DWS

Thank you for that, having 'Googled' Ministry of Aviation I see it was established in 1959, taking some of the Ministry of Supply tasks on. The motorcycles I was looking at were all ordered new in 1960 so that ties in. Having re-checked my records I see that only 12 machines were actually ordered by the MoA, all in February 1960 (sorry for the previous error). I have to say I was not aware that the Air Ministry (or RAF ?) were issued with Matchless motorcycles of this period. However, as it was only 12 machines, maybe they were intended for Air Ministry Dispatch Rider use? I have duplicated this post in the Motorcycle section of the Forum to see if anyone has more information.

I have been studying a hand written transcript, done many years ago, of some Matchless factory records from the 1960s relating to Home Office/War Office/Ministry of Supply orders for Matchless motorcycles and come across a strange abbreviation. Most of the records relate to orders from either the Ministry of Supply, noted as MOS or War Office, noted as WO. But a few dozen are noted a MOA? Has anyone come across this abbreviation relating to a department connected to the Home Office etc. Surely it can't be the Ministry of Agriculture? What would they have wanted 30 or so motorcycles for? Could be a typo but... Any ideas?

Hi Lex I think you may have hit the nail on the head! The very first entry on the scan you provided certainly ties up with the information I have, which is 8 Matchless 350cc Motorcycles were ordered by the Ministry of Supply from the Matchless factory as the initial evaluation batch of motorcycles for the AFS, the date of that order I have is June 1953. The date on the scan is 15.6.53 so that looks like the right contract. The following three enties I'm not sure about yet, but it seems we are on the right track. I have quite a bit of information about all these AFS Matchless motorcycles so can certainly pass on the information to you however, is it possible to contact you 'Off Forum' so as not to take up lots of space on here? Many thanks Dave

Hi I help run the Auxiliary Fire Service Matchless Motorcycle Register and we are constantly on the lookout for more information about these motorcycles. I am led to understand that the actual Auxiliary Fire Service records were destroyed many years ago however, does anyone know if any Home Office/War Office/Ministry of Supply records still exist relating to the Contract Orders for the production of motorcycles from the various factories, such at Matchless, BSA etc. According to the Matchless factory records, contracts for AFS motorcycles were placed in the 1950s and 1960s by the War Office or Ministry of Supply. All that is recorded in the factory records is the name of the contract i.e. 'War Office' but no contract numbers or other details are shown. Can anyone shed any light on this or does anyone know if such records still exists, and if so, where I would find them. Many thanks Dave

Living in Holmfirth, I went to try and find it the other day after seeing it on Google Earth. I found the field - empty! However, I did notice a small holding near by with a stone barn which had a modern and very large shutter door added to it, I guess the T34 was inside.

Hi Clive Yes, I understand that the Carlisle sale was conducted in a Motel, the vehicles were viewed elsewhere a day or so earlier. I have managed to locate a copy of the relevant Kinross sale catalogue (sale took place at Kinross Motor Auctions Ltd.) and I'm now after copies of the relevant catalogues for the other sales.

Hi All In the course of my research into where and when the Home Office/Ministry of Defence vehicle sales took place in the 1960s and 1970s I have discovered that most took place at Ministry of Supply Ordnance and Supply Depot Ruddington, Notts. However, I have also discovered that some sales took place at Kinross, Carlisle, Colchester, Stirling and Winchester. I have acquired the relevant catalogues relating to my research (ex-Auxiliary Fire Service Matchless Motorcycles) from the Ruddinton and Kinross sales but can find no other information on the other locations? Does anyone have any information at all on the sales at Carlisle, Colchester, Stirling and Winchester please? Thanks, Dave

Hi Clive Thank you ever so much, I really appreciate it, will check again in a few days.:thanx: Dave

Hi Hogus Many thanks for that information, after looking at a number of period photos of AFS motorcyclist in the 1950s and 1960s It looked like it was a situation of "Anything Goes" as far as riding kit is concerned, in just one photo of four or fives bikes/riders there was one wearing the type of coat you described and a Corker helmet, two wearing wax cotton Belstaffs or Barbours with traditional white open face helmets and one chap wearing a pudding basin helmet. A real mix of "Uniforms"! I've also seen at least one photo where a rider is wearing a military steel Despatch Riders helmet. A case of what ever was available at the time I suppose. You may like to have a look at my website at http://www.afs-matchless.info no BSAs I'm sorry but worth a look. Maybe you will have some comments to make on the content. Regards, Dave.

