I have recently purchased an instruction manual for an Ariel WNG on ebay.. The C number for the bike is written in the manual and recorded as C 4460586. In addition the name Sgt Swift RE; 11 BD Coy RE is hand written in the book together with a stamp from No.11 Bomb Disposal Coy R.E.

How can I find out something more about Sgt. Swift and No.11 BD Coy?

Cheers,
John

Hi John...No.11 BD company was formed on the 28th. August 1940 under the command of Capt. RJH Minty RE...

It was based in Edinborough and was the only BD company in Scottish Command.

It was divided into 10 sections that covered the whole of Scotland including the islands...

You will find further information if you just do a Google search of 'No.11 Bomb Disposal Company RE'....Ian

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

There seems to be a full set of war diaries in the National Archive. Content varies. Individual NCOs and vehicles are unlikely to be mentioned but you may be lucky and find a list...

WO 166/4003 ROYAL ENGINEERS:11 Bomb Disposal Company (BD)1940 Sept.- 1941 Dec.

WO 166/8417 11 Coy. 1942 Jan.- Dec.

WO 166/12359 11 Coy.1943 Jan.-Dec.

WO 166/15470 11 Coy.1944 Jan.-Dec.

WO 166/16940 11 B.D. Coy. 1945 Jan.- Dec.

Without knowing the number of pages, it's impossible to have an idea of copying costs, but don't pay NA fees.

C4460586 would have been delivered (to Chilwell) in late 1940 / early 1941 but of course the NCO could have appeared in the earlier diary.

Swift doesn't seem to have been a casualty. 11 BD Coy. have eleven deaths listed on CWGC, many of them with post-war dates. A reminder that the dangerous work didn't stop when the fighting did.

CONNOR J 2128807 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 14/09/1945 ROYAL ENGINEERS
DALLAS J 317976 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 14/09/1945 ROYAL ENGINEERS
DEAN H 2015560 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 27/07/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS
FORDYCE JC 2149997 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 07/08/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS
GAYLOR GH 166510 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 07/08/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS
HURLEY A 14031152 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 07/08/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS
KING W 2193388 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 14/09/1945 ROYAL ENGINEERS
MARSHALL JR 2196445 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 22/05/1941 ROYAL ENGINEERS
MILLER AFG 2153958 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 22/10/1945 ROYAL ENGINEERS
WALLIS RAF 1920411 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 26/03/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS
WOOD JMC 2157702 11 BOMB DISPOSAL COY 26/03/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS

Ian & Rik, great information. Many thanks, John

Does anyone has pictures of Ariel WNG's in use in bomb disposal units? Did the motorcycles had any special markings on them?

Thanks,
Sven

I did have........mudguards (mainly the front) painted red across the front portion back to the girders.............

I have a friend who was in Gibraltar in Bomb Disposal and learnt to ride a G3L out there. He has made a replica of his bike and the front and rear mudguards are completely red. Cheers JT