WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another excellent view of the front of the Napier 1-Ton Fire Engine, again showing many details both of the Napier 1-Ton Fire Engine and also it's crew.

The ' Holman ' name-plate on the Napier's grille, refers to Company who supplied the Fire Engine's bodywork and the Fire Engine's equipment, with Napier supplying the 1-Ton Light Lorry chassis.

From this front view of the Napier Fire Engine, it looks to have solid rubber front tyres.

Regards,

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.

[phil@basildon]

Another ' Napier ' , which looks like a shortened 30 cwt Napier Char-a-banc fitted with flanged wheels, which the photograph caption tells us was converted by the A.S.C. ( Army Service Corps ) in East Africa to run on railway tracks.

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.

The body appears to have come from a car being narrower and shorter than what you would find on a vehicle of that size.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The body appears to have come from a car being narrower and shorter than what you would find on a vehicle of that size.

Phil,

That is certainly a strange ' Napier ', it has the body of a motorcar, the back of a truck and bonnet and front end of a 30 cwt or 3-Ton Napier Lorry ? I was wondering, if in fact the A.S.C. had joined two Napier vehicles together, a motorcar and a Lorry ?

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another nicely detailed photograph of the Napier 1-Ton Fire Engine.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The body appears to have come from a car being narrower and shorter than what you would find on a vehicle of that size.

Phil,

You are correct, and as we suspected, the Napier ' Rail Car ' shown in post # 3493 was in fact made up of parts from both a Napier motorcar and a Napier 30 cwt Lorry, plus captured German flanged rail wheels, all put together at the A.S.C. workshops in East Africa. I found an article on this particular vehicle published in the ' Motor Traction ' Journal dated September 4th, 1918 which gives excellent details on this Napier's construction by the A.S.C.

A photograph of this same Napier ' Rail Car ' appeared in ' The Graphic ' magazine dated August 17th, 1918 ( copy attached ), so we have excellent documented confirmation both of the method of construction of this Napier ' Rail Car ' and a confirmed time line.

The ' Motor Traction ' article, was one of several which were published on the ' Napiers ' in East Africa.

From ' Motor Traction ' September 4th, 1918 :

" It would seem, judging by the accounts which reach us from time to time, that Napier chassis have lent themselves particularly well for conversion to rail cars in East Africa.

Accordingly, on this page we are able to give another view of a 30-45 cwt Napier lorry converted into a staff railway car. The work was done, so we learn, by one of the A.S.C. workshop companies, and the body, hood, windscreen and luggage car were made from parts salved from the scrap-heap. Some interest attaches to the outfit by reason of the fact that it is fitted with captured German railway wheels. The old body was taken from a car which had been damaged by shell fire, the box at the rear being made of native wood sawn and put together on the spot. The car is proving very reliable and speedy. "

Regards,

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is another of the ' Motor Traction ' journal articles on the Napier ' Rail Cars ' used in East Africa, with the corresponding photograph, this one dated 19th June, 1918. The article refers to a Napier ' business vehicle ', which is a Napier 30 cwt lorry.

Also of note, is the confirmation that a convoy of Napier lorries were sent out from England to East Africa.

From ' Motor Traction ' June 19th, 1918 :

" We reproduce on this page a photograph of a Napier business vehicle adapted to rail traction. It is shown conveying twenty-seven men, and we are told that it was able to do so with ease and speed to any desired point on the railway system upon which it was employed in East Africa. In addition to being utilised for carrying passengers, the Napier draws three or four railway trucks with stores, and as the experiment has proved so successful it is only reasonable to suppose that there may be considerable application in this form of transport in the future. The following extract from a letter which accompanied the photograph will be of interest : " I was sent out from England with a convoy of Napier lorries, and should like to say that these lorries have done exceptionally good work, both as converted railway cars and road cars. The first six months of wear over the roughest country showed that not one bearing ran out, and all through I had not trouble with them. "

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Part of that Convoy of Napier 30 cwt lorries sent from England to East Africa, those shown in this photograph having been fitted with flanged wheels so as to run on railway tracks.

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.

