Boys Rifle ammo bin info wanted

Lynn Eades · #1 19-03-12, 10:40

In Vol.1 of Nigel Watsons book, on page 81 there are two photos at the top of the page. Both photos shows a bin at the left up against the hull division plate. Each bin is different, but both are for ammo for the Boys rifle. (the one marked by the top wording after the title)
I am looking for what ever info I can get on either of them, Dimensions, photos, fixing hole dimensions, details of lids and catches etc.
Being able to buy one would help as well.
The photos of the stowage might help give some explanation and scale to those without the book.
The smaller Boys ammo bin in the right rear of the carrier (drawn over the boys rifle barrel) is also a mystery to me, as it is not drawn as a rectangle.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thankyou all.

George Moore · #2 19-03-12, 14:01

Not sure if this is what you want, but I enclose some photo's of the ammo bin, plus a rather poor copy of a photocopy showing the stowage rack from an early Carrier, it would seem that the fitting was standard.

I hate to say it, but I did measure the ammo box, but "demmed if I can find the bleddy thing".

George.

George Moore · #3 19-03-12, 14:04

Here are a few more.

George.

Lynn Eades · #4 19-03-12, 19:56

I have bought one of those boxes from a forum member, as shown in your earlier photos, but the last photo is a revalation. That is the angled one I mentioned last. That picture will be a great help, also in the area of the Bren tripod strap bracket etc. Do you have any more pictures similar?
Thankyou again George.

Ben · #5 19-03-12, 21:28

Great picture George,

As Lynn says, do you have anymore or is there a clue as to where that photo came from?

Thanks

Ben

Stew Robertson · #6 19-03-12, 22:55

JUst another dum question is the 3rd picture sitting on a lynx fender?
Stew

Marc van Aalderen · #7 19-03-12, 23:35

More chance it is a Dingo. Lifting eye give the answer. I may be wrong but do not think the Lynx has these in that place.

Cheers,

Lynn Eades · #8 20-03-12, 07:09

'Scuse me you two!

I know most threads are derailed eventually, but.... could you please go and derail someone elses thread for now.

George, would you happen to have any pictures of the inside of the left side that shows the jack or jack bracket in place. also the Bren 250 round bracket and container, and back on the otherside, any other angles you might have.
A couple of us in the world wait with interest.

George Moore · #9 20-03-12, 20:48

Firstly, it was a Daimler Scout, taken at Cobbaton actually.

The Photo of the Boys ammo boxes is actually the other side of the same carrier featured in Nigels book you mentioned previously.
It is actually a Machine Gun carrier, the type converted to Bren carriers.

Of interest, I am not sure of the origin of the stowage diagram you posted, David Fletcher found these for the Cavalry Carrier, Scout and Bren. I sent copies to Nigel. David had known about them, but they were "lost", they had been mis-filed and he came across them by accident looking for something else.
Of note, the Scout stowage bears no relation to the actual stowage seen on any photo's I have, so I have some issue with the Bren.

The originals were p/copied from a series in the IWM collection, I was basically interested in the stowage arrangements, so concentrated on that detail rather than "historical" information.

I'm including what I have, but there appears to be nothing on the jack stowage, and the original drawings of the MG carrier, though detailed, do not show anything either.
I have converted them to a low res format, email me if you want hi-res, but remember, they are photocopies.

Now stop fighting you lot.

George.

Ben · #10 20-03-12, 21:17

George

Thanks for the extra photos, first class. Email to follow.

The last photo, bottom left seems to show the bracket for securing the jack. They are the best internal pre UC photos I've seen.

All the best

Ben

George Moore · #11 21-03-12, 01:28

Ben,
Email on its way

George.

Lynn Eades · #12 27-03-12, 00:26

Hi. The bracket seen in the oregroungd of the last picture is (I believe) the bracket for the 250 rounds of 303 box. It is beside the spare barrel box, and forward of the jack bracket.
THe backets are made from angle iron, but unlike the universal carrier jack bracket, the Bren brackets appear to have all had the "flat" of the angle iron to the outside. This allow the bins/boxes to sit lower on a flat surface (not on top of fasteners), but made the brackets bulkier. I have all the hole patterns for the Bren because the N.Z. L.P. Bren was an exact copy (the stowage plan for the Bren is the same as the hole pattern from my L.P. guards.
George, I am looking for any info on those boxes shown in your photos, which are so very helpful to Ben and I.
George, I m very keen to have these photos in the best resolution you can do, including the one on the right side showing the Boys ammo bin on the right side engine cover.
Many thanks George.

Ben · #13 27-03-12, 08:09

The photos are in the Bovington archive, I'm in the process on getting better copies.

Ben

George Moore · #14 27-03-12, 11:39

Lynn - Ben,

Great to hear that you have tracked down better copies of those photo's.

Glad to have been of some help, makes a change to be putting something back into the pot.
Just sorry that I didn't have better quality copies.

A lot of stuff on these sites had helped me over the years, and has gone to prove that the more I see, the less I know.

Regards
George.

(Progress shots, perhaps ??????????)