I am wondering if anyone can help me trace the history of my bsa wm20 , engine and frame number 72312, last road registration in NSW in October 1976 ,
Does anyone know where I can find out it’s military service record ?
Thanks Wal
AFAIK the short answer is no
The Aust army did not keep service records by engine or frame numbers
It does appear in book 202 line 90068 of the disposal ledgers that are on line at the Aust war memorial web page.
However there is nothing written against it
Individual machine wartime service life records do not exist anymore.
All was basically discarded when not longer needed.
I made a seperate page on this subject on my website explaining this statement. https://www.wdnorton.nl/Individual_motorcycle_history.htm
Very few original log books have survived which do give some indications but the accompanying MC does not exist anymore.
Post war usage is also not documented much. Keycards of British Army are around and the AWM has put their vehicle books online but even those will not give much wrt individual history other than changes in vehicle registrations and some info on what finally happened with an MC. Also some shipping info.
Service records don’t exist for motorcycles, and the factory ledgers for this contract (C/13290) do not exist (anymore?). But we can give you some general information about your bike:
Contract C/13290 was a contract for 10.000 bikes (5000 RASC, 5000 RAOC). Frame numbers were #71818 - #81817. There were two blocks of census numbers: C4752401 - C4757400 and C4860801 - C4865800. Your bike is the 495th from this contract, the British census number would have been C4752895. Production of this contract started at the end of November 1942, @ 400 bikes per week (approximately). This means that your bike must have left the factory in December 1942. (I've added a picture of a "sister bike", which must have rolled off the production line one day before your bike).
WM20.72312 was then transferred to the Australian Forces, where its was given a new (Australian) census number 90068. This number can indeed be found in the AWM ledgers, without further information.
The right hand column confirms that the authorities had it listed as a 1942 WM20 with 54" wheelbase and 3.25x19 tyres.
The red annotations show that the machine above was disposed of via the large motorcycle dealer Hazell & Moore, and the machine below went to ALFSEA (Allied Land Forces South East Asia) presumably after 1944. Unfortunately nothing for 72312.
This is another one that is a close cousin with the Australian number on the tank - only 26 different in frame number.
This photo was taken in the Northern Territory and is the only period photo I have seen with what looks like it may have an Australian Bryant air filter fitted.