Richard Farrant

Rippo, Between you and me, the number on my QL is not quite right, it is within 100, so pretty close. It was sold off to Danish Army after the war and before the re-numbering started. Key Cards only list those that were re-numbered, so Beverley sent me four pages so that I could cross check to get as near as possible.

I think there was also another there at one time, used for spares, but I seem to recollect that they would not sell when approached by someone I know.

Hi Rippo, You may not be so lucky as to be able to work back or forward from his chassis number to find your census number. When researching my Bedford, it was found by looking at a bunch of Key Cards, that the census numbers were not issued in order of chassis numbers. Some makes of vehicles were, and it might be that it was all done before leaving the factory, but my QL, and I doubt it is any different for a MW, was a nightmare to work out. My theory is that the numbering was done after they arrived at the Vehicle Storage Depots, some could have been held back for reject work or bodywork at another site, etc. If you were to look at one Key Card, you may well find there to be no logical order to those listed on it.

J.C. Bamford Excavators :tup::

is'nt that another name for cola ? :-D

Clive, I recognise that lamp in your photo, some E/Beavers had that type, they were Butlers ploughing / work lamps as used on tractors. That NSN group should be 8REBM/ I think, as that would be correct for a JCB part. I would say this is a supercession possibly. P.A. Thorpe of Skipton are suppliers of components for agriculture machinery. Mike, Butler lamps for tractors are hard to find now, but pattern ones are available, take a look at this one; www.cornishtractors.co.uk/displayStockItem.php?stockid=148

Cheers Adam, I appreciate that. ...............as for Captain Birdseye, he is getting good at diverting threads off the subject :n00b: :-D:-D

Clive, I am going for FV Drawing Numbers, just been looking through the ISPL and some do line up with parts listed. The Perfector group actually came up as components of the window frame, on the GS Humber, although I can find no trace of this company, probably long gone.

Hi Degsy, As the photos were taken in wartime, the locations may not have been recorded for security, but there might be a way of pinning the location down.......the photographer is known, and I think the date is recorded, so with his photos numbered, it might be possible to get a bit more info if other photos from the same time frame can be found, ie on the same day. But....it seems this Google LIFE website does not have a very good search facility. Perhaps there is a way of contacting LIFE people direct, or whoever owns the photo library.

Hi CW, Yes to enjoy some of these things you do not have to leave it too late in life, so I was lucky that these opportunities came along at the right time, as with you Africa trip no doubt. As yourself and Lee have pointed out, the thread has had a great number of hits, so must be popular. I always enjoy hearing of other peoples vehicular exploits. About seven years back I was approached by friend in to entering for the Peking to Paris Rally, in of all things, a 1930 fire engine. The thought of it was wonderful, but reality kicks in when you work out the cost, time involved and all sort of logistical problems, nice to be asked though. My friend did do the journey, but with a slightly different approach. Another story and not quite MV orientated. Now come on, lets hear more from Africa, wind up the heating and get in the mood :rofl:

Have patience........I have to get it together first. :-D

Thanks Jack. I am never sure how interested others are on this sort of thing. The strange thing was that it was not widely known about outside of Australia, before the event. I saw a display showing brief details at Beltring 12 months before, but the scale of the event evolved nearer the time, when the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, Army and rail operators covering the whole route, came on board in a big way. One of the participants, Warren Brown ( now a co-host of Top Gear Australia ), produced a souvenier book after the event, listing everyone in it, with photos of many during the trip, along with all the vehicles and sights. It was laid out as a diary of each days happenings. This helped me fill in gaps in my own notes. There was a lot more I could have written but did not want to bore people with things that they might not find interesting. Feedback and replies helps so that you can get a feel of the interest. The next story is related and took place 5 years later as a reunion, but there were a number of new participants that had missed out on the first one..........and it is much more off-road, after the first few days......just to keep CW happy .

Hi Ted, I cannot recollect the mounting position of the fire ext., but think it might be alongside the seat, and as the hyd. control levers are removed, also, this might be why it is off the vehicle. Were batteries to be sealed in plastic whilst in air transit? This reminds be of an instance when I prepared a Land Rover 1/2 ton for NI, with VPK, it was a rush job, I saw that the battery was sealed in heavy plastic, so cut it away from the top, so that it could breath, got told off later, as it had been prepared for air despatch. :???

Mike, From my recollections of working with these, the User Handbook described how they could be transported by HS Andover or Hercules. Now I have never seen photos of one being loaded in an Andover, but it would have to be through side doors, so forks would be removed to keep length and height down. The removal of the fire extinguisher might be of an air safety issue as it is pressurised.

Mike, This AEC is fitted with a VPK, Vehicle Protection Kit. The cab is clad with bolt on fibre glass armour, as well as the Makrolon screens to protect the glass.

You are right Alien, it was the Scots soldier who died of Spanish Flu. Rolf's uncle suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg, I think and it seems he probably died of blood poisoning, thats what I recollect of the programme.

I thought it was, ...... the other staff cars were all in drab I think :confused:

Norman, You could be right here, as I see it is a British Ford, so by rights, should have a Lucas distributor, which does have slotted holes in it for timing. If it had a US or Canadian dizzy, then you cannot go wrong because timing on them is not done by turning the body ( the base plate is turned within the body ).

Mike, In the last pic that Clive has posted, the strip down one, the worklight looks to be a standard ploughing lamp as fitted to many farm tractors of the period, either Butlers or Lucas. I do not recollect details of when I worked on them, so going by the photo here. A parts list might throw more light on this

Plenty of fresh air and trying not to get stressed :-D. Really I do not know, hair going grey now though.

Tim, Even if chassis numbers have been ground off, forensics can reveal the number, as the stamping will compress the metal deeper in. Not sure how to go about it though, is this surface rusted away or mutilated?

A few last photos, I now realise how much more I have on video, wished I had taken more photos, although you have not seen them all ! 1. Assembling in one convoy for police escort into Darwin. 2. Dave and I with his trusty Land Rover, only problem on the trip was a flat tyre. 3. Some of the vehicles in the Sports Stadium before the Tattoo. 4. A view of Darwin Harbour. 5. Three derelict Carriers at East Point museum, the site of a wartime gun site. Finally, I must thank all those that helped me and made the trip memorable, especially Dave, who let me be his co-driver, get well soon, mate. :tup::

So are you saying that after all the harassment from them, you do not actually need a licence?

Not about charity money being stolen, but it is about justice being served......... My cousin lives in a country in southern Africa, on a plantation. A person was found stealing diesel there, so the security guards cut his fingers off. He had bled to death before anyone found him. And the security guards?..........they were reprimanded..............rough justice, bet his mates will not try the same stunt.

Did anyone see Rolf on BBC TV recently, in a programme where he visited the WW1 battle fields to find out where his Father and Uncle fought? Very moving, as his Father had never spoken of what happened, and his Uncle died over there. They had both volunteered to join the Australian Army, but had only been in the country for two years, having emigrated from Wales.