Recently I have been taking a second look at old family photos and negatives, including my father's WWII pics, finding that a bit of scanned enlargement can often reveal previously unnoticed details - in particular, this small contact print of my dad's camp at Mersa Matruh c.1943 (he is seated, right) had always seemed a bit boring with only an old 'jalopy' to provide interest. With a bit of googling I identified it as an Austin 7 and a also found this: Austin 7 I was amazed to read: "GRANDFATHER OF THE JEEP". An interesting historical note is the role these cars played in the development of the jeep. The American Bantam Company was formed from the American Austin company, which was set up to produce Austin 7's and derivatives of them in USA under licence. Bantam used them in the 1930's to develop military cross country scout cars, which led to their jeep prototypes. The Austin 7 Military Tourer can honestly claim to be the original jeep prototype, predating the Bantam and the Ford GP. I also note that the reg nos of the two vehicles are not that far apart - CMM 425 and CMM 558. Does anyone have any theories on the marking on the door of the one in my photo? (there is something on the mudguard as well but it looks more like paint loss). (At that time my dad would just have come out of the disbanded 51 HD Recce and been in 14th (Motor) HLI.) Tom.
This might interest you tom: WarWheels.Net -Howie "Belly Flopper" Machine Gun Carrier Photos. Austin-powered part of the buildup to Jeep. And a fascinating page of early Jeep-related documents: Early_Jeep_Documents_repository
The 'MM' sequence is from one of the Middlesex series used for the registration of all WD vehicles prior to the outbreak of war. There were numerous contracts for Austin 7 and 10 military tourers throughout the 1930s, many of these being for 'Car, Austin, 2-seater 4x2' that were presumably 7s. By the way, are you sure that the photo is a late as 1943 ? It has an earlier feel to it in many aspects.
This might interest you tom: WarWheels.Net -Howie "Belly Flopper" Machine Gun Carrier Photos. Austin-powered part of the buildup to Jeep. And a fascinating page of early Jeep-related documents: Early_Jeep_Documents_repository Thanks, That'll keep my head down for a while! Tom. P.S. More good stuff here: Hotchkiss / Willys / Ford Jeep page particularly this, which acknowledges the Austin heritage: Bantam jeep story:
By the way, are you sure that the photo is a late as 1943 ? It has an earlier feel to it in many aspects. Hi Rich, He didnt arrive in Egypt till Aug 42, not long before Alamein. so he couldn't have reached Martuh until after the Germans were pushed back. But I see what you mean. Tom.
By the way, are you sure that the photo is a late as 1943 ? It has an earlier feel to it in many aspects. Hello again Rich, You've set me thinking now!! Here is another Matruh photo (he is seated with the flags looking miserable as he had just had some major dental work done!). The uniforms and the tents look much more modern in this one. (Although he did wax lyrical about his sun topee!!) The one with the car is captioned on the reverse: 'Our camp at Mersa Matruh' in what I have always seen as my father's handwriting. Sadly he is gone now so the mystery will remain!! I have gone right off topic on my own thread now!! Regards, Tom.
Tom; it really does have a pre-war tented camp feel to me. No ad hoc clothing as usually seen on active service. Not a tin hat in evidence, no pullovers etc. There is also the figure (corporal ?) with the Service Dress cap - He could be CMP of course. The tents are all so pristine and those stacked wooden trestles all look typical of the pre-war army. This picture shows Austin 10 Wireless cars at the King's Jubilee parade in Egypt 1937. You've successfully pinned down the Austin as 1935 and the one in your picture doesn't look seven years old to me. No light stone re-paint. No worn areas. Matching tyres and the civilian registration. Generally they disappeared fairly early on with army vehicles although the RAF retained some longer. I knew that the 'CMM' series was familiar to me. Here is the 1935 prototype 16H Norton as tested by M.E.E. - CMM 754. This bike was delivered in September 1935 and shows where the hand gear change was removed during testing. Did your Dad or anyone else in your family have pre-war service in the middle east ?
Could you zoom in on the other group of soldiers? Wonder if there are any insignia to see? Hi Owen, Here are some more close-ups (I can now see a covered truck in the first one which might be identifiable/datable): The figure, seated right, still looks to me like my father in one of his typical poses! But I accept the dating evidence suggests otherwise (I watch too much Time Team!!) Note the Windsor chairs!! It's all a bit Church Fete rather than wartime emergency right enough! Below is the third and last 'Matruh' photo. I don't know who the subject is - it's not my dad. The tents look more WW2 but check the locally sourced beds!! All comments welcome. Tom.
DINKY TOYS 152C AUSTIN 7 MILITARY CAR There's a definate hint of Noddy and Big Ears about that!! Tom.
Tom; it really does have a pre-war tented camp feel to me. No ad hoc clothing as usually seen on active service. Not a tin hat in evidence, no pullovers etc. There is also the figure (corporal ?) with the Service Dress cap - He could be CMP of course. The tents are all so pristine and those stacked wooden trestles all look typical of the pre-war army. This picture shows Austin 10 Wireless cars at the King's Jubilee parade in Egypt 1937. You've successfully pinned down the Austin as 1935 and the one in your picture doesn't look seven years old to me. No light stone re-paint. No worn areas. Matching tyres and the civilian registration. Generally they disappeared fairly early on with army vehicles although the RAF retained some longer. I knew that the 'CMM' series was familiar to me. Here is the 1935 prototype 16H Norton as tested by M.E.E. - CMM 754. This bike was delivered in September 1935 and shows where the hand gear change was removed during testing. Did your Dad or anyone else in your family have pre-war service in the middle east ? Rich, I quite agree about the pre war feel. I have posted some more close-ups and another photo in response to Owen's reply. Thanks for the additional info and photos. My dad had no pre war service (called up Dec '39), nor did any rellies. In both wars they were strictly 'duration of emergency only'. The last career soldier in the family was this man: Sgt George Sellar, Rosshire Buffs/Seaforths. He won his medal in the battle of Asmai Heights, Afghanistan, 1879 - a bit before the Austin 7!!! Thanks again, Tom.
But what a career soldier Tom - A VC holder in the family ! It looks as if the Austin picture will remain a puzzle unless someone else can be a bit more specific on uniform. When did they generally stop using topees ? Rich
By the way, are you sure that the photo is a late as 1943 ? It has an earlier feel to it in many aspects. I concur about the date of that picture; uniforms tents etc. I have very similar pictures of my father (Manchester Regt.) in Palestine sometime between 1936 and 1938. He is even driving one of those Austins (oddly marked Hampshire Regt.).
