B series

Stone crusher with drag line behind on the HBR. AEC Tipper, Army Fordson W.O.T. 2, 15 Cwt, and an ex RAF Brockhouse Bowser, 450 gal with Zwicky pumping equipment coming off the old Euphrates ferry, Iraq.

In light of your comments, how about it is a regular CMP with GS body, with No 13 cab, that has been fitted with a windscreen frame assy from a Gun Portee vehicle. I guess it might depend on how similar the No 13 and No 43 cabs are in the windscreen / cab mounting area. B Series.

Caption reads: This is S/Sgt Alec Downs (75 CRE(Works) MEF), dog Pippy, on the bonnet of my Chevrolet pick up HBR 12, at HBR quarters, Zerka, 1942. Caption reads: My driver Abu Khalil and self with my Chevrolet pick up HBR 12, on the HBR between Zerka and Mafraq, Trans Jordan, November 1942.

Here is a DeHavilland DH98A Rapide that had a forced landing in the Iraq desert. Overland recovery was performed using this AEC tractor and semi trailer, with the arab driver in photo.

Hello Pete, If you have an interest in Iraq, Trans Jordan, Palestine & Middle East oil fields and related, you might be able to find a copy of this book somewhere. I found a copy in a book shop around 2001 and showed to to my friend who worked for Iraq Petroleum Company 1940's to 1960 and he was surprised that a book had been published and the fact he knew so many of the people and places mentioned. Published by Cassell & Co in 1958 by Wayne Mineau. I own an interesting book published by the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), which gives all the technical details and pictures of every piece of wheeled equipment operated by the company. Dated 1953 It is a big heavy book, maybe 300+ pages on heavy duty paper with a section for each type of equipment from passenger cars to oil field tractors and huge trailers. 130 seat passenger semi trailer towed by a Kenworth tractor. The mother of all busses! Based on Kenworth 629, 6x4 chassis. A note in the book mentions the ride in this vehicle is not as good as a regular highway bus.

I have never owned one, but for some reason I am thinking Bedford RHLZ Fire pump (aka Green Goddess)

Here we have a White 6x4 with petrol engine approx build date 1935. Originally this was a tractor unit with center mounted winch used for pulling semi trailers loaded with 12 inch oil pipeline for Iraq Petroleum Company. But two of these tractors were modified into recovery trucks for use by the 75 CRE RE to keep supply traffic moving along the HBR. It is recovering an AEC Tipper that had been rolled because the arab driver was drunk, a not uncommon event and one that was difficult for the RE to stamp out. Some of the arabs were pro British and some pro German, the driver of the recovery truck although employed by the RE was suspected of giving information on the locations of the HBR road parties to german informants so he was often given false location information. So it caused some difficulty when your recovery truck driver thought you were working in one location, only to be called out to another maybe 300 km in the other direction. They had two recovery trucks covering 1000km of desert tracks and the HBR, so it was not uncommon camp out and wait a few days for assistance. I case anyone is thinking how are these colour photos. You could buy from Kodak a book of tear out strips of different colours to use during film developing process (Kodacolour I think), and with a lots time which they had in the desert, and darkroom practice , you could somehow colour in your own black & white negatives, which is what was done with these two photo's. B Series

I agree, almost looks like the cab started a passenger car body and was modified in length and width. I also wondered about the front suspension arrangement, I think they might be early gas springs or dampers out the front end. I have a feeling that Scammell investigated the use of these at some point post war.

Well that looks like a good untouched Series III. It has just stood outside a got faded. But I like the overall look, and the fact that it is fitted with the correct period Xtra grip tyres means it has maybe not done many miles since disposal. Bumper is straight, never seen that on a ex Falklands Land Rover. Even the front number plate bracket is not bent, to good to be true. The hood is FFR spec, but that does not say much. Based on this photo, I would go for it.

HBR supply truck, Marmon Herrington, 4x2, Tractor at Rutbah, Iraq, 1940. Rutbah was the only scheduled stop for the well known Nairn Transport Company overland bus service between Baghdad & Damascus Syria. At some point during the war this bus service using MH tractors and very large air conditioned passenger semi trailers made by US company Budd was operated by the RAF. There was a good write up about it is a Wheels & Tracks magazine for those who can remember that fine publication.

