1941 Fordson WOT 2H truck. After 10 years

[David Hardway]

Is there any record of how many of these were supplied to Australia?


Thanks

Dave

[Ian Mastin]

G'day David,

Just to your ? I don't know the numbers that came to Australia but Mike Cecil may know.
All I know is mate that their were 60,000 build beween 1939 through to 1944 and to what I know their is 6 or 7 survivor's here in Australia! maybe other members of this forum could shed some light on it to.


cheers for now
Ian

[Mike Cecil]

The Army registered 60, all Refugee cargo, in mid-1942 (but they had been held in an OVP for some months before that). All were listed as WOT2D, but we know from the many remains that they were a mix of WOT2D and 2H. Others might have been returned from the Middle East with the AIF in 1942-43, but it is doubtful, and in any case, the qty would have been very small. The 60 mentioned were disposed of in late 1944, mostly to country fire brigades in NSW & Vic (hence the red colour!) Forestry Commission in Victoria, and other odds and sods like the NSW Railways. Remainder went to Ford Australia. The AWM has a very nice restored example (WOT2D) in storage at Mitchell.

The greyhound over a boomerang was authorized for 1 Aust Cavalry Division in early 1942, which then morphed into 1 Motor Division by mid-1942, then morphed again into 3 Aust Armoured Division by 1943.

The square and number 14 is the sub-unit tactical sign for 14 Troop, B Squadron, of the unit the vehicle belonged to.

What is missing is the Unit sign, which appears to have been above the Div sign on the guard. If you can ascertain that number, we can work out exactly which unit operated the vehicle within the Division.

The camouflage pattern is still visible under the red paint, too: the raised 'brushed' edges are quite visible. Paint, in mid-1942, would likely have been KG3 base colour and Light Stone OR Light Earth - it's close to the change over period when LE was introduced, so depends when the vehicle was painted in cammo. Brit reg number is often visible under all the paint on the bonnet or door, so keep looking as you sand it all back and you might get lucky. Otherwise, let me know the chassis number/engine number and I'll see what I might have.

Mike C

[Ian Patrick]

My carrier has the greyhound over the boomerang tac sign still visible on the front armour.

The likeness of the greyhound differs from the one on the 2Pdr AT Carrier 6146.

Photos of the original on my carrier and my attempt to replicate it are attached below.

Is this the same as the tac sign on the Wot2? It's a bit difficult to make out in your photo.

Ian

[Ian Mastin]

Thank's Mike for the infro! I'm still sanding away to try and uncover the unit Tac sign but at this point in time it's not looking good all I've uncovered is the first two numbers 16 but I'll keep trying.
Mike here are some numbers you ask for, the engine No 6182677, chassis still looking for, Cab Body No 330 7992 BMB Ltd, Tray Body No 14288 P.R.C, Britsh Reg No Z.4643751 so I hope this is some help to you? I will let you know when I fine the chassis number.
Also Mike could tell me if the markings on the door and righthand guard are they British or Australian ?.

Ian thankyou for reply! as to the tac sign on your BGC it do's look a bit diffident to my, the only thing I can see is the back leg is a bit more horizontal on my and also on my it's has a No 9 painted partly over it to, I still need to do some sanding in that area so hopfuly I will uncover a bit more of it.



cheers for now
Ian

[Mike Cecil]

Ian,

Well, B****r me! From the info you have provided, your WOT2H is not one of the 60 refugee cargo vehicles registered in the Aust Army (Commonwealth) system, but appears to be from another source, so likely a returning AIF unit. Hence one of a very small group. The 60 refugee cargo vehicles all had engine numbers in the 614XXXX and 615XXXX range, and the Brit WO registrations were prefix "V" for Van, and in 7XXXXXX range. I think a 'Z' reg prefix indicates a wireless vehicle in Brit terms: can a Brit help me out here, please?

The Unit sign you mention is '16' but you can't see the last figure yet, so I'm assuming you can see that there are three numbers. This is most likely to be '165' then, which was a Cavalry Regiment, so fits with the Formation sign of 1 Cav Div/1 Motor Div/3 Armd Div as the formation. The background colours were green over blue, horizontally divided - so will probably appear black-ish these days after weathering.

The B Squadron square and 14 Troop marking on the door are entirely consistent with an armoured or cavalry unit in both Brit and Aust armies, but being consistent with the other signage, are most likely of Australian origin.

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

Ian,

I've just had a quick look at disposals data I have (very incomplete!) in an effort to try and locate your particular Brit reg. There are a few 'Z' prefix registrations in the right weight class disposed of in 1944, but none that match your Brit registration exactly.

Unless you can find evidence of an Australian registration on the bonnet sides, then I'd suggest your truck retained its Brit registration while in Aust Service.

Mike C

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

I think a 'Z' reg prefix indicates a wireless vehicle in Brit terms: can a Brit help me out here, please?

Hi Mike,
Z was for trucks under 1 ton payload. Signals vehicles did not have a specific prefix.

regards, Richard

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ian Mastin

Thank's Mike for the infro! I'm still sanding away to try and uncover the unit Tac sign but at this point in time it's not looking good all I've uncovered is the first two numbers 16 but I'll keep trying.
Mike here are some numbers you ask for, the engine No 6182677, chassis still looking for, Cab Body No 330 7992 BMB Ltd, Tray Body No 14288 P.R.C, Britsh Reg No Z.4643751 so I hope this is some help to you? I will let you know when I fine the chassis number.

Hi Ian,
BMB Ltd was Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd and I think the body builder, PRC, was Park Royal Coachbuilders.
The vehicle was built under Contract no V4568, with census numbers Z4642001 to Z4645000

Hope that is of interest to you.

regards, Richard

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks, Richard - Z was not a prefix used in the Australian system. If Z is for trucks under 1 ton payload, what was 'V' for Van's parameters, please?

Mike C