WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[14276265]

More Stepney advertisements (and those of many other companies) can be found on the

 

Grace's Guide to British Industrial History

 

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Stepney_Spare_Motor_Wheel

 

 

 

265

[Lancashire Fusilier]

6 minutes ago, 14276265 said:

More Stepney advertisements (and those of many other companies) can be found on the

 

Thank you for the link.

 

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A nice example of an RFC Crossley 20/25 Tender, this one belonging to No.49 Squadron, RFC.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

An excellent photograph of Australian ( AIF - Australian Imperial Force ) troops with their vehicles, which from left to right are a Leyland Heavy Tender, a Leyland ' A ' Type Lorry, and 2 Crossley 20/25 Tenders.

The Man standing in front of the Leyland ' A ' Type Lorry, is wearing the British Army issue fur-lined Driver's Coat, typically issued to ASC ( Army Service Corps ) Drivers.

 

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.

 

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The forerunner of the Crossley 20/25 Tender used by the British and British Empire's military during WW1 was the Crossley 20 hp motorcar, and attached are two photographs of the Crossley 20 hp. 1910 and 1911 motorcars on which the Crossley 20/25 Tender was based.

 

The first photograph being the 1910 Crossley 20 hp. motorcar.

 

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 single number plate letter ' C ' shown in the previous post, is for an early ' Yorkshire ' registration used between 1903 and 1912.

 

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A 1911 Crossley 20 hp. motorcar, on which the Crossley 20/25 Tender was based.

 

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 good view of the bench seating seen in the back of an RAF Crossley 20/25 Tender, which allowed for 8 to be seated, 4 on each side.

The Crossley Tender is in service somewhere in the Middle East, with the RAF Airmen wearing ' Wolsley ' Sun Helmets.

 

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]

This photograph of a Crossley 20/25 Tender being extricated from a hole, shows a particularly clear view of the metal frames over which the rear tarpaulin was laid.

The ends of the metal frames, were secured in brackets attached to the side of the Crossley Tender.

Also of note, is the cartridge belt worn around the waist of the Soldier/Airman ? at the front of the Crossley.

 

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]

As with the RFC/RAF, the Crossley 20/25 Tender was the widely used transport vehicle for the WRAF ( Women's Royal Air Force ) formed in 1918.

In the attached photograph, a draft of newly qualified WRAF are seen boarding an RAF Crossley 20/25 Tender which will take them from their Training Depot at RAF Uxbridge, to their appointed posts at various RAF Stations.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two WRAF Drivers, photographed with their RAF Crossley 20/25 Tender.

 

LF

 

 

RAFM 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]

WRAF Drivers with their RAF Crossley 20/25 Tenders, with the ' HK ' number plate letters being for an early Chelmsford, Essex registration.

 

LF

 

 

RAFM 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 Crossley 20/25 Tender continued in service with the RAF after the end of WW1, and in the attached May 1919 photograph, we see two RAF Crossley 20/25 Tenders transporting WRAF personnel stationed in Cologne, Germany after the Armistice.

Again, this photograph gives a good view of the bench seating in the back of the Crossley Tender.

Also of note, is the uniform jacket being worn by the RAF Airman on the far left, and also the Crossley Tender's tailgate board by his leg, which is still painted with it's original W^D Census Number M^64605.

This photograph was taken in May 1919, and military vehicles still in service after 1921 were subject to the 1920 Road Traffic Act, which required military vehicles to carry the same vehicle registration numbers or number plates as civilian vehicles. For military vehicles, the registration numbers were typically painted in white on the vehicle.

 

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.

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another example of RAF Crossley 20/25 Tenders being used to transport WRAF personnel stationed in Cologne, Germany after the Armistice.

 

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.

 

 

[BSM]

Re the image of the Ford Ambulance posted in #5249 ... the image was taken in South Australia and the following is added for those interested in such things.

