17-06-2005, 11:43 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Senior Member   Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 648
 | Hello, I am Rik Payne, an Englishman living in Belgium. I am restoring a Norton Motorcycle which appears to have been abandoned here by the BEF in 1940 It still carries its original Tactical Markings. What started out as an attempt to uncover a bit of background information has turned into a fascination with the composition of the BEF and its equipment prior to the fall of France. At the moment , I still have many more questions than answers.
__________________ 1939 ex-BEF Norton WD16H restoration detailed on http://www.wdnorton.nl/ |
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18-06-2005, 09:59 AM
| #2 (permalink) | |
| Very Senior Member   Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Posts: 4,686
 | Quote:
welcome to the wonderful world of the WW2 talk. Do not worry about asking questions, there are many out there who would only be too happy to try and answer them.
__________________ WWW.WARFARETODAY.com | |
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18-06-2005, 02:58 PM
| #3 (permalink) |
| Per Ardua Ad Astra   Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Posts: 2,951
| Welcome to the forum Rik, enjoy your stay. There are lots of people who will answer your questions here only too happily
__________________  "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few" Sir Winston Chuchill, Summer 1940 "To him the people of Britain and the free world owe largely the way of life they enjoy today" Ensciption on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-1940) Statue in London Aircraft of World War 2 Forum - A Warbird Forum |
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19-06-2005, 11:33 AM
| #5 (permalink) |
| Very Senior Member   Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK
Posts: 1,559
| Welcome Rik. And to Malcolm, I would like it if it is not too much work.
__________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood |
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19-06-2005, 09:21 PM
| #6 (permalink) | |
| Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Posts: 4,686
| Quote:
v.1 0 August 12, 2001 Graham Watson SUPPORT AND SERVICE TROOPS GHQ BEF, Arras GHQ Signals 2 Wireless Company GHQ Troops Engineers 100, 101, 216 Army Tps Coys, 228, 242 Fd Coys, 223 Fd Pk Coy 19 Fd Survey Coy 1 Bridging Coy RASC 1 Chemical Warfare Group RE=58, 61, 62 CW Coys RE GHQ Troops RASC 1, 2, 3 GHQ Coys [formed from 20,11, ? Coys RASC] 1, 2, 3, 4 GHQ Artillery Coys [13, 53, 81, 94 Coys RASC] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Reserve MT Coys RASC 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 Troop Carrying Coys RASC HQ Force K, Indian Troops 22, 25, 29, 32 Animal Troops Coys IASC Attached Royal Air Force 1 Air Formation Signals 2 Air Formation Signals I CORPS 1 Corps Signals, Douai 1 Corps Troops Engineers 102, 107, 221 Army Fd Coys, 115 Corps Fd Pk Coy, 13 Corps Fd Svy Coy 1 Corps Troops RASC Amn Coy, Amn Park, Corps Troops Supply Column, Petrol Park 2 Provost Company II CORPS 2 Corps Signals (1 London Corps Signals), Phalamgin 2 Corps Troops Engineers 222, 234, 240 Army Fd Coys, 108 Corps Fd Pk Coy, 14 Corps Fd Svy Coy 2 Corps Troops RASC Amn Coy, Amn Park, Corps Troops Supply Column, Petrol Park 9 Provost Company III CORPS 3 Corps Signals (North Midland Corps Signals), 3 Corps Troops Engineers 213, 214, 217 Army Fd Coys, 293 Corps Fd Pk Coy, 514 Corps Fd Svy Coy 3 Corps Troops RASC Amn Coy, Amn Park, Corps Troops Supply Column, Petrol Park 8 Provost Company 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION 1 Infantry Division Signals 1 Infantry Division RE 23, 238, 248 Fd Coys, 6 Fd Pk Coy 1 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [formed from 7, 40, 42 Coys RASC] 1 Infantry Division RAOC 1 Infantry Division RAMC Fd Amb Fd Amb Fd Amb 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION 2 Infantry Division Signals 2 Infantry Division RE 5, 208, 506 Fd Coys, 21 Fd Pk Coy 2 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [8, 24, 29 Coys RASC] 2 Infantry Division RAOC 2 Infantry Division RAMC Fd Amb Fd Amb Fd Amb 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION 3 Infantry Division Signals 3 Infantry Division RE 17, 