Chapter Five
This chapter pertains to a broad selection from the photo archive and represents the various aspects of military vehicles that were photographed in Kent during the Second World War. They represent an interesting cross-section and include armoured vehicles, transport vehicles, motor-bikes and an assortment of other interesting examples. They demonstrate the variety of vehicles needed to support an Army. The development of military vehicles can be followed, with images of early Cruiser tanks, through to the much larger Churchill tank. The vehicles are largely of British design and manufacture, but also include Commonwealth and some lend-lease vehicles. The emphasis on British vehicles is most likely as a result of the lack of US units based in Kent, as they were largely based in the south-west of the country.
The crew of this Covenantor (Cruiser Mk V) tank is photographed changing a track, c.1942. (WanPs-0220)
Allied vehicles often come under criticism in relation to their design and their ability to resist attack. Whether this is fair or not, they certainly played a vital role in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. They are a testament to the men and women who built them and the men who fought in them and delivered the final overwhelming victory against the Axis forces throughout the world.
A Covenantor tank firing its 2-pdr gun on exercise, c.1942. (WanPs-2444)
A Crusader Mk III A15 (Cruiser Mk VI) tank with a 6-pdr gun on a training exercise, c.1942. The soldier seated on the front bulkhead is most likely a driving instructor communicating instructions to a trainee driver. (WanPs-0057)
Another view of the same Crusader tank. (WanPs-2484)
A Crusader Mk III tank on exercise ‘somewhere in Kent’. (WanPs-0192)
A Royal Tank Regiment Matilda Mk III CS (close support) tank on manoeuvres in Kent, c.1942. The armament consists of a 3” howitzer and a 7.92 BESA machine gun. (WanPs-2492)
Another view of the Royal Tank Regiment Matilda. (WanPs-0232)
Valentine tanks of the 6th Armoured Division occupy a Kent village. (WanPs-0215)
A Valentine Tank which has been named ‘Dover’ photographed partially camouflaged. The large funnel secured to the back of the chassis is for refuelling the vehicle. (WanPs-0208)
The crew of a Valentine tank somewhere in Kent on exercise, c.1942. The crew are taking advantage of the halt and cooking something to eat. (WanPs-0233)
A Valentine tank in action on exercise, c.1942. (WanPs-2443)
A Mk II Churchill tank. This version of the Churchill tank featured a 2-pdr gun mounted in the turret as main armament along with a 7.92mm Besa machine gun. Another Besa machine gun was also mounted at the front of the vehicle to left of the driver position. (WanPs-0193)
A Churchill tank in the High Street at Headcorn, c.1942. The crew appear to be taking a break and having a cup of tea and something to eat whilst changing or repairing a track. (WanPs-2218)
The crew of this Churchill tank belonging to the Canadian 11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment) are marking up notional exercise ‘kills’ on the turret. They appear to have done quite well! Life in a tank was a sometimes difficult and dirty business. As a result the crew of this Churchill tank T301030 are all dressed practically, if not particularly smartly! (WanPs-2477)
A Churchill tank photographed under a camouflage net at the pond in the village of Otford near Sevenoaks, c.1944. (WanPs-2493)
A Mk 2 Universal carrier on a training exercise. This photograph shows the excellent cross country capability of this small tracked carrier. (WanPs-0071)
A Canadian Universal Carrier passes a Valentine tank from the 11th Armoured Division in the centre of Goudhurst, c.1942. (WanPs-0196)
Troops and Universal Carriers from a Canadian Infantry Brigade outside The Bell Inn in the village of Frittenden, between Royal Tunbridge Wells and Ashford, c.1942. (WanPs-2435)
A Universal Carrier. The soldier defending the roadblock is manning a Boys anti-tank rifle. To his left a Bren gun can also be seen. On the driver’s left is a Bren gun. The roadblock seems rather unimpressive, and firing the Boys anti-tank rifle from a seated position is certainly not recommended due to its heavy recoil. (WanPs-2491)
A Morris Commercial CDSW light AA 6 × 4 gun tractor photographed towing a 40mm Bofors AA gun of the 6th Armoured Division. (WanPs-0195)
A well camouflaged Ordnance QF 2-pdr Mk IX anti-tank gun on Carriage Mk I. (WanPs-0209)
A section of 18/25 QF (18lb gun barrel mounted on a 25lb gun carriage) guns on exercise. (WanPs-0212)
A rear view of the gun and detachment 18/25 QF gun. These guns are not actually firing live ammunition. From the markings on the ammunition box to the left of gun, it can be seen that they are actually firing blank ammunition. (WanPs-0214)
Royal Artillery soldiers manning a QF 2-pdr anti tank gun. (WanPs-0213)
A Canadian artillery anti-tank unit moving through a Kent Village. Three Bedford MWD 15cwt 4 × 2 trucks are following a 4 × 4 Guy Ant Quad gun tractor, which is towing a French 75mm gun. The motorcycle on the right of the photograph belongs to the British 3rd Infantry Division. (WanPs-0231)
A Norton army motorbike and rider. (WanPs-0224)
This photograph shows a group of despatch rider motorcyclists. (WanPs-0341)
A convoy photographed in the Kent countryside, with motorcycle outriders at the head of the column. (WanPs-2437)
A Royal Signals dispatch rider with a pigeon carrier back pack on a BSA M20 Motorcycle. (WanPs-2481)
A senior officer inspecting a GMC ACK-353 4 × 4 1.5 ton LHD truck, an ex-French contract vehicle used by British Army. The front hubs are designed to take dual wheels. Maidstone, c.1941. (WanPs-0140)
A Canadian Army Ford CMP No. 11 cab F60H 3-ton 6 × 4 truck followed by two Chevrolet CMP No. 12 cab C30 30cwt 4 × 4 trucks and an Albion 3-ton truck pass through Goudhurst. A Harley Davidson motorbike passes going in the opposite direction. (WanPs-0216)
A Royal Signals AEC 4 × 4 armoured command vehicle from the 8th Armoured Division. Big and comfortable, they were nicknamed Dorchesters after the luxury London hotel, c.1942. (WanPs-2431)