what type of stove was used/stored in the BGC storage boxes.

cheers dave

[rob love]

If it was a mk1 carrier, then cooker, portable no2 was stowed in the bracket located on the left fuel tank.

[Rob Beale]

If you have an LP2 or LP2A carrier, the cooking unit stowage box will not fit a No 2 cooker, as used in the Universal carriers.

The paraffin cooker in the pic below is dated 1944 with broad arrow on the upright bar above the label.

I found it locally, in NZ and it fits neatly in the tall round tin with a smaller spares tin. A snug fit in the LP style cooker box for length, with some room beside it.

For info I reproduce a pic I saved from MLU of a No2 Cooker with large dixie and lid on its stowage bracket. (Sorry I didn't save the pic owners name).

Rob

[eddy8men]

the no.2 petrol cooker was still in use with the army in the eighties so there are still plenty around.

[kevin powles]

Guys, This is the correct cooker for a carrier, like rick said a No2 but be careful the correct one has the petrol bottle which removes and hooks on the front, most you see are later types which have a draw that slides out the front containing the bottle, I also think the later no2 won't fit In the stowage tray as they are slightly bigger.

Kevin.

[Lynn Eades]

Kevin, further to that , I have one that is your style, and it too, is too big for the tray in the carrier. ( MkI*tray)

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Kevin, further to that , I have one that is your style, and it too, is too big for the tray in the carrier. ( MkI*tray)

I will get an actual photo of mine and post up, another carrier mystery to be solved.
Kev.

[kosbie]

The MkII cooker does NOT fit the tray from the Mk I carrier. The original MkI cooker, as Kevin says, did not have the pull out drawer at the front with the petrol tank. The tank was loose in the box and was taken out and fitted before use. The basic Mk II box would fit the tray if it were not for two studs on the side and the drawer at the front which slightly increases its length – see the attached photos, which show a couple of Mk II cookers and an original tray TL13251. The second and third photos show the cooker (not) fitting in the tray. Presumably the MK 1 cooker box does not have the studs on the side, but I have never seen one – been looking for one for ages.
Rick

[Jesse Browning]

Has anyone solved this delima yet? I have the same problem with my Sexton. The operators manual says No. 2 stove. I have both Mk1 and Mk2 models of the No.2 stove. Neither fit. Jesse

[Ron Pier]

Since reading this thread, I've been doing some research and this is what I've found.
No2 MK1 was produced from the 30's - 1942
No2 MK2 was produced from 1942 – mid 70's
No2 MK2 Modified Mid 70’s -1992/3
No2 MK2 Modified upgrade (different burner and control) 70’s -1992/3

So I guess that my 1944 MK2 Carrier might well have had a No2 MK2 cooker, but so far I haven't looked into where or if one was stowed? Ron

Picture No2 MK1 Aldershot 1942

[Jim Burrill]

Is the box under the tins supposed to be the AFV Ration refill?

My knowledge on some details are weak... I thought the actual metal boxes for 2men 1 day , 3 men 1 Day, and 5 men 1day, stayed with the vehicle and were replenished from a throw-away cardboard box.

From a FaceBook page for WW1 and WW2 British Rations, a similar picture of a Compo box has white labels on tins without obvious labels, like the Bully beef or the salmon tins. This was discussed and the consensus was the bit of white space and "Peas" or "Soup" were added just for the photo to illustrate a point - ID to viewers of the photograph what the (unreadable) tin stenceling was.

I would think the odd labeling in this picture was from the same project.

WOuld love to see clear pictures of the restock cardboard box! I have been working on recreating the AFV and Compo rations to look correct, yet hide modern food. Safe for eating, match the right type and quantity of food as the wartime tins, and have a reusable material so you are not throwing away a 20 $$ label.

To that end, the best I have seen is a gold Mylar printing paper that you laser print the label on, then cut to fit the modern tin, and attach with some rubber cement. Use a can opener on the end without the pull tab, and eat the contents. Peel the label off after use (and the public has left). Then reattach after hitting the grocery market.

The Mylar paper would do two key thins - hide the modern tin ridges, and give it the gold color of the tins that have been shellacked. A third reason is to be able to reuse the things.

Anyone else interested in sharing notes and resources for such a project?