Great War truck

This seems to be a new trend on restored Jeeps. It seems quite logical really. it stops the shovel from scratching the bodywork and as the shovel itself probably does not need protecting from the elements (it is a shovel after all) it would stop sunlight reflecting off of any bear metal on the shovel (assuming it was ever used). The matter has been discussed on G503 i see and the general consensus was that they were made in France after the end of WW2 and were never actually used by the issued. There are of course lots of replicas around. I did seen a couple of very old and tatty ones (about 12 years ago) which were marked US and certainly looked very genuine. Is there anybody who can add more or would like to disagree with this. While we are all looking for pictures of canvas buckets it might be an ideal time to look for a shovel cover photo. Tim (too)

A good find. A famous photo that i had seen before but had not noticed the bucket. I will attempt to add the photo that i have later on (just have to come to grips with the system here). All you have to do now is find an original photo of one hanging from the tow hook! A prize for the first one who does. Now, while you are all doing that, i will start a new a new thread. Tim (too)

Well that forum explains that (and many other things too). It seems I am taking this argument where some people have been before. A contributor to the G does state that the canvas buckets were issued to some truck companies, so it does seem quite plausible that they were isssued to Jeeps as well. However the write does also state a passage from a TM where the canvas buckets do have to be properly stowed. It would seem quite logical that the driving of Jeeps off road will cause canvas buckets suspended from the tow hook to be damaged due to flying objects and abrasion with the ground. it could even cause them to be ripped off. The example of a modern Law Enforcement Officer stopping a Jeep with a full bucket suspended on tow hitch may well have been something that mirrored something that happened 60 years ago. You never know. As for the other matter about suspended buckets, well we will probably never know the truth. I did see an MP reenactor with a Bedford MW a few years back. I approached him with a friendly smile to ask him if he had any knowledge of the suspended bucket conotations. As i got within three feet of him i saw his suspended bucket dangling from his tow hitch. I then felt that the subject matter would be inappropriate for this situation and took a close look at the Austin parked beside him. Anyway. Thats enough on this subject. Who wants to talk about the connotations of slipping a canvas cover over the head of your Jeep shovel? Tim (too)

Just seen a picture in the MVPA magazine of a restored Canadian Staghound in Holland with the canvas bucket hanging from the front tow hitch. I am not sure whether the Dutch have a different system of messaging but i would think that it would not last long in that location during a combat situation. Has anyone seen any WW2 pictures of any Allied vehicle with a canvas bucket (hanging or not) apart from the Jeep one i mentioned previously? Tim (too)

I believe that there are certain places that you might go where it could be surgically removed and reattached at a greater height to prevent your bucket dragging along the ground, especially when you are going "off road". I hope that helps Tim (too)

Quite right. it makes you wonder where it is all going to end. Anyway, when i was down that way last i noticed that the other memorial (given by the USA to thank the people of Slapton for vacating the coastal area) had been dismantled. There was concern that it was going to fall into the sea so they thought better remove it first. Also the road was down to one lane due to the other one having fallen into the sea. They indicated that the sand bar was about to collapse and that there was no money to prevent the road and lake dissapearing into the sea entirely. Does any body know if anywork has been done to prevent this happening? I was down there a few years ago around Christmas time and met Ken Small. A bit of a curious chap. It is strange how a hobby becomes an obsession and takes over your life resulting in estrangement and divorce. Wouldn't happen to me, oh hang on a minute.

Well it would appear that in certain circles you are trying to indicate that you have a very low tow hitch. Not very exciting really. Sorry.

I see that your bucket is so big that it almost drags along the ground. Now I am sure that means something specific as well in certain communities. I will just check exactly what with a work collegue of mine. Very nice ride by the way. Tim (too)

So when you drove with a bucket of water/ or beer and ice on the tow hitch, what proportion of the contents did you lose? Maybe the roads are better where you are than they are here, but i am concerned with bits of Jeep falling off with some of the bumps and could guarantee an empty bucket after travelling only 5 miles. I do concur that the folded bucket looks good on the jerrycan strap and am sure that it could be put to a use even if just for hygene or washing a vehicle. However it is a free country (supposedly) and you can do what you want with your bucket as there is probably a photo of someone doing it somwhere. Now does anybody know where i can get a black leather bucket with chrome studs? Tim (too).

