B series

When I started with the MV hobby back in the early 1970's I sometimes found photographs of military vehicles for sale in junk shops, or at some of the early MV shows. I purchased these Bedford photos in the 1970's maybe at a junk / book shop or possibly at one of the early Duxford shows. I did not know at the time of purchase how unusual a Bedford QL with US army markings was, but I have since educated myself and this is the only Bedford QL with US marking I have seen. But I have no information about the photos date or location, and there are no notes on the reverse of the photos. B series. p.s How do I edit /change the signature detail on the bottom of my posts?

Good comment John1950 about the larger tyres, I had not noticed they look larger diameter than standard. Richard, I think you are correct, it is a wooden body with hinged tailboard. See photo below. Looking at the vehicles parked down the the street, I think the location is UK somewhere, late 1950's / early 1960's. Also in the photo below it looks like the rear end of a Willys or Ford Jeep hood frame and hood parked behind the QL. Regarding possible civvy ownership comment, there is no UK rear registration plate visible, which does not prove anything but could point towards a non UK operated vehicle. Regards, B series

Unusual combination of vehicle and markings. And the building in the background is an uneasy style of house / factory. B series

The model is looking good. A little info on W.O.T. 6 machinery trucks which might assist Post war ERM's were in approx ranges of 24YX87 to 42YX79. WWII census numbers included 5498212, 5940058, 5498341, 5525374, 5498754. They were fitted with lathes manufactured by Harrison, Regal, LaBlond, Denham, Bentley, Keighley and maybe others. Specifications and equipment varied, but often included a engine valve grinder, some made by Wolf, a bench drill some made by Grimstone. And a generating set. And a good selection of hand tools stored in slide out drawers. B series

The truck is as David Hurbert stated, CMP with No 13 cab. Bridge plate looks to have either a 3 or 7 diplayed. I think the vehicle has had a Bedford badge attached to the front grille, and a Christmas decoration reindeer has been tucked in behind it, you can see a bit of reindeer hoof/foot just below the Bedford badge. I expect it is a teddy bear above the reindeer. Someone somewhere trying to add a bit of Christmas cheer. B series.

J picking poppies on her Matchless, near K3 Iraq. J struggling with the Indian in sand near K3 Iraq. If you have been reading this topic from the start, you will maybe wonder, how a young ballet dancer with the Hungarian State Opera ended up in living in the desert and pushing a Indian Chief around Iraq. She used to laugh about it, and said you need uncertainty to enjoy life. Caption: J with our IPC Left Hand Drive, Humber Super Snipe Coupe near K3. Caption: My company Humber Super Snipe Coupe, fitted with over size tyres. This was an excellent car in all ways. I have not seen a Humber Super Snipe Coupe with this body style before, but IPC had several Humber pick up's and saloons all fitted with oversize tyres. I don't know if Humber produced these for export markets. I want one. If I could buy one now I would. It is just what I would like to run around in. Stylish and British. I feel that this is a fitting photograph to draw this series to a close. A man enjoying life, with his favorite car.

Western Desert German War Graves, North Africa Western Desert

So we are coming to the end of this topic with photos focused on the Haifa Baghdad Military road because we have moved through WWII and into post war civilian vehicles. But we have not mentioned motorcycles so here a couple of photographs. Matchless 350cc in stuck Wadi After the war it became possible to obtain personnel goods, so my friend purchased an Indian Chief, mainly chosen because his mother owned and rode an Indian motorcycle during WWI in Syria and Iraq. Pictured on the K3 road Iraq. 6 October 1949.

New vehicle arrivals, International pick up and a Humber Snipe saloon fitted with over size tyres for improved flotation in desert conditions.

Foster-Wheeler fractionating column being towed by a Federal 6x6 tractor, and a Caterpillar grader, Iraq.

After the war ended new vehicles started to arrive to replace WWII and even prewar plant. International tractor with Frauhauf trailer, December 1949

AEC 6x6 25 Ton truck with trailer on it's side at K2 Iraq 1947. AEC 6x6, 25 Ton truck on its side K2 to K3 road Iraq, 1947

Photo caption: Children playing in the abandoned RAF generator truck, Iraq, 1947.

IPC driver Ghanis David with AEC tractor and 25 Ton pipe carrier. Iraq 1947 AEC tractor with 25 Ton pipe carrier, East Bank K3, 1948

IPC Road foreman Hamad Muslat, with his Caterpillar D8 dozer at Wadi Ba'eer 1947.

Army Chevrolet C8A Heavy Utility Personnel (HUP), with Euphrates river in the background, this was the first 4x4 light vehicle the unit was issued. Same truck, but ownership now transferred to IPC and on local registration plates, Iraq 1946. The young girl in the photo is still in fair health and living in the UK. Ahmed Azoi with Caterpillar D8 dozer near Wadi Ba'eer on K3 to H1 road, 1948 Thornycroft tractor, with 2500 gallon tanker, spraying crude oil on the road to keep dust down at Wadi Ba'eer, 1948.

Hello Richard, Thanks for the link to the crash report, seems it crashed in Syria, but was recovered to IPC in Iraq. I was not posting many of the photos I have on HMVF because they are not military vehicles, but if you have an interest in aircraft here is another one that had a bad day. John Howards G-AKHA crashed on take off due to blow out at K3 airport, January 1949.

Richard, I don't know about D8's, maybe the term starter motor was used instead of donkey engine in the photo caption.

S/Sgt Downs Utility car HBR No1, with Sheikh Abdulla Majella Abu chauffeurs and Hanna Shemali, in Zerka Yard, Trans Jordan , August 1943.

Caption: Caterpillar D8 with towed scraper and a stalled engine. Not normally a problem, but the starter motor had been removed for repair, but as no spares available it had not been replaced. This was taken in the river at Ruseifa Bridge between Zerka and Amman, Trans Jordan, January 1942.

S/Sgt Downs of 75 CRE(Works) RE MEF), driving his Caterpillar Auto Patrol Grader between H3 and Rutbah, Iraq, 1941.

Caption: Tractor and scrapper on the Amman - Mafraq road, Trans Jordan 1942

There were several reasons for the many roll overs a) Drunk, or tired drivers operating very noisy vehicles in high ambients leading to loss of concentration and boredom. b) It was not unknown for a driver to tip a truck over so he could end his shift early. c) Nothing to focus on when driving, only sand for hours. d) A common practice was to spray the road surface with crude oil to keep the dust down, any curves, corners or bridges were not supposed to be sprayed, but the spray truck drivers could also be drunk or tired. e) The tipper trucks had a relativity high centre of gravity, because of the chassis design and tipping mechanism. They had large tipping bodies that were often over loaded. In addition, the effect of increased height due to oversize flotation tyres and the fact that they had reduced overall rear track width because they ran with single tyres. Maybe they were hard to keep upright, especially if sliding on crude oil!

I am not familiar with the 43 cab, but the one in the photo does look wide, I recon you are correct.

Thank you Richard, If that date is correct it means some of the photo's in the album I am working from are not in chronological order. B Series