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No reason for submitting this other than that I've just printed off a copy for the garage wall and thought that I'd share it. I think that it's a magnificent piece of 1940s propaganda / advertising. Marking on the chair is Southern Command and the state of the front tyre suggests they've been having some fun on it. http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4329/period16hbig4periodpublfr7.th.jpg[/img] Rich.

Oh, I see... Well actually I still don't have a bloody clue. Why would I want to have lots of thingies open at one time ? Doesn't it just get confusing ? It sounds like trying to keep lots of balls in the air at once. I've heard of "Firefox" but wouldn't dare to try swapping around with things like that. Anyway, at least I now know for certain that there is no "maybe"... I am stupid ! Rich... I'm off to the garage to listen to the clockwork gramophone ! :-)

Thanks chaps, now I know what that nice little picture of a house does ! I'm afraid that "open another tab" has lost me completely - Is it an obscure reference to going off for a ciggie ? It remains a puzzle to me that probably the most complicated thing most of us own comes without a handbook. In my defence, I have to cope with Windows in Dutch. Mostly the language is not a problem anymore but when it comes to computers, I have to deal with a Dutch Nerd's translation of a word that an American teenager has thought up to describe something which could be explained quite simply in proper English. (My preference is for the turn of phrase found in 1930's Maintenance Manuals).

Why is it, that since the big update, I can't get out of HMVF by using my "previous" button. I have to resort to that red cross in the corner and that takes me out of my Google home page as well. This feeling trapped is something that I had really only previously noticed on some commercial sites and I assumed it was intended to stop me getting out until I had bought something. Is there an easy way out ? Has someone dug a tunnel or do I have to go over the wire now that walking out through the main gate is no longer possible? Could the Escape Committee advise me on this ? Cheers, Rich.

:? What day of the week is that then ?

I've used Morris's monograde oils for years. Good stuff ! http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/ (usual disclaimers, no connection &c.)

I'm a little puzzled. Isn't this what the Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for ? I'm also a little uneasy that it is also a bit disrespectful to those who have died since, or would it be the case that the Medals office would be burdened by thousands of posthumous requests from the grandchildren of bomber crews wanting an extra gong to put on the wall ? I hasten to add that I have the utmost respect for the bravery of the bomber crews and feel that what they did was necessary. I might have some sympathy for the "anti" case if the enemy had been defenceless but the Bomber Command casualties clearly show that not to have been so.

This forum hasn't really taken off with the motorcyclists has it ? To be honest, although I have an interest in military history and a fascination with most old military vehicles, I consider myself more a motorcyclist than an MVer. Harleys are a bit of a special case as well, even olive green ones. Dare I say, flashy, showy and glamorous, precisely the qualities which attract so many re-enactors to the well known American units :evil:

If it jumps out of gear, it's probably a Series 3 !

I believe that it was once part of the Spanish Netherlands but that was before 1940 :-) It is the road between Brussel and Leuven. Montgomery's 3rd Division held the Dyle (Dijl) Line at Leuven until forced to withdraw by the French defeats to the south. Rich

Yes, it was, the Brusselsesteenweg in Erps-Kwerps (wonderful placename). According to Peter Taghon in "Mei 1940", the café "Weduwe Bogaerts" has now disappeared. Rich.

That's the one Richard, although my preference is to see them with a couple of Mk1*s or Mk11s peaking over the top. Do you know IWM F4423 ? It carries 3 Div. markings. http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/1038/moriscommercial3diverpsnq6.th.jpg[/img] ImageShack has degraded the scan quite a bit. Let me know if you'd like to see a better copy. Rich.

I have been looking at a card in the "ZB" series and am puzzled by the information shown in the second column headed 'Engine No. "AFY" chassis "B" veh' On this particular card, there is very little information entered in this line. Can anyone tell me what "AFY" means and can this column be used for either chassis or Engine No? If only the chassis number which is implied by the wartime census number, why the reference to Engine No ? Was the engine number used if the chassis number was not visible ? presumably everything was under about six layers of paint by the early 1950s ? Any help / suggestions would be appreciated. Rich.

They pay £15 to look at a Stalwart with no engine and transmission that they're not allowed inside of. What might those chaps be prepared to pay to look at a complete one ? Or am I missing the point as well ? :?

How can a truck with a windscreen be "sexy" ? It has to be Aeroscreens or nothing ! My vote goes to the early 15cwt Morris Commercial.

Presumably you're not in sales then ? - Or does HQ have moral or liability concerns over the product being used on old engines ? :-) I actually thought that the disappearance of Jenolite was a bid to increase Coca-Cola sales ! :roll: Seriously, the best treatment for a rusted engine is to drop it in a tank of diesel for a month or so. This is of course a lot easier with motorcycle engines than Jag blocks.

Rolf, You haven't found any beautifully engineered parts with LV7/NC labels have you ? Rich.

Ah well, just have to keep my eyes open and my ear to the ground :-) The lists of D.M.E. Circulars have just enough info to whet my appetite. For instance, B.19 of 1/10/1940 dealt with rectification when necessary of fracturing petrol tank lugs on Nortons and the factory certainly beefed-up the lug casting at some point (without issuing a new part number of course) but I would be fascinated to know what the official fix was for the early pattern, if only so I know what to do when mine breaks ! Rich.

Thanks for your views, not exactly what I wanted to hear of course. It doesn't surprise me at all that the main archives were destroyed when no longer needed but I am puzzled that none seem to have escaped. The references to them seem to imply that they were quite widely distributed. Presumably much of the more mundane information would have gone down to Section Fitters and not just been retained within RAOC / REME ? Contract-stamped parts books with obsolete VAOS LV7s are not uncommon but perhaps they were sold off post-war ? I wonder if Commonwealth forces received / retained these documents ?

I am keen to trace some of the information contained in Wartime circulars between B.40 and B.433 - These all relate to motorcycles. Despite often being referred to, for instance in the R.A.M.T. school booklet which I have, I have not been able to locate any. The REME museum believes that they were destroyed as and when replaced by REME documents. However, they must have been quite widely distributed and I can't believe that there are none out there. Does Clive have a collection ? Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Oh dear, if the motor's become an ether junkie there's no way back now !

Oh no, that poor bloody cabin boy !

Just seen a suggestion on a motorcycle forum that the local press is reporting the planned closure of Arborfield Garrison. Anyone know if it's true and where that leaves the REME collection ?

You'd think that Blair's lot would have put a bit of spin on it, wouldn't you? "Due to rising standards of education, the MOD is finding it difficult to recruit persons willing to leap out of perfectly airworthy aeroplanes"

It's just started messing around again for me. Can't get in and then have trouble opening individual pages (The usual Forbidden message). Then suddenly OK. Whatever, it doesn't seem to be sorted. Rich.