Bedford goes back to Gold Beach
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OVER 150 Bedford Army trucks from World War II participated in Portsmouth's D-Day celebrations last weekend (June 2-3) and in the subsequent "invasion" of Normandy later in the week.
These vehicles echoed something of the massive support role played by Bedford with the British forces throughout World War II.
No less than 250,000 Bedford trucks were built for the Armed Services between 1939 and 1945. The Luton factory was also the source of 5,640 Churchill tanks — some of which were built at 'shadow' factories from Luton.
At the centre of Portsmouth's celebrations these historic Bedfords took pride of place among a variety of military vehicles. These ranged from a Vauxhall army staff car of first war vintage to the latest Bedford four-wheeldrive medium mobility logistic vehicles.
The Bedfords fronted the major display of modern vehicles set up by United Service Garages (a Wincanton Group garage) in the arena on Southsea Common, adjacent to the War Memorial. This is alongside the new D-Day museum which was opened by N.M. The Queen Mother on Sunday afternoon, commemorating the historic events of Operation Overlord. The museum was built to house the famous D-Day tapestries.
Principal Bedford trucks built for military use in World War II were the 15-cwt MW, the 30-cwt DX, the 3-ton OY and the famous four-wheel-drive QL. This was the forerunner of generations of Bedford 'go-anywhere' vehicles.
An example of the 3-ton OY general service truck, newly renovated to original condition by United Service Garages, in its Portsmouth commercial vehicle division, is now part of the permanent vehicle display of the D-Day museum.
These versatile military Bedfords performed many roles — from water tankers, petrol bowsers, troop carriers, to signals vehicles and 'Queen Mary' aircraft transporters.