texfit Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi All, As a way of introduction I thought I would share some pictures I found in my late Fathers effects. He was in the REME (Captain) during the advance through Europe towards the end of WW2, the pictures are of his unit billeted somewhere in Europe. Six of the pictures show the method of lifting the spare wheel from its location atop the vehicle using kit carried on board. As for myself I don't own a vehicle, I love all things Scammell, Heavy Haulage and Big Cranes, I build models of trucks and cranes. Hope the pictures are of interest. Regards, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I've moved this thread as you had aleady posted an Intro back in April.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 What fantastic pictures - images like these are so valuable for what they can reveal - for example an improvised spare wheel crane (what a base - a gun plank outrigger tied on!), the vertical member of which looks like a towing pole?? I like the essential Ward laFrance at the end of the line-up - obviously there just to bring home any misbehaving Pioneers Also of interest is the variety of front wheel tread patterns. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi John , thank you for sharing those fantastic photos ! I had never seen this before ! Really interesting to see ! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Pioneers are always well behaved. Very nice pictures... yes thats the T shape towing pole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scammell 7377 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 really interesting thanks for sharing more photos like this are always welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecyMech Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Yes please, any more you have more than welcome. My old man was REME during the war so these are particularly interesting to me. Howard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 some brilliant pics there. I've never seen a spare wheel carrier of that pattern before. Might have to knock one of those up for our Scammell Cheers, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) some brilliant pics there. I've never seen a spare wheel carrier of that pattern before. Might have to knock one of those up for our Scammell Cheers, Richard And you'll have every other Scammell expert telling you 'they never had those it's not original' Love pics like these, so many little details, like the canvas that seems to have been stuck onto the locker tops, never seen that before either..more please John, is it possible that your father was the inventor of the s/wheel carrier? He was obviously involved enough to take pictures of it. Edited July 30, 2012 by gritineye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) I never knew there was such a thing as the T towing pole until Niels pointed it out - I thought it was even more of a diabolical bodge than it was! :blush: Edited July 30, 2012 by N.O.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 great pics thanks for sharing :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Here is a couple of pictures of the T pole from the manual. I am by the way looking for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 And you'll have every other Scammell expert telling you 'they never had those it's not original' Love pics like these, so many little details, like the canvas that seems to have been stuck onto the locker tops, never seen that before either..more please John, is it possible that your father was the inventor of the s/wheel carrier? He was obviously involved enough to take pictures of it. Yeah, exactly what i thought Bernard. At which point i'd pull out these pics, and ask the person in question if they fought in the war. Don't people like that just piss you off. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 In the first pictures with the Scammells lined up it looks like that all of them has the spare wheel carrier of this type Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les freathy Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Super images John and something different on the Pioneers to boot, Tell me did your father take photos of other types of vehicles in the unit that you could share on other threads thanks Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamond-t-steve Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Great photographs. Notice they are all named as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamond-t-steve Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Here is a couple of pictures of the T pole from the manual. I am by the way looking for one. No doubt the insperation for the axle clamp/swan neck towing pole we see today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texfit Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) Hi All, Glad you liked the pictures, and yes the spare wheel carrier was my Dads idea and the canvas tops to the lockers, a bit of early H&S, it gave a better grip for muddy boots!. The spare wheel rig was knocked up when and if materials and time where available, I think the two Scammells next to the Ward Le France have not had them fitted. I checked with Brian Baxter at the REME Museum and the late Mike Thomas of the Scammell Register and there is no official record of the rig. I am in the process of sorting several interesting items out, they are all going to the REME Museum at Arborfield, one item in particular has been described as 'The most comprehensive record of any recovery unit in wartime, anywhere'. It is a list of movement of my Dads unit, from leaving Eastbourne 03-07-44 to 03-05-45, detailing where the unit was and where they stayed, by country and buildings. I attatch a re-written copy for you chaps, I'm sure Brian won't mind. I have found a few other vehicle pictures, two show a mangled truck, it ran up a tree killing the driver, my Dads pal, the last one of a Citroen Saloon is marked our prize! Regards, John R Hornsby. Edited August 7, 2012 by texfit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texfit Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 852 Reme movements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 John, Thanks for sharing these pictures, excellent material! That 8cwt......afwul crash. I am trying to see what 8cwt it is....Snipe or Ford WOC? Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.