WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[johnboy]

Any idea what the number on a plate, on the rear of the bonnet is in post #897?

[Rockdoc]

That struck me as well. I wonder whether the car had to have a registration plate because it wasn't in the UK? It wasn't in the conventional place, as shown on the Queen's car, and doesn't appear to be of the standard British design, either. Anyone know how it compares to a contemporary French plate?

Keiith

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Any idea what the number on a plate, on the rear of the bonnet is in post #897?

Johnboy and Keith,

All WW1 Military Vehicles had a ' Military Registration Number ' consisting of a code to denote the type of vehicle, followed by the WD arrow, plus the Military Registration Number.

For his visits to the Front, King George V's vehicle was considered a ' Military ' vehicle, and as such, had to have a Military Registration Number, which is shown on the plate below the windscreen, which is probably removable, for when the King's car was not being used as a ' Military ' vehicle. Normally, Military Registration Numbers were permanently painted on the vehicle, and presumably the King did not want his Rolls Royce's bonnet daubed with WD paint, so a discreet MRN plate is placed below the windscreen.

In post # 897, the Military Registration Number on the King's car is ' M ^ 1728 ', the ' M ' is the code for a ' car ', then the WD arrow, then the Military Registration Number ' 1728 '.

Attached is a photo of a Military ' Car ' being used to evacuate civilians from the German advance on Masnieres in November 1917. The Military Registration Number is painted on the car's bonnet ' M^19895 ', being ' M ' to denote a car, the WD arrow, and the Military Registration Number 19895.

Regards,

LF

IWM Q3203 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]

I suppose by having a military plate the King could claim a petrol allowance

[patrick Eggs]

Another shot of the 17th Armoured Car Battalion of a Vauxhall staff car , as the last post it shows the military registration number painted on the body of the car.

Crimson Rambler.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another shot of the 17th Armoured Car Battalion of a Vauxhall staff car , as the last post it shows the military registration number painted on the body of the car.

Crimson Rambler.

Many thanks for another great photograph of your Dad and his pals from the 17th Armoured Car Battalion with their Vauxhall staff car, which as you say clearly displays the military registration number of the vehicle.

It must be nice to recall your Dad, who looks to be a tall impressive man, through these photographs.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Military ambulances evacuate the wounded from Ginchy on 14th September 1916, with shells still bursting in the distance. 2 wheel stretchers can be seen in the foreground.

The Military Registration Number shown on ambulances was ' A ' the code for an Ambulance, followed by the ' WD Arrow ', plus the registration number.

LF

IWMQ1220 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]

One of the versions of the 2 wheel stretcher carriage.

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 Holt Caterpillar Tractor drawing an 8 inch Mark V Howitzer through the French town of Becordel during the Battle of the Somme, July 1916.

LF

C/o IWM Q827 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]

Troops moving an 8 inch Mark V Howitzer to a new position in the French town of Becordel.

LF

C/o IWM Q2234 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 Battery of 8 inch Mark V Howitzer's of the 135th Siege Battery, R.G.A. in action near Henin-Sur-Cojeul on 27th May, 1917.

LF

C/o IWMQ2266 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.

[GRANVILLE]

A Holt Caterpillar Tractor drawing an 8 inch Mark V Howitzer through the French town of Becordel during the Battle of the Somme, July 1916.

LF

C/o IWM Q827 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.

Super set of photos. Looking at the Holt at work, I think it's easy to overlook just how 'cutting edge,' as we would say today, the Holt will have been in its time. Back at home (and in France) the British agricultural equivalent would have been the traction engine and I suspect this is why several of the men in the picture are clearly looking it over and must have been fascinated by its workings.

David

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Looking at the Holt at work, I think it's easy to overlook just how 'cutting edge,' as we would say today, the Holt will have been in its time. Back at home (and in France) the British agricultural equivalent would have been the traction engine and I suspect this is why several of the men in the picture are clearly looking it over and must have been fascinated by its workings.

David,

I have been researching the American Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractor used by the British Army in WW1, and I was very surprised to find that its origins lie firmly in the fields around Grantham, Lincolnshire prior to WW1, and it was in fact, Benjamin Holt ( Holt's founder ) having a great interest in an English Company, Richard Hornsby and Sons of Grantham, Lincolnshire and their patented ' chain track ' system for agricultural tractors, which caused Benjamin Holt to travel to Grantham to meet with Hornsby's Managing Director and Chief Engineer, David Roberts, and as a result of Benjamin Holt's visit to Lincolnshire, he subsequently purchased Hornsby's patent and took it back to America for further development, which resulted in Holt's highly successful ' Caterpillar ' Tractor, and as they say, the rest is history.

