The French army used Royal Enfield WD/COs early post war,this example looks almost new and has its original C number partly deleted and its new French army number on the front mudguard,its a late model fitted with vokes air cleaner and late BSA type bars without end plugs (same as Trumph 3HWs & Ariel WNGs),a Mansfield pillion seat is also fitted.

Very nice detailed pic - thanks!

I have a rolling chassis 5166027 (23687) - I wonder if it went to France as well??

Thanks for sharing Steve!

I wasn’t quite sure how to read the census number: is it C5166583 or C5166593? When I check the factory ledgers, the latter was sold to Glendale Motors in London immediately after the war, so it can’t have been this one...

Census number C5166583 (frame number 24243) was despatched from the Redditch factory on 6th March 1945, destination "War Office - Batley". It was one of 5,000 motorcycles for contract S/1546. Batley was a military depot, from where the motorcycles were sent to a unit.

However, towards the end of 1944 the supply of new motorcycles far exceeded demand. The British Army therefore had to stockpile hundreds (or thousands) of motorcycles. As soon as the war was over, all the Royal Enfields (used ones and stockpiled ones) were sold. Some went to the civilian market, but "a few thousand" (exact number unknown) went to the French post-war army. These were mainly stockpiled contract S/1546 motorcycles. This bike is one of them.

In the French Army the British census number wasn’t used anymore, instead each bike was issued with a French Army registration number. On this bike the census number still had to be overpainted completely, which allows us to check the frame number. Here’s another example:

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

@Bruce: good to hear from you mate! The stockpiled contract S/1546 Enfields outnumbered the bikes that France was asking for. Your bike could have been one of the stockpiled WD/COs that were sold on the export market, or (more unlikely) it may have been used in the British Army briefly, refurbished and sold on the civilian (home) market.

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

By the way, "les grosses poitrines" = big boobies... 😳

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

A clue perhaps to the whereabouts of Van klomps "Fallen Madonna"?

Rob

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

Hi Jan - thanks for that!

Apologies - I've been a bit quiet of late, but am trying to get a bit more organised and into the swing of things!

Will email you.

Cheers!

Just checked the factory ledgers on this one: 23687 was despatched from the factory on 27/01/1945 to the War Office in Todmorden (also an Army depot), in November 1945 it was demobbed together with all the other Enfields. It must have been taken over by the factory, as there is a second despatch date 15/02/1946 against this number. Customer was Glester D in London, also an exporter no doubt.

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

Appreciate the feedback Jan, and will update my notes accordingly.

Will also check out Glester D.

Baie dankie/Dank u wel!

Season's greetings Bruce. Is it a Brie on the beech?:yum: Ron:evergreen_tree:

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

A better image of this photo,plus a couple of others with partly deleted C numbers.

below,this has wrote on the front mudguard "full speed" in english possibly chalk?

Howdy Ron! More of a Gorgonzola man myself, but I'm never averse to a braai on the beach! Although the authorities do tend to frown on drinking alcohol and using glass containers on the beaches in the Western Cape These days. But we have ways and means......

Cheers Steve - thanks for the pics. Any idea what the French on the back of the pic translates to?

@Jan - I think that this may be where you step in!

Here we are Bruce! 😊

"A ma petite marraine avec mon bon souvenir et meilleurs amitiés. Affectueuses pensees de votre filleul."
"To my little godmother with my fond memories and best friendships. Affectionate thoughts from your godson."

DCR on his helmet is Division CuiRassée, a French Armored Division.

I'm pretty sure that the census number is C5167136, which would make it frame number 24796.

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

Merci Jan!