What a wonderful job that Vickers is! Truly spendid. A shame that it will be leaving the country, but i guess without the foreign money the restoration would never have been completed to such a high standard. Anyway, in time it may come back to the UK again. The restorations of the FWD, Autocar and some of the Dennis are available on the Devon MVT website: http://www.g-j-anstee.demon.co.uk/ If you click on the box "about us" followed by "restoration thumbnail" you will see pictures of the restorations although the Dennis still has a way to go yet. It will give you an idea of the fun we get up to! Just heard today of the remains of two WW1 Thornycroft J type truck chassis that are looking for a new home. I hope to go and have a look soon as there maybe some bits worth having. Sadly it seems that all of the interesting bits are missing but they are worth taking a look at. Tim (too).

Very good point. I went through all my Jeep photos last night and found only one with a canvas bucket and that had replaced the jerrycan altogether although was still held in place by the jerrycan strap. I can't quite understand the desire for canvas buckets as vehicle accessories, i mean what use are they? You are not going to fill the radiator with water from one, it is hard enough trying to get the water out of a jerrycan, and the war department always provides collapsible canvas basins to wash in for hygene. I do notice that you can now buy good replica canvas buckets for about £20, so perhaps it is just a clever marketing ploy. From my brief examination of technical manuals the buckets seemed to have been mostly used in cavalry regiments for horses to drink out of. OK i know a great deal of cavalry regiments had their horses replaced with Jeeps and maybe the idea of a canvas bucket was too much to let go of. The buckets were never issued with the Jeeps so the driver had to obtain one for some reason or another. As for personal preference the canvas bucket does look an interesting extra when folded and attached to the Jerrycan strap, but the photos would suggest that this was rare. However, they do still look slightly ridiculous when attached to the tow hitch, especially when on a bigger vehicle, except for gypsy caravans, steam traction engines and as photos would suggest anything of the Wermacht although their preference does appear to be for galvanised steel buckets (- now what does that tell you about the driver). I would not necessarily dismiss the bucket tow hitch signal thing as a wind up as it may be possible. Homosexulaity was a very serious crime at the time and people have always looked to attract the interest of prospective partners in various ways. I presume that it would only be the driver doing this on empty trucks as the consequences of fixing the bucket to a troop carrier of 20 men could be unpleasant for any interested party. More research is required here and it might be best to ask veterans carefully if they ever saw hanging buckets, however for the more brave amongst us i am prepared to lend you my bucket and pay for your admission to "The Pussycat" nightclub to undertake more research. Tim (too).

I enjoy hanging kit on my Jeep, it makes it look a bit special. One thing that i see quite regularly on other WW2 vehicles is the folding canvas bucket hanging from the tow hook. Within the Devon MVT this practice was quite common, until a WW2 veteran (an ex MP) explained that during the war doing this would be a chargable offence for two reasons: 1). It exposes the bucket to undue damage from flying stones thereby causing leaks and rendering it unuseable. Wilfull damage to Government property. 2). It was used as a signal from soldiers with a certain sexual preference to other soldiers of a similar sexual preference as a method of contacting them (much in the same way as hanging a red bandanna from your back pocket is today - or so i am told). Any thoughts anybody?

I have just been involved in an element of a restoration on a mid-1930's tank and with nothing to go on, the books were only of some help in trying to get it as authentic as possible. Very enjoyable challenge and also frustrating, but I have to say that now we are in the age of the internet, it has reduced the delay in obtaining photos and information from sources worldwide. Richard Sorry Richard. I forgot. That sounds interesting. Which tank was that, the Vickers? Tim

I have just been involved in an element of a restoration on a mid-1930's tank and with nothing to go on, the books were only of some help in trying to get it as authentic as possible. Very enjoyable challenge and also frustrating, but I have to say that now we are in the age of the internet, it has reduced the delay in obtaining photos and information from sources worldwide. Richard Sorry Richard. I forgot. That sounds interesting. Which tank was that, the Vickers? Tim

