WW2 Motorcycles Only

A few photos I have in a Ww2 album found at a carboot sale, there are also photos of the gents racing the bikes

 

They're nice pictures. I'm not sure about the first bike, but after that BSA M20s and Matchless G3/WOs. Their seems to have been quite a bit of allowance for motorcycle sport in the Middle East as things quietened down out there. Have you read about the 'Bar None Club' ? Bar-None. Not even Nortons!

 

Great link Rich I will post some more photos soon, I think the photos are mix of American and British.

 

Thanks for that link Rich - I probably need to confess to a longstanding enthusiasm for Velocettes - as has been noted elsewhere, their pre-war OHC 'bikes were amazing but, effectively, hand-built. The MAC/MSS series were nearly as fast and much cheaper to make. The poor old MAF, Velocette's contribution to the war effort, rarely sees the light of day. I have to confess to a part interest in a 1942 WD/CO Enfield - actually that's a bit 'flash' really, only some of it is 1942, the frame/engine/gearbox are but the forks are post-war teles (because the original girders were long gone). It's on the 'to do' list at present!
Cheers
Andrew

 

Yes, those look like Harley Davidson forks there. A big heavy thing to have to push ! Is that a Bar-None badge on No.47 ? Two rather purposeful looking M20s there !

 

A little closer Rich

 

Here is my dad [ still here at 91 ] on his Ariel C8195812. He gave up riding in his 80s. L/Cpl D H Brooker, was a Sgt at the end of the war.
Keith.

 

That's a very nice clear photograph, Keith. The serial number is actually C6195812 and it was built under the last wartime contract S6287. These machines were scheduled for delivery at 650 per month from January 1945 and this one was probably delivered around March 1945. Interestingly, it was to have been fitted with a universal (Vokes) air filter....There are also photos of BSAs on the assembly line around this period fitted with the filters but they were then removed before issue in NW Europe. Blackout mask is the Lucas DU42-DP. DP probably indicates 'dual purpose' and it looks as if the small door under the window which could be lowered when riding in safer areas has been completely removed. This became common once the risk of air attack diminished late in 1944. Do you know which unit he was with at this time ?

 

My dad [ just gave him a phone call for more info ] at the time the photo was taken was in the RASC Deepcut in the S.D.T.W. Special Driver training wing, Training drivers in DUCKs Trucks of all sorts and bikes. Before that he was in Air Despatch RASC.
Photo of him post war Hongkong RASC
Keith

 

One more that came in the post Dunkirk. There is a number on the side of a bike with the xxxx near.
Keith

 

I think tho photo is just post war Germany . Bike has C number on the top of the petrol tank and has 50 on front mudguard and on DRs headgear. Div ID on side of tank Desert Rats.
Original photo from my collection.
Keith

 

M20 on display in Mareeba, Queensland - August 2017

 

Bikes on the beach Dunkirk 1940 from my collection.

 

Well done. I forgot to bid on that one ! In the foreground are two Norton WD16H and behind an M20 BSA. Once again, someone has pinched the front wheels. There looks to be a marking on the fuel tank of the front machine but I can't read it. It's nice to see a front number plate blade still fitted. The car looks like a '39 Ford Prefect. The serial number is from a Local Purchase / Civilian impressed series.

 

Morning chaps,

Here's a vaguely seasonal offering:



CS

 

Private Harry McDowell, 48th Highlanders of Canada. Regalbuto, Italy, August 4, 1943.