TRAILER, 10 Cwt. LIGHTWEIGHT, GENERAL SERVICE
Here is some of the info that I published in my British Airborne Jeep book. Incidently with the two active British airborne division about, most of the Clockwork Mouse James' were not airborne but used by other units, incl. beachmaster on D-day. The correct name for your James ML would be Motorcycle, Lightweight, 125 cc, James ML!
The same goes for the 'airborne" trailer: proper name: Trailer. 10-cwt, lightweight!
The Trailer, 10 cwt. Lightweight, General Service, was used by nearly all units of the British Army. Because of its high sides it could even float! At the rear the trailer had a towhook so that one vehicle could tow more than one trailer. It seems to have been normal practice to make a "Road Train" where two jeeps would tow three trailers, but a combination like that would have lost some of its stability whilst on the move especially when braking. Standard tyre size was 5.00" x 16", but 5.75" x 16" and 6.00" x 16" tyres also seem to have been used.
No 1 , mk 1 were built by Orme Evans to contracts S663 and S2559 with WD census numbers X4939020 - 4940455 and 5274487 - 5278086. Brockhouse built one! to contract S683 with census number X4940656 and SS Cars Ltd built these to contracts S2555 and S2786 wth censusnumbers X5278091 - 5281740 and 5845741 - 5845932 (chassis numbers SS AB 1-3842 on these). No1, mk 2 were built by both Orme Evans and SS Cars. The no.2 was built byMotor Panels Ltd to contract S7943 and had census numbers X6208181 - 6210180.
Several other trailers based on the Trailer, 10 cwt. Lightweight, General Service were made. Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) developed several for use by REME Airborne units. These trailers seem to have been constructed by the REME section of the (May 1943 established) Airborne Forces Development Centre (AFDC), based at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshire in cooperation with the REME Central Workshops, Old Dalby. Two type of lightweight trailer, based on the trailer, 10 cwt, lightweight were also developed for use by Airborne units belonging to the CRE.
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers trailer types:
-1- Generator trailer; power: 5 kW., 110 V. direct current, for mechanical equipment of other trailers.
-2- Tool trailer with lathe, two portable electric drills and a double grindstone for all reparations.
-3- Signal generator communication equipment.
-4- Electrical repair: with drills, grind- and polishmachines, installation for distilled water (1 imp gallon/hour) and several testing equipment.
-5- Welding trailer: 250 Amp. electric with own generator and oxy-acetylene torch.
Royal Engineers trailer types:
-1- Air compressor trailer (60 cu. ft. per minute on 110 PSI)
-2- Circular saw 28" diameter, with engine drive.
In some War Establishments other trailers based on the Trailer, 10 cwt. Lightweight, General Service are mentioned eg. Trailer, Box and Trailer, Office.
In 1943 the REME section of the AFDC also designed a special "Airborne" 100 gallon water trailer. Possibly this water trailer was also based on the chassis of the lightweight trailer.
At Arnhem each battalion had a R.Signals section with a fully equipped radio Jeep and a trailer with radio, generator and stores. These two radio stations were transported in different gliders, in order to minimalise the change of being without Wire Less. As far as our information goes, the radio sets in these wireless trailers were Wire Less Station no 76 and Receiver no. 107. In leaflet no. 565A (provisional), from Signals Research and Development Establishment (SRDE) based in Somerford, Christchurch, Hants, dated 1945, a trailer, 10 cwt is described fitted with Wireless Set no. 76 and Reception Set 209. However the trailer seems to be an American Bantam trailer! So during over the Rhine 6th A/B Division R.Signals may have been using these trailers.
On Trailers, 2-wheeled, Lightweight we have found a Chilwell publication WO code 5461 dated March 1949, which supersedes Chilwell catalogue Nos. 34/134, 34/135, 34/136, 34/138, 34/137, 34/139, 34/141 and 34/182. From this post war document we here reproduce the following drawings: If any of our readers are in the possession of the above mentioned superseded Chilwell publication, we would gladly receive a copy.
Rob van Meel
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