Rare vehicles and unusual sightings in Dutch Liberation pictures

[Alex van de Wetering]

I decided to open a new thread on rare vehicles and unusual sightings/details that are found in Dutch Liberation pictures and movies.....but don't seem to fit in any of the existing threads.

Here goes......Rare MACK trucks

Picture1 Mack EHU at Camp Vught, source: beeldbankwo2.nl
Picture2 Mack EH in the background, Antwerpen, source: beeldbankwo2.nl
Picture3 Mack EHU (or EHUT tractor??) Utrecht : beeldbankwo2.nl
Picture4 Mack EHU source:beeldbankwo2.nl
Picture5 Two Mack EHU's at Avelgem, Belgium source: cegesoma.be

[Alex van de Wetering]

FWD HAR-1 trucks. Actually when you start looking, they seem to appear in a lot of Dutch liberation pictures. It seems there was a unit moving around the country pulling smoke generator trailers.

Picture1 Haarlem source: https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/
Picture2 Bloemendaal source: https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/
Picture3 Amsterdam source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture4 Apeldoorn source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture5 Zutphen source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

More FWD's

Picture1 Utrecht source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/
Picture2 Nieuwerkerk aan de IJssel source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture3 unknown location source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture4 Groningen source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture5 FWDs Amsterdam source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

early British trucks

Picture1 and 2: Morris PU 8/4 in Amsterdam source: http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/collectie...134/false/true (at about 4:12)
Picture3: Morris CDF in Oosterbeek. source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture4: Leyland Retriever (?) in Utrecht source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture5: Thornycroft ??? Arnhem source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

Canadian Jeeps with US markings.....A few years ago I saw a restored jeep with US numbers in Blue drab and Canadian census numbers painted in white on top of the blue drab marking. I liked it, but a friend said it wasn't realistic. However the pictures attached show that it happened at least once or twice.......

picture1: Amsterdam source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl
Picture2: Marssum source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl

[Alex van de Wetering]

It's quite normal these days to find restored Machinery trucks, radio vans and GS trucks at MV events fitted with a camper interior in the back......
a pity sometimes for the vehicle fanatic.......but the attached pictures show that this was done in 1944/45 as well!

Picture1 Amsterdam source: https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/
Picture2 Den Haag source: https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/
Picture3 Utrecht source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/
Picture4 15cwt's were also used ....Ede source: https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/
Picture5 Another 15cwt. Barneveld source: https://www.archieval.nl/resultaten.php?nav_id=1-0

[David Dunlop]

Were those Smoke Generator Trailers being used for fumigation purposes, perhaps?

David

[Ed Storey]

1st Canadian Army had six smoke companies under its command for smoking screening operations and they were used from Calais to the crossing of the Rhine.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

You never cease to amaze me - thanks Alex!

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

FWD HAR-1 trucks. Actually when you start looking, they seem to appear in a lot of Dutch liberation pictures. It seems there was a unit moving around the country pulling smoke generator trailers.

Indeed, here are some more, gleaned from the thread FWD HAR-1.

The first one comes from Special: Van D-Day tot de Dam, the second one from INFANTERIE CANADIENNE - NIMEGUE / CALCAR [link to FB]. Both were taken during the Canadian advance across the Dutch/German border in the Nijmegen - Calcar area.

Like Ed says, they were used for towing smoke generators to lay smoke screens to conceal advancing troops.

[Alex van de Wetering]

David, Ed, Hanno,

Thanks for your replies. Somehow, the FWD's with the smoke generators have managed to show up in a lot of pictures and period films!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

More Campers and one Caravan

Picture1: Dodge D60L in Den Haag source: http://www.haagsebeeldbank.nl
Picture2: Dodge D60L (?) in Rotterdam (far right of picture) source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/
Picture3: Ford F60L in Hoogland source: http://www.historischekringhoogland.nl/2015-1-1.html
Picture4: Makeshift Caravan in Groningen (just left of picture centre) source: http://beeldbankgroningen.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

It seems every soldier had a lot of "stuff" to move around in 1945......campers, caravans, roofracks, but also all sorts of trailers are seen in period pictures. Ever wondered what to do with half a CMP?

Picture 1 and 2: the rear end of a Chev, Ford or Dodge converted into a trailer. Amsterdam source: https://beeldbank.amsterdam.nl/

Picture 3 and 4: bit more difficult to see, but to me this looks like a front axle converted into a trailer behind this Bedford OY in Den Haag, source: http://www.haagsebeeldbank.nl

Picture 5: Bedford MWC water tanker converted to trailer? Arnhem 1945 source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ex-German trailers in use by their new owners...

picture1 and 2; Sd sh51 trailer behind a carrier in Den Haag: Source: https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/
picture3; Sd sh51 trailer towed by a Fordson WOT2 in Den Haag: Source: https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/
picture4; German trailer towed by a Bedford MWD in Utrecht: Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture5; Same Irene Brigade Fordson as picture 3, but this time in Utrecht: Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl

