Found this photograph online on the Mary Evans storehouse website, showing a Rolls Royce armoured car at Arras. It's interesting in that not only does it show the towed 3 pounder, which i've never seen on a photograph outside of the UK, but also it shows an RR at Arras, in the dazzle paint like the other, but without the added cupola, which previously I thought was added to all of them. On a closer look it appears that the top of the turret (just the horizontal part, not the angled side parts) has been removed, any thoughts?
If anyone else has any photographs of Rolls Royce's on the western front in use with the British Army i'd be very interested in seeing them - previously i've only seen the three in 'War Cars' (one showing an RR without front fenders in front of an ambulance on the Somme, another with an armoured Vickers jacket and headlights in Abbeville, and the two in dazzle camouflage at Arras with extra cupolas) as well as one more showing one at Arras from the rear, again with the extra cupola
Many thanks for that Vintary - what book is it from? I'm long overdue a visit to the Imperial War Museum photo archives so might have a dig around there in a week or two
The first pic is in the Profile Publication Early Armoured Cars by Maj. Gen. N.W. Duncan, and is credited to the Tank Museum. The caption reads, "Camouflaged Rolls-Royce with captured German gun in tow, Arras 1917."
Could be wrong but I think it's the remains of a German gun on a trailer. Looking closely, it appears to be the barrel resting on its side.
-- Edited by James H on Thursday 14th of January 2010 02:49:16 PM
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its from a magazine,,,, MILITARY HISTORY,, april/may 2009 there is a 8 page feature on the rolls royce armoured car, thats only half the photo its the center page and wont fit into the scanner the rest of the photos are well known. i cant see the usual photo archive ref numbers so i have no idea were he got the photo.
The first pic is in the Profile Publication Early Armoured Cars by Maj. Gen. N.W. Duncan, and is credited to the Tank Museum. The caption reads, "Camouflaged Rolls-Royce with captured German gun in tow, Arras 1917."
Could be wrong but I think it's the remains of a German gun on a trailer. Looking closely, it appears to be the barrel resting on its side.
-- Edited by James H on Thursday 14th of January 2010 02:49:16 PM
Hi James, just checked this topic after a while - the weapon is definitely British, it's a Vickers 3 pounder. I've attached another image from 'War Cars' showing another towed by a Rolls Royce. There's what is, presumably, a recuperator on each side of the barrel which gives off the impression it's lying on it's side
There's also another image showing a 3 pounder at Wormwood Scrubs in earlier days with a much clumsier, heavier looking carriage