Austin K2/Y - Ice Cold in Alex

[simon king]

I’m interested in the markings on the K2/Y(s) in Ice Cold in Alex.

Looks like an plain RASC diagonal green/red AoS square without superimposed unit code on the offside front and rear and perhaps a made up Div Sign on front nearside of a white circle within a black or red square. Does that make sense or has anybody got a definitive answer ?

thanks

[wally dugan]

The RASC A.O,S would be correct the only division in TOBRUK at the time of the second siege and withdrawal  that had WHITE CIRCLE ON  black square was the 5th indian division

[simon king]

Thanks Wally,

I suspect there was an element of artistic license with the film markings, although they seem to be grounded in reality.

I also wondered if the background square might have been red rather than black and was intended to allude to the 7th AD but without the red jerboa, particularly as they had missed the unit code on the RASC AoS square.

[simon king]

Just found a better copy of the publicity shot and the sign actually seems to be a body coloured diamond superimposed on a black or red square

[rupert condick]

Hi

The humber box has the same markings,

if you can find a good picture that might help.

it is  film and fiction, filmed in 1957/8.

regs

Rupert

[wally dugan]

l would suggest that the HUMBER is marked up a 13 corp who also were in TOBRUK at the same time as 9th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION There are two  good images of the  sign in the early part of the film one  going into the dock and just before it gets blown  up and is  the same as the K2 near the end at the RMP post before going into ALEX

Edited January 14, 2021 by wally dugan
a amendment to text

[Chris Hall]

Aghhh, worth waiting for!

 

one of my favourite films.

[rupert condick]

Have a sunny picture,

1941 Austin K2y ex ME.

update a bit.

late 1941 early 1942, with LoC plate for Alexandria

an Ice Cold in Alex plate

 

the other Katy in the film.note the  strange sand mate 

the sandmates were stored on the rear mudguards.

regs

Rupert

Edited September 3, 2022 by rupert condick
updated images

[Brad K]

Hi folks, only just stumbled across this so I hope you see this given the age of the post. I hope this will be useful. I was lucky enough to work as a film archivist for many years and know that John Mills was a prolific home movie fan. This glimpse from “Ice  Cold In Alex” home movies has a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment which shows the front end of Katy very clearly. I took a frame grab posted below and here’s a link t9 the film clip.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=331130451238655

As you will see, yes, RASC aos on the near side and XIII Corps in RED o/s straight onto the sand wing, no white. Interesting that the 5 bridge rating seems to be on a sand disc, rather than the usual yellow. The props man probably forgot the tin of yellow Japlac! 

Brad

Edited December 9, 2023 by Brad K
Additional information

[Brad K]