Commer Q2: Truck, 15-cwt, 4x2, Van - Page 2

Hanno Spoelstra · #1 30-05-23, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinHann

Just a Hello from me, I have just joined the forum and this is my Commer. She is proving to be a difficult one at the moment, the restoration is well underway but getting her to start and run are troublesome.

We will keep at it though, we spent an awful lot if time finding a wartime Commer, we have other Rootes vehicles too, but our aim is to preserve rare Commers and Hillmans of this period.

Meanwhile, Kevin has finished the restoration of this Commer Q2 30-cwt truck - see more photos here: https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/42848-1942-...comment=499556

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Hanno Spoelstra · #2 12-06-18, 16:58

Today, 75 years ago, 322 Dutch Squadron RAF was established. One of the officers bought a parrot as their mascot. It was named Polly Grey, and colour footage published by the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH) on FB shows it arriving in a Commer Q2 15-cwt Van:

35204880_632540010416544_8634829047626465280_n.jpg 35142224_632540113749867_3777870950301696000_n.jpg CE00FBA0-4427-4799-8BF1-77B42880E082.jpeg

Source: https://www.facebook.com/nimh.geschi...9415584322702/

Hanno Spoelstra · #3 19-06-18, 11:56

An here's another picture of one in use with the RAF:

"Winston Churchill inspects RAF personnel following a tour of a cave complex in North Africa in August 1942."

IWM (ME(RAF) 5119).jpg

Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205196643

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 20-06-18, 18:31

Courtesy of an HMVF member, here is a scan from "the Q2 workshop manual although it quotes it as 15 cwt".

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Hanno Spoelstra · #5 20-01-19, 12:09

Wheels & Tracks magazine issue no.75 featured a reprint from from the British magazine Autocar published on 13 April 1945. The article records the travelling exhibition mounted by the Rootes Group, then one of Britian's leading motor manufacturers, of a series of 1:10 scale models of the military vehicles produced by Rootes during the war. When reading the magazine, I wondered where the models would have ended up?

Now, 18 years later, looking for something else on the https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/ website, I came across three entries for Commer 1:10 scale models. Attached are pictures from W&T magazine of the Q15 and Q2 Van. They also have a model of the "Commer Q.4 GS Wagon". Maybe the other models depicting RAF vehicles were donated to the IWM as well?

Commer Q2 GS Wagon - RAF 7263
Dimensions: whole: L: 19.5in W: 8in H: 9.5in Weight: 10kg incl case Scale: 1/10

IMG_5851_cropped.jpg IMG_5852_cropped.jpg

Commer Q15 GS Wagon - RAF 96261

IMG_5850_cropped.jpg

David Herbert · #6 20-01-19, 13:28

The Rootes models were on permanent display at IWM Lambeth up to about 40 years ago. That part of the building was re-arranged at about that time and by coincidence I never visited again so I have no idea if they re- appeared. They were superb models, absolute works of art. Dunlop even made scale Trakgrip tires for them which were also offered for sale by the old British model making company Basset Lowerk (I think that is spelled correctly). I have their catalogue somewhere showing the tires.

David

Hanno Spoelstra · #7 28-07-19, 18:16

Another variation of the Q2: Truck, 30-cwt, 4x2, GS (Commer Q2)

Basically a commercial type, but with military features such as towing eyes, override bumper and GS body.

The Commer Q2 15-cwt RAF van has the same 10' (120") wheelbase, so this must have been basically the same chassis.

23561609_539459439724602_4800399682224065258_n.jpg

Hanno Spoelstra · #8 25-09-20, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Another variation of the Q2: Truck, 30-cwt, 4x2, GS (Commer Q2)

Basically a commercial type, but with military features such as towing eyes, override bumper and GS body.

The Commer Q2 15-cwt RAF van has the same 10' (120") wheelbase, so this must have been basically the same chassis.

Here's another picture of the same 30-cwt truck:

IMG_5671.jpg

Hanno Spoelstra · #9 14-11-20, 15:03

Another Commer Q2 15-cwt Van, courtesy of Les Freathy:

7A253561-02F5-4AD4-8C21-8E79DE90D7D3.jpeg 6031F51E-EFA2-4F47-83A4-0A3622FCAB01.jpeg

Hanno Spoelstra · #10 24-11-20, 15:47

More pics of Commer Q2 radio vehicles, courtesy of Les Freathy.

As they seem to have post-war registrations, these were pics must have been made post-1949.

127492798_1769683589879489_5581959052769404317_n (1).jpg 127451796_1769683266546188_1586028510967413538_n.jpg

Editd to add: The second picture is captioned "Mobile D/F Station from the early early 1950s. On site in RAF Jever, Germany" at http://www.vintageradio.me.uk/military/r1132_a.htm

Hanno Spoelstra · #11 24-11-20, 16:05

The Nevington War Museum lists it as "Commer Q2 Type 105 Radio Van"

nevington-commer-q2-type-105-radio-van7_orig.jpg

nevington-commer-q2-type-105-radio-van2_orig.jpg nevington-commer-q2-type-105-radio-van3_orig.jpg

nevington-commer-q2-type-105-radio-van5_orig.jpg nevington-commer-q2-type-105-radio-van1_orig.jpg

Hanno Spoelstra · #12 16-11-19, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I'm trying to gather some more information on the Commer Q2 15-cwt as used by the RAF during WW2. Here's what I found in Vanderveen's books (text) and the internet (pictures):

Les Freathy found a better picture of the Q2 Van in the first post. It is in use with a Polish RAF squadron as the near side wing has the Polish Air Force checkerboard marking. The offside wing sports the RAF Type A roundel.

