classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: johnnyboy-wonder57 on November 11, 2011, 06:13:35 PM

Title: War bikes
Post by: johnnyboy-wonder57 on November 11, 2011, 06:13:35 PM

Anybody got an other information on this arena just after the WAR!
My Uncle (Kenneth Hall) now 84, did his National Service @ Tel-el-Kebir  he was definitely there in 1947, he was in 610 Vehicle Group and maintained the army motorcycles supported by Germen POWs from the African Korp's (captured Panzer Grenadiers), one German POW that featured in the photos in particular was Otto, they built some Matchless-Norton hybrids  and raced around a track to pass the time.
Some of the Pix
Most of of my dad's older brother in Egypt in 1947 with German POW's from Rommel's African Korps!
On the photo of around 14 men everyone apart from Kenneth and an Arab stood at the back,  are all German POWs, Otto is in the front row with characteristic pose.

The four men stood by the bike are from Left a German POW called Otto, Kenneth, the tall lad's name is  Dave Bennett and later he raced for Norton and was killed in the Swiss GP in 1952, the other fellow is an English lad too, name as yet unknown.

Apparently, amongst many common soldiers on both sides of the Armed Services, prejudice was second to building a better New World, they were just tiered of the war & wanted to get back home, many of the German engineers never returned to Germany & were eventually whisked off to North America, especially those coming from what became East Germany, they didn't want to return to Soviet controlled lands & into what became the Eastern Block!


Cheers


John


JBW

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: johnnyboy-wonder57 on November 11, 2011, 06:17:44 PM

Sorry
Pix's got lost and seem to big some how perhaps must resize them!

I will try again!


John


JBW

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: slickshift on November 19, 2011, 02:20:46 AM

I have no idea how big it was but it looks better at 600px wide.
I have attached it at that.

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: yebbut on November 19, 2011, 04:13:08 PM

interesting but wheres the pic of the bike?

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: johnnyboy-wonder57 on November 19, 2011, 06:14:51 PM

Right how do I resize the other shots of the bikes e.t.c, I am going to have a try or maybe slickshift can tell me what software he used?

Does this site allow me to resize?


Cheers

John

JBW

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: yebbut on November 19, 2011, 07:21:01 PM

I use photoimpact programme

Title: Re: War bikes
Post by: johnnyboy-wonder57 on November 19, 2011, 09:03:00 PM

Working away here is three shots have modified!


Cheers


John

JBW