Motor Lorries 1

The War Department purchased more than 10,000 Peerless Motor Lorries, making them the most numerous British Army truck to serve during the first world war. The Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland Ohio USA, was better known for building luxury cars, it started building the TC4 in 1911, the truck came in 2, 3, 4 and 5 ton versions. The war department chose the 4 ton version but down-rated it to carry a load of 3 tons as they knew it would be worked hard and frequently overloaded.

Image Peerless TC4

Peerless TC4

Napier B72

Napier had a reputation for building quality vehicles, they supplied staff cars, ambulances, light and heavy trucks for the war department, however, the most numerous vehicle they built was the 2 ton model B72 lorry of which approximately 400 saw service. The war department down-graded the B72 to 30 cwt and assigned them to home service, but some turned up overseas and they are mentioned in the 801st war diary.

Image Napier B72

Thorneycroft type J

Thorneycroft were another major supplier of trucks to the war department over 5,000 seeing service. After initial problems with back axle breakages and front chassis cracks were overcome, the 3 ton Thorneycroft type J performed well in all the theatres where it was used. The unusual disc wheels make the Thorneycroft easy to distinguish from other similar trucks.

Image early Thorneycroft Type J