May1940
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Posts
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Richard
I have been researching the history of 'Service colour'. While it is mentioned in many documents, it is difficult to find surviving examples of it. I understand from an article by Bill Ward in Tankette 51/5 that you restored 'the AA lorry at the IWM'. Presumably this is the Thornycroft at Duxford. Bill said that you found some original paint on that lorry and matched it to create the paint for the restoration. Can you confirm that and can you tell me if it is possible to get hold of a sample of that paint.
Thank you in anticipation.
Andrew Foulkes
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Andrew ,
Yes, this is correct. I think it was back in 1987 we restored the IWM Thornycroft J mobile anti aircraft gun now at Duxford,. When dismantling e found original paint under lamp brackets etc. At the time we used ICI coach finish paint, they matched the colour for us but would only supply in gloss plus matting agent which we had to mix in. We have held this colour ever since and loaned it out on various occasions !. Last job we used it on was the 'Battle Bus' for London Transport Museum in 2014..
Always we have added the matting agent to get the right finish.
But having said all of this I am sure there were many variations of this colour originally , I am sure nobody worried too much about the finishing shade . Somewhere we have the mixing instructions and ingredients for the similar US army colour.
W have some ready mixed in stock , I am sure we can always paint out some for you. Have a look at the LTM web site. Let me know what you would like .
Kind regards,
Richard
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Mike That's a pretty unusual picture. Great to see these vehicles in colour. Where and when was it taken? Regards Andrew
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Chris I think the conclusion was that in January, when the picture was taken, 97 Fd was still complete and the transfer of a battery to 1 RHA did not happen until later. This indictates 16 is 97 Fd. Thanks again for your help. Seasons Greetings! Andrew
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Chris Thanks for confirming this. I will now add this number and unit identity to the list of GHQ AoS numbers we are compiling. Andrew
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Les Over on another forum - WW2Talk - we are trying to identify what Arm of Service numbers went with which GHQ units in the BEF in 1940. We are making some progress. I saw your picture of the CDSW with the AoS 16 here and have not seen that number anywhere else. I hope you don't mind that I have added it to the 'collection' in our thread here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/30097-bef-army-troops-vehicle-arm-service-markings-others-16.html Your identification of the unit as 97 Field Regiment has led to a lot of comment and interest. Can you tell me where the unit identification came from? Thanks Andrew Foulkes
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Hi In another forum someone pointed out to me that this abandoned vehicle in a Bundesarchiv picture of Calais in 1940 is an Austin 7. Andrew
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Alan Not a very good first post there - I meant to say that Les's plan was of a No.24 limber of pre-war vintage. See picture here. And I forgot to sign -off! Regards Andrew Foulkes
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Alan Your pictures of the limber and gun are excellent - is there any way I can obtain full size copies? In fact I understand this is the No. 26 Mk 1 limber specifically for the 4.5 inch howitzer. There are occasional shots of it with the BEF, including on Pathe news clips. I attach a low res scan, I think from a kit instruction leaflet, to show the different shape. Les's plan is of a No. 26 Limber which seems to have been the pre-war limber for the 18/25 pounders. (I have yet to see a single picture of such a limber with the BEF.)
