Richard Farrant 34 Posted November 9, 2013 Just recently, Jan Roelse, a friend of mine who lives on Walcheren, sent me the attached picture of a Bedford OX canteen truck in Vlissingen. This is the first picture I have seen of one of these convoy vehicles in use in the Netherlands during WW2. Is that a bullet hole just over the door? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex van de Wetering 10 Posted November 9, 2013 (edited) This is the first picture I have seen of one of these convoy vehicles in use in the Netherlands during WW2. Hanno, I am sure I have seen a number of pictures of these in one of the Dutch city archives.....Rotterdam area (?). I will dig them up. Alex Edited November 9, 2013 by Alex van de Wetering Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 10, 2013 Is that a bullet hole just over the door? Indeed, could well be one .... Hanno, I am sure I have seen a number of pictures of these in one of the Dutch city archives.....Rotterdam area (?). I will dig them up. That would be great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex van de Wetering 10 Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) I know there are more pics, but haven't been able to retrace them yet. Anyway, here's a start. The first two of the Bedford were taken in Rotterdam, early May 1945. (Rotterdam city archives) The other two pictures were taken in Breda may 2nd 1945 ....I absolutely love these pics as it also show some other lovely trucks like the Fordson WOT3. If you look closely you can see a number of Bedford Cantine trucks, but also the WOA2 and Guy water bowser. source: http://gemeentearchief.rotterdam.nl/nl source: http://www.beeldbankwo2.nl/ Alex Edited November 11, 2013 by Alex van de Wetering 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 11, 2013 I know there are more pics, but haven't been able to relocate them yet. Anyway, here's a start. Alex, if that's a start only, I'm holding my breath for what's coming. :-X Really great stuff, thanks! Hanno Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex van de Wetering 10 Posted November 11, 2013 Two more pics of a Bedford in The Hague, source: http://www.haagsebeeldbank.nl/ 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Runflat 13 Posted October 18, 2015 A couple more photographs. The first from Old Motor (Vol.8, No.6) And this one from The Autocar (April 25th, 1941), captioned: Queen's Messengers convoy arriving in Coventry after the recent blitz. The city of cars and three spires begins to look a little worse for war. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 27 Time to revive this thread. Somehow a lot of the attachments are gone? Anyhow I read Ted mentioned a Commer, here’s a pic of a Q2 Ministry of Food truck: 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 Here is a link to a page with interesting info about Mobile Canteens: Kent at War - Life During Wartime A Bedford OX 30 Food Flying Squad mobile canteen. This vehicle was provided by donations from the people of Kent County, Michigan, USA, which is inscribed on the side of the vehicle. Two of the convoy’s motorcycles and riders are also shown. (WanPs-0337) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Runflat 13 Posted November 30 On 4/20/2012 at 11:26 PM, Runflat said: All this recent activity is very appropriate if there's a big event tomorrow! With thanks to Dusty's efforts I can now attach a combined list which also details other tit-bits gleaned from the National Archive files. The Commers were certainly a surprise and were used as 'welfare vans' (pictures please!); and the OYC chassis explains the file note that exists for CUN 358: Ministry of Food QMC fleet.pdf 299.03 kB · 41 downloads Ministry of Food QMC donors.pdf 277.01 kB · 21 downloads Reattached: Ministry of Food QMC fleet.pdf Ministry of Food QMC donors.pdf 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 On 4/21/2012 at 12:26 AM, Runflat said: With thanks to Dusty's efforts I can now attach a combined list which also details other tit-bits gleaned from the National Archive files. The Commers were certainly a surprise and were used as 'welfare vans' (pictures please!); Thanks for reattaching these! Very interested to read about the number of Commer among these. Here's one which caught my eye: Here is a picture of Commer Q2 "CUN 351" after it was transferred to UNRRA where it was registred as "UNRRA-Y9". The signage on the side clearly identifies this as the Commer donated by “Jamaica’s Women War Material and Comforts Committee”. Source: https://search.archives.un.org/unrras-food-flying-squads 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Runflat 13 Posted November 30 (edited) Yes, and the Commer posted earlier donated by the Jamaica Mutual Life Association Society is probably "CUN 353". Both photos are excellent finds. Edited November 30 by Runflat 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 13 minutes ago, Runflat said: Yes, and the Commer posted earlier donated by the Jamaica Mutual Life Association Society is probably "CUN 353". Both photos are excellent finds. Cannot thank you enough for compiling the lists, it is great to add an identity to the vehicles found in the various pictures! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 (edited) On 3/18/2012 at 5:49 PM, Runflat said: This last one is from The Times, Saturday, December 16, 1944:- FOR HOLLAND: The Queen with Princess Juliana standing by one of the mobile canteens she has given for service in Holland. Altogether she handed over two "Queen's Messenger" convoys, 22 vehicles, to the Princess for the use of the Dutch Government Here are better pictures taken at the hand-over: Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ad99f95c-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ad99fae2-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 Edited November 30 by mcspool Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ted angus 11 Posted November 30 Fantastic and a big thanks to RUNFLAT for reposting the files TED. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 Isaac ("Ies") Engelander was a Dutch Jew who fled to Great Britain to serve with the (Dutch) forces. He was a Guy truck driver in one of the Food Flying Squad columns. Source: https://www.joodsmonumentzaanstreek.nl/engelander-salomon-sjoerd/ 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcspool 10 Posted November 30 "Thank you, Gambia!" Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/32894 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites