Let Me Introduce Myself

[Matthew P]

Name is Matthew or Matt. I'll go by either. I live in West Virginia, USA and do not have military service. But I did work as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan for two years and then a year in Iraq.

I have a US 1967 M151A1 that I've begun restoring. But my reason for coming here is different. I've scoured the web for information on a very particular topic and of what little information is out there a high concentration is on this forum.

I am a Salvationist and volunteer with The Salvation Army as well as a WW2 reenactor. I've taken a special interest in the activities and equipment of the British Salvation Army services to H.M. Forces during the war. Mostly focused on the Mobile Canteens or often just called Mobiles. Tertiary to that is an interest in the Canadian War Services efforts by The Salvation Army and the Australian Comforts Fund and the actions of the Salvos there.

I have books on both the Canadian and Australian efforts. As of this time no book exists on the British effort. I dream of one day changing that. In the meantime I'll see about some smaller articles on the topic.

Thank you for having me.
Matthew

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello Matthew,

Thanks for joining us. You have an interest in one of those many unknown units and services which helped to win the war. Would be great if you could documents their efforts. If I come across information, I will certainly post it here.

Hanno

[jack neville]

Welcome Matt.

You may have seen the Ford Wot 8 Jake and I have recently acquired. It will be restored as Australian Comfort Fund truck as evidenced by the sign writing on the doors. Still hoping to find a picture of it in service somewhere overseas.
What is the Australian book you refer to?

[Ken Smith]

Good day Matt,
Welcome to the forum.
I have a Salvation Army Ford jeep, it has both Salvation Army and Australian Comforts Fund logos painted under the windscreen. The jeep was sold to Ford Motor company in Australia after the war.
I contacted the Salvation Army and they did a really good article in their War Cry magazine about the history of the vehicle.
I have taken it to a couple of shows in its very unrestored condition, I have a story board titled Christian Soldier that gives the known history of the jeep.
I have searched the Australian War Memorial photos and the book Salvos With The Forces, but there is no photo of my jeep. I have only found 1 jeep with the exact same painting under the windscreen as my jeep, but it isn't the same registration number as mine.
Looking forward to see what you turn up on the British side of the Salvos.
Ken

[Matthew P]

Jack,

I have indeed seen that thread on your Ford WOT 8 and will be following it. The book I refer to was actually mentioned in the next post by Ken! "Salvos With the Forces". Written or I should say compiled by Salvation Army historians most of the information in the book is pulled from the Salvation Army periodical "The War Cry" and from some radio transcripts.

Ken,

That is fascinating! Can you point me to the issue date of your article? The different national commands of The Salvation Army have their own War Cry publishing. But I'm in regular contact with some of the Australian staff and could get an archived copy through them. I don't have my copy in front of me right now, but doesn't Salvos With the Forces actually give a count of how many Jeeps, mobile canteens etc were in use?

Hanno,

Before this gets out of hand is there a single best place in the forum to make a repository for all of this? Use this thread or set up shop in a different section of the forum?

Thanks all!
Matt

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

Hanno,

Before this gets out of hand is there a single best place in the forum to make a repository for all of this? Use this thread or set up shop in a different section of the forum?

Matt,

You can continue in this thread, or start a new one in the Softskin Forum or WW2 Military History & Equipment. It is up to you and I can always split or merge threads later.

If you want to do a series of short articles, take a look at Bruce's "wireless of the week" threads in The Wireless Forum.

HTH,
Hanno