The forum photo of Aurther Wood was given to me and John O'Brien by his soninlaw Keith. Keith's wife is keen to find out anything we can tell her about her fathers war service. We do know that he went to France with the BEF and was evacuated from Dunkirk but she has no idea what regiment he was in. Apparently he was later transfer to the REME and ended the was in Italy. Any observations on the photo would be most gratefully received. Cheers John Tinley

They can get his nearest direct relative to apply to the Army Records Office for his service record...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I'm really disappointed that I have only received one reply to the post about Aurther and his BSA. I know nothing about M20's and was hoping that someone would tell me all about the bike and when it was probably manufactured. Any information on the bike, markings and Aurther would be most welcome. Cheers John

John, sorry about that. I had been in correspondence with J O'B and hadn't looked at the photos more deeply.

The bike is a nice standard-looking WM20 supplied under contract C5110. This is quite a confusing contract as it was extended a number of times and had various blocks of census numbers. However, it seems reasonable to assume that the first batch of numbers was issued to the earliest bikes and this one is likely to be WM20 8929. Henk probably has exact production date. I'd put delivery somewhere around 12th October 1939.

It's 'bang-on' for the contract with nearside speedo drive and MT1130 rear lamp. The chain and padlock wrapped around the carrier is typical prior to the introduction of the HT immobilisers.

The scene looks typically BEF with the hinged shutters which aren't much seen on terraced houses in the UK. The wall construction - row of stretchers, row of headers is known in the UK as 'English bond' and oddly, it's much more commonly seen here in Flanders than 'Flemish bond' - work that one out !

It's a bit of an oddity as a BEF picture as he has no respirator so it must have been a quiet moment. It looks sunny and the winter of 1939/40 was a long cold one. It would surprise me if it was late 1939 - He's in battledress for a start - so I'd guess around April 1940.

REME was of course formed to take over specialist duties from principally RAOC and RASC. His cap badge is certainly not the latter and could well be Ordnance. The 'B.5' marking is likely to be a unit identifier of the particular bike. I see no traces of formation or arm of service markings.

Does the family have any other photos showing different vehicles that give any clues ? They're probably going to have to apply for service records as he clearly changed units at various times.

This is the 2nd photo of Arthur which you sent on to me:-

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As you have concluded, they do all seem to be Ariels but I'm not sure that the centre civilian model is actually in WD service. Even the blackout mask is a commercial type. If I look hard, I can more or less discern the numbers ?46076? on the tank of the rear bike. This would suggest that it's probably C446076* from W/NG contract C8722 which was delivered November 1940-March 1941.

As you said, the lion suggests 15th(Scottish)Division although it was also used by some Scottish Commands. I can't find '53' allocated to an Infantry division during the early part of the war but later on, it was allocated to RA Field Regiments. This serial would also have been used by the RAOC Light Aid Detachment.

15th Div were not with the BEF and they didn't go to Italy so I suspect that if the family are going to work out what he did, they're going to have to apply for his Service Records. It would certainly be nice to link these two photos to definite units and periods.

Hi Rik, that is really helpful information. Many thanks. John