It is also very interesting to note that in 1903, Richard Hornsby and Sons presented their ' tracked system ' Tractor to the War Office during trials for a heavy Military Tractor for the British Army, however, Hornsby's tracked system was not accepted or adopted by the War Office at that time.

As a result of researching various British and American reference resources, I have put together a presentation on the ' Holt Caterpillar Tractor ' along with some more photographs which I hope you and other members will find interesting.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Holt's ' Caterpillar Tractor ' - with extracts from wikipedia and several other written sources.

As we saw previously with the large and successful Motor Companies formed and founded by both the Lanchester brothers and the Dennis brothers, the American ' Holt Manufacturing Company' maker of the Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractor, was again founded by innovative and entrepreneurial brothers, Charles, Benjamin, William and Ames Holt, the Holt brothers.

In 1864, Charles Holt moved from New Hampshire to California and started his business C. H. Holt & Co., making wooden wagon parts, later making metal parts for wagons and streetcars. His three brothers, Benjamin, William and Ames all worked in their father's sawmill in New Hampshire, and wood from their sawmill was shipped to, and used by, their brother Charles in his California based manufacturing business.

In January 1892, the four Holt brothers and two other associates formed and founded the Holt Manufacturing Company, subsequently, brothers Charles and Benjamin bought out their two other brothers William and Ames.

Holt Manufacturing and their subsidiary Company the Stockton Wheel Company specialized in the manufacture of very large wagons used by the Lumber Companies to haul the massive redwood logs from the Western Forests, later Holt diversified into the manufacture of large horse-drawn agriculture and farm equipment, including large Combine Harvesters, with Holt selling their first horse-drawn Combine Harvester in 1886.

Towards the end of the 19th Century there was the move towards steam-power replacing horse-drawn power, the new steam powered traction engines were extremely heavy, weighing some 1000 lbs, which resulted in the engine's large metal wheels sinking into the soil, to counter this problem, Holt made their engine's rear wheels ever larger and wider and it was this problem which eventually led Benjamin Holt to devise his track laying system for his tractors, replacing their conventional wheels.

In 1903, the British War Office held trails looking for a heavy Tractor suitable for military use with the British Army, and Richard Hornsby and Sons of Grantham in Lincolnshire were the only entrants in the War Office tractor trials of 1903 and despite winning the 1000 pounds prize for completing the trials, Hornsby's tractor with its chain tracked system was not accepted or adopted by the War Office, and Hornsby subsequently sold their ' tracked vehicle system ' patent to Benjamin Holt.

Benjamin Holt had heard of the English Company, Richard Hornsby and Sons, who had been experimenting with a ' chain track ' to replace wheels on their tractors, and Benjamin Holt travelled to Grantham to meet with Hornsby's Chief Engineer and Managing Director, David Roberts, to learn more about their ' chain tracked ' system.

After studying the English ' chain tracked ' system, Holt subsequently purchased Hornsby's patent for their system, and returned to America to further develop his own track-laying system, no doubt based on what he had seen in England and learned from the ' Hornsby ' system. Holt subsequently successfully developed and tested a steam-powered tractor fitted with a set of wooden tracks bolted to chains, the tractor was able to move easily over the soggy ground, and a Company Photographer observing the test was reported to have commented that the Holt tractor fitted with the new tracks crawled over the ground like a caterpillar, and Holt immediately adopted the name ' Caterpillar ' for his new ' tracked system ', with Holt registering their ' Caterpillar ' trademark in 1911.

Holt immediately began producing their new ' Caterpillar ' Tractor fitted with the tracked system, initially the tractors were steam-powered. In 1911 Holt started producing the Holt Model 60 Caterpillar Tractor, and the 40-60 Model, subsequent models were the Holt Model 60-75 Caterpillar Tractor, and eventually the Holt 75 Caterpillar Tractor, a front tiller-wheeled tractor used by the British Army in WW1.

By 1912, gasoline powered tractors fitted with a 60 horsepower, 4 cylinder engine were being produced.

By 1915 Holt has successfully sold some 2000 ' Caterpillar ' tractors throughout the U.S.A., and also Overseas. Even before America entered WW1, Holt had already shipped some 1200 tracked tractors to England, France and Russia for agricultural use. However, eventually, those governments sent those tractors to the battle front where they were used to haul large artillery and transport large quantities of supplies and ammunition.

