Lancashire Fusilier Posted 13 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 June , 2015 As was the case with the majority of British industrial manufacturing companies, on the outbreak of WW1, their factory's output was completely or in part, turned over to assisting with the war effort. In the case of Dick, Kerr and Company, their Preston, Lancashire factory was turned over to armaments and munitions production. in the next series of 4 photographs, we see WW1 armaments and munitions production at Dick, Kerr's Strand Road, Preston factory. The first photograph shows a general view of the Strand Road factory floor 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...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 13 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 June , 2015 Female workers at Dick, Kerr's Preston factory, filling and weighing artillery shells. 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 13 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 June , 2015 Gun barrel manufacturing at Dick, Kerr's Preston factory 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...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 13 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 June , 2015 Newly manufactured artillery shells stacked in Dick, Kerr's Preston factory ready for filling and delivery to the 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 13 June , 2015 Share Posted 13 June , 2015 All the above photographs are available to view on Flickr in the Preston Digital Archive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 13 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 June , 2015 All the above photographs are available to view on Flickr in the Preston Digital Archive. Many thanks, Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 14 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 14 June , 2015 In this very dull and gloomy photograph, which accurately portrays the muddy quagmire that was so typical of the Passchendaele battlefield, we see a Dick, Keer Petrol-Electric Tractor hauling two artillery pieces and other supplies amid the desolation of that West Flanders Front. Again, this photograph shows the Petrol Electric Tractor doing exactly what it was designed to do, haul heavy equipment and supplies in front-line areas. LF CNA 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 15 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2015 The Petrol-Electric Tractors had various roles hauling artillery, supplies and troops around front-line areas, and in the next few posts we shall see some of those roles being performed by the PE Tractors. In the attached photograph, a Dick, Kerr PE Tractor is performing the important role of troop transport, in this case, hauling waggons carrying troops back from the front-line. Also, note the Trestle Bridge carrying the light rail line, which would have been constructed by men of the Royal Engineers. 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 16 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 16 June , 2015 Again, this photograph shows a PE Tractor being used in a troop transport role. A British Westinghouse PE., is hauling waggons carrying British Troops through ' Grey Ruin ' Junction in October 1917. The British Westinghouse PE., is identified by the 3 cooling vents above the engine's forward side-panels. The photo's caption refers to ' Grey Ruin ' Junction as being in the Ypres battlefield area of West Flanders, however, as yet, I have found no other reference to a ' Grey Ruin ' location, which presumable was a busy light rail junction close to Ypres. 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 17 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 June , 2015 With reference to post # 3707 which showed a Trestle Bridge constructed by the Royal Engineers, in this interesting photograph, we see a British Westinghouse Petrol-Electric Tractor hauling a Piling Machine being used by a unit of Royal Engineers constructing a bridge. In addition to the British Westinghouse PE hauling the R.E.'s Piling Machine, and it is possible that the PE Tractor is also using it's generator to provide electric power used to operate the Piling Machine's engine/winches. 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...