[Alex van de Wetering]

More ex-german trailers

picture1; Bedford ex-portee towing an ex-German trailer in Utrecht: Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture2; Renault UE trailer behind this Bedford QLB in Groningen source:http://beeldbankgroningen.nl/
picture3; tiny Infanteriekarren behind the Jeep in the far right of the picture taken in Nijmegen; https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture4; Another infanteriekarren behind a Tilly in Eindhoven. Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture5; Unknown (to me)...presumably ex-German trailer in Amsterdam Source:https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

Probably the best looking truck of WW2....the Karrier K6. Nowadays Karrier trucks are rare, but even in period, they weren't quite common.

picture1; Karrier K6 in Bolsward: Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture2; Karrier K6 in Leeuwarden source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture3; Karrier K6 in Utrecht source:https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl
picture4; Karrier K6 with roof storage in Utrecht, the picture description says this is during "Operation Faust" Source:https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl
picture5; Karrier K6 in Weert Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl

[Ed Storey]

They are quite rare indeed. I just happened to photograph this one on a MVCG tour in the Netherlands back in 1986.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ed, that looks like a nicely restored example. I wonder if it's still around. There was one in the XXX Corps tour in 2014, but that one was in camouflage, although it might be the same truck.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

More rare trucks.

picture1; Two unusual trucks in Arnhem (1st and 3rd in line).....I think these might be Morris CDF's again.....any thoughts? : Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture2; Rare Mack NR closed cab....and three Mack NM's with lenghtened bodies. Groningen Source:https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture3; Bedford QL tipper at a Funeral in Utrecht :Source:https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl
picture4; Thornycroft ZS with searchlight at the entrance of Burgers Zoo in Arnhem Source:https://mijngelderland.nl
picture5; Probably the same searchlight truck in Arnhem: Source:https://www.geldersarchief.nl

[Alex van de Wetering]

Some interesting CMP sightings and a lovely Loyd windscreen

picture1; Ford with late type "Stirrup" cab step during the liberation: Source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl
picture2; "60S" or "30" in use as a 17pdr tractor in Harlingen. source: https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl
picture3; Unusual Ambulance bodied Chevrolet following this Irene Brigade Fordson WOT2 . Source:https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/]
Picture4; Irene Brigade Loyd carrier with custom windshield. https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/

[David Dunlop]

Alex.

I think you have spotted two different Search Light Trucks in Post 18.

The second truck sports a top bow stored at the front of the box, has no Jerry cans in the left rear stowage rack and the left rear mud flap is missing.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

David,

Thanks! You are quite right; I hadn't noticed that. Well spotted!

Alex

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi

I'm not too sure how many Staghounds in D Sqn RCD had small bridging section along the turret but......................it looks cool.

Am I right? What else could they be?

regards
Darrell

[David Dunlop]

Backing up to the last photo in Post 11 for a moment.

I just noticed the half track sitting there has a very box like bows and canvas arrangement on the back of it, which does not look like standard issue at all.

Any ideas as to what that vehicle might be?

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

Some more links to pictures in the Amsterdam image bank, some of rare & unusual and some not, some can be downloaded and some not:

Hanno, wouldn't the "online archives" be a better place for the links of "normal" vehicles?

I have some more rarities that I hope to add this week.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Any ideas as to what that vehicle might be?

David,

Attached is a close-up of the halftrack. No idea if it has any special role or if it's just a matter of creating more living space.

source:https://www.beeldbankgroningen.nl/

[Alex van de Wetering]

Am I right? What else could they be?

Darrell....I think you are right, those do look like the 12ft Assault Bridges. I seem to remember there is an IWM picture of a Staghound with those bridges passing a left behind early King Tiger in the Falaise gap.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Hanno, wouldn't the "online archives" be a better place for the links of "normal" vehicles?

I have some more rarities that I hope to add this week.

Alex

Sorry about cluttering up your thread

I have moved the posting to its own thread.

Hanno

[car_commander]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

They are quite rare indeed. I just happened to photograph this one on a MVCG tour in the Netherlands back in 1986.

Attachment 105219

Ed, That could be my truck back when it was owned by Bernard Venners. Bernard was always known to carry a bicycle on the roof.
Here it is again during September this year on the LTF XXX Corps trip.

[Ed Storey]

Nice to see that the vehicle is still on the road.

[Alex van de Wetering]

I seem to remember there is an IWM picture of a Staghound with those bridges passing a left behind early King Tiger in the Falaise gap.

Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me!....as I did find the picture of the stag passing the Tiger, but it doesn't have the bridges as I remembered! there is also a pic of a carrier passing the same Tiger, and I think also a pic of a Lynx in the same location.

I did find this picture of the Bridges being demonstrated by a trooper.....and a pic of an AEC Armoured car with a set of bridges. Both IWM pictures

source:https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205482198
source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205202523