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Posted

I have been trying to get some idea of the vehicles in service with the British Armed Forces in 1969. I already have plenty of reference material on AFVs, artillery, and the 'soft skin' transport likely to be seen on 'front line' duties - but nothing on vehicles used in the support roles. Of interest to me are vehicles which were last survivors of WWII. These in use by the Army I know about, some from this very site (and thank you all for that): DUKW, Diamond T 980/981, Bedford QLR, Matador. I would be grateful if anyone has a confirmed sighting of the Bedford QLT, QLD, and the articulated GS QLC at that late date, Also missing are the various 'consumer' types in use - staff cars, off-the-shelf vans and the like. Cheers, all.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted
The Hippo; thank you. The QL is of particular interest; were they all QLR? Any proof of QLD, QLT or QLC (artic)?

 

While working for the MoD from early 70's, there were the odd few QL's still in service and like a lot of old stagers, they were not the common GS vehicles but specialised bodied ones and the QL's were mostly QLR, but not normally in Radio format, one I remember coming in for repair was the Commanding Officers caravan from an Engineer Regt. The Hippos suddenly appeared having come out of storage, to supplement the 10 tonner fleet whilst waiting for the Foden 8x4 to come into service. The nearby TMP had a load of them and we saw them in workshops regularly until the spares dried up. I think they might have come from the Antwerp Vehicle Depot.

 

I would very much doubt the QL artic survived long after the war, never see many photos of them.

Posted

I know at least one QLR was modified to 'Office Body' , that ended up in the Pay Corp, paying off about 1971. There was a seperate brass plate on the R body giving date details of modification.

Posted
Also missing are the various 'consumer' types in use - staff cars, off-the-shelf vans and the like. Cheers, all.

I remember about 1979 being volunteered for HMQ's Official Birthday Paraded at JHQ Rheindahlen. Stood at the edge of the square in Adam Ant kit, with cavalry sabre on the shoulder, I watched the VIPs roll up, junior VIPs first then rising with rank and status to the Big Boss. I remember seeing a lot of the (black) staff cars being Ford Taunus (West German Cortina - Mark 3? ) but I vaguely recall seeing an Austin Maxi (dunno when the Maxi came out) and I do distinctly remember seeing a big boss roll up in an Austin 1800. Wiki tells me the Austin 1800 was around from 1964. It certainly looked old (but loved) in the late 70s.

Posted (edited)

Don't know about the Maxi but the Austin 1800 was used a lot as staff cars and Ministry cars. The RN also had standard civillian Land Rover 12 seat Safaris. One of the guys at FH had a Hillman Husky estate that was ex RAF. He'd bought it from a surplus sale. Another staff car was the Vauxhall Velox! I was given one as an 18th Birtday present! Fablous old beast. Big straight 6 engine and three gear coloum shift. Bench seats . We called it the 3 couple car, two across the front seat two acros sthe back and two in the boot!

Edited by Tony B

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