GWF1967 Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 A group of Royal Engineers proudly posing on what appears to be a trestle bridge. MM winning NCO, behind the man with his hands on his pals shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 17 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 June , 2015 A group of Royal Engineers proudly posing on what appears to be a trestle bridge. MM winning NCO, behind the man with his hands on his pals shoulders. Many thanks for posting the excellent Royal Engineers bridge construction unit's group photograph, do you know the circumstances surrounding the award of the NCO's Military Medal ? Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 Sorry LF. No known details. Recently acquired postcard, removed from the envelope this am, I was going to post in "postcards" till I spotted your latest posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 18 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2015 Sorry LF. No known details. Recently acquired postcard, removed from the envelope this am, I was going to post in "postcards" till I spotted your latest posts. GWF1967, Many thanks, and your photograph gives us a very good idea as to the number of officers and men in such a Royal Engineer's bridge construction unit, I counted some 3 officers, and upwards of 70 men. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 18 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2015 The Petrol-Electric Tractors were also used for the haulage of a variety of general supplies in and around the Front, and in this photograph a Dick. Kerr PE Tractor is hauling waggons loaded with a variety of supplies. The PE Tractor is running on a light rail line which passes through an area of land being cultivated by the Directorate of Agricultural Production, and alongside the light rail tracks men of the DAP are working in a field growing lettuce or cabbage, with the produce being shipped via the light rail system. Also of note, are the PE crew's Brodie steel helmets attached to the rear of the PE's cab. 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 18 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2015 The same Dick, Kerr Petrol-Electric Tractor seen from a different angle, and this photograph also shows excellent details of the light rail points system, we can also see the various activities taking place on and around this busy light rail junction. 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...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 18 June , 2015 Share Posted 18 June , 2015 Great photo of the rail junction. Would this have a standard gauge/main line connection here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 18 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2015 Great photo of the rail junction. Would this have a standard gauge/main line connection here? Looking at the size of the tracks, the rolling-stock and the engine sheds in that particular photograph, the junction looks to be exclusively a light rail, narrow gauge system. Perhaps, there could have been a location where a standard gauge line and the light rail line ran alongside each other, allowing for supplies and equipment to have been transferred from one line to the other ? Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifanlloyd Posted 18 June , 2015 Share Posted 18 June , 2015 This is a pic of a light Railway marshalling yard.Heavy use demanded constant maintenance,which would have required skilled labour,often experienced men drawn from UK railway companies.Notice that none of the troops are wearing steel helmets or respirators so this suggests the location would be out of range of direct fire. Most of the wagons are the F Class and E Class . The standard gauge interchange would have been some miles away. If any one is interested in the WDLR then buy Roy Links WDLR Album but make it quick,it is in it's 2nd print and selling fast. The book is brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 19 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2015 This is a pic of a light Railway marshalling yard.Heavy use demanded constant maintenance,which would have required skilled labour,often experienced men drawn from UK railway companies.Notice that none of the troops are wearing steel helmets or respirators so this suggests the location would be out of range of direct fire. Most of the wagons are the F Class and E Class . The standard gauge interchange would have been some miles away. If any one is interested in the WDLR then buy Roy Links WDLR Album but make it quick,it is in it's 2nd print and selling fast. The book is brilliant. Many thanks for the additional information on the LR junction, and the WDLR Album book, which looks like a very interesting and hefty reference book on WW1 Light Rail. I just purchased a copy, and look forward to a good read. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 19 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2015 Two more photographs, which highlight the very real dangers posed to the men working on the light rail system at the Front. The first photograph shows another example of an 8-ton Dick, Kerr Petrol-Electric Tractor having been blown off the light rail tracks and partially buried by German shelling of the LR line. 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 19 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2015 Soldiers unloading artillery shells from light rail waggons come under enemy shell fire, with a German shell bursting on high ground just forward of their position. 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...
David Filsell Posted 19 June , 2015 Share Posted 19 June , 2015 "I wouldn't stand there if I were you!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 20 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 20 June , 2015 This photograph shows the devastation caused to the WD's Light Rail by a German shell's direct hit on light rail waggons carrying ammuntion through the Birr Cross Road, near Ypres in West Flanders, on 3rd November 1917. 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 21 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 21 June , 2015 All railway systems, including the WD's Light Rail, needed traffic control at some point along the line. In the attached photograph, we see the WD's Light Rail version of a Signal Box at the Front, with the soldier manning the dugout sandbagged signal box alongside the line in a very precarious, if not isolated position, given the German's regular shelling of the WD's Light Rail lines. The WD Light Rail signlaman, used coloured flags to signal traffic control instructions to the light rail tractor/engine drivers. There also appear to be Field Telephone cables attached to the Signal Box, which enabled the occupant to remain in contact with, and receive instructions from a control centre. 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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