Welfare Vehicles

[Matthew P]

Well here's the next photo puzzle. Not only what did this truck begin as, but the modifications to the coach work can be studied for quite a while and entertain the likes of us for some time. Either that or I'm just easily amused. No caption with this one.

Matt

[Matthew P]

Here's an interesting pair of photographs. Both of these canteens appear to be British. The one in town looks to have been transferred to the Dutch Salvation Army. So I suspect this photo might be circa 1945-46, as it appears to still retain markings on the fenders and the star on the door. But I have no caption and no other information. The one with the windmill in the background routinely appears with Canadian Salvation Army tie ins although the truck appears British to me. The shield is of the style usually used by the British Salvation Army and not the Canadian at the time. Still I know some of our members are in/from The Netherlands and it would be impolite of me not to share these two.

Matt

[Matthew P]

This mobile canteen looks to be British and most likely . The building behind it still stands today in Brussels. It was a canteen/club/leave centre late in WW2. I zoomed and cropped on the markings on the truck because it is so unusual to see that on these vehicles. Can anyone help me to identify those?

Thanks
Matt

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

This mobile canteen looks to be British and most likely . The building behind it still stands today in Brussels. It was a canteen/club/leave centre late in WW2. I zoomed and cropped on the markings on the truck because it is so unusual to see that on these vehicles. Can anyone help me to identify those?

Thanks
Matt

A British built Fordson 7V

[Matthew P]

Richard,

Thanks. Even I can at this point figure out a Fordson 7V. Or at least I think I can... Always good to get confirmation. I should have been more clear. I was interested in what appear to be unit markings on the cowl.

Edit: I asked this question on Facebook and apparently it's many units. It seems this canteen was "zapped" to use one gentleman's parlance with the various units it was associated with or supported, presumably from Normandy to Brussels.

Matt

[Alex van de Wetering]

Great pictures again, Matt.

I asked this question on Facebook and apparently it's many units.

It does indeed seem to show several small markings....what looks to me like the bull from the 79th Armoured division, but also the Polar bear from the 49th Infantry division.
The poor Fordson did get a nose job sadly....

[Matthew P]

Here's another photo. The canteen in question is a left hand drive Vanette, probably built on a Ford Chassis exported to Britain from the United States, a gift of the British War Relief Society, USA. Couple of military trucks to the left, one appears to be an ambulance? Looks like a cross painted on the canvas. Interesting hood cover blankets. Also two of the soldiers have M-1938 US leggings. Looks to be US uniforms?

Matt

[Steve Guthrie]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

This mobile canteen looks to be British and most likely . The building behind it still stands today in Brussels. It was a canteen/club/leave centre late in WW2. I zoomed and cropped on the markings on the truck because it is so unusual to see that on these vehicles. Can anyone help me to identify those?

Thanks
Matt

Looks like a number of British Divisional markings, including Airborne, 49th Infantry and 79th Armoured. Could represent the units the vehicle visited

[Radek]

The picture with Austin inst war time, but from ree event ;-)

[Matthew P]

Steve,

I wonder where/when that Canadian Red Cross vehicle served and in what role? During WW2 the four agencies providing welfare to the troops were Salvation Army, YMCA, Knights of Columbus and Canadian Legion.

Thanks for the vote of those were units that Canteen served. That seems the likely consensus so far.

Matt

[Matthew P]

That Canadian Legion canteen photo was most likely in England. The first many canteens by the services I listed above in England were local trucks, the very first were donated from a tea company. It was several months before Canadian trucks caught up with their Welfare services in Great Britain.

Matt

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Matthew P

Well here's the next photo puzzle. Not only what did this truck begin as, but the modifications to the coach work can be studied for quite a while and entertain the likes of us for some time. Either that or I'm just easily amused. No caption with this one.

Matt

I would say this is a Morris Commercial CV, going my window shape and molding line on the cab door, also the wheels.

regards, Richard