There has been a fantastic response to the Standard Motors Roll Call appeal. So I thought I'd post about the origins of the archive and how one serviceman from WW2 inspired it - it is included below in full. The archive (set up to record every employee) features a number of ex-service personnel. If there is any interest I would be more than happy to include them on this forum. The workers featured in virtually every theatre and service during the conflict, with those that were called up, or volunteered, with many more from the production at the factories - and "Shadow Factories" of wartime equipment and machinery. A most recent article featured the Standard Motors built Mosquito and within 24 hours details of a surviving plane (albeit in very poor condition) were forwarded. With the company milkman being an Arnhem para, for instance, a Battle of Britain pilot in the Service Dept, Alf (see below) coming off the beaches at Dunkirk and even the main road connecting the factories was nicknamed the "Burma Road," after Standard Motors POW's returned to their jobs after the war. With so many stories seemingly lost forever, the war service is a fascinating part of these peoples lives. Not sure where to post individual stories whether here - or in relevant sections (Arnhem for Vince the Milkman, for example?) Please let me know if this is of interest and congratulations on this incredible, informative and rewarding forum, I am so pleased I found it. Best regards Nick *** (Originally written in 2018) On the first anniversary of the launch of the Standard Triumph archive we thought we'd write something about Alf Welch. Alf was actually one of the key inspirations to producing the archive and he first appeared in a Triumph Herald book demonstrating a series of "how-to's" for Standard Triumph dealers. Here he is... A couple of years later an ebay purchase of the in-house Standard News newspaper contained a photo and brief write-up on Alf. What a coincidence that he should appear - and what a story.... Alf Welch Standard News, August 1961 As briefly reported in the News last month, Colour-sergeant Alfred T. Welch, drum-major of the 7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Birthday Honours, Alf is a service instructor in Market Promotion and Training at Radford. Alf has been with the Company for five years, and for the first four was in the Service Division at Allesley. Aged 50, he was born in Coventry, where he is well-known among local bandsmen. He made more than 100 broadcasts with the City of Coventry Band, of which he was a member for about four years, and he has also broadcast with the Standard Military Band, for whom he still plays the drums. He took up drumming in the Territorial Army, which he joined before the war and in which he has again served for the past nine years. Alf went to France with the BEF in 1939 and was rescued from the beach at Dunkirk. He landed in France again shortly after D -Day. In ceremonial parades today he bears the mace presented to his regiment by the City of Coventry. Alf is married, and has a son and two daughters. *** Alf, like so many at the time, endured a lot due to the war. This man managed to escape the beaches at Dunkirk, fought throughout the campaign and returned to normality by showing how dealers could fit Triumph Herald windscreens in their workshops. I thought is Alf still known? Still remembered? Sadly, I thought probably not so I set about establishing the archive in order to try and identify Standard Triumph people and tell their stories. The archive has been very popular and it's thanks to a great deal of people who have gladly got involved to enable the archive to grow throughout its first year, 2017. So a year later, and we are contacted by John Whittall, an apprentice from 1956 who worked with... you have guessed it Alf Welch! John and Alf John says "The photo show us visiting the stadium, home of Red Star Belgrade. We did several trips together with Alf covering the bodywork instruction. Alf was a genius who could solve any problem with two bits of wire." John has many stories (which we'll add later) and recounts another moment with Alf, "We were crossing Austria and despite having a carnet du passage the customs insisted on sealing the rear door of our Atlas van. No problem till we were in the mountains in a snow storm with our tyre chains in the sealed van. No problem for Alf, out came one of the side windows, the chains were taken out, fitted and the window replaced. Again, in Austria, Alf saw that the local cinema was showing "The Battle of Britain" when we went along to get tickets, the manager said "It's in German, you won't understand it" Alf said "Just give us the tickets we know the ending!" During our trips Alf was continually apologising for boring me with all his war stories which were anything but boring. It was a privilege to hear them first hand, something I only fully appreciated later." One of The last photos of Alf (centre) - during a Triumph Reunion Funny isn't it? That's almost full circle. Thank you Alf for serving your country, serving your community, showing how to fit those windscreens and being the inspiration behind the Standard Triumph Works Archive. You weren't forgotten. 22527556 Staff-Sergeant Alfred Thomas Welch, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Territorial Army. British Empire Medal (BEM), 1961 UPDATE: “You wrote a lovely article about Alfred Welch back in February of this year. I am Claire, his Grand Daughter. The family loved the article and would like to say a huge thank you!!!! It made us all very proud. ” “I am the eldest daughter of Alf Welch living in Australia. I was so thrilled to read the lovely article. It made me feel so proud of my Dad. Thank you.” Valerie Thomson
