I think that primarily, this site is about the motorcycle itself, and each member has their own "thing". Some, I see, are very involved in military type rides and shows, others, like me, are more involved with the motor cycle itself. Many but not all regard The WM20 is the grandmother of the ubiquitous 1/2 litre British single a graceful example of engineering excellence through simplicity. Some of us just need to get to work and back and can not afford a new motorcycle so make-do with an older one. A few seek to go as fast as they can and work tirelessly to modify their machines to do so.

From what I see, all are welcome here regardless of their particular predilection.

email (option): cas.vanderwoude@gmail.com

Some folk rode this stuff in their teens, and towards the end of their lives still like the plodding little beasts.

I was in the military service and still in the police force but I agree with Rob Millers comment. I hope all visitors of this site are equal. It's the sharing interest in the bikes and history that makes this a great bunch of people.

Regards, Ramon

Hello John,Pete The Jeep ere ! Served in the RAF for 22 years, 15 of which were with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. I was paid to work on vintage machines lucky me. ( best job in the world.)

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk

Totally agree with the sentiments expressed here. It's "The Machine " not the man and above all a brilliant hobby.

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk

There was no intention of offence to anyone on this site, it was just a general enquiry to see how many actually served. Myself, I did nine years, started off in 22 air dispatch Watchfield, then to 65 coy heavy transport plus various tours of duty with the ACE force also U,N, Cyprus and the last four years in 18 amphibious driving the old American DUKW in Devon. They were great times when you look back on them but, you only seem to remember the good times and good mates.
I have restored a few M20s, although I never rode them in the army only when I took up motorcycling again, reliving my misspent youth, I now have seven bikes, mainly BSAs but I do have a Matchless G9 which I enjoy.

Kind Regards TTJohn

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

Wotcha John, did you ever meet up with, a certain Mr Rex Ward ( REME ) when you were on your tour of the DUKW's in Devon?
TTFN PETE.

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk

Yes, I know Rex, he now deal with DUKWs, spares and repairs, he was at one of our reunions a couple of years back, I think my other half saw a post on FB where he was after a set of large bilge plugs, I ought to get in touch with him as I may be able to assist in his search.

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

Hello John, I'll email Rex's details if you like. He restored my 43 GPW for me in2005 and we keep in touch. He's just bought another DUKW project, about his 27th or some such.

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk

I did 15 years in the Army (R.A.O.C) as a Vehicle Specialist, spending most of my time on "B" Vehicles, but qualified as an instructor on everything!
My "speciality" was the motorbikes, (mostly because I was already a biker) - so anyway, I got to spend a LOT of time working on the bikes, which, at the time, included some Triumph 500 Speed Twins, BSA's (Not M20's), Can-Am's, Armstrongs and a bunch of Triumph Police bikes.
I joined in '76 and at that time, we had TWO D.U.K.W's (my claim to fame was that I drove the LAST D.U.K.W in Army service... It caught fire moments before we handed it over!... Ooops!)
We also had a couple of WW2 Leyland Hippo's floating about.
Plenty of WW2 plant & equipment and a whole host of other interesting ancient vehicles (*sigh* I miss those days!)
Eventually I got fed up with the way the Army was going and chose to jump ship before it sank.

email (option): fozzie001@hotmail.com

I did 20 years in the Marines here in the states (the colonies). I did 4 years as a grunt and 16 years in crash fire rescue. I started collecting military vehicles while I was in high school. I am now building a small museum here I have about 15 military vehicles, and over 200 weapons on display. I got into the British side to honor my mother in law (she was a little girl living in London during the blitz) and here father who joined the RAF during the war. I got very lucky and found a very nice restore M20 about 5 miles from my house!
On the subject of military service, I had a great time, and made some friends that till this day are closer to me then my own brothers.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

I served 22 years in the RAF Police serving mostly in the UK and Germany, with detachments to Cyprus and the USA. I was also lucky enough to carry out motorcycle patrol and VIP escort duties both in Germany and the UK.

I'm currently in the process of restoring and ex-RAF Police BSA WD B40, a type I rode on patrol in Germany during the 1970s.

That's me in the sunglasses, the bikes are Triumph 750s at RAF Bruggen.

email (option): dave.stapleton@me.com

Ian, You must have come out of the forces just lately then as there was two or three still being used in the army up to last year at Instow by the RMs

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

Cool looking there Dave, the RAF always had better stuff than us poor blokes in the army, I was in the UN in Cyprus 1964-5 stationed on Nicosia airport which was also a RAF base, derelict now so I believe, Keo Brandy 5s a bottle from the Red Lion by the Players factory. I suppose this had all gone during your tour.

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

Hello John, interesting observation about long serving personnel becoming regimentated. Over the years there were sadly one or two I knew of, actually "popped their clogs" being unable to cope with civvy street. I noticed too, Ian's comments about serving with the R.A.O.C.
My father in law was a DR serving in the RAOC riding a WM20 through Belgium and France ending up at Dunkirk. He left his bike in the English Channel after having fired it off a jetty.He'd been something like 8 days without proper grub and sleep, and when he eventually woke up on whatever boat it was rescuing the lads, the bloke next to him was dead.My dying regret is not being able to find out more of his short wartime service and unit/s.Anyway, my newly aqquired WM20 proudly bears his name "ALF" on the prtrol tank. So hope he enjoys the rides to come....Pete.

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk

Pete

I might be saying something you have already done, but if not it is worth the try, have you applied for your father-in-laws service record from Glasgow? It may contain nothing you already knew, but from personal experience my family learned things about a relative that was unknown, so very interesting.

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview

email (option): dncnsimpsonAT the well known 'warm'mail.com

BTB , Thanks everso much for the gen. Rose & I will start our research using the gov/uk site soonest. I think Henk has created something truly remarkable in this site.Where like minded folk work hard and spend a lot of effort, time and money preserving, maintaining and diplaying these wonderful old machines for the enjoyment of fellow enthusiasts and the general public. It's a priviledge being part a movement helping to preserve the memories of those that were willing to answer the call of arms and those that laid down their lives for freedom.

email (option): petethejeep@hotmail.co.uk