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.

They are however snippets of an MC life.

Cheers,

Rob

email (option): wd16h@telfort.nl

Thanks Rob, cheers Wal

email (option): wjlovell53@gmail.com

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.

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Thank you Jan, that is interesting and valuable information,cheers Wal

email (option): wjlovell53@gmail.com

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.



Ray

email (option): rays54@hotmail.com

Thank you Rick and Ray, it is great to get any information,
I would like to find one of those air cleaners , Ray
Cheers Wal

email (option): wjlovell53@gmail.com