Hi, I found these numbers in the war diary of 8 Armd. Bde. W/Shops (WO171/615) in a series of Part X Orders and Movement Orders from Jan - May 44 - so I don't think this is every single vehicle and they may not all have been taken to France. Vehicle Numbers – 8th Armoured Brigade Workshops REME. T148418 Tank Sherman Mark V. A.R.V T148404 Tank Sherman Mark V. A.R.V USA.0027134 Tractor 6 x 6 Hvy B’down Ward al France Code No.749 5249332 Austin 3 ton 6 x 4 Breakdown Code 427A 777076 Tractors 6 x 4 B/Down Hy. MACK. 777065 Tractors 6 x 4 B/Down Hy. MACK. 777077 Tractors 6 x 4 B/Down Hy. MACK. H5306656 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-Trailer Scammell. H5306655 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-Trailer Scammell. H5306570 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-trailer Recvry.Scammell. H5306601 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-trailer Recvry.Scammell. H5306602 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-trailer Recvry.Scammell. H5306597 Transporter. 30 Ton. 6x4 -8. Semi-trailer Recvry.Scammell. L5522425 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522485 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522499 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522471 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522480 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522484 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5286668 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522491 Ford Lorry 3 ton 4x4 f/w Bins 6Y & 22 Code 427A (Class 1a) L5522734 Ford 3 ton 4x4 f/w bins 4Z and 4Y Code 427A L5522623 Ford (Br) 3 ton 4x4 Binned 2 Z Code 427A 4583020 Leyland 6 x 4 3 ton 6whld Type “Z”. L.5289964 Dodge 3 ton L.5289962 Dodge 3 ton L.5289966 Dodge 3 ton L.5289919 Dodge 3 ton L.5404272 Dodge 3-ton Lorry L.5404274 Dodge 3-ton Lorry L.5286185 Fordson 3-ton lorry L.5286205 Fordson 3-ton Lorry L.5286438 Lorry 3 ton L.5286473 Fordson 3 ton Z5252411 Truck 15 cwt 4x2 F/F Z.5201306 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 Z.5202120 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 Z.5201933 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 5353986 Chevrolet 4 x 2 15 cwt 4 whld. Truck Light, Machinery R.A.O.C. Z.5498983 Fordson 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. - Received 2 June 1944 Z.5499585 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) - Received 2 June 1944 Z.5499422 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) - received 2 June 1944 Z.5499597 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) - received 2 June 1944 4894328 Humber 4 x 4 Heavy Utility Car Type T. 5396321 Austin Utility 4685136 Trailer Gas Welding Type 15 cwt 2 wheeled. 4945577 Trailers 1 ton 2 whd G.S. Code No.749 4945869 Trailers 1 ton 2 whd G.S. Code No.749 4945909 Trailers 1 ton 2 whd G.S. Code No.749 C.5127914 BSA M/Cycle 5127960 B.S.A. M/Cycle 5127719 B.S.A. M/Cycle 5127783 B.S.A. M/Cycle I've got a feeling that the M/Cycle numbers include a typo as I would have thought all would have started with the same four digits - grateful for any advice as to which is correct. Regards Tom
Vehicle models were assigned blocks of numbers before production. I don't have a source for motorcycle numbers but I think your hunch about the typo - two transposed digits - is very likely correct.
Thanks, I'll go back and have another look at my original photo - it was way back in the dark ages before I got a decent digital camera so likely my bad!
On 25th May, 8th Armoured Brigade Workshops also received 3 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 from 6th Bn Green Howards (69 Bde), numbers were: Z.5201306 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 Z.5202120 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 Z.5201933 Fordson 15 cwt G.S. 4 x 4 I'll edit them back into the list in my first post for completeness. Regards Tom
Gary, Thanks for posting that up - I think they may have received a couple more in the last few days before leaving for France. I'll see if there are any more records in their war diary. Regards Tom
I think that you're right about the motorcycle numbers, Tom. C5115218 - 5130217 applied to BSA contract S1048. There was a further contract - S2603 - which covered C5207518 - 5215517 but 5217914 would have had a 'Z' prefix and applied to a Morris-Commercial 15cwt Compressor truck !
And a few more 15-cwt 4 x 2 received on 2nd June, 1944: Z.5498983 Fordson 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. Z.5499585 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) Z.5499422 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) Z.5499597 Ford Brit. 15 cwt 4 x 2 G.S. (Code 223) Again, I'll edit them into the original post. Regards Tom
On 19th July, the workshops received a Humber Scout Car (F.196697) from 30 Corps Vehicle Park. It wasn't with them long though, because: 27 July 1944 ST. PAUL DE VERNAY Humber Scout Car of Recovery Section damaged by enemy mine. Examined and found B.L.R. Casualties nil. There is a little more detail in the Weekly Report for 28 July 44 which records that: "On 27th Recovery Officer’s Scout Car was blown up on a mine, type not known, whilst reversing in an area which had been used by vehicles and men constantly for nearly a week. There were three casualties amongst nearby infantry." There was a long delay before the Scout Car was replaced with another vehicle received from 30 Corps Vehicle Park: 6 October 1944 NIJMEGEN E.704611 Daimler Scout Car Mk II taken on charge, Part X Order as at… Appx “A” Frustratingly I didn't copy that Appendix, next time I go back to Kew I'll pick it up and post it up here. I've got a few more Armoured Brigade Workshops war diaries and will look out for any other issues of a scout car to the Recovery Section as this seems an addition to the War Establishment that Gary kindly posted up. Regards Tom
Looks likely to have been an additional vehicle, not mentioned on the May45 or Jul45 reissues of the WEs. I have wondered if there was a 21AG thing of scout car issue, extra to WEs, as you sometimes see them mentioned in unusual units. Gary
