I am hoping someone can help identify the exact make and type of lorries in the two attached photographs. The first image, the one with the side view would probably be of a RASC unit supporting anti aircraft regiments and batteries in the London area at some point between 1939 and late 1941. The image is unfortunately not giving much away except a view of the profile of the top of the cab on the drivers side. The second image has the make, Chevrolet on the bonnet and I wonder if it could be a front view of the same type as the first lorry plus there are similar camouflage marking on the sheeting (not that that would identify a lorry) and they may have been taken at the same place in Essex although I have no specific evidence of that. Only very rarely do my fathers unit diaries mention lorry makes only 'capacities'. No idea who the lady is except it was probably taken at Belhaus House near Aveley as I know the unit had occasional family visits while there. I'll try and post a further image of another lorry type (probably in Italy) tomorrow. Any pointers appreciated.
I cannot see enough of the first one to make an ID, but the second one is, I think, a GMC ACK 353 2.5ton 4x4 originally ordered by the French, but diverted to England after the fall of France. Chris
Thanks both to Chris and Owen. I don't think there is any doubt that my front view image is virtually identical to the example in the film. Also the profile of the cab roof is a little easier to make out on the film stills and if you zoom into my first image, the angular 'wedge' shape of the cab and its sloping roof matches well. The bonnet and grille is a good match to the GMC ACK on the internet but the windscreen is quite different unless perhaps, the versions destined for France were supplied like this.
I have puzzled over this and offer the following as a theory rather than a fact. Several US manufacturers of trucks exported them as a chassis and bonnet, without the characteristic US style cab and without body. Cab and body were fitted locally. This vehicle seems to have a standard WD body and has the brushguard and Pass sign bracket as fitted to WD vehicles. The cab however is somewhat makeshift. I know that various US Ford vehicles were purchased or requisitioned and fitted with WD bodies. GMC and Chevrolet were rare because the parent GMC also owned Bedford and did not wish to have the others compete with it. The documents will be somewhere. Mike PS. Just noticed that the vehicle is left hand drive.
Hi Mike Many thanks for the reply. It is certainly an ungainly looking vehicle so the idea that it may have had it's cab fitted here could make sense. However, the left hand driving position could tie up with the idea they were originally manufactured for France and were diverted to the UK and then hastily fitted with a cab that looks like it may have been easy to manufacture with no shaped and pressed panels. Can I ask, what exactly is the 'brushguard' and the pass sign is, I presume the flat panel where the units id would have been fitted? Another photo is posted below of what I assume is an Austin Staff car. Clearly identifiable as belonging to 1AA Division and almost certainly 902 Coy RASC at Belhus House Aveley, Essex. Probably summer 1940. The The final image (and in the end I did manage to identify this one) is a Dodge and these vehicles are occasionally named in the unit diaries. Although it doesn't have any description and is not dated I am pretty certain this is 1503 Coy RASC possibly in Tuscany late summer 44. None of these photos include my father!
Some snippets. All the photos I have seen of US vehicles ordered by France show US type cabs fitted. Main source is L'Automobile sous L' Uniforme 1939 - 40. However there is a mention of requisitioned civilian Chevrolet trucks in French service. Brushguard is the bar fixed across the radiator to protect it. What I have termed the Pass plate bracket is indeed the bracket holding a plate which has a unit sign on one side and the word Pass on the other. The Pass side is displayed if the vehicle has stopped and other vehicles should pass it (early war only). The Dodge trucks were much more common in Italy. Since they came from across the Atlantic it made sense to deliver them to Italy and use UK built trucks in the UK and NW Europe. I still have a lot to learn. I have only been interested in military softskins for 50 years or so. Mike
Further searching has revealed a couple of facts. France ordered only one batch of Chevrolet trucks. These were Model YS 4103. None were delivered to France but were taken by Britain. However this model has a later and quite different front end to the one in Post 1 (which is a Chevrolet since when magnifying the photo one can see the word Chevrolet above the grill). Some Chevrolets, model unknown, were ordered by Belgium. Not all were delivered. Mike
Bulldog is the tac sign for Eastern Command: would be interesting to know what was written on the white bar. Photo doesn't look like it's been butchered by the censor so the presence of a AoS plate with (un-identifiable) colour and no number is also interesting!
I have finally got around to locating my two further vehicle photos. Both I assume would be associated with 902 Coy RASC and would date from between 1939 and 1941 when they were operating in London in support of 1AA Division. One is a good top down view of what is being suggested is a Chevrolet Heavy Duty and the other, I presume, a side view of an Austin K2 Ambulance. In the top down view, the formation badge of 1st AA Division can be just made out. No idea who the men are (none look like my father) although one other, possibly a second also, does appear to be similar to men in other photos likely to be from the same period / locations.