[Scalyback]

LF,

Is it just the image or does the Napier fire appliance have pneumatic front tyres and solid rear tyres?

The background looks like a lot of the older houses in Sydney.

Scott

If you look at the advert in post #3494 and #3495 the small print states solid rear tyres included in the price. I assume at the time a solid rear wheel and front pneumatic wheel was seen as practical and affordable.

[phil@basildon]

If you look at the advert in post #3494 and #3495 the small print states solid rear tyres included in the price. I assume at the time a solid rear wheel and front pneumatic wheel was seen as practical and affordable.

Pneumatic tyres on the front of lorries was a common conversion as it was relatively easy. Most lorries before the mid 20's did not have front brakes hence no brake drums to be modified and the front axle did not have to carry a lot of the laden weight of lorry. Tyre technology was not advanced enough for pneumatic tyres to carry more the a couple of tons until the late 20's.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is another of the ' Motor Traction ' articles on the Napiers used in East Africa, along with the corresponding photographs.

Of note are the given weights of the coaches and waggons and the towing abilities of the Napier rail cars, and the mention of Phillip Holtzman and Maj. Cantor.

Tabora was the administrative capital of German East Africa.

From ' Motor Traction ' January 23rd, 1918 :

" On this page we give two interesting photographs received from what was formerly German East Africa, showing Napier cars fitted with flanged wheels for railway service. The district locomotive superintendent, in forwarding these pictures, mentioned that, in the case of the first, the Napier is hauling a German coach taken by Belgians at Tabora. An interesting point in connection with this coach is that it was formerly used as the inspection car of Phillip Holtzman, who was the contractor and built the railway from Dar-es-salem to Kingoma. The coach weighs 25 tons, and was pulled by two Napier cars which were converted to rail tractors. Quite a number of such vehicles were employed on other work. This gentleman reports that they are exceedingly handy, especially where blown bridges existed which would take tractors but could not take locomotives. Convoys of tractors were regularly run, each one with 10 ton goods waggons, until the bridges were ready for the usual type of train.

The lower picture shows the Napier with a Hun 10 ton waggon, which the locomotive superintendent used as an inspection car, and it may be added that the superintendent ( Maj. Arthur A. Cantor ) is seen standing beside the combination. "

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A nicely detailed photograph of a Napier 15 cwt Ambulance in service with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry ( FANY ) on the Western Front.

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.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

She's risking a broken thumb if the engine kicks back. 'Thumb ahead of the handle, on the same side as your knuckles', a mantra I learned long ago, then should kick back occur you simply lose your grip on the starting handle.

Mike.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Lancs,

She's risking a broken thumb if the engine kicks back. 'Thumb ahead of the handle, on the same side as your knuckles', a mantra I learned long ago, then should kick back occur you simply lose your grip on the starting handle.

Mike.

Mike,

A very good point to make, however, as this was clearly a staged photograph, hopefully the member of FANY pretending to crank the ambulance came to no harm. These volunteer Ambulance Drivers typically also maintained and serviced their own vehicles, here is another FANY driver with her Napier 15 cwt Ambulance, the chalked ' Blighty ' on her vehicle was no doubt a reminder of home, and hopefully, a reference to what would be their ultimate destination.

Regards,

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.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

There is an excellent shot on the front cover of 'Elsie & Mairi go to War' (Diane Atkinson 2009) this shows the formidable ladies on a Napier ambulance. Am presently unable to put my hands on the book, which recounts the story of Elsie Knocker (what a splendid name!) and Mairi Chisholm and their exploits on the Western Front.

Mike.

edit to say, have just looked at the title on a well known book vending service online and the vehicle seems to be a Wolseley, put it down to a senior moment!

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Lancs,

There is an excellent shot on the front cover of 'Elsie & Mairi go to War' (Diane Atkinson 2009) this shows the formidable ladies on a Napier ambulance. Am presently unable to put my hands on the book, which recounts the story of Elsie Knocker (what a splendid name!) and Mairi Chisholm and their exploits on the Western Front.

Mike.

edit to say, have just looked at the title on a well known book vending service online and the vehicle seems to be a Wolseley, put it down to a senior moment!

