Too incredible to be true?

RichardT10829 · #1 14-02-12, 21:51

does look like a T... however where is the can now ? seems unlikely that a flimsy can would make it back from Aussie service in North Africa to say the UK after all this time.

EDIT: also i had not realised that they would even number the tin for a carrier.... i always thought that they would have a pile of fuel cans which you would grab at a fuel cache leaving your empties as you went ?

motto · #2 14-02-12, 22:43

The name 'flimsy' was used to describe the four gallon petrol/kerosine tins that these products were supplied in back in the days before bulk handling. They were often pierced to drain the contents and discarded. They were a failure when it came to rough handling in the field.

The two gallon can was far more robust and made as a re-useable, long lived container for on board vehicle use so no surprise that they are still around today.

The word BREN is stencilled on the can above the number which seems to further identify the can as belonging to this vehicle.

Who among us would not carry extra fuel when in the field and there was no better container at the time except for those in the hands of the enemy.

David

RichardT10829 · #3 14-02-12, 22:53

still seems weird... decanting fuel into the can that you stencilled up rather than just pick up another can

shaun · #4 14-02-12, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

still seems weird... decanting fuel into the can that you stencilled up rather than just pick up another can

Richie, not an uncommon practise in the army is to put your vehicle number on CES Kit issued to that vehicle. i have many items with different vehicle numbers on, If you did not want to lose it put you name and number on it !!!. I find it quite reasonable to assume that the can is from that carrier - the ammount of carrrier stuff Kevin buys he was bound find something that relates to a carrier in a photo !!!

kevin powles · #5 15-02-12, 01:17

Hi, Its definitely a 'T' because its been painted with the name 'bren' and number both sides, the downward shot is the other side. It will be on its way in the post to me soon, so will check when I receive it. It also has the remains of desert paint on it, it is either from the vehicle or someone has seen that carrier pic many years ago and painted the can to match that carrier say back in the 60's or 70's, it has 64 on it is that a division number?, could be another clue to its authenticity?.

kev.

horsa · #6 15-02-12, 01:49

64 could be the vehicle designation in the division. That was the number used by the support battalion / machine gun battalion which was carrier based.

RichardT10829 · #7 15-02-12, 02:50

if it is pucker then i would say it was worth a pretty penny to a collector thats for sure

rob love · #8 14-02-12, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

does look like a T... however where is the can now ? seems unlikely that a flimsy can would make it back from Aussie service in North Africa to say the UK after all this time.

EDIT: also i had not realised that they would even number the tin for a carrier.... i always thought that they would have a pile of fuel cans which you would grab at a fuel cache leaving your empties as you went ?

I'm pretty sure back then it would have been somewhat like it is today. A driver who looked after his vehicle and EIS would stencil everything, right up to the different pieces of the canvas enclosure, to try and disuade inter vehicle theft. I can assure you, there was nothing like needing your can of fuel, then finding that someone had swapped cans with you and it was now empty.

When I ran the stores section for the maint section at my last unit, I even branded the mechanics creepers,brooms, squegees and drain pans, otherwise by Monday morning they were all gone; either to the other batteries, or else homes. It got so bad one of the sections would have to remove the bulbs from their trouble lamps on Fridays and put them back in on Mondays....there were guys too thrifty to buy their own 50¢ lightbulbs.

As to the travel of artifacts between continents, in the last 50 years the world has got awful small. And with Ebay, nothing is too far out of reach.....in fact it's as close as your keyboard.