CMP With A Difference!

David_Hayward (RIP) · #1 06-10-05, 14:16

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/med...e/D_010280.jpg
This photo has gobsmacked me because it is captioned:

Quote:

WVS HOT MEALS SERVICE: WARTIME FOOD DISTRIBUTION, BIRKENHEAD, CHESHIRE, 1942
Mrs Jacob pauses beside her van for a photograph with a group of children who are helping her to carry food from the van into their school. Mrs Jacob is the Central Organiser for Birkenhead Women's Voluntary Service and carries a box of bread. The Ministry of Food van was presented by the people of Malta. It appears to be raining.

I am terrible at iding CMPs but it looks to me like a Ford F8 # 12 Cab...in which case it is the earliest provable demobbed CMP I have come across! I have my doubts on a similar-aged Chevrolet C8 which had a # 11 Cab from memory used by the Salvage Corps but this is clearly 1942!

Hanno Spoelstra · #2 06-10-05, 17:48

Quote:

Originally posted by David_Hayward
the earliest provable demobbed CMP I have come across!

Being in Ministry of Food service, I don't think it is a demobbed one?

H.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #3 06-10-05, 18:36

Hanno, this would have had a civvy rego, probably in the MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL series, and not a WD Census Number. It would have been transferred from the War Department and there would have had to have been a paper value put on it and civvy registration document allocated.

That said note it was apparently paid for by Malta.

Keith Webb · #4 06-10-05, 22:06

Looks like a C8 cab 12 going by the spring bumper.

I believe here some of the Guy Quad Ant FATs were demobbed during the war after being used in training.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #5 06-10-05, 23:35

Yes. you're right! I thought there was just one spring leaf but you can see that there are two!

This C8 cannot I have decided have been a wartime demob ... GLV 16 is I have now ascertained a 1946 London rego. The 1942 C8 could have been a rebuild by GM Ltd at their Bamber Bridge works, near Preston. By late 1941 GM Ltd handled a whole range of war-weary trucks, some including obsolete types such as ex-French order GMCs [searchlight trucks particularly]. There is some evidence that these were demobbed early around 1942 and disposed of to essential users.

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 06-12-14, 21:34

David's link no longer works but I found it at it's new location here:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205199555

Click image for larger version

Name: WVS_Hot_Meals_Service-_Wartime_Food_Distribution%2C_Birkenhead%2C_Cheshire%2C_1942_D10280.jpg
Views: 74
Size: 69.8 KB
ID: 69530

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Hayward (RIP)

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/med...e/D_010280.jpg

Quote:

WVS HOT MEALS SERVICE: WARTIME FOOD DISTRIBUTION, BIRKENHEAD, CHESHIRE, 1942
Mrs Jacob pauses beside her van for a photograph with a group of children who are helping her to carry food from the van into their school. Mrs Jacob is the Central Organiser for Birkenhead Women's Voluntary Service and carries a box of bread. The Ministry of Food van was presented by the people of Malta. It appears to be raining.