BSA WM20

Thank you

Thank you. A great site with great info

My 13-year-old son and I try to attend a number of events throughout the year with our Jeep and/or BSA M20. He'd like his own exhibit and I wondered if a WW2 bicycle was a viable proposition? Para bikes are too expensive (for us) and I wondered if any other makes and models were used during the war? Any help will be gratefully received. Thanks, Lee.

Military Vehicles Wanted for North Dorset VE Day Celebrations On VE Day 1945, Shaftesbury celebrated victory in Europe by parading through the High Street with flaming torches and dancing to music that came from a gramophone placed on the Town Hall balcony. This part of Shaftesbury was a focal point throughout the entire war with gas masks being distributed from the Town Hall and the air raid shelter being housed under the Post Office. To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, Shaftesbury is holding a very special event on Friday 8th May 2020. From 4pm, the High Street will be filled with music, this time from a stage erected outside the Town Hall. Songs of the period will feature heavily, and once darkness begins to fall, an aerobatic pyrotechnic display will commence. This display is not something to be forgotten as pyrotechnics are launched directly from two planes flying as low as 1000ft. Various stage acts will appear throughout the evening and we’ll be joined by a WW2 veteran who may share a few words. One guest witnessed the original VE Day celebrations at just 10 years of age and it’s hoped we can make the 75th Anniversary equally as memorable. I’m an MVT member and I asked the organising committee if they’d like a couple of WW2 vehicles, my BSA M20 and MB Jeep. The committee would like as many period vehicles as possible and I said I’d spread the word and help arrange vehicle/reenactor entry for the event. With the event beginning at 4pm, vehicle arrival is likely to be before 3pm and the final stage act finishes at 11pm. Should vehicles need to depart before this time, we can plan accordingly, but I’m told that celebrations in 1945 went on into the early hours! Feel free to get in touch for questions and/or a booking form. The event is completely free of charge and it would be great to see you there. My email address is lee@leedavey.co.uk All the best, Lee Davey.

Thanks MatchFuzee

Thanks Jenkinov. I hadn't spotted that story and it's good to read such a personal account. I wonder how many waterproofing locations there were? I found this on YouTube which shows how some of the minor vehicle seams were dealt with

With the help of my father's WW2 service record, I'm putting a list of locations together that I'm hoping my 10-year-old son & I can follow. My dad was stationed at OCTU in Wrotham where he taught officer candidates hot to ride motorcycles and drive Jeeps, Trucks, etc. During the D-Day build-up, he was convoying vehicles to various waterproofing stations and to build-up areas, but was knocked off his bike by a lorry and discharged unfit later in the year. I'm wondering if anyone could summise a possible route the convoy may have taken from Wrotham/Leigh on Sea as well as any waterproofing stations that may still remain? I think I heard a rumour about a Sherman waterproofing area near Wareham that still had some concrete structure visible? I don't know if this is true, or where it is, but any help will be gratefully received. Thanks, Lee

I had to catch my ferry after Bayeux so the trip to Tilly was missed this time. The young lad certainly looked the part in his Para uniform and top marks for the trip to Tilly! I was impressed by his peddling through the hilly part of Bayeux and had no idea he was warming up for another 20 mile round trip.

Thanks Ron, I've sent Frank an email. There was a young lad in the Bayeux Parade on a Parabike with a frame-mounted bag and I've never seen a folding bicycle being peddled so quickly up a hill. He stormed past all the motorcycles!

After spotting a BSA Folding Bicycle that had a canvas bag mounted inside the frame, I thought I'd start looking for one. Solomon Adler list them at £55 + postage but I've emailed them and had no reply. Battledress and Bayonet list the same thing from Solomon Adler at £95 + postage! Can anyone steer me in the right direction for such a bag?

Brittany Ferries helped my budget when I booked. A. £25 deposit secured my spot with the balance payable next year. I booked a few weeks ago and had a good choice of sailings on the Poole-Cherbourg route.

Anyone else going on Saturday? Ill be there with the kids and a '45 MB.

Thanks for the advice. Projects usually end up breaking the budget but I'd better start saving for the initial purchase. If you hear of one that needs a good home, feel free to PM me. Thanks again, Lee.

Although I'd prefer a Brit truck, a Canadian 15cwt Ford made £5000 on eBay (item no 251325597183). Is this the sort of figure Fords sell for and, if so, are the British trucks commanding more money? Is the 70th anniversary boosting prices?

Thanks chaps. Any idea what sort of budget I'd need for a reasonably complete example that mainly needs cosmetic work?