"Government property" ???? Is n't that somewhat redundant with WD ???? Or is it painted with a few to distinguish those trucks bought by the Govt and those from civilians which were impressed into the Army when war break out ? And then was there not some subsidy plan which would muddy ownership ?
Although generally associated with the military it can also be on other government property such as HM prison property(not sure if it still is)and the logo of ordnace survey maps, in general though it denotes government property... The origins of this logo are really lost in the mists of time but there may be some connection toancient norse myth, the rune for Tyr the god of single combat, heroic glory and victory is shaped like a broad bladed arrow and was said to be inscibed on weapons, Tuesday is named after him..... As far as trucks as concernedI cant say but its possible that subsidy trucks could bear the mark since in times of war they would effectivly become government property.....
Cheers
-- Edited by Ironsides on Sunday 17th of May 2009 05:14:33 PM
Samuel Pepys is credited with bring in the marking of all Govt property with the arrow, although it would seem to have been used on ordnance before that period and marked ordnance paid for out of the Royal exchequer.
For those of you wanting more detail regarding the pheon's current use, here is an extract from a site on military timepieces regarding extracts from British MoD specification 05-34/Issue 2 (dated 17 May 1984) entitled “Marking of Service Materiel” which deals with, inter alia, the use of the ‘Pheon’ (Broad Arrow) as a government property mark on defence equipment:
“The use of Government property marks on materiel is not mandatory (although the ‘pheon’ is normally used on items of an attractive nature if it seems likely that the marks would deter theft). The decision to use the ‘pheon’ in respect of any particular item rests with the Approving Authority. Where it is not practicable for the Approving Authority to rule on this matter the decision s should be taken by the authority principally responsible for the procurement of the item concerned, or, when the item is the subject of an agreed Service specification, by common agreement of the authorities consulted during the preparation of the specification.”
