Morris-Commercial C8 Gun Tractor body id please?

[Chris Collins]

My understanding, D-day amd Market garden the Morris C8 (most likely the modified Portee versions) was the tractor used for the 17 pounders, while Varsity 6th airborne used Dodge WC. (from "Go to it: a history of 6th Airborne division")

could this be immediately post war? They were given 25 pounders in palestine, and perhaps used them in Indonesia?

Mike, i saw two very sad looking C8s when picking up my Tilly, where are the other ones?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Chris Collins

Mike, i saw two very sad looking C8s when picking up my Tilly, where are the other ones?

yes ..... .............

Sorry ..two were owned by a VMVC member in Melbourne , A. Browne , he had plans but eventually sold them to Bruce Wiltshire ? some years ago . I helped move one of them to Yarra Glen . Andrew had found a NOS engine and a few bits at Hughes Coburg , Hughes had bought the surplus C8's and sold them after the war . Bruce drove down and picked them up ..so they ended up in Southern NSW . I have a detailed official drawing of the C8 Portee, Rob Van Meel kindly posted it to me years ago !

Just remembered . Another C8 2 Pounder portee was in Kilmore wreckers , it was upside down in the grass , we stopped and took a pic of it . I think it was scrapped and off to China . The owner of the yard was a well known alcoholic and not to be messed with !

[Rob van Meel]

Is it possible to scan me the page with the Dodge reference from the 6th airborne division book, please?

In the meantime some more details on the Morris-Commercials at 'Arnhem":

In total four troops of four 17-pndrs. each went to ‘Arnhem’. Transport for the Morris-Commercial C8-AT and the 17-pndr QF Anti-tank guns was by Hamilcar gliders flying from Tarrant Rushton. Tow aircraft were all Halifax serving with RAF 298 and 644 squadron.

On September 17, 1st Airlanding A/T Bty took D and P Troop (four 17-pounder AT guns each) in the following eight Hamilcar gliders with allocated chalk numbers 314 to and incl. 321.

On September 18, 2 A/T Bty (Oban) (4th Airlanding Brigade) took F and X troop (also 17-pndr) with allocated Hamilcar gliders with chalk No’s. 901 to and incl. 908.

Halifax pilot Aircraft letter Chalk ATD ATA
Letter number
F/O Northmore A-U 314 10.43 15.25
S/Ldr Norman U-N 315 10.43 15.47
P/O Berry T-K 316 10.44 15.43
F/O Archibald U-Z 317 10.45 15.47
F/O McGillivray A-K 318 10.45 15.40
P/O McGonville P-A 319 10.46 15.37
S/Ldr Imber T-G 320 10.47 15.58
S/Ldr Egerton U-X 321 10.48 15.53

W/Cdr Pope U-O 901 11.21 14.55
F/Lt Barren A-J 902 11.22 16.43
P/O Shapley U-F 903 11.23 12.25*
F/Lt Stark A-D 904 11.23 16.43
W/O Davis T-W 905 11.24 16.46
F/O Smith R.A. A-C 906 11.25 16.31
F/O Bretherton U-T 907 11.25 16.49
F/O Edick T-J 908 11.26 16.49
* glider landed at Chilbolton 12.02
ATA: Actual Time of Departure ATA: Actual Time of Arrival


Of those sixteen 17-pndrs + Tractor that left the UK, one was lost over the North Sea.
Four othersdid not see action: two had to make an emergency landing (one in the South of the Netherlands and one in Belgium). And two Hamilcars crashed on landing.
So only eleven 17- pndrs went into action. Some were abandoned on the 19th of September when 10 + 156 Para withdrew out of the Johannahoeve area North of Wolfheze.
Supposedly seven 17-pndrs were used in and around the village of Oosterbeek.