WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[David Filsell]

Is this Bramah related in anyway to the lock company?

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Is this Bramah related in anyway to the lock company?

David,

Joseph Bramah ( 1749 - 1814 ) of Barnsley, Yorkshire invented the ' Bramah Lock ' in 1787.

There is however a link between a female relative of Joseph Bramah, who became the legal guardian of two orphaned ' Diplock ' children in the mid-1800s, so there could be a direct connection between Joseph Bramah and Bramah Joseph Diplock.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A scarce photograph of the ' Pedrail ' Flamethrower Vehicle prototype, which was probably taken during the Salisbury Plain tests.

It is reported that after WW1, this prototype vehicle was moved to Bovington Camp, where it was known as the ' Porton Tractor '. Unfortunately, it was broken up in 1923.

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]

In late 1914, an idea was put forward by Commodore Sueter of the newly established R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Centre based at Wormwood Scrubs, for infantry to be able to advance across No Man's Land behind the cover of a mobile armoured shield.

During experiments conducted with a small ' Pedrail ' tracked cart filled with rocks, it was found despite the heavy load, the ' Pedrail ' tracked cart was still able to be pushed by hand.

A design was drawn up for a large armoured shield, to be manufactured by Vickers Ltd., and fitted to a small ' Pedrail ' tracked hand cart which could be pushed by two infantrymen, with other infantrymen protected behind the armoured shield, these infantrymen could then advance across No Man's Land behind the protection of the shield.

In the Summer of 1915, a wooden mock-up was constructed, and trials of the ' Pedrail ' mobile armoured shield were conducted at the R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Centre at Wormwood Scrubs.

There is no evidence that the ' Pedrail ' mobile armoured shield was adopted, or went into production.

Attached is a photograph of the wooden mock-up ' Pedrail ' mobile amoured shield being tested at the R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Centre at Wormwood Scrubs in the Summer of 1915.

LF

IWM 14471 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 photograph of the small ' Pedrail ' cart filled with rocks, and used to test its ability and suitability to be pushed by hand.

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.

[David Filsell]

Thanks Lancs. I understand that the description of something in Yorkshire as 'bramah' meant top quality - like the great man's almost unpickable locks. The company is worth checking out on the Tinter-newt.

David

[Scalyback]

With post 2403. The weight alone would be a problem for 2 infantry men, who no doubt would have to carry kit as well! Its at least 14ft wide, now turn that into steel plate plus the mud clogging the pedral. I can see why they never even bothered to move from wood.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With post 2403. The weight alone would be a problem for 2 infantry men, who no doubt would have to carry kit as well! Its at least 14ft wide, now turn that into steel plate plus the mud clogging the pedral. I can see why they never even bothered to move from wood.

Scalyback,

Without a doubt WW1 brought out some of the brightest British minds along with their ideas and inventions, many of which were brilliant. Pushing a large heavy metal armoured shield across No Man's Land, may not have been one of the best suggestions !

However, it was as a direct result of those earlier ideas and inventions to move men across No Man's Land using tracked vehicles and armoured shields, that the concept of the ' Landship ' was derived, which ultimately led to the invention of the Tank.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With reference to post # 2403, some other examples of a portable armoured shield.

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 post # 2403, some other examples of a portable armoured shield.

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 nice example of a British General's Vauxhall D-Type Staff Car in Salonika.

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.

[Scalyback]

Post 2408 appears to be more a barricade? More useful for what would be now called an urban situation. Strong set up but not sure a petrol bomb flying over or even a shell!

[Lancashire Fusilier]

We have seen several examples of the Vauxhall D-Type Staff Car in active military use at the Front, and in the attached photograph we see an example of an ' Official ' Vauxhall D-Type Staff Car being used on the Home Front, with an ASC ( Army Service Corps ) female driver parked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.

This female ASC driver is wearing the ASC Driver's ' Coat, Sheepskin lined ' which was specifically designed to keep ASC drivers warm in open vehicles, and judging from the snow covered ground, the ASC Driver's coat was much needed.

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 interesting sets of photographs showing the work of the Directorate of Agricultural Production, which was one of the lesser known Army units operating in France during WW1.

The Directorate of Agricultural Production was formed in the autumn of 1917 with the aim of making the British Expeditionary Force more self-sufficient in food, specifically crops and fresh vegetables, by setting up cultivated areas in the rear of the frontline.

Brigadier General Jacob, 6th Earl of Radnor (1868-1930) was appointed Director of the DAP and the aim was to have 50,000 acres under cultivation by the summer of 1918. The British zone of control covered some of the most productive farmland in France, which at time was lying fallow. One of the earlier worries in setting up the Directorate was that, if the farms were set up too far to the West and the Germans retreated, the French farmers would wish to return, on the other hand, land too far to the East might suffer from fluctuations in the frontline; it was felt that farms at least four miles behind the lines would be safe. It was envisaged that the new unit would require almost 2000 officers and men and almost 200 tractors; it is not known how many horses were to be used, but 700 of the farm hands were required to be able to look after horses, and there were to be 7 Farriers.

In addition to Corn, Wheat and Barley, vegetables including potatoes, cabbages, kale, beet, turnips, swedes, leeks, lettuces and carrots were also grown. Particular care being taken to find crops that were suitable for French conditions. Meanwhile, the work preparing the land went ahead and by 21 March 1918 about 7500 acres were already under cultivation.

Both sets of photographs show DAP troops working on the harvest in the Corbie/Amiens area of the Somme region, using Traction Engines and the ' Ruston ' Threshing Machine and Harvester.

Interestingly, although both sets of photographs were taken at harvest time, in one set and despite the obvious heat, some of the soldiers are wearing Brodie steel helmets, which may have been due to the possibility of a German attack on the area being harvested ?

LF

IWM 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.

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[Lancashire Fusilier]

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IWM 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]

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IWM 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]

ASC ( Army Service Corps ) officers and men attached to the Directorate of Agricultural Production are working on the harvest in fields near the small village of Corbie, some 6 miles east of Amiens in the Somme region of Northern France.

LF

IWM 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.

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[Lancashire Fusilier]

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IWM 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]

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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.

[GRANVILLE]

What a great series of photos!

David

[Lancashire Fusilier]

What a great series of photos!

David

David,

Yes, it is fascinating to see all that went on behind the scenes during WW1, as with the DAP, 2000 officers and men plus 200 tractors, quite an agricultural undertaking.

Regards,

LF

[Bombadier]

Threshing set ups like this can be seen every year at The Great Dorset Steam Fair and probably other steam events. Other steam powered activities such as ploughing sawing road building are also on view. This year there was also a 1914 commemorative event with various vehicles and a trench system. Great for at least a 2 day visit.

Nigel

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Threshing set ups like this can be seen every year at The Great Dorset Steam Fair and probably other steam events. Other steam powered activities such as ploughing sawing road building are also on view. This year there was also a 1914 commemorative event with various vehicles and a trench system. Great for at least a 2 day visit.

Nigel

Nigel,

The 1914 commemorative event should be well worth a visit.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

By the Summer of 1918, the Directorate of Agricultural Production has already started converting some of the battlefields of the Western Front into productive farmland, with those place names associated with so much bloody carnage now given over to food production.

The attached photographs taken in the Summer of 1918, show soldiers of the Directorate of Agricultural Production tending potatoes near a communication trench in a support line at Bethune, tending celery which has been grown along the bottom of an old communication trench at Vimy Ridge, and DAP soldiers tending cabbages in the former battlefields at Vimy Ridge.

LF

IWM 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.

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[Lancashire Fusilier]

DAP soldiers tending cabbages in the former battlefields at Vimy Ridge.

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.