Humber Mk1 LRC

[Neil Ashley]

Attached are a couple of interesting Humber Mk1 LRC photographs I acquired at the weekend.

If any one has any internal shots or manual diagram's I would be interested.

[Les Freathy]

Hi Neil
A few bits on LRCs attached hope they are of use albeit not all MK1
cheers
Les

[Les Freathy]

And the 6th picture

[Hanno Spoelstra]

These pics will be of interest to Ryan Gill, "he who recovered the remains of the mysterious armoured car at Minaker's yard".

H.

[Mike Starmer]

An interesting photograph here, a Daimler Mk.I scout car with Light Tanks Mk.VI. Probably a training scheme in UK about 1941, or can the date be confirmed?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Mike Starmer
An interesting photograph here, a Daimler Mk.I scout car with Light Tanks Mk.VI. Probably a training scheme in UK about 1941, or can the date be confirmed?

Mike and Neil,

The first photo that Neil posted, with the Daimler Mk 1a, F9757, is an IWM photo dated 4-12-1940 of 5th Corps. No more info than that but I recognised it from a very old copy of a Dingo register newsletter.

[Mike Starmer]

Many thanks for the date & WD number.

[Gary_GJK]

My first post on the forum, and I'll say upfront that I'm one of the least mechanical people you could expect to find. My interest in the Second World War therefore largely revolves around infantry subjects, however that also extends to reconnaissance and motorised or mechanised units.

I've been trying of late to improve my knowledge of British, and likewise Canadian, reconnaissance vehicles. I've bought some of the Bovington Tank Museum's drawings packs, and while these have been very helpful re scout and armoured cars, the one for the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkIII has left me with a few queries.

While trawling for info I found several of the drawings I received on the forum, hence my rebooting this older thread.

First question is then, does anyone know what publication the stowage and exploded view diagrams are taken from? I take it that it's a contemporary item, and not commercially available?

Second question, does anyone have a key for the diagram showing interior stowage? Most of the items are easy enough to decipher, but if there's something that takes the guesswork out it would be helpful. My initial assessment was;

1. Driver's Triplex block
2. ???
4. Fire extinguisher
5. Ammunition boxes for Boys anti-tank rifle. Normal issue was eight magazines, 5-rounds in each, which could be carried in a single box. It would be interesting to know what the other two contained; likely the two others were for bandoliers (16, each with 10-rounds) and possibly spares/tools?
6. ???
7. Rifle
8. Holders for Bren magazines?
9. 100-round drum magazines (AA) for Bren
10. Two boxes, each with 12 Bren gun magazines (30 round type)
11. Spare barrel for Bren
12. Cleaning rod, Bren gun
13. Bren spares wallet?
14. Crew's blankets
15. Bren gun
16. Bipod, Bren gun
17. Boys anti-tank rifle
18. Bipod, Boys
19 to 22. Not a clue
23. Smoke generator?
24. Sighting telescope?

My page is lacking the notes in the below that mention the Bren was now stored in a single holdall.

Final question is re the wireless fit. I take it that the reason the Platoon/Troop commander had no anti-tank rifle in his vehicle was because the early No.11 set went in the area occupied by the ammunition boxes? Is that roughly where the No.19 set would be sited, which became the normal fit later in the war?

Any help on resolving the above would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Gary

[Tim Bell]

Have you tried the Humber LRC Restoration page on facebook?

Chap there may be able to advise also - though of course he may be here already.

Tim

[Gary_GJK]

Thanks for the suggestion Tim, though I'm not on FB so I don't think I can contact him without becoming a member there?

Re the images, I found a publication listed on the IWM Collections titled 'CAR, 4X4 LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE HUMBER, MARK III A [MAINTENANCE MANUAL AND INSTRUCTION BOOK]'. Is there any possibility the illustrations are taken from that? You can order copies from the IWM Library, though at £0.50 per page I'd need to narrow the search down within it. I had a look on the National Archives, but could not fathom if they have a copy.

Gary

[Gary_GJK]

I didn't make any headway on this old query at the time of posting, however while browsing ebay last night I found an auction for a copy of the 1942 Driver's Handbook for the Humber LRC III. The preview photos include the stowage diagram that I was asking about, and while it's not totally readable I was able to fill in the missing items from my list. In case it's of any use this is the revised list.

1. Triplex blocks (total 4)
2. Container, ballastite cartridge (1 tin)
4. Fire extinguisher
5. Box, magazine Boys rifle (total 3 boxes)
6. Tools and cleaning outfit for Boys rifle
7. Rifle (total 2)
8. Bren magazines (total 4)
9. Bren 100-round drum magazines (total 4)
10. Bren gun magazine box (total 2)
11. Spare barrel for Bren
12. Cleaning rod, Bren gun
13. Bren spares wallet
14. Anti-gas suit (1) and capes and gloves (3)
15. Bren gun
16. Bipod, Bren gun
17. Boys anti-tank rifle
18. Bipod, Boys
19. Breech cover, Boys rifle
20. Map case
21. Driver's handbook
22. Log book
23. Smoke generators and muzzle covers
24. Smoke discharger

Gary