@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!