Another superb photo of my grandad during his service for the Military Police in WWII. With the “La Figaro” bar or cafe in the background there is a good chance this is Alexandria in Egypt where he was stationed.
January 22, 2012
Army Dreamers
A wonderful interpretation of a wartime motorcycle transport based on a modern Triumph Bonneville T100. Olive drab colour, leather strap trim and lamp blacked detailing. Even a nifty gear change lever in included. Though I’m not sure how it’s operated when pulling in the clutch. Knobbly tyres, comfy ‘tractor’ seat and Jerry-can fuel cells on the rear speak of an adventure machine ready for the Sahara, Scandinavia or Saskatchewan roadways.
November 2, 2011
Pull a Chair up and have a sit down!
The combination wartime ride was the enlarged BSA single, the 600cc M21. Again my grandfather George Lawrie is seen atop this machine during traffic control and other MP duties in Egypt, through Tunisia and Libya. No doubt shadowing Monty’s Eighth Army as they chased Rommel ‘The Desert Fox’ back through El Alamein into Tunisia. Amongst his medals and cap badge is a cloth badge of the Jerboa, used as the Desert Rats insignia of the 7th Armoured.
Here’s a recently restored hack with sidecar trunk in lieu of the chair; also emblazoned with the AA (Automobile Association) emblem. George was an AA man both before and after the war, the roadside assistance skills being useful for MP work; and, indeed many AA men ended up in that branch of service.
October 31, 2011
The Cavalry’s here!
A truly evocative image of a mid-Twentieth Century cavalry. Here an army rears up on their new BSA M-20 motos heading into the fray! Wonderful artwork in the clean 30’s graphic vein.
October 30, 2011
George Lawrie and his BSA
My grandfather, George Lawrie (1909-1965) served in the Military Police during the Second World War; spending the duration mostly in North Africa. I recall from a very early age pictures of him in the desert on an old motorcycle. Some old photo albums of my Gran recently resurfaced and a photo of him astride an M20 was amongst them. Great Stuff!
It just so happens that there is similar early 40’s military spec M20 up for auction at nearby Glenview IL; part of a lifetimes collection by a chap called Lee Roy Hartung of automobile’s and motorcycle’s. Hartung specialized in interwar items including: Hendersons, Excelsiors, Harleys, Indians, Flying Merkel and a 1913 Pope. Outstanding selection of important bikes from the teens, twenties and thirties. I spied the BSA amongst them on the aution page; here are a few detail shots of it in splendid original patina.
Given the coffers, and space, I would try and get it running as-is, and enjoy its simple thumping ride as my grandfather would have.
October 29, 2011
BSA in Wartime
As mentioned in the Che piece a couple of days ago, the British motorcycle industry turned manufacturing over to military needs during the Second World War. As well as Norton and Matchless; B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms) were to create some trusty rides that saw action across the globe. The Small Heath works created the side valve 500cc single designated the M20, which became the model of choice by the armed services. At its height 1,000 machines were coming off the assembly line per week – over 126,000 manufactured overall; some still in service today. The M21, a ‘big brother’ 600cc used for sidecar work was also produced.
Ride like an Egyptian… … the telescopic forks confuse me somewhat, so if anyone can enlighten: they are typically fitted with girder forks.
Sturdy looking sidevalve motor:
Here’s a great link to the specifics of owning a wartime brit-iron:
It looks a smasher in olive green, a veritable two-wheeled Jeep!
geordiebiker.com 