23CB632F-92CB-48B5-BAC7-61A6CA6A0D17.jpg 644D3D17-3785-4424-86CE-7D0949EEEF8A.jpeg 8D76D67D-49C5-48FD-8AE5-7B9503E4755C.png

Hanno Spoelstra · #13 16-11-19, 22:59

Speaking of RAF markings:

Ted Angus remarked that early vehicles had aluminum RAF letters screwed on the door. Once camouflage came in the RAF they were painted over, as seen on this Commer Q2 Tractor. These letters were done away with when the roundel was introduced.

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Keith Brooker · #14 17-11-19, 15:17

Two photos from my collection.
Keith

Hanno Spoelstra · #15 17-11-19, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Brooker

Two photos from my collection.

Thanks Keith!

Radek · #16 27-11-19, 09:12

another picture of Commer Q4

Hanno Spoelstra · #17 23-08-21, 14:49

Commer Q4, pictures courtesy of Stuart Watson:

237209716_4162605840484470_119373908652744999_n.jpg 34C59FD0-6EA4-43C2-BC35-C2FFCCBCB89A.jpeg

Hanno Spoelstra · #18 10-09-21, 20:54

By Richard Payne:

Quote:

Marked to 1st Armoured Division but with a Corps bar above the arm of service serial...which is odd...
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Quote:

One on the beach.
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Quote:

..and a 4th Infantry Brigade anti-tank company asset...
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KevinHann · #19 13-06-23, 12:25

With only a few finishing touches to carry out on our 30cwt Commer, mainly the painting of the decals and insignia which I will be undertaking myself over the next month or so we are now looking forward.

We very much enjoy the restoration side of these projects and so we have decided to go for another project, as Commers ore our thing I have started to put out feelers here and there for the next project...

Trouble is we all know that wartime Commers are very rare but we will keep looking cause you just never know what will turn up one day. Be it a 15cwt RAF van or a Q4 3 tonner we would be interested to hear and be keen to save another wonderful vehicle of this marque.

If anyone hears or knows of anything that would be up our street then please get in touch.

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Hanno Spoelstra · #20 10-12-24, 11:10

Another photo of 1 of only 2(?) surviving Commer Q15 GS trucks.

It currently lives in the Netherlands.

IMG_3978.jpg
Photo source: https://www.luckyseventh.nl/2022-hel...els-zutendaal/

Hanno Spoelstra · #21 24-01-25, 14:33

Found on Facebook, a colourised photo of a Commer Q2 15-cwt Van.

Caption: “Pilots of 249 Squadron at North Weald, late 1940. Richard Wynn, Tom Neil, Robert Barton, Patrick Wells, James Crossey, Jack Mills, Albert Lewis, George Barclay, George Palliser, S "Woolly" Woolmer and Anthony Thompson.”

In one of the comments to this photo Kit Wells wrote: "Pat Wells was my cousin. Knew him in his later years. He was shot down shortly after this photo and badly burnt. He became one of the famous guinea pigs for plastic surgery. Years later in South Africa he was introduced to Adolf Garland. After a lengthy conversation they both produced their log books for the day he was shot down. They gradually realised that it was in fact Galland who shot him down. Galland’s log records ‘Shot down in flames - pilot killed’ to which Pat’s comment was ‘Sorry mate, I am still here’. A lovely man and a pleasure to know so many years after these events"

Another comment: "This isn't September 1940, it's late November onwards and possibly December or even early 1941 due to the fact the Hurricane in the background has a 'Sky' coloured Spinner and fuselage recognition band added, which wasn't introduced until Air Ministry Orders in November 1940."

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Source

Alex van de Wetering · #22 28-01-25, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Found on Facebook, a colourised photo of a Commer Q2 15-cwt Van.

That same colorised facebook picture found it's way to multiple forums, which led to more pictures being posted in reply.

Javier de Luelmo posted this picture on the missing-lynx forum of a Q2 van in the desert, but in German hands.
No idea of the original source, but picture posted here: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/miss...57077#p1757077

Commer.jpg

Hanno Spoelstra · #23 28-01-25, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Javier de Luelmo posted this picture on the missing-lynx forum of a Q2 van in the desert, but in German hands.

Thanks Alex, good to see another Q2 Van in North Africa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Caption: “Pilots of 249 Squadron at North Weald, late 1940. Richard Wynn, Tom Neil, Robert Barton, Patrick Wells, James Crossey, Jack Mills, Albert Lewis, George Barclay, George Palliser, S "Woolly" Woolmer and Anthony Thompson.”

I traced back this photo via https://www.heritage-print.com/fligh...-14995346.html as being a photo from Air of Glory: A Wartime Scrapbook, by Cecil Beaton and published by His Majesty's Stationary Office, 1941

flight-discussed-1941-artist-cecil-beaton-14995346.jpg

KevinHann · #24 06-06-25, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Another photo of 1 of only 2(?) surviving Commer Q15 GS trucks.

It currently lives in the Netherlands.

Attachment 139319
Photo source: https://www.luckyseventh.nl/2022-hel...els-zutendaal/

Any updates on the current situation with the second Q15? I think I recall seeing photos of it unrestored.

Mike K · #25 07-06-25, 03:00

NAA pics....................

Title Front view of Commer Explosives Vans
Date range 1940 - 1940
Series/Control symbol A5954, 634/1 PHOTO29
Item ID 5394452
Item location Canberra

Title Batch of Commer general-purpose loose tilt vans
Date range 1940 - 1940
Series/Control symbol A5954, 634/1 PHOTO31
Item ID 5394482
Item location Canberra