Military at the Museum

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Military Motorcycles

Nearly a year after posting More on Douglas I have received a note about the Douglas DV60 the post war flat twin that was put forward in direct competition with the Triumph TRW as the military bike of choice.

Fortunately for Triumph the DV60 did not win however where did they all go? Not sure how many were made but one has turned up in Guildford. I look forward to seeing it. Closer to home I've had the LE Club meeting discussing my escapades in India and the plans for the club at the Southern Classic bike show in May. The first of the month was the Wey Valley Observed Sunday and after dishing out some fliers there I went on to Newlands Corner to hand out more and information about the forthcoming WVAMC open day on the last Sunday of March. There are always some interesting bikes that turn up at Newlands Corner on a Sunday and this was no exception.

Not so pretty but very different was the DMW Deemster with a Villiers engine. Some of the later models used the Velocette Viceroy engine. Much to my liking was this “dustbin” faired Bonneville. Smartly done.

Back to the military, the bikes we have on display include the 122cc James affectionately known as the “Clockwork Mouse”, the 125cc Royal Enfield “Flying Flea” called so as it was used during D day landings in 1944 by paratroopers. It was thrown out of planes in a cage that had a parachute attached we have a photo of one but there is one at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Look out for it in the Lancaster hall. 

 Clockwork Mouse.                                                       Flying Flea.

Nearly everyone remembers the BSA M20 and their presence post war sold through Pride and Clarke. More modern machines are the Matchless 350cc single a Bullet in military guise and a Harley Davidson that has a Rotax engine and an Armstrong chassis. Around in the Home of Triumph are a number of TRWs but sitting beside it is the 350 side valve 3SW. There is in the ranks a 350cc ohv twin the 3TA WD built for the Dutch military.

Still on a military vein I am reading Elsie and Mairi go to war. Before the First World War Mairi who rode a Douglas teamed up with Elsie a member of the Gypsy Motorcycle Club. Elsie was also known as Gypsy because of her wanderings around the UK riding in endurance events and trials sometimes on her Chater Lea or Scott Outfits. Elsie had her riding gear made by Dunhill and her special dark green leather outfits later became available through Dunhill for other lady riders. Both these ladies were nursing soldiers on the Western Front in Belgium and worked to save many casualties with bullets and shrapnel flying around their ears. There is much about them at the Imperial War Museum in London.