Mike,

Senior moments, I have them regularly.

I have featured that Ambulance before, and as you say, it is a Wolseley.

Regards,

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is a superb Napier vehicle which will be of interest to WW1 motor enthusiasts, and football fans alike, especially Aston Villa fans, this being a superb custom built ' Aston Villa Football Club ' donated WW1 Ambulance.

The ambulance, which was custom built on a Napier 1-Ton Light Lorry chassis by Thomas Brittain Coachbuilders of 109 Bristol Street, Birmingham, at a cost of 1000 pounds, and was painted in ' Aston Villa ' colours, complete with the Club's badge and motto painted on the door, had a 6-cylinder engine and was fully equipped to the highest standards, including electric lighting. Funding for the purchase of the Ambulance, came from both the Aston Villa Football Club and fans' contributions.

The Ambulance's large roomy interior accommodated up to 10 seated patients and could be adapted to also take stretcher patients and or both.

The ' Aston Villa ' Napier Ambulance was presented by the Club to the local Birmingham VAD ( Voluntary Aid Detachment ) and was in service with the Birmingham VAD throughout WW1.

Being built on a Napier 1-Ton Light Lorry chassis, the ' Aston Villa ' Ambulance was considerably larger than it's smaller Napier 15 cwt Field Ambulance counterpart.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With reference to the Napier ' Aston Villa ' Ambulance, Napier themselves also produced an Ambulance built on a Napier 1-Ton Light Lorry chassis, an example of which was shown in their 1910 Sales Catalogue.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Montague Stanley Napier 14th April 1870 - 22nd January 1931.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

My final post on the ' Napier ' is a rare photograph of a superb and probably unique ' Napier Machine Gun Carrier '.

The vehicle was custom built on a Napier 1-Ton Light Lorry chassis and designed as a Maxim Machine Gun Carrier. Unfortunately, at this time, I do know which British Army unit was using the vehicle. I know that Napier's one-time partner, S.F. Edge produced some experimental ' Napier ' British Army vehicles, however, those were smaller and lighter versions than this.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Leyland 3-Ton ' A-Type ' Lorry was used extensively by the RFC/RAF and known as their ' Leyland Heavy Tender ', here is a rare photograph of an RAF Leyland Heavy Tender with the seldom seen Tanker bodywork.

With it's ' RAF ' marking, this Leyland A-Type Tanker photograph is dated post 1918, and even before the formation of the RAF, Leyland RFC Heavy Tenders in service prior to 1918, for security reasons, still carried the ' W ^ D ' marking rather than an ' RFC ' marking.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is another excellent photograph of a Leyland A-Type RAF Heavy Tender, which would have been one of the 8 allocated to each Squadron. This particular RAF Heavy Tender is the ' Flatbed ' version onto which has been loaded a railway waggon used to transport an aircraft.

A crane would have been used to lift the railway waggon containing the aircraft from the railway flat bed and load it onto the Heavy Tender's flatbed, and the lifting rings can be seen on top of the railway waggon.

Whilst photographs of the Leyland Heavy Tender Flatbed have been published, it is very rare to see the railway waggon used to transport the aircraft fitted onto the Leyland Heavy Tender, and even rarer to see the contents of the railway waggon ( the actual aircraft ) displayed alongside the RAF Heavy Tender, as in this photograph.

In order that the railway waggon is loaded correctly onto the Heavy Tender Flatbed, the front end of the railway waggon is marked ' Front '.

Hopefully, someone will confirm the type of aircraft shown in this photograph ?

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A Leyland A-Type Heavy Tender Flatbed transporting an aircraft on display during a military parade.

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.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

Think that the aircraft pictured in #3520 is a Bristol F2B Fighter.

Mike.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Lancs,

Think that the aircraft pictured in #3520 is a Bristol F2B Fighter.

Mike.

Mike,

Many thanks for identifying the Bristol F2B Fighter in post #3520, the F2B's details all match.

Regards,

LF

C/o The Bristol Fighter in Action - P. Cooksley. 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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A British Army Leyland A-Type Lorry, complete with an armed escort, photographed in France in early 1915 ( 26th January 1915 ).

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.