REME 245

Another picture here. Fordson chassis were very popular in the UK for this use. Facebook

A quick search on just the Bedford MW states 66,000 produced so between all the other models including civilian models used 200,000 looks reasonable. Logistics many say is the main reason the Germans lost the war. After failing to capture the Russian Oil Fields they were increasing their use of Horses again by mid-war.

Looks like a Vickers Machine Gun Pouch.

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.