Great day out at Saddleworth, joined the end convoy as the last vehicle (my AFS Matchless motorcycle). Great ride through Uppermill with lost of crowds cheering us on. Left Uppermill, turned left and then everything came to a standstill, then the heavens opened, then surprised to find I was not last anymore - lots of jeeps pulled up behind me - did someone get lost?

I'll be at Saddleworth on Sunday with my ex-AFS Matchless, well it's green :-D

Already started the ball rolling on that one Clive, I enjoy research and no stone will be left unturned now I know the bike has a fire service history :thumbsup:

Hi Clive Your not kidding, when I saw the entries on the logbook I couldn't believe it, it took a while to sink in. My Matchless now has a fire service history :D Now the search is on for more info on its time in Somerset. Cheers Dave

Further to my first post, (which included the quoted information above passed on to me by previous owners), I have just received the results to a Vehicle Enquiry from DVLA which surprisingly included a photocopy of the main page of the original logbook that shows my Matchless WXR 594 was in fact issued to the Somerset Fire Service in 1960 and remained there until at least 1967. This puts a whole new light on its history! Moral of the story - never believe what people tell you about a vehicle's history, check it out for yourself. Cheers, Dave.

Tony Thanks for that, worth following up. Richard Thanks for that info. I suppose like all kit, a lot of spare was left in storage for many years and it is likely that these coats might have been used post war if they were 'found' in a stockroom somewhere. Again worth following up.

Hi All I am trying to find out if there was such a thing as a specific Motorcycle Coat/Jacket in use by the Home Office/Civil Defence/AFS etc. during the post war years. I have seen a few b/w photos of AFS motorcycle riders wearing what looks like a 3/4 length, double breasted coat, it's hard to tell in the photos but it looks to be the same colour/material as the war time DR full length coat, but a lot shorter - See photo. Anyone got any ideas? Cheers, Dave.

Hi Clive Thanks for these copies of the catalogues, they are really going to be very helpful and valuable for researching the AFS Matchless motorcycles. Thank you very much indeed. I'll e in touch again I'm sure. Best wishes, Dave.

Thanks Clive, I really do appreciate it. Dave

Photographic Reconnaissance Unit

Info from the AJS & Matchless Owners Club: WXR 594 - "Delivered to the Ministry of Supply 16 July 1959". Further Information: Batch Three: 48 machines ex-factory July 1959. WXR 551 to WXR 598. The first of the three machines, frame numbers A69181 (WXR 589), A69484 (WXR 595) and A69952 (WXR 581), were taken from factory stock and the rest, between A70765 to A70810 inclusive, were made to order. 17 of this batch are recorded with the Club (as at 2007).

Ted, One more (silly?) question, if I may. Who were the personnel who looked after and carried out maintenance on these vehicles/motorcycles whilst they were at the storage depots? Were they Army personnel?

Thanks for all that Ted, most appreciated. I am waiting for a reply from the AJS & Matchless Club records officer, I am led to believe by other members of the club that the records may well only say "Home Office", when I get a reply I will let you know. Isn't research fun... :nut:

Hi Ted Thanks for that, however, another source has it recorded in Ruddington Sale 100 in July 1969? Are you saying you have records stating it was at the Home Office Supply and Transport sub store at Wilstead in September 1970? I am really interested interested in trying to find out where it was for the preceding ten years prior to 1969/70, would these un-issued AFS motorcycles have been stored at Army storage depots, or did the Home office have their own storage depots?

Hi Ted Reg No. is WXR 594

I wonder if anyone here can help, I have just bought a 1959 ex-AFS Matchless G3. It's history shows that it was part of Home Office contract for 48 machines from the Matchless factory and was first registered in August 1959. However, my particular machine was never actually issued to an AFS Unit and it remained 'in storage' until sold off at Ruddington in July 1969. My question is; Does anyone know where these motorcycles might have been delivered to from the factory, and where might mine have been whilst 'in storage' for those 10 years? Thanks, Dave.