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Remembered Today:

WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards


Lancashire Fusilier

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In addition to Foden's Steam Wagons being supplied to the War Department for use by the Army as General Service Lorries, some 100 other Foden Steam Wagons were mounted with ' Thresh ' Disinfector Delousing Chambers and used on the Western Front in combating the infestations, particularly from lice, inflicting the troops in the trenches.


In 1904, the Thresh Company of Westminster, London took out a patent for their improved Disinfector, a device which used hot steam piped into sealed chambers to fumigate infected clothing and bedding.

The ' Thresh ' Disinfectors were particularly well suited to deal with the delousing of lice infections which were so prevalent in the squalid trenches of the Western Front.


With the Foden Steam Wagon having an ample supply of steam from its engine, used in the fumigation process, plus the added advantage of mobility from vehicle mounted Thresh Disinfectors, the Foden Mobile Delousers were invaluable to the troops' health and hygiene.


The Foden Mobile Delouser Wagons would travel to different locations, and the troops in those locations would place their uniforms and bedding in the ' Thresh ' chambers for fumigation.


As the Foden Steam Wagon's engines were kept running in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time whilst the delousing process took place, a makeshift extension to the Steam Wagon's funnel was often fitted to help in dispersing the smoke and fumes from the Steam Wagon's running engine higher into the air and further away from the Steam Wagon's crew and the troops being treated.


Whilst the Thresh Company had a London address, the ' Thresh ' Disinfecting Chambers themselves were made by Summersides Ltd., of Keighley, West Yorkshire.


LF


The photo shows a WD Foden Steam Wagon No. S^252 mounted with 2 ' Thresh ' Delousing Chambers, fumigating soldier's uniforms and bedding in the village of Corbie, which is located 9 miles east of Amiens in the Somme region of Northern France.

Note the makeshift extension fitted to the Steam Wagon's funnel, and the railway type buffers which were fitted to the front and rear of the Steam Wagon.

Sacks of uniforms and bedding, are sitting on the ground awaiting fumigation.


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.

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A ' Thresh ' trade advertisement, showing their disinfecting chambers mounted on a Foden Steam Wagon.

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.

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A nice example of a seldom seen W^D Foden Steam Wagon used on the Home Front, with the markings and insignia of ' 606 Coy MT ASC ' ( 606 Company Motor Transport Army Service Corps ), as opposed to those Steam Wagons sent to the Western Front and carrying the ' S ' Census Mark.

606 Coy MT ASC was formed in November 1915 in the London area, as 23rd Local Auxiliary Coy.

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.

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WW1 period ( 1917 ), Foden trade advertisement for their Steam Wagons.

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.

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A rarely seen group of at least 4 Foden Steam Wagons numbered S^1297 - S^1296 - S^1301 - S^1300 which were part of a road construction unit somewhere on the Western Front, and on Steam Wagon No. S^1301 we can see the partial marking ' W ^ D ROADS '.

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.

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A nicely restored Foden ' W ^ D ROADS ' Steam Wagon.

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.

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Lancs,

As you say nice and not 'Over Restored', the finish looks very period and authentic.

Mike.

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Mike,

Also, these coloured photographs give us a very good impression of how these Steam Wagons actually looked during WW1.

Regards,

LF

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Beautiful machines - and I believe I am right in saying that their tare weight exceeded the maximum load.

Did the buffers extend beyond the front wheels? On most photos in which the machine actually has them, it seems not to be the case, but perhaps it's just the angle...

Cheers

Colin

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Beautiful machines - and I believe I am right in saying that their tare weight exceeded the maximum load.

Did the buffers extend beyond the front wheels? On most photos in which the machine actually has them, it seems not to be the case, but perhaps it's just the angle...

Colin,

The Foden ' 5 ton ' Steam Wagon weighed 9 tons.

I agree, in all the photographs I have seen, those buffers did not extend beyond the front wheels, and were probably designed to just help prevent damage to the front of the boiler.

Regards,

LF

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The Foden Steam Wagons fitted with ' Thresh ' Disinfectors, were not just available for use by British troops, the troops of the Allies also made use of the Foden Delousing Wagons.

In the following 2 photographs, both Australian and American soldiers are seen bringing their uniforms and bedding to the Foden Delosuing Wagons for fumigation.

LF

In the first photograph, Australian troops are seen using the Foden Delousing Wagons, again, note the extension fitted to the funnel of one of the Foden Steam Wagons.

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.

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American servicemen from the U.S. ' Yankee Division ', using a Foden Steam Wagon fitted with ' Thresh ' Disinfectors.

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.

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At an Army Service Corps Motor Transport Depot, A.S.C. men receive instruction on the Servicing of a Foden Steam Wagon.

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.

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In addition to the Foden Stream Wagon mounted ' Thresh Disinfectors ' supplied to the War Department during WW1, there was also a ' Thresh Disinfector ' horse-drawn wagon, shown in the attached trade advertisement.

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.

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A horse-drawn ' Thresh Disinfector ' wagon in use by the British Army on the Western Front.

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.

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Will's WW1 Military Motors - Card No.27 - Belgian Motor Kitchen.

" This most servicable Motor Field Kitchen, the body of which was specially designed by Messrs. Barker & Co., South Audley Street ( London ) was presented to the Queen of the Belgians for the Belgian Military authorities "

This may be the interior:

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From the Bendigo Advertiser, dated March 1915.

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This may be the interior:

wbremner,

Yes, you are correct that is the interior of the ' Motor Field Kitchen ' shown in Card No.27 ( attached ), also attached is a clearer photo of the vehicle's interior, in which we can see on either side of the interior the open widow shutters which were raised when serving the troops.

The details on the reverse of Card No.27 are as follows :-

" This most serviceable Motor Field Kitchen, the body of which was specially designed and built for the Queen of the Belgians by Messrs. Barker & Co., South Audley Street, was presented by Her Majesty to the Belgian Military authorities. Motor kitchens and restaurants are in general use at the front. Cooking can be carried on while travelling at full speed, as ever precaution is taken to ensure the smooth running of the car, which is fitted with electric light. "

Barker & Co., Coachbulders, was founded in 1710 by a British Army Officer ( presumably named Barker ), and were originally makers of fine horse-drawn coaches and carriages, and with the invention of the motorcar, Barker & Co., became renowned for their fine motorcar coachbuilding, particularly for Rolls-Royce and other quality motorcars.

Thanks for posting,

Regards,

LF

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A very fine 1880 ' Spring Brougham ' Carriage built by Barker & Co. ( Coachbuilders ).

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.

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Two examples of Barker & Co's superb Rolls-Royce coachbuilding.

LF

These images are reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

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Barker & Co., 1913 and 1916 Trade Advertisements.

LF

These images are reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.


2

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This may be the interior:

Another reason why Barker & Co. would have been given the job of building the Motor Field Kitchen to be presented to the Queen of Belgium, apart from their being master coachbuilders, was at that time, Barker & Co. were the appointed coachbuilders to King George V.

Regards,

LF

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German prisoners being transported by Foden Steam Wagon in the town of Jeumont, which is east of Maubeuge in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France.

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.

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An interesting variation of the Foden Steam Wagon fitted with flanged rail wheels, and used as a locomotive at the Aycliffe Limestone Quarry in County Durham. Sadly, this Foden Steam Wagon appears to have been scrapped sometime in the late 1940s.

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.

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The Aycliffe Quarry Foden Steam Wagon awaiting scrapping, sometime in the late 1940s. These photographs give some details of the Foden Steam Wagon's construction.

LF

These images are reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

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