WW2 Staff Cars

Owen

That sign was still in use for 3 Div in the 1960s. On uniform there was no circle round the triangle, but on vehicles the sign was usually as shown above.

Chris

 

Keith.
I've seen pics of 3rd Div's sign on vehicles on a red circle , was that early war only ?

Owen

This was the sign for the BEF. It also appears to have continued in this form as it is still described in both 1943 and 1944 war office markings publications as 'Three adjacent black triangles in red circular disc.'

Andrew

 

Ah bit like 5th Div.
Vehicles had black circle with white Y on it but uniforms was just the Y on khaki patch.
Post war 5th Div used black circle with Y on uniforms too.
Keith needs to repaint his markings on his Humber then .


Thanks guys, i will get my dad to re paint it as it was his handy work, [ he is 87 ex RASC and WW2, and still drives ]. I looked the 3 Div sign up in two books and still got it wrong as they did not have vehicle sign as well: , ( now i have Andrews book i cant go wrong ].
Keith

 

Hi all, New member here and wondered if anyone could shed light on this photo of my father-in-law. According to his war record he was the driver for Brigadier Carthew-Yorstoun from 1944 to 1946. His postings with Brigadier were

30/8/44 - 25/1/45 HQ British Army Staff Paris
25/1/45 - 20/3/45 HQ 101 Beach Sub Area
20/3/45 - 28/6/45 HQ 21 L of C Sub Area
28/6/45 - 4/10/45 HQ 305 Infantry Brigade
4/10/45 - 5/2/46 HQ 31 AA Brigade
5/2/46 - 9/3/46 HQ BAOR

I'm guessing this is a photo of the whole team , and looks like Brigadier is sat at centre of car, with my father-in-law holding what looks like a German pennant .






Any thoughts on type of car , poss Humber Super Snipe ( looks like mesh wire grille ) ?, and the markings you can see. Shame most of people are hiding most of them but can see a Crusaders shield on Bedford truck on right.

Hope I haven't gone on too much and feel free to re-post in correct forum if this appears out of place.

Best wishes , Mark

 

One more from my collection. Montys Staff car, Not seen this one before , taken at end of the war in Germany and had to put this one in WW1 car with siren and horn.
Keith

 

Captured German Staff Car, Mercedes Benz ? in US use, Has army number on bonnet. Where is Olympic Terrace.
Keith

 

I can see that Jerry staff cars are also allowed so here's me at Ferndorf in Austria in June 1945 with one of the vehicles we "adopted" after we took over the SS Div.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a2039113.shtml

The last time I showed this snap someone identified the car for me.

Would you like to do the same for me this time and perhaps I'll remember it

Ron

 

I was halfway through typing a reply when Owen barged in.

Yes a Horch 40 4 X 4.

Mike

 

Owen & Trux

''Mittelschwerer geländegängiger PKW'' ?

No wonder I couldn't remember the bloody name !

I'll settle for Horch 40 4 X 4

Thanks chaps !

Ron

 

Owen forgot the personenkraftwagen bit.

Mike.

 

Trux

Genug!

Ron

 

Everyone seems to have omitted the 'Einheits' word which identifies the type quite well. These standardised German vehicles were actually made by several manufacturers to a common design, though sometimes with their own engine. The Horch 901 Typ 40 was made by Horch, Wanderer and Opel, usually with the Horch engine, but later sometimes with an Opel engine, according to the knowledgeable Werner Oswald. Bit like CMP vehicles really. But '15cwt' would cover similarly sized, but quite different vehicles from Morris, Guy, Commer, Bedford, Ford (UK) and CMP.

Chris

 

Austin8,s ? in use with 24 Res MT Coy circa 1940/41 location unknown.



David.

 

Just happen to be reading the Kindle version of Monty's memoirs and came across this

Ron

 

Found this photo at a militaria fair of what I THINK is a Mercedes-Benz 540K, possibly in the process of being 'liberated'. I know Goering had one called the "Blue Goose", subsequently used by the US Army, that was a light blue so don't think it's this one. According to an article in the Collier's Magazine, Ribbentrop had one (still around now but trimmed very differently and only contemporary pics) and Huhnlein had one (no pics of that one).
Anyone got any more info on this, or any comment on the uniforms etc?

 

A very nice car.

This photo has been published before. It is in the IWM collection. It is a Mercedes 540K. According to the reports when it was captured it was indeed pale blue. It was captured in early April 1945 by VIII Corps near Minden. The photo appeared in the London Illustrated News April 28 1945.

Did it belong to Goering? At the time it was thought that it probably did but there was no real evidence. It later passed through several hands and was displayed as 'Goering's car'.

There was some debate about it in 'Wheels and Tracks' in 1983. I do not think any hard evidence had been found then.

Mike

 

Great stuff, thanks Mike. Spent a fair bit of time googling 540K's but didn't find this photo anywhere. Cheers v much.