Hello and Greetings from Australia,

Recently I purchased a WM20 from a friend in Australia. I believe the Bike to be a 1941 model. I have identified the following identification numbers of the Bike.

Frame number W.M.20.44882
Engine number WM2039940

I believe the Bike ended up being assigned to the Second Military District (New South Wales) and sold to Hazel and Moore of Sydney (SAN727) after its service. I believe the Census number to be 72172.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Peter

email (option): Valhalla1965@gmail.com

The BSA with frame number WM20.44882 (and identical engine number) has left the BSA factory on September 12th 1941. It was built under military contract C/9310. This was a contract for 9.000 bikes (frame numbers WM20.44213 - WM20.53212, census numbers C4553722 - C4562721). The census number for frame number WM20.44882 would have been C4554391.
Shortly after its delivery to Chilwell it was transferred to the Australian Forces, where it was re-registered with the Australian census number AMF 30600. After the war it was sold off to Noxall Motors.




The BSA with frame number WM20.39940 (and identical engine number) has left the BSA factory in May 1941 (approximately, factory ledger with exact details no longer exists). It was built under military contract C/7287. This was a contract for 17.000 bikes (frame numbers WM20.25001 - WM20.42000, census numbers C4341593 - C4358592). The census number for frame number WM20.39940 would have been C4356532.
Shortly after its delivery to Chilwell it was transferred to the Australian Forces, where it was re-registered with the Australian census number AMF 14326. After the war it was sold off to Bennet & Woods.



Here's a picture of a sister bike with British and Australian census numbers:



I have no idea when the original engine of WM20.44882 was replaced by the engine from WM20.39940. This may have happened during the war, could also have been after the war.

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

Thank you very much for the extensive information that you have provided me. It is fantastic. Can you please advise which Volume of the Army Vehicle Registration Book you found AMF14326. I am trying to see the detail a bit clearer at the end of the entry.
Kind Regards,
Ziggy

email (option): Valhalla1965@gmail.com

It comes from the book with "13808-20076" on the cover. Don't know which volume this is though...

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

Thank you again. I greatly appreciate your help.
Kind Regards,
Ziggy

email (option): Valhalla1965@gmail.com

Peter, the file for that volume is AWM2016.38.193.pdf

Ray

Peter, there are a couple of very hi-res pictures on the Victorian State Library website that you might find interesting.
There are two shots of a room full of WM20s from Contract C9310.
You can see most of them have had the ADF numbers painted over the original census numbers (rather poorly in some cases) as well as very good details of various fittings.

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/211064

Ray

email (option): rays54@hotmail.com

Thanks Ray,
what great photos. I really appreciate the link to them.

Regards,
Ziggy

email (option): Valhalla1965@gmail.com

Hello,

In regards to being sent to Chilwell, are you referring to Chilwell in the United Kingdom or in Victoria, Australia?

Kind Regards,
Ziggy

email (option): Valhalla1965@gmail.com

Chilwell in terms of WD Motorcycle deliveries was the R.A.O.C. Central Ordnance Depot at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, U.K.

The vast majority of British vehicles, stores and equipment were sent there for further distribution.

I'm not sure that we have a complete understanding of why these vehicles from British stocks were sent to Australia but bearing in mind the production dates during mid-1941, a substantial part could well be "refugee cargo" that had been intended for Malaya and Singapore and which was already underway when the peninsula fell to the Japanese. This also increased the risk of an attack on Australia so there was an increased need for fully mobilised forces in Australia.

Prior to that, Australia had been purchasing directly from factories such as Enfield and Norton and vehicles for use by Australian forces in the Middle East were delivered in-theatre.