MHillyard

I find it a great film and the production very interesting http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074452/trivia a lot of interesting stuff on there filming locations: Berkshire, England, UK(East Anglia) Charlestown Harbour, Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK(Alderney Harbour) Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK(Alderney) Church of St Margaret, Mapledurham, Berkshire, England, UK(East Anglia church where the villagers are held hostage) Cornwall, England, UK(Channel Islands) Goods Yard, Rovaniemi, Finland(railway yard) Mapledurham House, Mapledurham, Berkshire, England, UK(Prime Minister Winston Churchill taken to house) Mapledurham, Berkshire, England, UK(Village of Studley Constable, Norfolk) Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK(near) (Lansvoort Airfield) Pier House Hotel, Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK(George and Dragon Hotel where Liam Devlin is thrown out) RAF St Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK(Lansvoort Airfield) Reading, Berkshire, England, UK(East Anglia) Rock, Cornwall, England, UK(beach & dunes) Rovaniemi, Finland(railway yard) Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK(studio) Warfield Hall, Forest Road, Newell Green, Berkshire, England, UK(US Rangers headquarters)

it has a door modification aswel, the windscreen top has also been modified the wipers must work well looking at how clean the windscreen is compared with the rest!

Also not forgetting the Brockhouse Corgi that was made after the war, It was a civilianised version based loosely on the Welbike.

They were first designed for the SOE so when spies dropped in France etc they could ride away, this was rejected by the SOE for obvious reasons, the sound of a 98cc Villiers engine is quite loud and distinctive and would give away anyone's position. Although the SOE were not interested the parachute regiment took a liking to them and they had several made for the idea that they would drop in containers with the paras, the paras would then retrieve them and ride them to their destination then chuck them away. This is what they were made for. Several Welbikes were issued to other units and some can be seen landing with the British on D-day (will try to find the photo), there is even one photo of an American on one, and not to forget one with a German on a captured one! A number of Welbikes during and after the war were used as airfield run-arounds for officers or anyone who could get hold of one. They were easy transport for going short distances eg. from Hanger 1 to hanger 3, or from barracks to mess hall etc. Several were on airfields in the middle east, not quite sure how they got there. One story which i will have to check up on is that a fighter pilot used to attach one under his plane in a container and use it when he got to his destination. After the war, i think, several were given to India and Australia and a few to Russia. i will have to check up this next bit but: Those that were not kept on bases were either scraped or sold to America, this was because they did not fit the specifications for an MOT so America bought them and sold them in shops. I believe that it was not allowed to let the bikes sell in the UK because of laws etc but this was often ignored and many did find their way out and were used by teenagers for on fields or on farms. In America quite a few were also used as parade bikes for some organisation who few flags from the back of them. It is often thought that the bikes were completely pointless for their task and highly un-necessary but they were great for propaganda saying that we had things very well made for such small tasks and that we were prepared for anything. Well i think that covers most things :-D will check up on details

I dont know exactly why but my main guess is that these bikes were used by teenagers etc after the war and probably used off road and at high speeds. There is no suspension which meant that every impact with the ground affected the bike, also because of the impacts people would fall of, crash etc doing damage to the bike when it crashed/fell. The front forks, i believe, are just metal tubes which with a certain amount of force would just crush or bend. My one the forks have been replaced completely and on the other on they have been bent back. Also the bearings i am sure were not designed to be used for years after the war, so these would wear out making the bike more unreliable. Just my theory:D

Here you go they are great people! couldn't have done my bike without them http://www.villiersservices.co.uk/ Tel : 01384 265797 Email: Contact@VilliersServices.co.uk

Just dug this one up, its the original photo that is blurred. Any idea what is going on?

looks like they just kept the outer frame and added the armour, strange Edit: perhaps a new frame? looks to lean very far back!

another modification

Thats quite impressive! a few more detailed pics

Hope the bike is ok, just sent you an email about the photos Martyn

had a good go at it today, attacking the modification on the headstock. Luckily (see photos) it was only brazed in and brazed in badly. Only disappointment is that the headstock has been cut through where some of the frame numbers are :banghead: Uncovered one more number though "6" so only missing one number. Might be able to work out what it is using some mathematics. The two tubes came out well and the bearing mount is still in place so little more is needed to be done there apart from a good clean-up

Was just thinking of an easy lightweight uniform to wear to shows etc, Tankers Helmet, Tankers Jacket, trousers

so what are the obvious differences between the two? Would the post-war one be suitable with a post war american uniform? I'm not too strong on this subject

so it is probably post-war, would these ones still be used for tank crews? and also how does this one differ from the war-time pattern?

Tempted to buy this, it is described as a ww2 US hankers helmet. Is it a tankers helmet? i have seen similar described as dispatch rider helmets Is it ww2? it has a stamp "57" but is that the date?

I can only find one which you have to pay for: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-champ-workshop-manual-572-573-574-ct-4x4-cd-/290648091935?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET&hash=item43abf9ed1f#ht_769wt_1256 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Champ-4x4-User-handbook-CD-plus-Extra-/380391837524?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET&hash=item58911ecf54#ht_995wt_1396

As promised There are 3 at wolton, one has merged with the bank completely, one lies next to this one and the last is further towards the sea with a hut built on top of it.

There are some left in Walton on the Naze, 3 i think. I have some pictures somewhere which i shall try to dig up. Unfortunately they are full of concrete now for "safety" I believe they were used to carry fuel for the d-day landings and/or as part of the mulberry harbour. They were made of concrete because of the lack of steel in wartime. The known places where they are include Medway Tunnel Tring - Grand union canal South pier road, Ellesmere Port boat museum Bramble Island Walton-on-the-naze Purton Sharpness River Blackwater/Mersey/Mersea Island The Thames Rochester, kent Filton gloucester River Severn Gloucester docks Queensborough harbour Kent Queensborough yacht club Winnington, River Weaver. Dibden Bay West Quay, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. x3 - houseboats Barling Rainham marsh Houghton-le-springs and also: New york (State) France Amsterdam Locations:http://www.forsakenplaces.co.uk/Urbexreports/mini reports/Barges/concretebarges.htm

theres this guy on milweb http://www.milweb.net/webverts/45974/

so i'm guessing they would go in like this...

the main pouch itself seems fairly normal, its those bits at the top that puzzle me

Anyone know what it is for? what they small slips at the top for? Dated 1945

There are still at least one on a telegraph pole at Point Clear near St Osyth, i think they are still used for flood warnings

Any ideas? I realise it has bits missing