Vehicles used by British Generals behind the front line

This post was inspired by my looking at the AEC ‘Dorchester’ Command Armoured Truck used by British divisional and corps commanders in North Africa and Europe. And I knew about Monty’s Italian caravan mounted on the back of a Leyland Retriever.

So, it got me thinking what vehicles might we see at the divisional HQ for the commanding officer’s use. When visiting the front line, no doubt he used a number of different vehicles, ie Tanks, Armoured Cars, Carriers etc, by what about in the rear. Did the Dorchester get issued to all divisional commanders, or just armoured divisions?

For comfort motoring, he might well have had use of a Humber Snipe. But was there a non-armoured command truck similar to the Dorchester? Did he have a vehicle he might eat and sleep in? What facilities might he have for planning, conference, and briefing? In the populated areas of Europe, no doubt there was always a hotel to occupy, but in North or East Africa, Burma and Malaya, these facilities were a lot less available.

Regards
Fatboy Coxy

 

Hi

I found this in the Trux part about the establishment of an Armoured Brigade:

"Note: Brigade Commander, Brigade Major and Brigade Intelligence Officer are carried in ACV of Divisional Signals."

Maybe the same for a Divisional Commander.

In Greece 1944, PM Winston Churchill was transported around in a 23rd Amd Bde ACV.

Gus

 

Learn new things everyday

AEC command armoured vehicle (1941)

 

This Picture of Monty taken in North Africa .
Do not know make.
Picture By Gnr, Archer 5 RHA

 

I believe this may be the same staff car that is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London. Humber Super Snipe Staff Car (Old Faithful).

Humber Super Snipe Staff Car (Old Faithful)

 

God, I can't believe that people are still showing reproductions of the Caunter camouflage scheme with the wrong colours. That light blue-grey has no place in the images. GRRRR. The photos are fine though

 

Some different photos of Monty behind the lines showing staff cars.

One from September 1944 - not a Super Snipe.(??)
FIELD MARSHAL MONTGOMERY'S TWO-DAY VISIT TO BRUSSELS

Ones of the Super Snipe, in Sicily.
CIGARETTES FOR SICILY SAPPERS - FROM GENERAL MONTGOMERY.
MONTGOMERY WITH HIS MEN IN SICILY

Super Snipe in Caen:
GENERAL MONTGOMERY IN CAEN

 

The Super Snipe Monty used in NWE, also known as Old Faithful, is in the Coventry Transport Museum. Humber was of course a Coventry company.

 

Another View of Gnr ,Archers Picture

 

I believe General Thomas used a Light Recce Car