A 1930's Marmon Herrington tractor unit supply truck on the Wadi Rueshid Bridge near HBR H4 station, 1940.

I have started a new thread for some background information and photographs of work in WW II and later on the Haifa to Baghdad Military Road by 75 CRE (Works) RE MEF First some background about a good friend of mine of 50 years, and who was there and took the photographs. In September 1939 he was in Palestine on school holidays visiting his parents, which he did every two years (his father was a Royal Engineer during WWI in Palestine, and later appointed the Chief Engineer for Palestine Railways, his mother was a nurse in QAIMNS during WW1 more about these two later). As all civilian transport back to the UK had been cancelled due to start of WW II, he reported to a British Army Base at Sarafend to see if he could join up, but only given a medical because there was no enrolling procedure for British subjects in Palestine at that time. His visa did not allow him to work in Palestine, and British dependants had to leave Palestine via ship to South Africa. (His mother left for South Africa on a troop ship but it was torpedoed in the Mediterranean sea(more about this later). But with some string pulling he was allowed to work as a civilian on the Haifa Baghdad military road construction, but only on the section in Iraq which was a neutral country at the time. Bearing in mind he was 16/17, and was working and living with RE soldiers (all in civilian clothing due to Iraq neutrality, and all former Iraq Petroleum (IPC) employees) in Iraq, with his father remaining in Palestine & mother en route to South Africa. Eventually in Aug 1940 at Sarafend, he was appointed Surveyor/Road Foreman Iraq & Trans Jordan with 75 CRE (Works) RE MEF working as a civilian. In October 1942 he was "absorbed" into the British Army, traveled to Sarafend, and onwards to Moascar, Egypt for a two month wait for his army service number to come through from the UK, and was then transferred back to 75 CRE (Works) RE MEF to his old job on the Haifa to Baghdad Military Road, but now officially a Sapper. On 9 August 1943 he was transferred to Kent Troops RE (Demolitions) at Athlit? Palestine, and then 18 November 1943 seconded to the IPC to demolish an oil pipe line that was 100's km in length until June 1944. July 1944 he was transferred to the TA (Reserve) but working for IPC until Oct 1946, and then a full time employee of IPC. His first task working full time for IPC was to repair the oil pipe line he had blown up whilst with 75 CRE Royal Engineers. He was good at demolition, so it took two years to repair. So he left UK for Palestine 1939 for a school holiday, and did not see the UK again for 7 years! He worked for IPC on the oil pipe lines and pumping stations until 1960. He met his wife, a ballet dancer with the Hungarian State Opera at a reception arranged by King Faisal II at the Royal palace in Baghdad. The opera was touring through the Middle East on their way to Australia, they married in Baghdad early 1950's. They remained friends with the King and family, taking the Kings children on trips to the desert. But the King was executed in 1958. When the political situation in Iraq worsened, after 1958, they did not feel safe, and left for the UK 1960. Bit of a boys own action man in his day, but never talked about it much, which was a shame really. On return to UK he and and his wife never really adjusted to life in the UK, it was all a bit tame and lacking excitement. He was always a desert man, and he said a cup of tea never tasted right unless it had some sand in it. They purchased a Austin A40 in the 1950's and and they both made several trips from Iraq to UK via Hungary and return, and also to North Africa. I hope you enjoy the photo's and I look forward to comments and questions. Sapper, 78 CRE (Works) RE, MEF taken in 1944 Capt Squires, & Staff Sgt Maclean and driver with Chevrolet Utility at HBR Camp G.E.1 on the Trans Jordan Iraq border August 1940. Caterpillar Grader on auto patrol at work on the Haifa Baghdad military road being operated by 75 CRE (Works) RE 1940. The engine on this grader did not work, it was towed via a cable by any available heavy vehicle. More photos to follow. B series

Forum members seem quite interested in this information and photos, and you like a lot of detail and background so I will take more time and add more information, I don't mind doing it if the interest is there. I will start a new thread and load them slowly unless anyone objects. This Chevrolet pick up (6 cylinder) was used by several members of the RE unit including my friend, loaded with fuel, food, water, weapons and several spare tyres on a 700 km drive to escape to Haifa during the Iraq rebellion 2nd May 1941.

