Photos of Caravans in military service

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Owen, Sep 1, 2011.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Love that photo , where did you find it?
     
  2. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    Apologies, I should have credited the origin of the photo when I Posted it: - Originally posted on Maple Leaf Up Forum by Hanno Spoelstra I have summarised the original post as "a Polar Bears half track on the road to Utrecht, Holland, in April 1945 (courtesy of KTR-members Henk Minne and Wim van Snippenberg)"
    So I got it wrong about them being Canadian but yes it's a wonderful photo - love the expression on he face hanging out of the window and the chap who is about to fall off his bike in shock.
    Own up - how many of you are planning a scale model?
    Noel
     
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Illustrated London News 18 April 1942
    The truck used by General Rommel as a mobile H.Q.
    Illustrated London News 18 April 1942, 1.jpg
     

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    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
  5. BobL

    BobL Spitfire Ballast

    The flipside to civvie caravans in military service - one of my brothers has an old WW2 > Army field workshop trailer that had been used post war as a forest workers bothy for many years. He has it in the garden and converted into a static caravan - double bed and kitchen area - have stayed in it and it's quite comfortable.
    Someone was visiting a neighbour in an old Army recovery truck and spotted the trailer and told my brother that his vehicle would have towed it when they were in service.
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Monty's Caravans: A Field Marshal's home from home




    For 100 years IWM has told the stories of people involved in conflict through its collections. These three caravans, located at IWM Duxford, offer an insight into the working methods of one of Britain’s greatest military leaders and how he thought approached battles with his adversaries.

    Field Marshal Bernard ‘Monty’ Montgomery was the most famous British General of the Second World War. A charismatic leader of men and popular figure amongst his soldiers, Montgomery conducted his campaign in North West Europe from three command caravans: one for his office, one for his bedroom and one for his map room.

    These mobile headquarters allowed Montgomery to be close to the frontline, sometimes only a few miles away from the battle, while also allowing the Field Marshal to separate himself from the rest of Tactical Headquarters if he needed some solitude to plan his campaign.

    Monty’s Office Caravan has a WW2 Italian caravan body remounted on a British Leyland Retriever 6x4 truck chassis. Its original owner was General Annibale 'Electric Whiskers' Bergonzoli, Commander of the Italian 23rd Corps. Bergonzoli was captured at Beda Fomm, south of Benghazi, in February 1941 and Montgomery took Bergonzoli’s caravan as a symbol of this victory.

    When Montgomery assumed command, this caravan became his only home until the end of the North African Campaign in May 1943. It wasn’t until Montgomery acquired a second caravan that this vehicle became his office, which he used during campaigns in Sicily, Italy, and North-West Europe (1943-1945).

    Monty’s Bedroom Caravan is Italian-built and mounted on a Lancia Chassis and was captured by Montgomery’s 8th Army from Field-Marshal Giovanni Messe, Commander of the 1st Italian Army, during the final stages of the North African campaign in May 1943. Messe said that it had also been used by Rommel, and Montgomery – promoted to General after the Battle of El Alamein – would use this caravan as his bedroom for the remainder of the war.

    Screen Shot 2017-07-07 at 04.14.09.png

    The Map Caravan is the third of Montgomery's vehicles and was custom built by the British Trailer Company to the designs of Montgomery's personal staff. During his campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, Monty had realised the need for a map lorry to co-ordinate his operations in the field, and this caravan was presented to him on 17 April 1944, seven weeks before D-Day. It became the nerve centre of Montgomery's Tactical Headquarters in North-West Europe from June 1944 until May 1945.

    The caravans were bequeathed to IWM on Viscount Montgomery's death in 1976, and are on display at IWM Duxford.
     
  7. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Great thread cheers Owen.

    Mike
     
  8. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    No pictures but a story from The Camping and Caravan Club regarding people still holidaying in WW2 in this great past time.

    World War II
    Then came the Second World War and, in 1941, the death of the Club’s President, Lord Baden-Powell. The same year saw the formation of The Youth Camping Association, sponsored by the Club.

    The main thing on everyone’s mind, though, was the war, and the opportunity to get into the country, away from the raids of the towns and cities, was something Club members really appreciated. Throughout the war, people regarded holidays and shorter periods away from home, as important. Consequently, unlike the first war, the second one saw the Club’s popularity remain steady. Members in the forces could continue their Club membership on a reduced subscription, and many did so.

    In 1944 The Association of Cycle Campers was re-formed as a specialist section of the Club. It later changed its name to the Association of Lightweight Campers.

    Club History - The Camping and Caravanning Club
     
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  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  10. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

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  11. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

  12. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  14. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original Photos off General Bill Slims HQ truck, it was built by Indian Station workshops at Dimapur, OC Col Wallace Station workshops. Did it survive the war ?. Original photos from my collection.
    Keith
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