British 10-cwt trailer reference thread

[Ken Smith]

Thanks to Arjan, John and Hanno. I have been waiting for a spare parts breakdown of the lunette and housing for at least 30years. What a wonderful surprise this morning to see it in such detail
Ken

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Here's one in use with a Canadian unit (source). Note the mortar trailer is towed by a 15-cwt truck.

Canadian infantry firing a 4.2” mortar at Gruchy, near Caen, Normandy, 9 July 1944.

Note the mortar trailer on tow behind a F15A. It could be the same as shown on the footage quoted above.


Source: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...26722&lang=eng and http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...26721&lang=eng

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Note the mortar trailer on tow behind a F15A. It could be the same as shown on the footage quoted above.

Lovely find Hanno. To me it indeed looks like the same truck and trailer as in the movie.....just comparing the crew with 1 soldier without helmet and 2 with, which seem to match. Also the slight decoloration on the canvas where the side canvas meets the top canvas.....also a slightly crooked door on the storage bin under the body.
This would be a great truck/outfit to copy paint and markings wise!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

So what are we seeing here? Definitely not a standard 10-cwt trailer. Could it be a civilian one?

"Royal Dutch Princess Irene Brigade Belgium.
Transport column of the Princess Irene Brigade in a Belgian village 25 miles from the Dutch border. Date: 1944-09-15"


Source: Dutch National Archives - http://hdl.handle.net/10648/af21ae8c...8-003048976d84

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

So what are we seeing here? Definitely not a standard 10-cwt trailer. Could it be a civilian one?

I have no idea......seems it has really narrow tyres and 4-lug wheels? Maybe an axle of a civvy 30's car?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I have no idea......seems it has really narrow tyres and 4-lug wheels? Maybe an axle of a civvy 30's car?

Yeah, civilian is most likely.

Some comments from another forum:

"the consensus from a previous discussion was a one off built most likely on British chassis due to the easy clean wheels used on lots of British cars."

"The Dutch Irene Brigade bought there cars, trucks, trailers etc from many sources including civilian. After their landing in Normandy they passed a location were the German army left behind a lot of equipment and the Dutch took what they could use. They took a lot of German tool trailers among other trailers, cars and even some halftracks that were used until the end of the war."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From British 4.2-inch Heavy Mortar

Here's a better version of this photo:

"Mortars of the Manchester Regiment shell the city centre from the desolate Hinthamer Park. October 1944."

I have been informed that the above photo is from the IWM official collection - ref B11345. Other photos include B11346, B13433, B15625, BU3907 and BU5109.

Reportedly, it was the 1st Battalion, the Manchester Regiment.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

10-cwt mortar trailer:

British Jeep w/ soldiers from the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division after crossing the River Seine at Vernon Normandy - August 27, 1944

IWM - Hewitt C. H. (Sgt) Photographer
IWM BU 212