Drew's questions, because he can't work his phone.

That looks like a French Army post war Saviem lorry.

FdeP

 

http://www.carryology.com/utility/carry-history-the-wwii-jerrycan/

 

First picture above shows what I think to be British Army oil container, squarer than the normal 1 gallon can, and as fitted to my K2 in a proper holder on the side,

 

Yes - not a flimsy. But neither are Clive's!

 

This is the Flimsy Petrol Canister that I was thinking of.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ww2+British+Army+Flimsy+Petrol+canister&biw=1224&bih=763&tbm=isch&imgil=J0-1Dy5Lff3A9M%253A%253B-LwYSPA0DUIcgM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.carryology.com%25252Futility%25252Fcarry-history-the-wwii-jerrycan%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=J0-1Dy5Lff3A9M%253A%252C-LwYSPA0DUIcgM%252C_&usg=__z-E6B0x85F8OtwEckF495ywwAE0%3D&ved=0CCoQyjdqFQoTCIvk8oKI48cCFUUKLAodGrkNyw&ei=MInsVYuMMMWUsAGa8rbYDA#imgrc=dW7MaKHvA_8aFM%3A&usg=__z-E6B0x85F8OtwEckF495ywwAE0%3D

Also has Large WD impressed on the sides.

Regards
Tom

 

Now that's a flimsy!

I notice that the most useful picture of all time is in the search:



However, his caption is a bit off.

What we have here is a 2 gallon can, a 4 gallon tin (non-returnable) aka 'flimsy', a 4 gallon returnable can (the BEF used these as well as flimsies) and the jerrican (official RASC spelling).

 

I agree the caption is misleading as I too looked at this site.

A nice comparison of different containers all the same.

Regards
Tom

 

Found some pictures of the oil can I think the remnants of which are shown in Drews first picture, as you can see they are a distinctive size with a screw cap, nothing else that size I know of, and were war time dated.

 

Cheers chaps - So do you think 1940 BEF Oil Can ?

 

Just seen a 1940 pic of a Vickers crew - Could it be the water can that's used to cool the barrel?

 

This one?

Kyle



http://eshop.mjlmilitaria.com/WebRoot/BT4/Shops/BT4345/4FA7/B7A3/4E7E/BFF5/5BEB/0A0C/05EA/1CC2/DSC_0095.JPG

 

Yep... What do we think?

 

I thought that they normally used a standard two-gallon can but it just acts as a reservoir for the water so they could have used anything including locally sourced stuff.

Next time, take along a vernier caliper and a thread gauge and measure it accurately. We can then at least work out if it is British or not !

To be honest, having seen cars disappear into the ground over thirty years, I'd be surprised if a thin can could survive seventy-five years outdoors in the climate we know and love in North-West Europe !

 

I was hoping you and Jan were coming on the next trip?