246, 253 Fd Coys, 15 Fd Pk Coy 3 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [23, 47, 48 Coys RASC] 3 Infantry Division RAOC 3 Infantry Division RAMC Fd Amb Fd Amb Fd Amb 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION 4 Infantry Division Signals 4 Infantry Division RE 7, 59, 225 Fd Coys, 18 Fd Pk Coy 4 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [21, 38, 44 Coys RASC] 4 Infantry Division RAOC 4 Infantry Division RAMC Fd Amb Fd Amb Fd Amb 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION 5 Infantry Division Signals 5 Infantry Division RE 245, 252 Fd Coys, 254 Fd Pk Coy [38 Fd Coy det to Norway] 5 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [19, 34, 51 Coys RASC] 5 Infantry Division RAOC 5 Infantry Division RAMC Fd Amb Fd Amb Fd Amb 42ND (EAST LANCASHIRE) INFANTRY DIVISION 42 Infantry Division Signals 42 Infantry Division RE 200, 201, 202 Fd Coys, 250 Fd Pk Coy 42 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [501, 502, 503 Coys RASC] 42 Infantry Division RAOC 42 Infantry Division RAMC 125 Fd Amb 126 Fd Amb 127 Fd Amb 44TH (HOME COUNTIES) INFANTRY DIVISION 44 Infantry Division Signals 44 Infantry Division RE 11, 210, 211 Fd Coys, 211 Fd Pk Coy 44 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [507, 508, 509 Coys RASC] 44 Infantry Division RAOC 44 Infantry Division RAMC 131 Fd Amb 132 Fd Amb 133 Fd Amb 48TH (SOUTH MIDLAND) INFANTRY DIVISION 48 Infantry Division Signals 48 Infantry Division RE 9, 224, 226 Fd Coys, 227 Fd Pk Coy 48 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [516, 517, 518 Coys RASC] 48 Infantry Division RAOC 48 Infantry Division RAMC 143 Fd Amb 144 Fd Amb 145 Fd Amb 50TH (NORTHUMBRIAN) INFANTRY DIVISION 50 Infantry Division Signals 50 Infantry Division RE 232, 505 Fd Coys 235 Fd Pk Coy [no 3rd fd coy] 50 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [522, 523, 524 Coys RASC] 50 Infantry Division RAOC 50 Infantry Division RAMC 149 Fd Amb 150 Fd Amb 151 Fd Amb 51ST (HIGHLAND) INFANTRY DIVISION 51 Infantry Division Signals 51 Infantry Division RE 26, 236, 237 Fd Coys, 239 Fd Pk Coy 51 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column [528, 529, 530 Coys RASC] 51 Infantry Division RAOC 51 Infantry Division RAMC 152 Fd Amb 156 Fd Amb 157 Fd Amb HQ LINES OF COMMUNICATION, Le Mans HQ Lines of Communication Area 1 Lines of Communication Signals 2 Lines of Communication Signals [NB became II Corps Signals in Normandy June 1940] Railway Training Company RE HQ LofC Troops RE 103, 104, 106, 110, 212, 218 Army Troops Coys 113, 114, 115, 116 Road Cons Coys 109 Wksp & Pk Coy 651, 652 Artisan Works Coys 653, 654, 656 Gen Cons Coys 129 Forestry Coy 1 Map Depot 1 Engineer Stores Base Depot 2 Engineer Stores Base Depot 1 Engineer Base Workshop LoC Depot RE HQ LofC Troops RASC 1, 2 LofC Rh MT Coys 1, 2, 3, 4 Lof MT Coys 1 (later 37), 2, 3 Ambulance Car Coys 1, 2, 3, 5 BSD Coys 1, 2, 3, 4 Field Butcheries 1, 3, 4 Field Bakeries 1, 2, 3 Supply Personnel Coys 1, 2, 3 Base Petrol Filling Centres 1, 2, 3 Bulk Petrol Coys 1, 2, 3 Petrol Depots 1 Petrol Storage Coy A, B, C Motor Transport Vehicle Parks 1, 2, 3 Workshop MT Coys [formerly 76, 214, 215 Coys RASC] 1, 2 Pack Transport Coys ‘Y’ AA Bde Coy 101-104 Provost Companies HQ North District HQ South District 1 Sub Area (Cherbourg) 2 Sub Area (Le Mans) Rennes Sub area Rouen Sub Area 1 Medical Base Sub area (Dieppe) 2 Base Sub Area (Nantes) 3 Base Sub Area (Havre) 4 Base Sub Area (Boulogne) 5 Base Sub Area (Marseilles) 1 General Base Depot 2 General Base Depot 12TH (EASTERN) INFANTRY DIVISION 12 Infantry Division Signals-despatch rider detachment –rest in UK 12 Infantry Division RE 262, 263, 264 Fd Coys, 265 Fd Pk Coy 12 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Coy 12 Infantry Division RAOC 12 Infantry Division RAMC 23RD (NORTHERN) INFANTRY DIVISION 23 Infantry Division Signals-remained in UK 23 Infantry Division RE 233, 507 Fd Coys, 508 Fd Pk Coy [no 3rd fd coy] 23 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column 23 Infantry Division RAOC 23 Infantry Division RAMC 46TH (NORTH MIDLAND) INFANTRY DIVISION 46 Infantry Division Signals-despatch rider detachment-rest in UK 46 Infantry Division RE 270, 271, 272 Fd Coys, 273 Fd Pk Coy 46 Infantry Division RASC Amn Coy, Petrol Coy, Supply Column 46 Infantry Division RAOC 46 Infantry Division