By 1915, the British Army had already realised the drastic shortcomings of both horses and conventional steam-driven tractors being unable to transport heavy artillery. The horses were too slow and generally unable to negotiate the often muddy terrain, and smoke from the smoke stacks on the steam-driven tractors alerted the enemy to the tractor's location. The War Office being very much aware of Holts ' Caterpillar ' tractor, purchased one for trials at Aldershot and as a result of very successful trials, placed orders for Holt's Tractor for use by the British Army on the Western Front.

Following delivery of the Holt tractors, the ASC Depot at Aldershot incorporated a ' Caterpillar ' tractor section, which was then relocated to Avonmouth in 1915, to become the ASC Tractor Depot. The Holt Tractors were imported from the USA through Avonmouth, and shipped to rail and ferry to France. The ASC 3rd Heavy Repair Shop at St. Omar, was designated as the main servicing and repair depot for Holt Tractors.

The Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractors soon displayed their enormous capabilities in the quagmires of Northern France and were able to tow heavy artillery, rescue disabled tanks, haul large quantities of supplies and ammunition to the front lines and negotiate difficult terrain, barbed wire, ditches and other obstacles impassable to conventional wheeled vehicles. Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractors were also used by the British Army in Italy, Salonika and Mesopotamia.

The Holt Model 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor used extensively by the British Army, weighed 18,000 pounds and had a 120 horsepower gasoline engine, and towing a full load, the tractor had a walking speed of 2 miles per hour, and unloaded a speed of 4 miles per hour.

It was these heavy tractors, fitted with their tracked wheels which contributed to the British Military's plans for a heavy armoured vehicle fitted with tracks and being able to negotiate difficult terrain despite their weight. Foremost in the promotion of Holt's tracked system for a tracked armoured vehicle ( the Tank ), was a British Colonel E. D. Swinton.

Upon America entering the War, Holt also began supplying the American Military with their ' Caterpillar ' Tractor as well as to the Allies, and by 1916, some 1000 Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractors were in use with the British Army, and by the end of WW1 the British War Office had received 2100 Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractors, with some 10,000 Holt Tractors being used by all the Allies in WW1.

In 1918 Holt also produced an experimental tank, their ' Holt Gas Electric Tank ' which was armed with a Vickers 75 mm Mountain Howitzer and 2 Browning 7.92 mm machine guns The tank was powered by a combined gasoline and electric propulsion system consisting of a Holt 90 horsepower 4 cylinder engine which powered a GEC generator which provided the electric current to drive 2 electric motors, one for each of the tank's tracks.

In April 1918, British General Ernest Dunlop Swinton went to the Holt factory in the America to publicly honour Benjamin Holt for his war efforts, and for the occasion Holt produced a wooden mock-up of a one man tank powered by a motorcycle engine especially built for General Swinton's visit.

Ames Holt died in October 1889, William Holt died in February 1904, and Charles Holt died in July 1905, leaving Benjamin as the only surviving Holt brother after February 1904. Benjamin Holt died on December 5, 1920 aged 71 years.

The Caterpillar Company thrived, and today, is one of the largest and most successful Companies in the world.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Benjamin Holt, one of the 4 Holt brothers who founded the Holt Manufacturing Company.

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 tracked system fitted to the Richard Hornsby and Sons of Grantham, Lincolnshire, experimental tractors, seen in the fields around Grantham and also at the War Office heavy tractor trails.

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Holt's ' Caterpillar ' Tractor used for farming in America prior to 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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Holt Machinery Company's later 1913 patent for a track-type tractor, number #1076578. Filing date: Feb 18, 1913; issue date: Oct 21, 1913.

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]

Holt's Model 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor.

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]

Holt ' Caterpillar ' Tractor hauling a 6 inch Gun, also note to the right of the photo a column of soldiers approaching and being led by the Battalion's Band.

LF

IWMQ10420 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 Holt Model 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor hauling a 6 inch Gun through a street in Salonika.

LF

IWMQ31595 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 Holt 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor displaying its many uses, and seen here removing tree stumps during road building in Salonika, January 1917 and also being used to crush barges on ' K ' Beach.

LF

IWM Q32713 14855 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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A Holt Model 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor hauling an 8 inch Howitzer along the Montauban-Longueval road near Benafay Wood, September 1916, and that same photograph used in a Holt advertisement for their ' Caterpillar ' tractors.

LF

IWMQ4322 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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A Holt Model 75 ' Caterpillar ' Tractor hauling a heavy gun through the streets of Taunton, Somerset.

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]

April 1918, British General Ernest Dunlop Swinton visits the Holt Factory in America to publically thank Benjamin Holt for his war efforts, and for the occasion Holt produced a one man tank powered by a motorcycle 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.