The British Army General Service Wagon Mk XI - a Few Photos of a Restored One

[leigh kitchen]

Some photos I took a few years ago at a shire horse farm / museum in Norfolk - but I never got around to sorting out a proper thread on the GS Wagons.

Introduced into British army service in the late 1800's, the GS Wagon was in service through various Marks I - II, drawn by 2 - 6 horses, until replaced by mechanised transport shortly after the end of WWI.

This particular wagon continued in use into the 1950's, with various modifications by its civilian owner / owners.

There aren't too many of these wagons around, few are known to exist in the UK, a couple in museums at Duxford & Aldershot, a few more in private hands perhaps 5 or 6 now in total?

There are a more in Australia & Canada & presumably elsewhere, but they're thin on the ground.

[leigh kitchen]

.The GS Wagon appeared in different guises, including as  an ambulance, The Mk II was introduced in 1905 & was the most common type in service during WWI.

[peter monahan]

Thanks for sharing the photographs.  I don't think I've ever seen a 'live' one before.  I suspect a lot were sold out of service to farmers and teamsters and driven until they were scrap, then left in a field somewhere, as is so often the fate of old farm machinery, at least here in Canada.  Nice to see one preserved.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Leigh  -  a very interesting article on a subject that is often overlooked.   Mervyn

[nigelbristow]

I've got one and in one shape or another have had 3 others go through my hands 

kind regards

[GreyC]

Hi leigh kitchen and nigelbristow,

interesting topic.

@ nigelbristow: very nice. Is this the one in "private hands" as mentioned in the text in the photo in #1 or is it a fourth specimen of this now rare breed in GB?

GreyC

Edited June 17, 2017 by GreyC

[nigelbristow]

Hi GreyC

It belongs to me (private hands) the two photos are of the same wagon the day i got i(2008) and last year

I restored the wagon used at the reburial at Fromelles also which is with the RLC museum, 

I partially restored one for a friend,

and I brought and sold the iron work to another,

Below is the Fromelles wagon as it left my house .

kind regards

Nigel

 

[GreyC]

Thanks for the info Nigel. Looks great.

Greyc

[peter monahan]

Lovely work, Nigel!  I do educational work and re-enacting of WWI over here in Canada and the only GS wagons I know of are in military museums.  Nice to see one in private hands and available for important ceremonies!

[nigelbristow]

I know of 12 of the Mk X and MK X* here in the UK in various states of repair in both private and museum hands 

regards

Nigel 

[coldstream]

Nigel,

Just wanted to echo the other comments on a superb job well done, I also look forward to seeing what else you have to show us

from your collection!

Best regards Simon