RAMC *** Uncertain about how complete the above three divisions were-had left artillery in UK for employment on labour duties on the LofC. Did they leave other units in UK? TRANSPORATION UNITS 3 Movement Control Group RE 4 Movement Control Group RE 5 Movement Control Group RE 1 Docks Group RE 1 Stevedores Bn RE 2 Docks Group RE 2 Stevedores Bn RE 3 Docks Group RE 3 Stevedores Bn RE 4 Docks Group RE [no stevedores bn] 1 Railway Construction & Maintenance Group RE 2 Railway Construction & Maintenance Group RE 3 Railway Construction & Maintenance Group RE 1 Railway Operating Group RE 2 Railway Operating Group RE 8, 10, 27 Rlwy Coys 29, 165 Rlwy Svy Coys 135 Excavator Coy 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 161 Rlwy Cons Coys 156. 196 Tn Stores Coys 170, 173 Rlwy Tunnelling Coys 186 Tn Cons Coy 190 Rlwy Op Coy 117, 118, 119, 122 Road Cons Coys 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 684, 685, 686, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 697, 698, 700, 702, 704, 705, 706, 707, 709, 710, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716 Gen Cons Coys RE 1-15, 17, 26 Auxiliary Military Pioneer Groups 25-76, 78-79, 81-83, 87-88, 93, 100-116, 122-124, 401 (Palestine), 501, 701, 702, 706 Auxiliary Military Pioneer Companies 1, 2 Base Ordnance Depot RAOC 1,2,3 Ordnance Sub Depots RAOC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (later 21), 22 Base Ammunition Depots RAOC GHQ S.Rh, RAOC 1, 2, 3 Corps S.Rh RAOC 1, 2, 4 Ordnance Field Parks RAOC Advanced Ordnance Field Park RAOC 1 GHQ Workshop RAOC 1, 2 Base Workshops RAOC 1, 2, 3, 4 Port Workshops RAOC 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 Army Field Workshops RAOC 7 Ordnance Stores Coy RAOC 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 29 Mobile Bath Units RAOC
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20-06-2005, 12:19 AM
| #7 (permalink) |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 648
| Thanks for the welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, and for the help already provided. Presumably I should now go on to other areas of the forum with more specific questions. Do questions about composition at Divisional level fall under "other research" and would it be in order to slip in a question about vehicle markings or should it be kept separate ? This is my first attempt at such a forum so please excuse any breaches of etiquette or mistakes caused by my inexperience with AZERTY keyboards !
__________________ 1939 ex-BEF Norton WD16H restoration detailed on http://www.wdnorton.nl/ |
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20-06-2005, 12:11 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| Senior Member   Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Mississippi
Posts: 223
| Welcome, Rik! Glad to have you aboard. Enjoy the boards!
__________________ (my avatar is Sgt. Bill R. "Buck" Buchanan, USMC Pacific Theater...or grandad to me) "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time." - Lieutenant General Lewis B."Chesty" Puller, USMC World Sports Talk Forum |
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20-06-2005, 04:56 PM
| #9 (permalink) |
| Very Senior Member   Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ
Posts: 2,443
|  Rik, welcome to the boards, and good luck on your restoration project. I don't think there are too many BEF vehicles left -- what didn't get destroyed at Dunkirk got used by the Wehrmacht and chewed up over time.
__________________ "My intensity is intense." -- Roger Clemens "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill. "I am not a hero. The heroes are all dead. I am a survivor." -- Sgt. William Guarnere, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Check out my little contributions to World War II history at my web pages: World War II Plus 55 or http://davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com |
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26-06-2005, 01:43 PM
| #10 (permalink) |
| Legendary Member  Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 8,068
| Welcome Rik, Good luck wth the restoration and the research. Welcome to the boards from the other side of the world.
__________________ Spidge,  ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm |
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