"Stores" trucks....so what did they store?

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Stores trucks....I have seen lots of pics of different Stores trucks over the years; some of them with the chicken wire, others using the Lindsey design body.....but I can't remember seeing any of these "in action", only on factory or operators manual pictures. So, what did stores trucks store in the first place? and what do these trucks look like "in business"?

Alex

Alex
"Stores" in military English refers to "Supplys"...a very broad term for every possible bit,piece..food article..ammunition..bedding..uniforms..vehicle parts..you name it it was classified as "Stores"..supplys...
Anything that had to be transported was carried in some sort of "Stores" vehicle./.and including other vehicles..such as motorcycles..trailers..Throw them in a "Stores" vehicle and send them up to the front/..or where ever the hell the stores Sergeant sent you with your load..
Oh Yes..your load of "Stores"..
could have been beer..or gravel..it was still broadly classified as "Stores"..
Ain't English fun...!!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Did you say "beer"? Excellent idea....

Alex, thanks for the clarification; the chicken wire lead me to believe that stores vehicles could carry valuable goods, some even have a counter-like thingy, which almost lead me to believe that it was a grocery store on wheels! Still interesting to see one of these trucks in operation....


Alex

[cliff]

Alex I have seen photos of chicken mess covered bodies which carried medical stores. Other stores trucks carried vast amounts of Vehicle Stores and I have seen Australian photos captioned as "binned" parts and "unbinned" parts as well.

[chris vickery]

I may be incorrect here, but, I believe that the wire enclosures offered security for the loads in two ways; one, safety, as in a physical barrier against sharp corners and odd shaped items instead of shreadding tapaulins and two, general security for items that may otherwise "walk". In all probability stores vehs were equiped with padlocks.

[maple_leaf_eh]

A common term in Canada is now to call them "cages". With tbe tarp down, it looks innocent. Add a lock to the doors and the Company Quartermaster (CQ) can be reasonably assured no one will break into his truck and make up their own inventory shortfalls at his expense. Or, give the same truck to the Sergeant Major, and he can be happy-er (as if that is possible at that elevated degree of crustiness), that his off-the-books canteen with the obligatory beef jerky, shaken canned drinks and Wine Dipped Old Port cigars won't get swiped.

[chrisgrove]

While appreciating that the term Stores Trucks can actually cover a huge range of vehicles, carrying an equally huge range of items, my understanding is that most of them were attached to workshops, LADs and such. They carried the smaller items required for vehicle repair that were frequently in demand. Spare engines - probably not; they would need to be requested from further back, but nuts, bolts, gaskets, fanbelts, brake linings, windscreen wipers - all that sort of thing.

Chris