"Is there any reason to believe the tank on it in the photo was the same tank that was on it when it let the factory ?"

Hi Trevor, yes, there is a reason as it also has the oil-tell-tale-button on the crankcase. The civilian KM24 from factory would have a paneltank with the button in the panel. And in addition a plain headlamp.

So if the tank had been changed from civilian to WD, beside the tank, the button would have also been added on the crankcase and the headlamp would be changed, possible but not very likely I would say.

It also has the butterfly cap on the oiltank where the civilian would have a aluminum screw cap.

and a standard frontmudguard where the civilian would have a valanced frontmudguard,

It has the holes in the rearmudguard for the early WD carrier, it looks to have the wrapping round the fronttube & engine plates like the early WDM20's

Only a M24 engine in a early M20 bike is possible but is seems to have a much lower, sporting handlebar than the large, high WM20 handlebar...they wouldn't bother about changing that....?

I bet on an KM- or WM24 originally delivered to the War Office

BR Michiel

"In terms of M20s, right up until the middle of May, quantities of up to 500 motorcycles were being sent to France every few days. Many ended up unused in Ordnance depots around Cherbourg, Le Mans and Laval. Inevitably, many were not put beyond use...Imagine the spare parts stock too..."

That is also new to me, thank you. I always assumed the bikes had been in service and were left behind near the coast during the evacuations. So the german army captured intact depots with large quantities of unused machines? No wonder they put them in action....

This one of Captain 'Jimmy' Simpson looks more like a over painted civilian bike

Thank you.
Always a pleasure to learn more

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

The picture show a 1939 Model with the four screws at the inspektion cover. The Oil indicator mostly fited on the 1938 JM24
My M24 was despatched Mai to BSA Dealer Zorrel Warschau so the BSA records. The trace in II world war is unknow, but it is a marvel the bike survived and comes to light in 1949 near Frankfurt. Three owners till 1961 all living in Frankfurt.
Completly dismanteld but the parts was in good condition ready to fit. Another cylinder head and rockerbox, a second gearbox make the descition easy to build up a second bike wich is a racer.

cheers Klaus

email (option): ajay2@gmx.de