Rick W Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 3 photos from same set, 8th Army at Alamein, looks all the world to me that it is a Morris CS8 in all 3 pics, would anyone like to confirm or deny this? Quote
woa2 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 The truck in the first 2 pictures is a Ford WOT2H. The 3rd picture is, I beleive, a Humber radio truck. All the vehicles are from the AFPU unit in North Africa called 'Chet's Circus'. They were famous for faking photographs, and the second photo is a good example. The explosion was actually caused by one of the crew throwing a hand grenade for effect. Chet's Circus was led by Sgt Len Chetwyn, and they re-staged events to get good photographs. There is a classic photograph in the Imperial War Museum, number E18908, which is supposed to show troops advancing in battle. It actually shows Australian troops storming a cookhouse in the rear areas. If you want to read more on 'Chet's Circus', I can recommend 'The Desert War 1940-1942' published by the Imperial War Museum, where a photo of all of Chet's Circus personnel are shown on page 185. Quote
Rick W Posted July 9, 2008 Author Posted July 9, 2008 I knew someone would say a WOT....Are these published photos then Robert? Quote
woa2 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 I knew someone would say a WOT....Are these published photos then Robert? The first photo I think I have seen before. The second photo is most definitley published and is well known. The 3rd photo I have not seen before, but I have seen very similar photos of a WOT with 'arranged' bullet holes (IWM photo E23186). Quote
Snapper Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 yep. Seen the top two many times over and they are always welcome. Do they come from your rescued picture library, Rick? If so, good. Never seen the bottom one. Good stuff. Quote
LeeEnfield Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Good pic's Rick. Cheers for posting, can never get too many pics of non american allied vehicles/troops. Andy Quote
Tony B Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 I've seen the second one in dozens of books, it has to be a classic. I think it is even in the War Illustrated magazine, Now you tell me its a fake! Quote
Rick W Posted July 9, 2008 Author Posted July 9, 2008 yep. Seen the top two many times over and they are always welcome. Do they come from your rescued picture library, Rick? If so, good. Never seen the bottom one. Good stuff. Quiet day at work....:coffee: Quote
HotBed Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 great pics, looks like a big hand grenade to throw up dust like that ? regards graham Quote
woa2 Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 great pics, looks like a big hand grenade to throw up dust like that ? regards graham There was a TV programme on some years ago where they interviewed one of the surviving members of 'Chet's Circus' and he explained the details of how they got that particular shot. His advice was, if the photo shows action in the far distance then it is probably a genuine photo - if it is in the foreground, then the photo is probably faked. The faked action photos were usually done the day after the battle had happened. Quote
Nick Johns Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 3 photos from same set, 8th Army at Alamein, looks all the world to me that it is a Morris CS8 in all 3 pics, would anyone like to confirm or deny this? Humber Quote
LeeEnfield Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Humber Now, THAT is a NICE looking vehicle.....:-D Quote
woa2 Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Humber The Humber Radio truck shown here is owned by Bernard Venners from Pangbourne near Reading. He restored the vehicle himself. Quote
Tony B Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 The Humber Radio truck shown here is owned by Bernard Venners from Pangbourne near Reading. He restored the vehicle himself. The were also used by Y service SWS as listening posts and D/F vehicles. Quote
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