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

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Although not a 15-cwt truck, it is a Q2 so I thought it appropriate to point out this 30-cwt Commer for sale in the UK:

Mr. Anderson's Commer Q2 30-cwt truck was sold to a Mr. Steve Williams:

50717541_309193893038685_7860229642798497792_n.jpg

Also found a picture of this truck dating back to 1994:

6715494161_d1e1bbec94_o(scan de photo 1994).jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some spare parts lists in the IWM cataloque of items:

15 cwt. (6 cylinder) 'Superpoise' ... : spare parts list

Object description: Includes 'list of proprietary equipment and makers' spare parts for Commer 15 cwt. (Superpoise)' 1941

Object details
Category: Books
Related period:
Second World War (content)
Creator: COMMER CARS (Author)
CHILWELL CATALOGUE NO. 4663-11-1 (Author)
Commer Cars (Publisher)
Production date: 1942
Place made: Luton
Dimensions: whole: Dimensions: 22cm., Pagination: 94p.: ill., figs.
Catalogue number: LBY 78 / 3119

Spare parts list for 15 cwt. (6 cylinder) Superpoise vehicles type Q2

Object description: Pbk.
Object description: Produced for the Air Ministry

Object details
Category: Books
Related period: Second World War (content)
Creator: AIR MINISTRY (Author)
COMMER CARS (Author)
AIR PUBLICATION 1736 (Author)
CHILWELL CATALOGUE NO. 5259-26-1 (Author)
CHILWELL PUBLICATION NO. 237E (Author)
Commer Cars (Publisher)
Production date: 1943
Place made: Luton
Dimensions: whole: Dimensions: 28cm., Pagination: 97p.: ill., figs.
Catalogue number: LBY 78 / 3255

Plus an instruction book for the Q2 Tractor with 10' WB, this is the Superpoise cabbed-one:

Instruction book for tractor 4x2 light 10.0 W.B. type 'Q2'

Object description: Pbk.
Object description: Produced for the Air Ministry
Object description: Includes folding wiring diagram in sleeve attached to rear cover

Object details
Category: Books
Related period: Second World War (content)
Creator: AIR MINISTRY (Author)
COMMER CARS (Author)
AIR PUBLICATION 1735B (Author)
Commer Cars (Publisher)
Production date: 1945
Place made: Luton
Dimensions: whole: Dimensions: 22cm., Pagination: 124p., 3 fold. leaves of plates: ill., figs.
Catalogue number: LBY 80193

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Some spare parts lists in the IWM cataloque of items:

Spare parts list for 15 cwt. (6 cylinder) Superpoise vehicles type Q2
Object description: Pbk.
Object description: Produced for the Air Ministry
Object details
Category: Books
Related period: Second World War (content)
Creator: AIR MINISTRY (Author)
COMMER CARS (Author)
AIR PUBLICATION 1736 (Author)
CHILWELL CATALOGUE NO. 5259-26-1 (Author)
CHILWELL PUBLICATION NO. 237E (Author)
Commer Cars (Publisher)
Production date: 1943
Place made: Luton
Dimensions: whole: Dimensions: 28cm., Pagination: 97p.: ill., figs.
Catalogue number: LBY 78 / 3255

Eric Delcomenne had a copy of this spare parts list, he was so kind to sell it to me. My copy is "Publication NO. 237D" dated "[5/42]"

127285181_419093386120121_2637805787026926962_n.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Commer Q2 "RVT 105" is mentioned here: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads...r-force.23810/

There were also Light 100 units which could operate as Gee, Gee H or Oboe transmitters but used smaller vehicles and sets, were much more mobile but had shorter range. The vehicles seem to have been Commer Q2 RVT 105, a 15cwt with house type body. A permanent roof mounted aerial mast could be folded forward for stowage when travelling. When folded down it was protected by a wooden framework. When operating the aerial could be rotated for direction finding or for transmitting beams in an accurate direction. The vehicle was positioned so that it was facing True North and stakes were driven into the ground in a 100 foot radius circle to mark compass points.

The RVT 105 could also be used for BABS on airfields. These Blind Approach Beacon Systems were accurate for direction but could not give an accurate height.

So it seems 100 of these Commer Type 105 Radio Vehicles were built.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's one in RNZAF use. I'll have to find out where No. 489 Sqn operated to pinpoint a possible location.

Note the writing on the door:
"Maximum speed 35 mph
Cruising speed 30 mph"

Sadie Taylor driving a No. 489 Squadron truck. Unknown location. Copied from the No. 489 Squadron unofficial Unit History. Ca. 1945

PR10377_cropped.jpg
Source: https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz...10377.jpg.info

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Here's one in RNZAF use.

