NigeP Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 A few years ago, I scanned some photos for my Father in Law, of vehicles he drove and used during his National Service as a Sapper in Egypt & Libya. I know he was involved in bridge building, road repair and airfield construction. I also know that he drove a Diamond T amongst other vehicles and towed some form of large trailer carrying the construction equipment. He recently passed away and while digging through the photos I had of him, I found the scans. I was just wondering what exactly the vehicles were. Diamond T?? Scammel?? ??? ??? When he finished NS, he failed to retain his licence, which he regretted as he had to retake his test in the 60's and of course only got a car licence from that. Many thanks for any info on the vehicles. Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Diamond T 980 tank transporter tractor Scammell Pioneer R100 Artillery tractor Ruston Bucyrus face shovel with Caterpillar D7 with LeTourneau blade kit behind Caterpiller D4 with LaPlante Choate hydraulic angledozer. Nice pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Diamond T 980 tank transporter tractor Scammell Pioneer R100 Artillery tractor Ruston Bucyrus face shovel with Caterpillar D7 with LeTourneau blade kit behind Caterpiller D4 with LaPlante Choate hydraulic angledozer. Nice pictures! crikey Adrian..remind me not to ever enter a 'Vehicle Recognition Competition' against you ! I knew sort of roughly what they were .....but you're on the ball you is mate ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Many thanks for that info. I thought the Diamond T was a flat bed truck, but the trailer must attach somehow I guess. I'll have to see if I can find one at a show. As to the Scammel, I presume this would have towed a plant trailer as well. Thanks Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Another one I have found. This is not my Father in Law. I seem to remember him telling me it was a good mate of his that used to escort their convoys. What is the motorcycle? Regards Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 With the ladder forks and the side case, to me looks like a BSA M20 Adrian will correct me if I'm wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) Really grand old photo's NigeP..:-D I don't know how you find it but a good while back I posted similar pictures of my ol' Dads time in Korea and Malaya with a a load of similar vehicles....you might be interested in them if you can dig them out of the archives on here :-) ahah! easy really ..use the search bar :red: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?25854-My-Dads-Korea-and-Malaya-Photos-Mid-1950s-PART-2&highlight=korea+malaya that's Part 2 of the threads there's Part 1 right by it somewhere Edited January 8, 2013 by RattlesnakeBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) Both the Scammell and the Diamond T would have towed a plant trailer. They both have NATO style towing jaws at the back. For a closer look at a Diamond T you can have a look at the restoration thread for Adrian Mason's one: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?9045-Diamond-T-980 Regards Ed Edited January 8, 2013 by Edd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Mike, Bob and Ed, Thank you for your replies. Bob, your photos of your Dad are great. Although my Father in Law spoke to me a lot about his days of National Service, I no longer can ask him where photos were taken. I know where his travels took him from a country point of view, but not exact locations. I was always pumping him for info on his exploits, but only found these photos after he passed away. I know he was at Port Said, Tobruk, and Tripoli, but where these fit in to the pictures, I don't know. Ed, thank you for pointing me in the right direction with the hitch and thanks Mike for indentifying the motorcycle. Lastly, the only other photos I've found so far of life in the RE's in the Middle East Sadly, I can add no words as to locations of these photos. The last one is of the man himself, our 'Albert'. I actually thin it was taken at Barton Stacey, where he was demobbed, but others in the family think it was in Egypt. His younger brother reckons he has his right hand behind his back to hide a wound. However, he never spoke of one, unless the wound was gained in the NAAFI:-D. That's all for now and thanks for the comments Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 The R100 Scammell is as Adrian said an artillery tractor so would have typically towed the 7.2 howitzer in its hey day. Nice pics. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 fantastic pictures Nige, i don`t suppose you have another one of the Diamond T showing its serial numbers. One day a picture like the ones you posted will feature a vehicle that someone on hmvf now owns. I`d love to find one of my T, The hard cab, winch controls in the cab and what looks like the small cutout over the front tow hook got my hopes up for a minute. who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak1 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 A few years ago, I scanned some photos for my Father in Law, of vehicles he drove and used during his National Service as a Sapper in Egypt & Libya. I know he was involved in bridge building, road repair and airfield construction. I also know that he drove a Diamond T amongst other vehicles and towed some form of large trailer carrying the construction equipment. He recently passed away and while digging through the photos I had of him, I found the scans. I was just wondering what exactly the vehicles were. When he finished NS, he failed to retain his licence, which he regretted as he had to retake his test in the 60's and of course only got a car licence from that. Many thanks for any info on the vehicles. Nige Thanks for posting Nigel I enjoyed these pictures, have a look at these on Flickr My Dad was in Palestine the Egypt with the RE. he was a sapper. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redherring Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 If you love machinery and people who love machinery (and ouzo?) then a lovely set of photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 fantastic pictures Nige, i don`t suppose you have another one of the Diamond T showing its serial numbers. One day a picture like the ones you posted will feature a vehicle that someone on hmvf now owns. I`d love to find one of my T, The hard cab, winch controls in the cab and what looks like the small cutout over the front tow hook got my hopes up for a minute. who knows? Dave, Those are the only pics I've found. I'll have a further dig around when I'm next at my Mother in Laws. Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Thanks for posting Nigel I enjoyed these pictures, have a look at these on Flickr My Dad was in Palestine the Egypt with the RE. he was a sapper. David. Some similar poses with mine. I think my Father in Law was out there in 1948. Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMS Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Thanks for posting Nigel I enjoyed these pictures, have a look at these on Flickr My Dad was in Palestine the Egypt with the RE. he was a sapper. David. Great pictures, thanks for sharing. have you read the book "muck shifting for King George"? very interesting read and have many of the same vehicles and equipment in, particularly the road train with the grader dragged behind the trailer, love it:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak1 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 Some similar poses with mine. I think my Father in Law was out there in 1948. Nige Mine 1945 to 1947ish just sent off for his records, 871 Mech Equip company. RE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak1 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 Great pictures, thanks for sharing. have you read the book "muck shifting for King George"? very interesting read and have many of the same vehicles and equipment in, particularly the road train with the grader dragged behind the trailer, love it:-D No I have not heard of it, off to google it now, sorry only just found your reply David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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