HBR 245 for Haifa Baghdad Road fleet number 245

Hello Kevin, I have some background information about these men, and photos, because a friend of mine was one of them, unfortunatly he passed away in April aged 98. I could post some vehicle photo's and further info, but not all the vehicles are military but maybe operated and directed by the RE, so not sure if wanted on this forum.

This photo was taken in Trans Jordan in 1940 and shows a Chevrolet pick up in use by a RE Surveyer clerk on the Haifi to Baghdad military road construction being managed by 75 CRE MEF based in Cairo. The road construction & maintainence staff originally worked for the Iraq Petroleum Company, but when WWII started all the British engineers were told they were being seconded into the British Army RE, nothing would change carry on doing your jobs. So they did, there was no British army presence in Trans Jordan at that time, so they did not receive any training, uniforms or even service numbers for many months. After about 6 months, a senior officer arrived and could not understand why they had no military facilities and no evidence at all of the British army. No camp guard or guard room not even a radio, he wanted to put one man on a charge for something, but the solider did not have a service number, and there were no army forms or clerks, nothing. No one knew how to march, salute or had seen an army rifle. When after many months they were issued with uniforms they were told they were not permitted to wear them in Trans Jordan. The RE directed local arab workers, some who sided with the British and some who favored the Germans, on road & bridge construction using a mixture of British vehicles like Fordson WOT pick ups and utilities, and american mostly pre war construction equipment. The Haifi to Baghdad military road was 1000km across Palestine, Trans Jordan and Iraq, important in case troops were needed quickly via troop ships into Haifi to go north in case the Germans and Italians advanced down from the North.

Richard, As a FV1600 owner, I can see where you are coming from with the curved windscreen, but these photo's predate the FV1600 design. This batch of photo's were taken 39-45 in North Africa as far as is known. Also I forget to mention in my original post, not so easy to see on the copied photo, but there is a small white 5 pointed star on the side door, near where I guess the door handle would be. B series

What is this vehicle? This looks like a 15 or 30 Cwt size, but the curved top corners to the windscreen I cannot place, and the windscreen is quite upright & shallow. (kind of 1990's Humvee). Also the central screen upright is quite wide for some reason. Photo caption on rear is: Les Leary driving, myself waving from back. Here another photo of same truck taken at a different time. Could this be a CMP with No 13 cab, fitted with a locally sourced windscreen? Photo caption is: Myself driving just about to enter the water, made it through alright. B Series

British Army Jeep, with unclear markings. Looks like it is being unloaded from a lorry, or maybe the lorry body is being used for shelter. No caption on the photograph.

Another WWII photo. This looks like a Morris Commercial undergoing wading training in the desert. Or may just an excuse to cool down in water. Canvas around the front to slow water ingress into engine compartment and RAF roundel for aircraft recognition. Caption on rear of photo is: This one sunk and had to be pushed out.

Is the theory that with the odd shape teeth the contact area is longer within a given space and therefore can transmit greater load, or with that tooth design the pinion is not trying to wind its out of engagement with the pinion, and in fact would be "locked" into the crown wheel by the transmitted torque by virtue of the V wedge shaped teeth? Setting up with marking blue would the option I would use, but it seems to me initial adjustment would not be intuitive. After a life time in automotive design and testing I also like complicated designs that push the limits. That's why I own an Alvis Stalwart😅 . But I also like other nice engineering , such as the Congreve rolling ball clock, a interesting piece of engineering design but was unreliable and did not work that well, bit like a Stalwart really.

Not aware he served in Japan, but maybe Malaya because I have a photo of his showing a 105 mm Pack Howitzer taken in Malaya, which I will post in due course.

Here is another vehicle marking plate from WW II, from same collection as the previous PASS plate, so it has been in storage for 75 ish years. I have no information on formation or unit, but maybe related to North Africa or MEF. Plate size is 8 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches.

Wow. That pinion and crown wheel are cut on a taper as well, that would be difficult with a modern gear cutting machines. It is almost like someone has set the machine shop an almost impossible task as a test. It is difficult to see how the correct meshing could be established due the shape of the teeth, moving the pinion forward or rearwards would not have the usual effect on backlash. Maybe with time it would mesh / wear in and it would work. I can see why the world did not adopt this design. I would imagine that it produced a very distinctive noise when running.

Thanks for this information. I did not know WW II armoured cars had such short census numbers starting with F. At least I have learnt something new today.