REME 245

A dealer told me that when the Naval Storage depot at COPENACRE in Wiltshire was closed in the 1990's there were a quantity of these offered for sale. Presumably most were scrapped but this may be a survivor from that batch?

Unless it is in a private collection somewhere I would be surprised if it has survived. A lot of vehicles, artillery and other artifacts have moved through the Shrivingham collection over the years to be replaced when they no longer have a relevance to the latest generation of students. If the main stream Museums expressed no interest it would have been scraped.

My father use to stay with a relative who lived in Weymouth during the war for holidays. He recalls a child drowning as a result of unexpected depression under the water on this very shallow beach. It was presumably caused by either a landing craft or other vehicle getting stuck on the way in and excavating a hole trying to extricate itself.

Without any rubber pads on brake and clutch pedal's due to shortages, metal on metal contact must have been potentially dangers but lots of soldiers did wear hob nail boots particularly in things like carriers. If you caused an accident on a modern show ground due to wearing hob nails expect the police to take an interest.

Probably get more responses here if you are on FB. Wolf and Tithonus Owners Group WTOG | Facebook

I would agree with your interpretation of Australian troops. The Australians may have been considering acquiring some or just troops on an exchange visit / training in the UK.

As far as I am aware its a standard Blaster Unit for the period also used on Livens Mortars. You do not say if yours is an american or UK manufactured unit. I brought a replica in the end but still looking for an original at a sensible price plus anything else Livens related. The Livens was still in service during WW2 but not used as far as I am aware. There are WW2 dated manuals and I have a WW2 dated Muzzle cover.

The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry examples had their Regimental Crests applied in the same positions as these in the form of colour decals. These look very similar to the RWY Crest but obviously if you were there at the time and examined the vehicles closely you must be correct. I would not have imagined that a regular Regiment would wanted these vehicles with their inherent stability problems due to their raised height. There must have been hundreds of the others marks in storage at the time.

Surprisingly a small number of the extended turret version were brought back to the UK to see service with the TA. The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry had a least one and the later Royal Yeomanry at least two. I had one which I never got round to restoring which had served in both Regiments. I have been unable to find out who now has it.

As for a source for spares, you buy another one and break it. Normally a few on e-bay.

I give talks on the site. I know a lot more than they do or the town Museum who are poor on their military history.

In the unlikely event you see any pictures of Trowbridge Barracks during your research where the operators were trained early in the war I would be interested. I have three accounts from operators of their time whilst training at the Barracks but pictures are very rare.

There is a picture of one coming ashore at Normandy. The Dutch also had some at the end of the war. I have also seen one in a Berlin vehicle park at the end of the war so amazingly they did see some limited service in NW Europe.

One was sold in this country about 5 years so in theory still around to view. The Royal Artillery Historical Collection may also have one in their collection in Wiltshire.

Eau de nil was introduced very late war and was later replaced by sky blue which is still in use. It will be one of these colours.

I work for a Unitary Council and I am not aware of us retaining any large stocks of anything. We would make use kitchens in Schools or other buildings we own.

Regarding your comment in your first post, I would be very surprised if MOD still kept any of these stoves in storage. The days of vast Storage Depots all over the country are long gone. The Treasury is also meat to have changed the way it accounts for items some years ago so if the MOD decides to keep items in storage the amount they get in new funding is reduced. In 1940 the War Department were able to bring something like a million Rifles out of storage to equip the expanding army. All of the perfectly serviceable SLRs and 7.62 Bren's were cut up not long after coming out of service. The MOD would now have difficulty in giving everyone a rifle if we mobilised tomorrow.

One of the Danish ones presumably so probably very low milage. Some had WOT6 Fordson bodies fitted.

Are we actually talking about a Para Bike here? It has not been mentioned. For my BSA Infantry Bike I sourced the 28" diameter tyres from a Dutch company.

What diameter are the wheels.

Something like a Humber 1 ton / Pig?

The generator pictured is designed for radar use producing strange voltage. This is your other choice. These were imported to the UK throughout the war for army use. Get a size on these. WW2 Onan 1260 Watt Field Generator. NOS And Charging Unit | eBay

Early war they wore the 3 pocket ammunition carriers with bracers and belt. I have never seen a Pouch MT is use.

The one you have is a Jap 1250 watt Generator. Villars and Douglas amongst other manufactured their own version of this generator using their own engines. This would have been produced from around 43 onwards. My 500 or 550 watt which is the earlier model is approx 30 long, 22 tall and 19 wide. Does your manual not identify the output of the generator if nothing else.