Welfare Vehicles

[Peter Mossong]

Hi David. Yes, I did notice the differences when re-doing those photos for posting. Unfortunately, that one with the Maori troops is the only wartime photo I've found of the vehicle. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a cunning swap over at some time!

Cheers,
Pete M.

[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 Kelly]

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

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Peter Mossong

Hi David. Yes, I did notice the differences when re-doing those photos for posting. Unfortunately, that one with the Maori troops is the only wartime photo I've found of the vehicle. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a cunning swap over at some time!

Looking at the photos here https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/te-rau-aroha/ I can only conclude there was a Te Rau Aroha I and II. The first one was built on an earlier Ford chassis (1940 or 1941 model?) with a body with an overhang over the cab. The second one is a 1942 model Ford. It seems the latter survived, to remember the feats of the former.

094B763A-C8F0-4650-8E45-1D41C82D63A3.jpeg 2842F6A7-10CA-4CBA-B102-F03FA6664464.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Dave Hardway stated “the shrapnel damage that appears on the body with the early Cab/Chassis can be matched to the photo's with the later Cab/Chassis and to the Truck as it is today”.
So it seems the original body was converted and then transplanted onto the later chassis. A true Trigger’s Broom…

[lynx42]

This photo just popped up on F/book. Is it the original or a copy. Says it was restored but school apprentices after being found in a scrap yard in NZ.
275170521_1974126896100728_8655304198720286389_n.jpg

[Lynn Eades]

Rick, you judge it. Compare the front guard / fender.
There are two fair haired girls in the photo. The taller one being my mother, the one on the left, her sister Joan.
The "truck" re visited the native schools on return.
Its a shame the sign writing didn't follow the original.

Can someone please turn the photos the right way up? Edit. Thank you Rob for turning them around in Post#157. The School Is the Okauia native school, on Douglas road out of Matamata. The number plate starts of with "Govt" This was fine for the first 9999 plates.

[Tony Smith]

WW1 style. Vehicle donated by the Hon. Mrs Hoares.

[welbike]

Anyone know what van this is? bike is a Norton 16H, may be taken just postwar, Norwegian troops, looking at the lettering on the side of the van.

Cheers,

Lex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Nice 1940 Chevrolet in Red Cross service.

"[Truck bearing red cross at Puckapunyal] [ca. 1940]"

FL15777587.jpg
Source: https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalin...17072583607636

[Mike Kelly]

Tasmania WW2, Brighton army camp.

Source: Tasmanian history page Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/8459...8453429559902/

[Hanno Spoelstra]

International(?) truck in 1940 “donated for service overseas”
4C92AF93-6E82-4DDB-849A-F037630E4D66.jpg


Photo “picked” by Beau Harper
8A3392DC-7943-4110-BA4E-8AA397502C12.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Fordson 7V NAAFI van in Caen, read more here:https://flic.kr/p/MCG3fc

29951260447_c3b62b0a99_o.jpg