Old Git Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 The RE Museum has posted the following image on their timeline and it clearly shows a group of British Motorcyclists/DR's on a 1918 Harley, larking around for the Camera. I wasn't aware that the British used these bikes towards the end of the war and just wondered if anyone had any info on their acquisition/usage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel7 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Looking at the badges, I think they may be Canadians? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Git Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 I don't think so. The cap badge is RE, shoulder title is RE (not RCE) and it did, after all, come from the RE Museum archives. Sadly their archives are packed up pending a massive re-org so then can't provide any additional info at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79x100 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Is the registration number British ? 'BM' was a Bedfordshire series issued 1903 to 1920, but the use of dark letters on a slightly lighter background is a puzzle, or has something occurred to the negative ? It's either a foreign or civilian registration which probably means that it's not an issue motorcycle. Here's another Harley though (from eBay a while ago)...Presumably they were quite available surplus as soon as the Americans returned ? Cap badge looks to be RE again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Git Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share Posted August 11, 2020 I wondered about the Reg as well and wondered if it was just a straight BM for British Military. That said though I think they simply used civilian registration for vehicles in the early days, so maybe it is Beds. Thanks for the photograph, any idea what year this was taken. The do look like RE cap badges but will save it to HD and see if I can't zoom it in Photoshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79x100 Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 Typically for eBay sales, no background info at all. 'AT' was a Kingston upon Hull that ran from 1904 into the 1920s - probably only used on motorcycles. The bike in the background is a Zenith-JAP with 'Gradua' gear so presumably not military... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 l have a few sales catalogues from the 1919/20 for sales ordered by the government property disposal board there are a number of motor cycles with civilian registration numbers a batch of DOUGLAS two and three quarter hp CE 254/421/172/170/252 INDIAN SP 1386 most are identified also by engine number 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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