Yes, you are right. That was the first MVT show that we took the Autocar to. Due to the slow speed, high fuel consumption and difficulty in getting tyres we have to haul the trucks on a trailer as opposed to driving them to all but the local shows. The Autocar also went to Denmead and the FWD went to Detling a few years ago as well when we had some help with sponsorship. Both also went to a WW1 truck show at Basingstoke where there were 5 WW1 trucks but the trip was paid for by the museum (very good of them). Apart from our local show and London to Brighton & bournemouth to Bath commercial vehicle runs that is the only times they have been out. All types of vehicle restorations have their own challenges whether it is size (Antar), weight (Sherman), awkwardness (Champ), however you hit the nail on the head with WW1 trucks. There are no spare parts available. You have to make everything or find someone who will make it for you. Luckily my brother Steve is a professional engineer who can do just about everything we need. We have been very fortunate with friends and contacts who have passed on parts, leads etc. Only a few weeks ago we acquired another WW1 Dennis truck chassis from underneath a demolished bungalow but which still had its differential. Just about everything else had been removed from it, but luckily the dif cover was rusted solid and they had been unable to get the bronze out. A fantastic find and just at the right time as were looking at getting one made. The internet is as you say a marvellous tool and i have found so many manuals, photos and books which i would never have found otherwise. Still looking out for another Peerless engine though, you never know. I will see if i can get some pictures posted. Will have to work out how to do it first though.

Hi. My name is Tim Gosling, and my Father (Tony), brother (Steve) and I collect and restore WW1 army trucks. Can't remember exactly why we do it, but I think started it off when Steve bought the front half of a Thornycroft J Type which had been converted into a water pump up a Welsh mountain. The back half of the truck did not fit in the shed so the previous owner had cut it off and scrapped it. Steve later found another complete chassis and then quite recently an engine in New Zealand. The restoration is ready to begin with the diff being the only major missing part, however we have to finish our current project first. Since acquiring the Thornycroft we bought 2 1917 Autocars (one ex WD the other civilian - but both now restored), a massive pile of mostly dismantled Peerless trucks (by my estimate the remains of 8 but with enough parts to restore 2), an EX US AEF 1918 FWD truck (now fully restored) and a Dennis restoration project (actually the remains of 7) which is now well under way. In addition, after the purchase of the first Autocar i went for something a bit "modern" and imported a 1944 Willys Jeep. This has been restored as a Chaplains Jeep and has "Chaplain" and two white crosses across the Windscreen, making it stand out a bit. Photographs of the Autocar and FWD feature in the November edition of MMI, but would be happy to send anybody photos if they are interested. The Jeep is great fun and i really love it, but i find the WW1 trucks fascinating. I have always been a bit suprised by the complete apathy that some MV collectors have for WW1 stuff. One chap arrived at our house because he heard that we had some military vehicles that he could look at, but when he heard that they were not WW2 he got into his car and left without looking at them. Personal taste i suppose, but i would be interested in any military vehicle whatever the age or nationality. Any thoughts anybody?

I have seen them there on restored Jeeps, but believe that they should be located under the front passenger seat. I think people put them on the fender just to show that they have one. In reality i cant think that i have seen any photos of war time Jeeps carrying a decontaminator. I shall have to go and have a look through my books to check.

I have seen them there on restored Jeeps, but believe that they should be located under the front passenger seat. I think people put them on the fender just to show that they have one. In reality i cant think that i have seen any photos of war time Jeeps carrying a decontaminator. I shall have to go and have a look through my books to check.

We have a 1917 dated British Army Peerless truck to restore and wanting to do something to make it stand out thought that we should restore it as was in service during the Palestinian campaign. The query is what colour were they painted at this stage. Looking at photos of them in Palestine they seem to be much lighter than the greeny brown used in Europe, but can anybody confirm exactly what colour would be correct. We wont be looking to start the restoration for a little while as we have two other projects to finish off first, but i do like to plan ahead. Incidentally, if anybody has any spare Peerless parts that they might want to sell or swap, do please let me know.