centurion Posted 3 October , 2013 Share Posted 3 October , 2013 My drawing of the British Army's first motorised road transport - a steam lorry. A few were still about in 1914 (for example cyclist battalions liked them for carrying spares) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 4 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 4 October , 2013 My drawing of the British Army's first motorised road transport - a steam lorry. A few were still about in 1914 (for example cyclist battalions liked them for carrying spares) An excellent drawing, and here are some other early WD lorries, which probably saw service in WW1. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 4 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 4 October , 2013 " Army lorries loaded onto a train ferry at Southampton, 11 April 1918. The ferry accommodated both road and rail vehicles. These vehicles are heading for the Western Front in France or Belgium, where the German Army had just launched its spring offensive. " LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 4 October , 2013 Share Posted 4 October , 2013 British wounded being loaded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 4 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 4 October , 2013 British wounded being loaded Noted the use of German prisoners assisting. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 " Ambulance train pulled by a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's 2-4-0 locomotive number 18, 10 August 1914. Britain had declared war on Germany six days earlier. " LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 Think its a 2-4-2 tank engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 Think its a 2-4-2 tank engine I checked the photo caption ( which we know are not always accurate ), and it is definitely stating it to be a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways 2-4-0 1914 locomotive No.18. In 1914, could the wheel configurations have been different, and did they include the 2 wheels under the coal tender ? LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 I checked the photo caption ( which we know are not always accurate ), and it is definitely stating it to be a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways 2-4-0 1914 locomotive No.18. In 1914, could the wheel configurations have been different, and did they include the 2 wheels under the coal tender ? LF Its a tank engine (see the rectangular side tanks) and AFAIK tank engines did not have separate tenders (as the tanks held the water). Moreover I don't remember ever seeing a tender with only two wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 Brilliant series of recent postings! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 Moreover I don't remember ever seeing a tender with only two wheels Now you mention it, nor do I. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 You'd have to prop it up whenever you decoupled it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 Brilliant series of recent postings! David David, Pleased to hear you are enjoying the Thread, and there is a lot more to come. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 An Ambulance Train at Southampton docks, 1918. " A locomotive hauling sixteen carriages of an ambulance train, ready to be loaded onto a train ferry at Southampton docks, 11 April 1918. The Ambulance Train had been manufactured by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. The train is probably heading for the Western Front in France or Belgium, where the German Army had just launched its spring offensive. " LF C/o National Railway Museum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 5 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2013 British, American and French Medics assisting wounded at a Triage station. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 On another front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 5 October , 2013 Share Posted 5 October , 2013 And some unsung American medical staff assisting an unsung American in France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Now you mention it, nor do I. LF It is a 2-4-2 tank engine. Quite common at the time, possibly made around 1890 and some saw service until after WW2. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 centurion and David, Many thanks for correcting the photo caption in post # 381. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 In addition to Ambulance Trains, there were also Ambulance/Hospital Barges, which were also used to provide medical care and transportation to many wounded or sick soldiers. Effective use was made of the extensive French canal system, with the canal barges providing a relatively smooth ride for the wounded, sick and injured patients as opposed to the much rougher ride in a motor ambulance along often damaged or impassable French roads. Patients were brought by canal or river from close to the front and transported to near a base hospital or the sea where they were transferred to hospital ships or ambulance trains. The British fitted up for this purpose many of the large, square-built and bluff-bowed - almost box like - French canal boats. The photographs show Ambulance Barges being towed, and also several tied up on the River Seine. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Interior of a Hospital/Ambulance Barge fitted out for the medical care and transportation of wounded and sick soldiers, with excellent use being made of the barge's open and spacious interior. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Patients being transferred to a Ambulance/Hospital Barge. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 Nurses and a soldier relaxing atop one of the Ambulance/Hospital barges ( note the deck chair ). The photograph, also gives a good indication of the size and construction of the barge. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 6 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 October , 2013 In this interesting photograph, we see soldiers on motorcycles with wicker baskets strapped to their backs being used to transport messenger carrier pigeons from their mobile pigeon lofts to other required locations. Unfortunately, the original photograph caption does not tell us if the men on the motorcycles are Signalers or Dispatch Riders or to which unit the men belong. However, all are wearing the two coloured armband worn by the ' Pigeoneers '. By 1918, there were some 20,000 carrier pigeons being used. The original caption reads: ' Official photograph taken on the British Western Front in France. British army carrier pigeons in France. How the birds are sent up the line. ' LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 6 October , 2013 Share Posted 6 October , 2013 I think we've had this in another thread (indeed I think I posted a copy) but at the risk of further repetition here are some more hospital barge shots Preparing the loading ramps/gangways Loading patients (the barges had a lift like a miniature aircraft carrier to get them down to the ward) The ward Barge train/convoy - three barges together. British ones were towed French ones pushed (don't ask me why the difference 'cause I don't know. British convoys in charge of a convoy master who was usually an RE NCO. Tug crews hired locally. Travel only in day light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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