vehicle or officer case BEF 1940 ww2 ?

Discussion in '1940' started by Tommy4, Jun 28, 2016.

  1. Tommy4

    Tommy4 Junior Member

    Hello guys

    Yesterday I had the permission to clean up a farm in Northern France
    I've found several military items

    such as this unknown case with a tricolor decal and a number "142" on it.

    A US collector said to me it could be british ww2 or US ww2, I think it's british because of the place where I've found it.

    I've seen similar cases that were for officers

    the tricolor decal " green blue green" must have a meaning, anyone who knows this? a certain unit?

    in the interior of the case, I see a certain name: Jack , followed by a service number? that begins with 105.........

    Thanks for your help!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 3, 2017
  2. rolfi

    rolfi Member

    142 and the coloured stripes means this belonged to 12 Lancers.

    RW
     
  3. Tommy4

    Tommy4 Junior Member

    oh thanx, are you sure? can you find an example of these coloured stripes on something else?

    I've seen that 12th royal lancers fought in Flanders and nearby Dunkirk, so this would be evident...
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2020
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I think Jack is actually Jock
     
  5. Tommy4

    Tommy4 Junior Member

    anyone who can confirm this case is from 12th royal lancers? because the vehicle markings that I see from this regiment indicates the number 129?
     
  6. rolfi

    rolfi Member

    [​IMG]

    from the 1942 "Index to Field Force Units". hope it helps.
     
    dbf likes this.
  7. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Tommy, these movement codes were designed to assist the easy shipping of baggage and vehicles and have nothing to do with the the Arm of Service serial displayed as a tactical marking.

    As Rolfi has shown, the code for 12th lancers was 142. In addition to painting the number, the tens and units each had a unique colour code to enable baggage to be quickly unloaded and it was designed to be able to be read upside down. The colour for '4' was Light Green GS and the colour for '2' was blue hence you have a 4 - 2 - 4 marking capable of being read either way up as '42'...This distinction of the last two digits although not unique was considered enough to differentiate the baggage of any units likely to be on the same ship together.

    It was instructed that the marking be overpainted on vehicles soon after landing so it is not commonly seen except on those vehicles which arrived during May such as 1st Armoured Division. It is unlikely that they would have bothered to overpaint the marking on baggage.

    That trunk is a nice piece. I'm sure that you'll treasure it. If you find an ex-BEF motorcycle on a farm, it's mine and I've simply forgotten where I parked it ! :)
     
  8. Tommy4

    Tommy4 Junior Member

    ok thanx for the clear information

    Next step may be finding a motorcycle :)

    Tonight I will post another case , that was found on the groundfloor of this barn, it also has nice markings... and must be BEF.
     
    Drew5233 likes this.

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