A snippet: 79 HAA Regt were issued four AEC tractors around the end of February 1940. At that time they were establishing themselves in Le Havre having just joined the BEF.
Hope you don't mind me going off-topic, but you all seem to be very knowledgeable re: vehicles. The attached is a pic of Dad in Italy with his REME gantry chassis. At the front is what I describe as a flat square piece of metal sticking out horizontally below the windscreen. Question: what on earth is it? It seems to be common to many similar vehicles of the period.
I think its the gas detector plate, forward control trucks like this (Leyland Retreiver?) had no bonnet up front to put gas detector paint on (which changed colour when it was time to worry!) so they fixed metal plates like this. Craig
I think its the gas detector plate, forward control trucks like this (Leyland Retreiver?) had no bonnet up front to put gas detector paint on (which changed colour when it was time to worry!) so they fixed metal plates like this. Craig Well, well. you learn something new every day! Never heard of gas detection paint before, but a quick google brings lots of results. Thanks for info, and yes its a Leyland retriever.
Hope you don't mind me going even further off-topic: Are there any good books on post-war vehicles? I've seen the thread detailing Tugs of War, etc. But something more recent would also be welcome.
A snippet: 79 HAA Regt were issued four AEC tractors around the end of February 1940. At that time they were establishing themselves in Le Havre having just joined the BEF. Just to sneak back to the topic - can you provide the source for this? I am interested to know if these were part of the batch of AEC tractors delivered to the BEF in March 1940 and also if 'AEC Tractor' = 'Matador' (which I think it does). Andrew
Andrew, Page 54 of The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Artillery: H.A.A. Regiment, the Searchlight Battery and the Post-war Units Pt. 2 and 3 by Col J D Sainsbury. See here. In turn, this appears to be from what's left of 247 Battery's war diary (WO 166/2528). The fact that there is no March 1940 war diary implies their AECs were issued in February in France. Might be worth asking Andy if he's got them? 247 Bty were equipped with mobile 3.7s, 248 Bty with statics, while 246 Bty was half and half. Hope that helps, Andrew (another one)
Here are a few photos from my book/collection. 1st photo is in the eastern front the last two photos are of the same truck with 142 on the back with 20 [mph] France, and one more in the background. i have a few more photos but they are used in the ussr by the germans,they found it to be one of the best british heavy trucks to get.
Andrew, Page 54 of The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Artillery: H.A.A. Regiment, the Searchlight Battery and the Post-war Units Pt. 2 and 3 by Col J D Sainsbury. See here. In turn, this appears to be from what's left of 247 Battery's war diary (WO 166/2528). The fact that there is no March 1940 war diary implies their AECs were issued in February in France. Might be worth asking Andy if he's got them? 247 Bty were equipped with mobile 3.7s, 248 Bty with statics, while 246 Bty was half and half. Hope that helps, Andrew (another one) Andrew Thanks. I will add that to my list of things to look up at Kew. Andrew F
Here are a few photos from my book/collection. 1st photo is in the eastern front the last two photos are of the same truck with 142 on the back with 20 [mph] France, and one more in the background. i have a few more photos but they are used in the ussr by the germans,they found it to be one of the best british heavy trucks to get. Keith Pictures 2 and 3 are pretty good. You certainly are building up a fine collection. The gun is a 60 pounder or 4.5"/60 pounder (the filename suggests 5.5"). Andrew