Interestingly, the RNZAF had a similar pick-up/van in use in the 1950s-1960s based on a postwar Commer model.

"WRNZAF publicity. Unknown woman tightening the wheel nuts on Commer truck MT4287,
number plate 'GOVT2*405' at RNZAF Station Hobsonville. Date: 09/08/1956"
129914853_1306816402988898_6708829900595802844_o.jpg
Source: https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz...-56_1.JPG.info

"WRNZAF publicity. Unknown woman putting oil into the engine of a truck.
RNZAF Station Hobsonville. This truck is believed to be Commer truck MT4287,
number plate 'GOVT2*405'. See WhG10297-56. Date: 09/08/1956"
129734271_1306816446322227_3598273627376780058_o.jpg
Source: https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz...96-56.jpg.info

"Side view of a small covered truck. RNZAF Base Whenuapai. Date 1966."
130143397_1306816452988893_992246373458103422_o.jpg
Source: https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz...79-66.jpg.info

[Alex van de Wetering]

Just out of curiosity.....Does anyone know more about the interchangability of 1950's Commer parts with WW2 ones?
At first sight it looks like the cab, including doors and windscreen might be the same?.....what about engine, gearbox, axles, chassis? Can a 1950's civvy Commer be used as a parts donor for a WW2 Commer Q2, Q15, Q4?

Nowadays it seems WW2 era Commers are very rare.....which seems strange if you see the rows of trucks in period pictures......so, were they that bad? or were they that good, resulting in them being worked to death in post-war civvy life?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Mr. Anderson's Commer Q2 30-cwt truck was sold to a Mr. Steve Williams:

The Anderson 30-cwt Q2 was recently sold on to Kevin:

IMG_20200816_172218.jpg.b0facc35d1bacf509e1178ee21cd4372_resized.jpg

[KevinHann]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The Anderson 30-cwt Q2 was recently sold on to Kevin:

Attachment 116348

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.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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.

Hello Kevin, welcome on here.

Here’s another photo of your truck taken by Dave Boxall at the Southsea 50th anniversary D-Day show at the end of May 1994.

BCE68944-3960-4039-A417-C3EA73767874.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Les Clanchy wrote: “Commer Q2 15cwt warming van being used to warm up the engines and de-ice the cockpit windscreen of a Hudson belonging to 233 squadron (Coastal Command) at Thorney Island, 19th January 1942“

10200EC9-4629-4BC9-8B51-9853C739E904.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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.

Kevin's restoration is progressing nicely: https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/42848-1942-...t-restoration/

Finally some better weather, had to move our shed around so the Commer was moved out into the yard.
All the welding is now finished on the cab, plenty of rot has been cut out, fabricated and welded. Onwards with filling and rubbing down.
51920228898_4157318381_k.jpg

Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/521975...h/51920228898/

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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

20230527_170628.jpg.b903b5d8c1b9c74a076a27a0a68eb7c5.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found some more pictures in this documentary: RAF Coastal Command (1944)

It shows two RAF Commer 15-cwt Vans (one with census number RAF 4722) in use at Royal Air Force Station Reykjavik, where "Coastal (Command) anti U-boat Squadrons in Iceland have two main jobs. (...) Intermittently, over various periods American squadrons both Army and Navy, have cooperated in this work", as per the voice over.

We see aircrew scrambling "off to a job", board a Commer which then drives off to the flight line:

Screenshot_20230607_091835_YouTube.jpg Screenshot_20230607_091841_YouTube.jpg

Screenshot_20230607_093326_YouTube.jpg Screenshot_20230607_093520_YouTube.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Kevin,

I promised on HMVF to post some pictures of your Commer in a previous life...so I have attached them here and will also upload them to HMVF later on.
The pictures were taken by my dad, in Haarlem (Netherlands) 7 May 1995.

The Commer also appears in this youtube movie (not mine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZCoFjUP0Ao

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.

I think you should check the forum, as I seem to remember there has been a Commer project mentioned here on the forum before.

Commer-Haarlem 1995-1.jpg Commer-Haarlem 1995-2.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I promised on HMVF to post some pictures of your Commer in a previous life...so I have attached them here and will also upload them to HMVF later on.
The pictures were taken by my dad, in Haarlem (Netherlands) 7 May 1995.

The Commer also appears in this youtube movie (not mine)

Excellent, Alex! Great to see photos and footage of this particular truck.
The first picture shows Jim Anderson behind the steering wheel. I have tried to share them with his son, but his email address is no longer valid.