"Duncan & Fraser Ltd : legacies left untold" - by David Chantrell.  "The photo is used in this book with the following caption: 'With the war in full swing, the people of Clare rallied together in 1915 and raised funds for an ambulance. Duncan & Fraser Ltd. built the body and the car was given to the army. This photo was taken at Keswick Barracks prior to it being shipped to the western front."

Note: The destination in this instance would more likely have been Egypt to be more precise. Cheers...

[Lancashire Fusilier]

10 hours ago, BSM said:

Re the image of the Ford Ambulance posted in #5249 ...

 

Rod,

 

Many thanks for the additional information, it is nice to get as much information on these photographs as possible.

It is also interesting that Duncan & Fraser Ltd., founded by Scotsmen James Duncan and James Fraser in 1865, and based in Adelaide, were probably Australia's largest Ford dealership during and after WW1, and as such would have had access to the ' Stepney ' spare wheel & tyre systems imported from England.

Here is a photograph of their large Adelaide Ford dealership taken in 1915, which unfortunately burnt down in a fire on 21st February, 1923.

 

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]

A Crossley 20/25 Tender, photographed in the French town of Arques on Boxing Day, 26th December 1917.

A French woman, employed by the British Army as a civilian Traffic Controller has stopped the Crossley Tender on the approach to a canal bridge in the town.

Arques was an important location on the inland canal system of Northern France, as it had a large Barge Lift Lock.

Arques was located a mile or so South of Saint Omer, and some 19 miles South of Dunkerque in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In the previous post, the Crossley 20/25 Tender has solid metal wheel covers fitted, which may have been a Winter expediency to keep the snow and ice off the Crossley's spoked wheels.

 

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Before moving on to the Crossley Ambulance, here is a final selection of Crossley 20/25 Tender photographs, with the first being an RFC Crossley 20/25 Tender.

Of note is the early ' Maternity ' style uniform jacket being worn by the RFC Airman on the left, and also the Crossley's ' AM7904 ' registration, with the ' AM ' letters being for an early ' Swindon ' Wilts registration.

 

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]

Due to the RFC/RAF being the largest users of the Crossley 20/25 Tender, photographs showing the Army's use of the Crossley 20/25 Tender are not as common.

Here is a photograph showing an Army Crossley 20/25 Tender along with it's ASC Driver, who is wearing the fur lined service issue Driver's Coat.

 

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]

And finally for the Crossley 20/25 Tender, two nice examples, which  interestingly were photographed in exactly the same spot on what looks like an airfield.

Both Crossleys also have an unusual marking painted in white on the Crossley's front just below the windshield, which could read A ? F 167 & A ? F 183.

Although there was a British vehicle registration with the lettering ' AF ' which was a ' Truro ' Cornwall registration, the numbers 167 & 183 would probably be too low for registration numbers as that sequence of letters and numbers had been used for Truro since 1903, and with these two photographs being WW1 era, those numbers would have been much higher if they were vehicle registration numbers.

Another possibility, is that the markings read ' AIF ' for Australian Imperial Force, however, I am not sure why the ' I ' would be so much smaller than the A & F ?

Perhaps someone has the answer.

Also, we see some variations in each Crossley's features, notably the manner for securing the rear tarpaulin cover, and one being fitted with a spare wheel and one not.

Other than that, both Crossleys have the standard two acetylene headlamps and the two paraffin sidelamps.

 

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]

2

 

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.

[johnboy]

The bonnet shape is different, too.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

4 hours ago, johnboy said:

The bonnet shape is different, too.

 

johnboy, 

 

The first small batch of Crossley 20/25 Tenders were delivered to the Royal Flying Corps in 1913, and then after that, it was supplied in substantial numbers throughout WW1, and continued in production with modifications, until 1925, with a total production run of some 10,000 vehicles.

Those modifications, which you noted, also included some Crossley Tenders having a one-piece windshield and others having a two-piece split windshield.

 

Regards,

LF

 

[johnboy]

Thanks for the info,