Welfare Vehicles

[Matthew P]

The Imperial War Museum recently published a new collection of photographs from the No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit They appear to be mostly from Holland, Belgium and Germany in late 44 through late 45. I found photos of Salvation Army, YMCA and NAAFI/EFI mobile canteens as well as a mobile library and mobile church truck.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/s...c%20Unit%5D=on

Here are some of the canteen photos. I'd like to identify these truck chassis as these couple of types have appeared routinely. I know the Bedford OXC was to be a standard canteen truck there are a number of these that have appeared in my research. So it would appear that this was another "standard" type(s) employed.

I also note that on the NAAFI canteens described in the captions as "First across the Rhine" have the Allied star applied to the sides of the coachwork not on the cab door as is more typically seen.

Matt

[jack neville]

I haven’t seen this thread before Lang.
This one Jake got from John Belfield not long ago. Fordson WOT 8.
Australian Comfort Funds clearly marked on the doors

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

Here are some of the canteen photos. I'd like to identify these truck chassis as these couple of types have appeared routinely. I know the Bedford OXC was to be a standard canteen truck there are a number of these that have appeared in my research. So it would appear that this was another "standard" type(s) employed.

I also note that on the NAAFI canteens described in the captions as "First across the Rhine" have the Allied star applied to the sides of the coachwork not on the cab door as is more typically seen.

Matt

Hi Matt,
These trucks are Fordson 7V, a British built.

[Lang]

Jack

Good rare find. Is it in the queue after your current restoration?

I think a lot of those orphan trucks would have been passed to the various volunteer and support groups to clean out the army main fleet and give them transport without reducing the mainstream vehicle stocks.

Lang

[Mike K]

There is a colour movie in the AWM on line archives , shot by a chap in the ACF, of his life in Bougainville around 1945 . Scenes of Jeeps and other vehicles.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C191587

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Lang

Jack

Good rare find. Is it in the queue after your current restoration?

I think a lot of those orphan trucks would have been passed to the various volunteer and support groups to clean out the army main fleet and give them transport without reducing the mainstream vehicle stocks.

Lang

It is in the queue Lang. We're just not quite sure where its position is.

[Matthew P]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Matt,
These trucks are Fordson 7V, a British built.

Thanks a bunch! Can you point me to a good source of information about Fordson and the 7V model? I found a questionable source online that claims they continued civilian production throughout the war (https://classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Fordson_Thames_7V) But of course I have to doubt any site that has 'wiki" in it's name without also footnotes.

Matt

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

Thanks a bunch! Can you point me to a good source of information about Fordson and the 7V model? I found a questionable source online that claims they continued civilian production throughout the war (https://classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Fordson_Thames_7V) But of course I have to doubt any site that has 'wiki" in it's name without also footnotes.

Matt

Is the 7V Chassis the same chassis used in the WOT trucks?

[Matthew P]

The book Red Shield in Action describes the trucks issued by the Canadian Forces to the Welfare agencies supporting them as 3-ton trucks. I had assumed they were 60cwt CMPs but until recently hadn't seen any pictures. Here's one from the Canadian edition of The War Cry a periodical produced by The Salvation Army. The issue this came from is the September 2, 1944 edition. In studying other issues I know there was a lag time of about a month. So this photo was probably taken in July. Unfortunately I do not have a higher resolution image.

Matt

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by jack neville

Is the 7V Chassis the same chassis used in the WOT trucks?

Jack,
All I can tell you is that the short wheelbase 7V used by British Army as a tipper, has the same length wheelbase as a WOT8, which is the 30cwt 4x4. Not conclusive evidence to answer your question.

As a matter of interest, I believe the 7V chassis was adapted for the Loyd Carrier.

regards, Richard

[Matthew P]

I know these are a long time coming and apologies to those who have been waiting a year. But here are the first photos from The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda Territory Archives. To fit these onto the forum I've focused on the vehicles. But can get the uncropped photo to those who ask. The first were taken in Canada. The third had no caption. But I suspect still in Canada as well. The 'Pick-up Van" looks to be a commercial Dodge Carryall/Suburban. The canteen being backed into the railcar; is that a Chevy MCP? The bottom photo I don't know, pre-war Ford?

Matt

[Matthew P]

These next two are captioned as being a Canadian Supervisor (Salvation Army Officer w/the Forces) working in England from an "improvised mobile canteen". Any ideas on the make of truck from the limited view in these photos?

Matt