Welfare Vehicles

[Matthew P]

Ed,

Thank you for that photo. I'm working on an article right now and had to amend my dates. In the SA archives in Toronto I found many photos from the 60's of support in Germany. Somewhere I got it in my head that the welfare work in Germany concluded in the 60's.

Also is that a 4x4 VW with a raised roof, ie "locally procured" or is that a Canadian built vehicle? I know the US Army over there had some Vanagons. They are pretty rare now. I don't think they were ever very common.

Matt

[Ed Storey]

It certainly looks like a VW Vanagon. My guess is that it was locally procured although I have no idea what arrangement was made between the Salvation Army and the Canadian Forces with respect to maintenance and fuel or just how much freedom of movement they had within military lines or the Brigade training areas.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Les Freathy

A Commer based canteen with the food flying squad and a converted car based in London, not sure of the make of car but one from the upper class I would say

That's a lovely picture, Les. Does anyone know more about the colours of these "Food flying squad" vehicles? I have seen a small die cast scale model that was I believe tan with lightgrey.....any thoughts if this could be correct or not?

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

That's a lovely picture, Les. Does anyone know more about the colours of these "Food flying squad" vehicles? I have seen a small die cast scale model that was I believe tan with lightgrey.....any thoughts if this could be correct or not?

Alex,

The HMVF thread on Queen's messengers has a screen print of colour footage one of the "Food Flying Squad" Bedfords. They surely had odd colours for wartime service, albeit an effort was made to camouflage them. It may well be it worked well in built-up areas.

The second picture shows one of the Bedford OX canteen trucks in Vlissingen, proof of these convoy vehicles being in use in the Netherlands during WW2. In the HMVF tread you posted more photos showing hem in use in the Netherlands. Would be great to see one of these recreated!

HTH,
Hanno

59dcbb5b0e214_Queensmessengers1.jpg.c060152c94590001049c80a9c28e0639.jpg 59dcd863f0f87_BedfordCanteen.jpg.2188d68dac054161a93ae967a6cbe8cc.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks Hanno, that colour image explains a lot. Odd colours though.....desert tan with navy grey???

In the HMVF tread you posted more photos showing hem in use in the Netherlands

Yes, I know of multiple pictures of the trucks in use in Rotterdam and Den Haag.

I agree, it would be awesome to see one of these trucks at MV events.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Thanks Hanno, that colour image explains a lot. Odd colours though.....desert tan with navy grey???

IIRC, the colours were blue camouflage over a cream base colour. Some pictures show them without camouflage (including a Bassett-Lowke 1:8 scale model in the Science Museum).

In the HMVF topic Ted Angus mentions that post-war the new flying squad vehicles were just plain blue.

gettyimages-646298576-1024x1024.jpg queen_s_messengers_food_flying_squad_vauxhall_van_by_rlkitterman_db87hpa-pre.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

(including a Bassett-Lowke 1:8 scale model in the Science Museum).

That's an awesome model!


This is what Oxford die-cast models chose for their 1/76 model.

source: https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/prod...-squad-76bd001

Alex

[Matthew P]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

It certainly looks like a VW Vanagon. My guess is that it was locally procured although I have no idea what arrangement was made between the Salvation Army and the Canadian Forces with respect to maintenance and fuel or just how much freedom of movement they had within military lines or the Brigade training areas.

Looks to be a blackout lamp on the front bumper? I suppose the the vehicle was at least configured for deploying to forward areas if the need arose.

Matt