– a lovely photo from someone’s family album. The lass on the right was someone’s grandmother who served as a nurse on Hawaii during the Second World War. The white socks and head scarves are pure period cuteness.
June 6, 2021
Day of Days
June 6th 1944
– a pivotal moment of the Twentieth Century when the Free World decided to take back what had been overthrown by the Nazis. Here’s a fresh faced army courier strapped into a Horsa glider, with his Matchless ride, bound for Normandy.
April 19, 2021
Khaki Cub
– what a fun looking little back lane machine. The black rims and army green tank a a superb look.
April 18, 2021
The Great Escape
– what better way to escape across the Bavarian countryside than on a rugged tyred Triumph TR6 in German wartime feldgrau. Of course Steve makes it look effortlessly cool.
November 11, 2020
The Unforgotten
.. although the legacy of The Great War is of death and pain some of ‘the lads’ did find camaraderie with the mundane tasks to keep the military machine running. Here are despatch riders from the Royal Signal Corp having a jolly old time keeping their Triumph Model H’s on the road.
July 15, 2020
Airborne
Marvelous old photograph of one of the Royal Marines Display Team riders soaring over his colleagues and a Mini Cooper. An elegant flight path.
July 10, 2020
Roadside Chat
– wartime communication was enabled by the feat women riders who carried essential documents between various ministries and planning groups. They look very proud in this image on some country road under grey skies.
May 25, 2020
It’s a small world…
The model is for all intents and purposes complete. Spent the afternoon adding oily and muddy patina to the bike. Looking like it’s just been ridden from the Normandy beaches to the Ardenne.
May 22, 2020
Scaled Down
The 1/9th scale Triumph Kit is coming along a treat.
May 19, 2020
“Join the Wrens—free a man for the fleet.”
The Women’s Royal Naval Service was the women’s branch of the Royal Navy. Affectionately called Wrens they provided an essential supportive role during wartime and peacetime. They rode motorcycles as couriers and messengers such as this BSA M20.
May 17, 2020
Assembly Required
– here’s something that will keep me out of trouble for a few rainy afternoons. A 1/9 scale WW2 era Triumph 3HW. The ubiquitous single cylinder workhorse of the British forces. Indeed it is the motorcycle used by my grandfather George in his duties as a Military Policeman in the North African theatre.
May 15, 2020
Weathering
My new project arrived in the mail today. A plastic model kit of a 1943 wartime Triumph. After assembly I’ll need to decide if it’ll be in a clean fresh from the factory look or well ridden appearance.
April 20, 2020
Walking a Mile
Captain Tom Moore, who will turn 100 next week recently took it upon himself to walk 100 laps of his small garden. 25 yards per lap. His goal was to raise £1,000. As of today his donations have raised £27 million. His wish was for the funds to go to NHS workers who are putting their all into the care and attention for the Covid 19 I’ll. He was a Captain during WW2 in an armored division in Burma. After the war he actively pursued motorcycle racing aboard a Scott Flying Squirrel with trophied success.
A True British Hero!
April 6, 2020
Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus
Sadly one of the original action women of the silver screen died today. Honor Blackman who, in my opinion, is the definitive Bond girl. She played opposite Sean Connery in Goldfinger with perfect grace and grit. She started a life on two wheels as a dispatch rider during WW2 in London. She was 94.
March 5, 2020
K5054
On this day in 1936 Vickers test pilot ‘Mutt’ Summers took the RJ Mitchell designed prototype up for an eight minute test flight at Eastleigh Aerodrome. A legend was born.
