XWD frame and engine number stamping

[Alan Moore]

Hello.

Must say a great forum.

My 1939 Ariel VH was dispatched on 23/08/1939 to a gent in Germany, but clearly did not make it out of the UK as on 5th September 1939 it was supplied to the Central Inspectorate Stores, Transport (Ministry Of Supply). It was supplied outside of a ministry / W/NG contract.... being one of 207 VH's supplied by Ariel to CIST at that time.

 

I have no idea of its military history but it was 'civilian' registered in Plymouth in May 1944. There was no signs of any 'military' paint on the bike, it still had its original black frame / mudguards and red centered chrome rims.

 

The Ariel factory frame and engine number prefix letters have been overstamped with the letters XWD (EX war dept I suppose....applied with a three letter stamp as opposed to three single letter stampings). The XWD prefix appears on the old buff logbook I have so it appears these stamps have been applied before it was civilian registered. There are also some odd non 'Ariel' letter stampings on the top of the seat tube...an '&' and an 'X'.

 

I am in the Ariel owners club and to date no-one can shed any light on where the XWD may have been added.

 

I have read the 'British Forces motorcycles 1925-1945' book and I believe that in the later war years / after the war some ex forces bikes went to motorcycle dealers who 'sold' the machines on, some went back to the factories.

 

My question is: does anyone recognise the use of an XWD stamp on 'recommissioned' military bikes.

 

Regards

Alan

[rewdco]

Hello Alan,

 

If you send me a PM with your email address, I can send you a document with a lot of information on markings on war department motorcycles. Unfortunately the XWD is something I've never seen... but maybe we can discover some other markings.

 

Regards,

Jan

[Alan Moore]

Jan

I have tried to PM you but nothing shows up in my sent box at present. Can you PM me to let me know if you have recieved it or not

 

Thanks

Alan

[Le Prof]

Hi Alan,

 

I can't help with the XWD, but maybe with the wartime history.

 

I have the last mortal remains of an Ariel 500cc, including the original logbook, Engine CE3nnn, Frame XG9nnn, which I understand is 1939 also.

 

The logbook was issued July 1943, and is stamped 'Ex Government' in red. The initial owner is 'Hants War Agricultural Executive Committee" In 1948 it passed to The Machinery Officer at Castle Hill House, Huntingdon, before its first civilian owner in 1951.

 

You say yours was supplied outside the Ministry of Supply (not the War Department, which makes your XWD stamp even more surprising), and did not appear to have military paint. Mine appears to have joined the Land Army, so I guess yours could be that, or a similar organisation (AFS, etc.)

 

I hope that helps,

 

Best Regards,

 

Adrian