Questions? Looking for parts? Parts for sale? or just for a chat,

The WD Motorcycle forum

WD Motorcycle forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

We have a photo ( see https://ibb.co/ZWK4M6C ) of a military WW2 motor bike and rider. On the back is written 'To Bob / Lots of Luck Josh / 22June45'. We know 'Bob' refers to my father-in-law Robert Inglis ( Royal Navy Signals ) who was involved with Combined Ops in the Allied advance through Europe that began on D-Day. By 1945, as the war in Europe came to an end, he was based in Antwerp. It seems that as people began to to stand down from active duty it was perhaps typical to share photos in this way. We would be really interested to know anything about 'Josh', even if just his nationality. We think the bike is a BSA and he might have been a dispatch rider. He's wearing a military beret but without identifying badge that we can see. The tank number of the bike is clear on the photo though, C4706554, with additionally in larger script and underlined the number 1103.

email (option): ac.evans@btinternet.com

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Hi Andrew the Hodges and Taylor book on markings has 1103 with the white bar underneath as 1st Canadian Army Artillery

Regards Rob

Josh-on-a-military-BSA-M20-motor-bike-1945-v2-copy

email (option): robmiller11@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Rob, he's wearing denim and a shirt with a collar that looks more like KD than wool...I wonder if he's in Italy ?

Is the car Italian or French ?

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Maybe, the beret could be Canadian but he's not riding on the tank, is that a cigarette he's holding by the carb?

Rob

email (option): robmiller11@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Rik
Rob, he's wearing denim and a shirt with a collar that looks more like KD than wool...I wonder if he's in Italy ?

Is the car Italian or French ?
My initial thought was “that’s a Lancia”. But the late 1930’s models don’t have front suicide doors, so I’m not so sure anymore.

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

WM20 70457 ended its military career with the British Army on the Rhine so its unlikely it was in Italy at the end of the war.

Rob

Image10

email (option): robmiller11@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

I can see how the photo might have been taken in Italy .. the weather is warm/hot and sun high in the sky. Canadian forces were involved in both Italy and then in Belgium, where the recipient of the photo was to end up. Perhaps 'Josh' the rider was involved in both. I've tried looking up online to see if I can get a match for the car; 'suicide' doors, wiper spindles across the top of the flat single pane windscreen, vertical bars on radiator, distinctive twin row of vents along the side of the bonnet. No exact match found yet .. I thought initially maybe Renault but can also see how it might be a Lancia given the vents.

email (option): ac.evans@btinternet.com

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Thanks for looking up available records of the BSA!

email (option): ac.evans@btinternet.com

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Andrew, I own the post war "Key Cards" a scan of the whole card with approximate 15 bikes on it is available from me.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbi**.net

Re: Is it possible to trace anything of bike and rider WW2 in Europe as seen in photo

Andrew
Thanks for looking up available records of the BSA!
No problem, thank you for sharing such a nice picture.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11@yahoo.co.uk

Nieuwe pagina 1