BEF Vehicle Arm of Service Markings (GHQ and others)

Discussion in '1940' started by Rich Payne, Oct 30, 2010.

  1. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    One more AOS 17 and 04 on the side and the back of the 1500Cwt in the background.
     

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  2. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Noticed this pic is captioned as Cassel .
    Wondering if the 4 is an artillery marking ?
    So out of the 10 options for AOS 17 their is only one artillery option ( others are 8 infantry battalions and 1 RE co. )
    Which is 30 Field Reg. RA of the 4th division .
    Were they in Cassel ?

    Craig
     
  3. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    This is on the back of the photo.
     

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  4. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Oh well not Cassel then ! I had it filed as Cassel so maybe ebay desc wrong or I have misfiled it . :)

    Changing subject slightly does anyone know what the 3 stripe 'flag' is on o/s mudguard of this Bedford MW seen here with a fine chap brandishing a tommy gun, seen it on a few vehicles .
     

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  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Guessing that's a 52 Div. vehicle before deploying to France as part of the 2nd BEF?
     
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The three horizontal stripes are the colour bands related to the 'movement serial' code and designed to give a quick visual confirmation of which unit's vehicles and equipment were being shipped or unloaded. 52nd Division's vehicles do more often show these as they didn't have time to overpaint.

    If the Arm of Service serial is 22 then this ought to be a vehicle belonging to the 2nd battalion of the junior brigade (157 Infantry Brigade). By my reckoning, 6th Highland Light Infantry. They sailed to France on 14th June with 65 vehicles (and 14 motorcycles) bearing the movement serial '17484'. and it is certainly possible to see a five-digit number beginning '17' higher up the wing. If this is the case then the colours will be that representing the '8' above and below that for the '4'. This would be 'Service Colour' (presumably the pre-war bronze green) above and below light green which is probably why, on a KG No.3 background, these are not the most distinct bands.
     
  7. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

  8. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Rich
    Were these bands omly used on 2nd Bef vehicles ?
    Craig
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    6 Highland Light Infantry War Diary 12th June to 15th June 1940

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  10. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Craig, Andrew is more genned up on these but I believe his research has shown them to be in use during 1939 as well. They were intended to be removed once the unit had reached their destination which means that in terms of photographs taken from 10th May onwards, only 2nd BEF and a few late arrivals would still have had them visible.

    My Norton showed no traces but that is logical as 2nd Division had been in France since October 1939 and the bike was not delivered until December so it must have come from replacement stock. The embarkation lists show regular vehicle deliveries to the Base Ordnance Depots.
     
  11. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    I see thanks,
    This is probably more for the vehicles thread but these two fine early model AEC Matadors in France sport the 'flag' markings. Obviously not in the Low Countries :) So fits in with been part of BEF 2 in June . Probably nicely delivered to Germans with delivery mileage only.

    Reports seem to agree that around 80,000 motor vehicles lost at Dunkirk but I assume this is all Battle of France vehicles. I wonder what proportion were 2nd BEF vehicles sent to France after Dunkirk , a great waste when we desperately needed kit at home ( and of course a far greater loss in people )

    Craig
     

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  12. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    AOS 20 and L168567 ? came in the post today
     

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  13. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    L168501 - L168911 - Impressed, Various Makes & Types.

    The cab looks familiar but I can't place it exactly. The front mudguards look 'Guy' but the quarter light doesn't.
     
  14. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    I wonder if its a Maudslay Militant ?
     

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  15. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I forgot Maudslay. I think that you're right :)
     
  16. researchingreg

    researchingreg Well-Known Member

    Does anybody know the significance of the No. 94 insignia on the Austin Army Ambulances (I think belonging to 6th MAC RASC) which were used during the evacuation.
     
  17. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    Maudsley?
    Dont think the quater light is quite right and L168567 has single rear tyres.
    Noel
     
  18. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Noel

    I agree about the quarter lights (but I can't find a better match - could be an impressed vehicle I suppose), but the wheels look to me as if it had twin rear wheels, but the outer one has been removed.
     
  19. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    I'm fairly sure its a Maudslay , pre war civilian model with twin rears , cab is typical like this jolly post war ad -
     

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  20. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    '94' on black with a white GHQ bar below was indeed allocated to 6 Motor Ambulance Convoy.
     

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