Welfare Vehicles

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From that fascinating thread on HMVF I learned that two Queen’s Messengers Convoys (22 vehicles) were gifted to the Netherlands, which led to the subsequent discovery of pictures of the being in use here.

Here's a better picture taken at the hand-over on Saturday, December 16, 1944. Quote from The Times on that day: "FOR HOLLAND: The Queen with Princess Juliana standing by one of the mobile canteens she has given for service in Holland. Altogether she handed over two "Queen's Messenger" convoys, 22 vehicles, to the Princess for the use of the Dutch Government"

Prinses_Juliana_bij_een_vrachtwagen_met_opschrift_Food_Flying_Squad_U.S.A._to,_Bestanddeelnr_935.jpg

Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ad99f9...8-003048976d84

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here is a vid of the Queens Messengers in action in Venlo, Holland

http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/kanaal/17...vrijding-venlo

Alex

[ted angus]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Here is a vid of the Queens Messengers in action in Venlo, Holland

http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/kanaal/17...vrijding-venlo

Alex

Thanks for sharing Alex, spent many happy times in VENLO when I was in the RAF
Ted.

[Ilian Filipov]

Thanks for the nice footage, Alex. Pity it isn't downloadable (or I am that dumb?)
Interesting is that the number plate of the stores van A7/CCA 822 is with reversed colors.

Bedford-OXC-Queens-Messengers-canteen-grab-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/GpF6Ss2W/Bedfor...en-grab-03.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Screen grab of a canteen trailer of some sort, never seen this before. Could it be a converted radar trailer or similar?

Aplogies for the quality. The source is film material shot by Cees Schenkel's (a Keep Them Rolling member) grandfather, the celluloid film is being digitised by an archive which will put it on youtube in due time.

canteen.jpg

[Matthew P]

Hanno,

That's a new one for me. Where was this filmed at? I've seen very few, trailer canteens, they did exist but were much less common then self propelled vehicles.

Matt

[Matthew P]

A while back I picked your brains about the vehicles in the original photo. Well I had the opportunity to visit this location. So here is my first composite photograph. I put it here, because it's still a Welfare Vehicle

Matt

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

A while back I picked your brains about the vehicles in the original photo. Well I had the opportunity to visit this location. So here is my first composite photograph. I put it here, because it's still a Welfare Vehicle

Matt

Great job on that composite, I am envious.

ED

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

That's a new one for me. Where was this filmed at? I've seen very few, trailer canteens, they did exist but were much less common then self propelled vehicles

Matthew, I don’t know. It is a screenshot of a film shot by the grandfather of a KTR club member. He sailed on S.S. Johan de Witt, a Dutch troop transport ship. So I guess this was shot in a harbor? The 4 films are being digitalised to be put online in the future.

Indeed rare to see a canteen trailer, which is why I shared it here.

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Speaking of trailers, here are pictures of another one. This one is being recreated by Alexander Scott in the UK.

D6F6984C-1D27-4BAC-BAEA-81C14ED3A63F.jpeg EADDDBD2-ADDB-4AE9-9020-F0E67874E519.jpeg

[Keith Brooker]

A few US Army trucks . photos from my collection.

[Matthew P]

Alex thank you. Gives me something I can look up here on MLU now

Keith, interesting photos. They would all appear to be either post-war or very, very near the end of the war. There's been times for units to add their flash to the trucks, civilians children are milling about and the one library truck is clearly a Clubmobile body. Wonder if those were turned out for other purposes, such as this or if it was converted from aa Clubmobile.

Matt

[Keith Brooker]

Some photos taken from my original negs.

[Les Freathy]

A interesting and unusual little Morris van converted to a canteen

[Les Freathy]

Plenty of these American imports were found in many roles in WW2 such as this Ford based canteen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Brooker

Some photos taken from my original negs.

Very nice pics, thanks.

Here is one more of the Bedford. Looking at the houses in the background, this seems to be a picture taken in actual use, delivering food and hot drinks to comfort the population.

4362832381_74cdeecf3e_o.jpg
Source: https://flic.kr/p/7DwE4X

[David Dunlop]

They look like a happy group, Hanno.

David

[Matthew P]

Re Post 98 on Page 4 where I have three pictures of a Dodge. The text describes it as a '1-ton' and I can see it's Right Hand Drive. I assume this is an MCP model. Do the pictures offer enough information for clear identification? It was delivered to Italy in late 1943 or in 44.

Thanks
Matt

[Alex van de Wetering]

Matt,

I assume this is an MCP model. Do the pictures offer enough information for clear identification?

It's a 15cwt Canadian built Dodge; D15 (4x2). 15cwt equals to 3/4ton, but I am sure they were often loaded above that!