john_g_kearney

Have we had this one yet? Any ideas on manufacturer please? This type of lorry has appeared several times in DesertBloom's posts in use as convoy escort with boiler plate armour in the rear body. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2010003637/PP/ John.

It is interesting to see the Rolls Royce armoured cars on convoy duty have a Lewis gun on a Scarf ring attached to the top of the turret. Was the Scarf ring used in preference to the Vickers in the turret as it was quicker to traverse and gave the gunner better situational awareness? John.

Another candidate here, with a different body; Army markings though, not Police. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2010003586/PP/resource/ John.

I have been looking again at the photos posted by DesertBlooms. I think this truck - extracted from a larger photo - is the same type of vehicle, but before it was fitted with its 'home-made' armour. Any thoughts please? http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2010003584/PP/resource/ John.

Here's another one - collecting military pay from the bank on Friday, some time in 1936. Is that a Crossley? Note the spare spring on the running board. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/matpc/item/mpc2010003693/PP/ John.

Many thanks for these links, gentlemen; most useful. I had wondered if the car belonged to the Palestine Police Force and had done a bit of research; I had not found these links though. (Incidentally, my father had been very tempted to join the Police in 1946 when the left school. Given what a thankless and dangerous task policing Palestine was, I can't say that I am sorry that he did not in fact join them.) Re who did the conversions, as the armoured cars are left-hand drive can we deduce that they were obtained and converted in the Middle East? John.

The Library of Congress website is a great resource, is it not? Any thoughts please on the manufacturer of the car used as a basis for an improvised armoured vehicle? The link to the LoC: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/mpc2010004676/PP/resource/ John.

Re the vertical tie rod in front of each rad, has it got a spring at the top? If so, what is it for please? John.

Interesting tyres on the RL with its front end torn off. Are these standard commercial highway crossplies? John.

And very interesting they are too; many thanks to you both. John.

Re Frederic's post 179, the Opel Admiral is in Russia (first word, next to the date), and I think that the first words read "Rest on the shore of the ? Sea". What do the Germans call the Baltic Sea, I wonder? John.

Not a Model T Ford, but perhaps a Sunbeam or Rover-Sunbeam 16hp without its bonnet in the Egyptian desert circa 1916. (Not quite so near the camera, unfortunately, and the neg is degrading too...) John.

Seems to have been a great day out. Many thanks for the video, John.

Got it, Lex, many thanks. It was the large number on the pallet that threw me. John.

Most interesting photographs, many thanks. What are the Top Sleigh castings on the pallet for please? John.

It looks like the outline of the badge of the Coldstream Guards to me. John.

I think the photos will appeal to more than just Bernard and Andy. I like them a lot too... Presumably the Sherman has suffered internal damage as well as to the tracks if the turret cannot be rotated. Is the rag on the end of the gun barrel red, I wonder? John.

The notes of the markings worn by the 50th Division Pigs were made in October 1971. John.

My Collins Gem dictionary does not have any words beginning раскон... The verb to loosen is given as pacπycкaTb John

Glad to make your acquaintance, and, indeed, to see your Series IIs. Good luck with the restoration of the BGS example; I look forward to seeing it as smart as your civilian one... John.

Interesting, but not surprising, to see that the overturned tractor unit was a 6x6. Any idea why it should have fallen over in the first place? Good point re the hole. Why didn't the Cat just fill it in? John.

Many thanks, Martin; most interesting photographs. Are there alternative mountings for the twin-MGs front and rear? Either way, 360 degree traverse is not possible without the gunner jumping out of the trailer. In use, was the trailer detached and rotated to track aircraft as required? John.

I'm afraid that I cannot contribute anything from personal experience on Land Rover reliability. My own 90 was built as recently as 1993, so it is too soon to say what reliability is going to be like long term. John.

Which was the worst Land Rover? A philosophical question, this... In terms of comfort, the 80 was the worst, I suppose. But at the time it was built, and for the tasks for which it was built, it was a splendid vehicle, without which there would be no other Land Rovers. From the point of view of the average owner, the worst Land Rover would be the one that was most unreliable. I don't think any Land Rover has won prizes for its reliability, but all soldier on none the less. Is there a Land Rover that was so spectacularly unreliable that sales collapsed and the model had to be withdrawn? Not that I can think of... John.

That's a great photograph, many thanks. I wonder how the horses reacted to the twin MGs suddenly going off over their heads? Re the last word, it might read: Pont__ug or Pons__ug. I have given up on my 'Polenzug' transcription as the background does look very French, and the letters 'COIF...' are visible in shop window, perhaps indicating a hairdresser (coiffure). John.