Found this pic of the above. Caption says they are for the East African campaign. They seem to have an armoured cupola, and the searchlight is interesting.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Sir John Willoughby (the chap leaning on the truck) had four made and gave them to the War Office along with crews (each had a 6-man crew) and support vehicles. They used Leyland's 3-ton Subsidy chassis. Had a MG in the turret and another in the rear. Had a subsidiary rear driving position. Semaphore signalling device can be seen on top of cab. Arrived in East Africa (with two Rolls Royce batteries) March 1916, under command of Willoughby. They were too heavy to do any good in East Africa (poor cross-country ability) and were sent to Egypt. Willoughby resigned. They were then sent to Mesopotamia. The armour was removed and they were converted into anti-aircraft trucks.
-- Edited by philthydirtyanimal at 23:35, 2008-03-12
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Doh! It's in B.T. White, where I should have looked in the first place. As it's described as a lorry I only looked in Ellis & Bishop, but it's classed as an armoured car.
Ivor - yes it's the same, and a better picture.
PDA - encyclopaedic as ever. B.T. White's description ends with their disappointing trip to E. Africa, but it struck me that the Middle East would be a handy place to send them from there. The reference Ivor posted says, "Later, these vehicles were equipped to travel on rails." Somewhere in the stuff on Mesopotamia I'm sure there's a pic of an AA railway truck. It might be one of these. I'll try and dig it out.
-- Edited by James H at 01:53, 2008-03-13
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Found the pic of the rail AA gun, but it's an ordinary flat. However, I don't know if this is the the shattered remains of one of the Leylands. What makes me think it might be is that the rear wheels are larger than the front. It has a distinctly improvised look.
Another interesting vehicle produced in Mesop was the motorised rail ambulance.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
I'm fairly sure that that is a pic of a Fiat running on rails. I think it is an Indian Pattern Fiat called HMAC Malaya. There was certainly an Indian Pattern Fiat, adapted to run on rails, in the area! Along with at least two Austin 3rd Series, also adapted for rail work, it formed part of the Railway Armoured Motor Battery. Operated on the line between Basra and Baghdad.
The Leylands had rims fitted to their wheels to try to stop them sinking so much in soft ground, but I dont think they could also used for running on rails.
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You're only bloody right. Even B.T. White doesn't mention that variant, but it is clearly an Indian Fiat. How do you do it?
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Its not me; I have a pea sized amount of knowledge. But I also have a copy of War Cars by David Fletcher. It is excellent reference for British and Commonwealth (Dominion) armoured cars, anti aircraft lorries and motorbikes.
I wish there was one just like it for everybody else's war cars, and another for softskins.
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I seem to remember a drawing of the Leyland A/C appeared in one of the early issues of Tankette,will trawl through my old issues if anyone is interested. Ken Musgrave
I realise it's an old thread but the rail lorry photo brought me here through a Google search. I presume the lorry is standard gauge not metre gauge?
Do you have a source for the rail motor ambulance photograph? I've found some brief reference to them in C in C India Force D (Mespot) papers as I'm researching railway use in Asia Minor theatres.Â
