john_g_kearney Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 An interesting line of thought, Smithy. Given that the war was over, could the deceased even have been flown home if of high enough rank? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 17 hours ago, Ex-boy said: Hi Ted, I was a bit before you, as my MRS memories are from Arborfield, 1965/1967. I guess my memory was a bit hazy though, as Receiving instead of Reception appears to be the concensus. Hi Ex Boy, your recollection is correct ; RAF " mobile receiving stations" were renamed "Mobile field hospitals" in May 1943. searching the tinternet post WW2 the British Army always used the word reception. I was coming to the end of my RAF life sentence when I chose to get specialist help at Redford barracks rather than the NHS- It was the best decision I ever made !! The RAF called our post war equivalent of the MRS, station sick quarters, then regional medical centres then station medical centres god knows what they are called now LOL sorry to deviate from the thread subject TED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 38 minutes ago, john_g_kearney said: An interesting line of thought, Smithy. Given that the war was over, could the deceased even have been flown home if of high enough rank? John. Doubtful they didn't bring Col H home from the Falklands , I think Iraq was the first full blown action where we repatriated. TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryH57 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Could there be the possibility that the deceased was a civilian working with the RAF in Hong Kong such as a Doctor ? Also I guess the few potential list of casualties must be a small selection, as I got the impression many ex-Japanese POWs were too weak to be repatriated immediately and many died after liberation. Edited February 8, 2018 by LarryH57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 On 08/02/2018 at 9:38 AM, john_g_kearney said: An interesting line of thought, Smithy. Given that the war was over, could the deceased even have been flown home if of high enough rank? John. Hi John, no it would have been very unlikely that the deceased would've been flown home - they would have been buried close to where they died. Even after the end of the war. On 08/02/2018 at 10:18 AM, ted angus said: Doubtful they didn't bring Col H home from the Falklands , I think Iraq was the first full blown action where we repatriated. TED That is correct Ted. The CWGC care for those on the Falklands on an agency basis. On 08/02/2018 at 3:12 PM, LarryH57 said: Could there be the possibility that the deceased was a civilian working with the RAF in Hong Kong such as a Doctor ? Also I guess the few potential list of casualties must be a small selection, as I got the impression many ex-Japanese POWs were too weak to be repatriated immediately and many died after liberation. There is a chance of this, and as they wouldn't have died of enemy action then they wouldn't be in the CWGC database. However given the high military presence in the photo I'd guess that they must have been serving. I plumped for the Commonwealth casualties due to the Union Jack on the coffin. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-boy Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 43 minutes ago, Smithy said: Hi John, no it would have been very unlikely that the deceased would've been flown home - they would have been buried close to where they died. Even after the end of the war. That is correct Ted. The CWGC care for those on the Falklands on an agency basis. There is a chance of this, and as they wouldn't have died of enemy action then they wouldn't be in the CWGC database. However given the high military presence in the photo I'd guess that they must have been serving. I plumped for the Commonwealth casualties due to the Union Jack on the coffin. Scott Not sure I agree with your comment on CWGC records. My understanding is that all deaths in service, even many post-war are recorded and of course also have headstones where burials took place. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 8 minutes ago, Ex-boy said: Not sure I agree with your comment on CWGC records. My understanding is that all deaths in service, even many post-war are recorded and of course also have headstones where burials took place. Steve. Hi Steve, yes I perhaps should have explained better. Any servicemen who died up to 31 December 1947 would be recorded on the CWGC database - and receive a CWGC headstone. I was referring to the fact that if it was a civilian doctor who died, as Larry stated may have been a possibility, then he wouldn't be commemorated as he didn't die as a result of enemy action. Thanks, Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 (edited) This photograph is of members of 40 Air Stores Park, serving in the Western Desert circa 1943. Any thoughts about the tanker lorry in the background please? The chassis looks military with its single instead of twin rear wheels, but the tank does not (to me at least...) John. Edited May 28, 2018 by john_g_kearney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Could be Chev or Ford built to the same pattern. Single rear wheels could be an alternative fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 1 hour ago, john_g_kearney said: This photograph is of members of 40 Air Stores Park, serving in the Western Desert circa 1943. Any thoughts about the tanker lorry in the background please? The chassis looks military with its single instead of twin rear wheels, but the tank does not (to me at least...) John. With the glimpse of the front wing and wheel, and rake of the windscreen I would say Dodge or Chev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Many thanks, John and Richard. I have found another view of it - a tiny part of a group photograph, here much enlarged. Is it looking more like a Chevrolet from this angle? Any thoughts on the tank please - water or petrol? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 This is the group photograph. Is it possible to ID the type of trailer please, I wonder? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 1 hour ago, john_g_kearney said: Many thanks, John and Richard. I have found another view of it - a tiny part of a group photograph, here much enlarged. Is it looking more like a Chevrolet from this angle? Any thoughts on the tank please - water or petrol? John. John, Definitely Chevrolet, and right hand drive, so guess it came in from Canada. Tank looks to be a local adaption, probably water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 (edited) Individual top hatches points to multi compartment. If the unit can be assertained that may help with tracing equipment. Edited May 28, 2018 by john1950 addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 The trailer has canvas sides and there are indications that it could be a generator ........ but of course it just might be a mobile stage for the ENSA group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 There seems to be a timber board walk resting against the side of the trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Richard and John, many thanks for your various responses. Unit is 40 Air Stores Park, serving in the Western Desert. I believe the unit went to Italy subsequently. Here are members of the unit with a different trailer. Is that a sun helmet on the ground far left? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 I would say the tanker is water- even though it appears to be multi compartment. I cannot see any refueling equipment or pump, just a single delivery hose, it is parked beside the first mystery trailer. The trailers were of a standard basic pattern, size and shape; however this one has a full length raised centre portion which incorporates a ventilator which indicates it is a "cooking tender trailer" in other words a mobile kitchen. The water tanker is parked beside it and its the focus for the lads, most sitting on 2 long wooden forms to have a cuppa and what ever goodies came out of that box. There is a crudely made duckboard resting against the trailer possibly for use when a hot meal is served via a lift up hatch with the canvas side raised to become an awning. So I would say this is the "Messing Area". Second trailer- solid sides , no windows, 2 vents in the roof, I would say this is a Stores Tender Trailer- i.e. binned and loose stores which would be a typical for an Air Stores Park. Hope this helps. ted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 It helps a lot, Ted, many thanks. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 (edited) That would appear to be a sun hat plus two wicker baskets jerry cans, and early british fuel tins, boxes, and possibly one piece of summerfield tracking resting against the left of the trailer. On the left side of the tank at the front there appears to be an insignia, and ajacent to possibly the front and centre compartments two white crosses in chalk. I would think the hose has been used as gravity drainage, or to connect to remote pumping, to either fill or discharge. There should be a record of the vehicles and equipment allocated to the unit. It seems that they were not short of tin mugs. Edited May 29, 2018 by john1950 addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Many thanks, John. Detail views here. As well as the German jerrycan, note too the German 5 cm ammunition box - I think the stencil reads '5 cm KWK" ie the ammunition for the 5 cm gun as fitted to versions of the PzKpfw III. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Close up is much better, they are not wicker but wood boxes. Another tea mug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Not sure if this member of 40 ASP is going to bother with a mug... Did an Air Stores Park handle food, drink and clothing, or only such as fuel, oils and parts as required by aircraft? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-boy Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 On 29 May 2018 at 9:58 AM, ted angus said: I would say the tanker is water- even though it appears to be multi compartment. I cannot see any refueling equipment or pump, just a single delivery hose, it is parked beside the first mystery trailer. The trailers were of a standard basic pattern, size and shape; however this one has a full length raised centre portion which incorporates a ventilator which indicates it is a "cooking tender trailer" in other words a mobile kitchen. The water tanker is parked beside it and its the focus for the lads, most sitting on 2 long wooden forms to have a cuppa and what ever goodies came out of that box. There is a crudely made duckboard resting against the trailer possibly for use when a hot meal is served via a lift up hatch with the canvas side raised to become an awning. So I would say this is the "Messing Area". Second trailer- solid sides , no windows, 2 vents in the roof, I would say this is a Stores Tender Trailer- i.e. binned and loose stores which would be a typical for an Air Stores Park. Hope this helps. ted It looks to me like someone wearing cook's whites just to the right of centre in the group photo, which would add weight to the messing area scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 This is the man possibly wearing cook's whites. (Looks convincing to me...) John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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