Lancashire Fusilier Posted 28 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2015 An Ex-RAF WW1 Leyland A-Type Flatbed Heavy Tender being used by the Government during the September 1919 Rail Strike for food deliveries, these food deliveries were coordinated by the British Army, hence the British soldier accompanying the driver. LF IMW This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 28 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2015 The Leyland A-Type Lorry shown in post # 3524 with the armed escort, was from the 7th Division, and was photographed in the French town of Bethune, some 18 miles north of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 An Army Service Corps ( A.S.C. ) Transport ( First Aid ) Breakdown Lorry, which looks to be a ' Dennis ' lorry, has gone to the aid of a stricken British Army Leyland A-Type Lorry which has run off the road and down a steep embankment alongside the road in the village of Bruay.The ' First Aid ' sign on the breakdown lorry, refers to vehicle first aid recovery and repair and not ' medical ' first aid. The driver of the disabled Leyland A-Type lorry, looking a little bewildered, is standing to the far left and is wearing the A.S.C. Driver's fleece-lined long driving coat, while the crew of the A.S.C. ' First Aid ' Lorry work out how best to recover the Leyland A-Type back onto the road, having first stabilized the Leyland using wooden props to support the Leyland A-Type, so as to prevent it completely rolling over. The number 32 painted on the Leyland's scuttle, and 50 painted on the Dennis' scuttle, refer to the numbers assigned to each of the vehicles in their respective Transport Companies. The village of Bruay is 3 miles S.W. of Bethune, and 16 miles N.W. of Arras in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France. The photograph is dated 9th April, 1918. LF IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 29 April , 2015 Share Posted 29 April , 2015 Great images! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 Great images! David, Pleased you liked them. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 30 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2015 Australian troops from the 3rd Squadron, Australian Flying Corps ( A.F.C. ), in Belgium, posing in front of the very rarely seen Leyland A-Type Lorry fitted with the ' Mobile Photographic Laboratory ' bodywork. This particular Mobile Photographic Laboratory, was used to process photographs and film used for aerial reconnaissance and other general battlefield photography including those photographs taken by War Photographers and War Correspondents. Note the Leyland A-Type's canvas cab canopy, which could be completely lowered to provide maximum shelter for the driver's cab. LF AWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 1 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2015 Another bodywork configuration for the Leyland A-Type 3-Ton Lorry, was that of a Mobile Workshop, which were used both by the RFC/RAF and the Army ( mainly the A.S.C. ) with just over 1000 Mobile Workshops mounted on various types of lorries including the Leyland A-Type being in service with the A.S.C. by the end of WW1. Typically, the Mobile Workshop was housed in a large wooden box construction mounted on the back of the lorry, with the wooden sides of the mobile workshop being split in half horizontally, with the top half being able to be raised up and locked in place to form a canopy over the work area, and the lower half being able to be lowered onto wooden legs to form an additional workshop floor area. Some mobile workshops had additional canvas awnings which could be lowered and used in bad weather. The back of the mobile workshop had a hinged door with a small window, which could also be raised up and locked in position while the mobile workshop was in use. When travelling, the back and sides of the mobile workshop would be lowered and locked in position. Some mobile workshops, had canvas sides and back instead of being wooden. Mobile workshops were typically equipped with a powered drill, lathe, grinder and electrical lighting all powered by an on-board 2/4 cylinder petrol engine linked to a dynamo. There was also an anvil, workbench and array of tools needed to carryout a wide range of repairs and servicing to the unit's vehicles and motorcycles, or as in the case of the RFC/RAF's mobile workshops, also the repair and maintenance of aircraft. Usually, a Mobile Workshop would be accompanied by a Mobile Stores Vehicle. In the attached photograph, we see a Leyland A-Type 3-Ton Lorry fitted out as a Mobile Workshop, in the working position with the workshop's sides ( top ) raised up and locked in position to form a canopy over the work area, and the workshop's side ( bottom half ) lowered into position on wooden legs to form the additional workshop floor area. We can see the array of powered tools and equipment in use and the interior electrical lighting all powered by the on-board petrol engine and dynamo. This Army ( A.S.C. ) Mobile Workshop was photographed in service in the village of Contay, which was on the main Amiens to Arras Road in the Picardy, Somme region of Northern France. This photograph is dated 6th September, 1916. LF IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 1 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2015 Here is a nice example of a Leyland A-Type RFC Mobile Workshop providing additional workshop facilities at an Aerodrome's Fitters Hanger, where aircraft are being serviced, repaired and maintained. In the bottom left of the mobile workshop, we can see the 2 or 4 cylinder petrol engine, it's radiator and the dynamo to which it is connected, all providing power the the various powered tools and electric lighting used in the Mobile Workshop. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 2 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2015 The interior of a Mobile Workshop, and at the top of the photograph we can see the raised wooden top half of the Mobile Workshop's side panel, which has been secured in place to form a canopy over the working area. This photograph also gives nice details of the lathe, drill, electric lighting and other contents of the Mobile Workshop. LF IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 2 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2015 Another good view of the interior of a Mobile Workshop showing the main powered tools and machines used, including a grinder, drills and lathe. On this particular Mobile Workshop, all the wooden side panels have been raised or lowered to form either the canopy or the floor, and additionally, the canvas awning behind the mechanic has been lowered in place. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 2 May , 2015 Share Posted 2 May , 2015 Superbly detailed photos - never seen any on this subject which compare. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 2 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2015 Superbly detailed photos - never seen any on this subject which compare. David David, Many thanks, there was so much more to WW1 than just photographs of the trenches, these mechanics kept the vehicles on the road and the aeroplanes in the air. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 3 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2015 Most of the WW1 photographs of a Mobile Workshop, show it in the stationary working position with the actual workshop floor area fully opened up and in full view. Here is an excellent photograph of a ' WD ' Thornycroft J-Type Mobile Workshop in the ' travelling ' configuration, with workshop's side and back panels fully raised and secured in place for transit. This detailed photograph shows the Mobile Workshop's wooden side panels split in half horizontally, with the upper-half hinged at the top with 4 strap hinges, which allowed this upper section to be raised and secured in place to form the canopy over the workshop floor area. The lower-half of the side panel, again has 4 strap hinges which allow this section to be lowered and secured in place to form a platform used as an extended workshop floor area. Also attached to this lower side section are 4 wooden legs, which are secured in place with pins during transit, and when in the working position, are released and pivoted outwards to form 4 support legs under the platform for the extended floor area. There were also 2 legs at the back of the vehicle, which are used to support the rear extended floor area. It would be critical for these legs to be released and pivoted outwards, before the lower-half of the side section was dropped, and sometimes a warning notice of such was attached to the Mobile Workshop's exterior. Some 5000 Thornycroft military vehicles were produced during WW1, the majority being the J-Type. For additional photographs of and information on ' Thornycroft ' or the ' Thornycroft J-Type ' use the Thread search box. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 3 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2015 A very nice illustrated postcard, showing a Thornycroft J-Type Mobile Workshop in service during WW1. In the bottom left of the illustration, we can see an anvil and portable forge which were carried on the Mobile Workshop for blacksmithing work. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 4 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 4 May , 2015 With reference to the previous post, which shows a hive of activity in and around the Mobile Workshop, with many types of repairs, maintenance and manufacturing work being carried out. In the attached photograph, designed to show the array of equipment carried on the RFC Mobile Workshop and used by workshop unit, we can see from the left, a portable forge and anvil, welding equipment and tyre repair equipment, these being in addition to the on-board powered equipment, such as the lathe, grinder and drills. This gives us a good idea of the vast scope and scale of the important work carried out by these Mobile Workshop Units during WW1. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 4 May , 2015 Share Posted 4 May , 2015 Fascinating subject. Got the crayons out again! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 4 May , 2015 Share Posted 4 May , 2015 That's brill. Do you have a special photo software? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 4 May , 2015 Share Posted 4 May , 2015 That's brill. Do you have a special photo software? Johnboy, No, just Adobe Photoshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 4 May , 2015 Share Posted 4 May , 2015 I admire your skill and envy your patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 4 May , 2015 Share Posted 4 May , 2015 Notwithstanding the props to hold it up, that vehicle must have had great stability to stay upright in the first place, that slope must be all of 45 degs. Great photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 5 May , 2015 Fascinating subject. Got the crayons out again! David David, Very nice, and looking very lifelike. Regards, LF Notwithstanding the props to hold it up, that vehicle must have had great stability to stay upright in the first place, that slope must be all of 45 degs. Great photo. David, I agree, the Leyland seems to defy gravity. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 5 May , 2015 Whilst this photograph shows a tented workshop rather than a vehicle mounted Mobile Workshop, it does show excellent details of same type of petrol engine linked to a dynamo which was also used to power machinery and tools in the vehicle mounted Mobile Workshop. LF IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 6 May , 2015 Another source of local power was that provided by a Mobile Generator, and here we see an Army Service Corps ( A.S.C. ) Mobile Generator Unit mounted on a towed waggon. Note the jack in place under the waggon, helping to support the heavy weight of the generator unit. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 7 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 7 May , 2015 The ' Opposition ' also used Mobile Generators, which do not appear to have been as sophisticated as the British model. Here is a photograph of some Australian troops with a captured enemy waggon mounted Mobile Generator, and whilst the photo caption mentions that the Mobile Generator was captured from the Turks in Palestine, there appears to be a ' German Eagle ' painted on the side of the waggon, so we may have a German Mobile Generator being used by the Turkish Army in Palestine. LF AWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 8 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 8 May , 2015 In most cases, the Mobile Workshops were truly mobile and travelled from location to location as was required. In other cases, Mobile Workshops took on a semi-permanent or permanent status and remained in a location indefinitely, providing workshop facilities on a semi-permanent or permanent basis, as is shown on the attached photograph of 3 Mobile Workshops from the 48th Division parked and set up to provide long-term workshop facilities on the Italian Front. This photograph, also provides good details of the Mobile Workshops rear working platform extension. LF IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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