Motorcycle Photos

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Pete,

I am having difficulty reconciling late 1942 with 'new' # 11 and 12 cabs and that is why I suggested rebuilds.

Camp Bordon makes a lot of sense as of course there was No 1 CEAU there which assembled CMPs as you know, and the buildings look atypical of a former camp in the Bordon area that I pass by on the A3. However Bordon only started assembly in 1943 but as a RCOC depot I believe that they repaired vehicles before and after assembly started. Bordon also distributed new vehicles assembled elsewhere in England to the Canadian forces after having been driven down to Hampshire. Convoys of new vehicles were escorted by motorcyclists.

In 1944 the RCOC split according to the REME Museum and No 1 CEAU continued under the auspices of the RCEME. Also the Ministry of Supply contracted by 1944 with the RCEME Bordon to refurbish vehicles for the Ministry and the code applicable on the rebuild plate was 'BOR/' . I cannot confirm but suggest that the Ministry previously used the RCOC before the split.

So, the trucks could either be repaired units awaiting allocation or new builds, depending on when the photo was taken I suggest.