Tracing the history of an ex-Army bike c.1940

[v15ben]

I am currently trying to find out the history of a bike that my grandad is trying to restore. I have but a few small pieces of information to start with and would like to find any possible links and clubs who might be able to help me find out more.

The Bike in Question! said:

The details I have are as follows:

The bike is a BSA M20 built in the early 1940s and in active service during World War II. The bike was decommissioned and road registered in the 1960s with the plate "FKY 288E" or "FKY288F." The chassis number is 94-851.

The bike came into my grandad's possession around 35 years ago when a family friend found it in a local council property (in the Leeds area) that his group were clearing out. The bike moved to my grandad's workshop and has been there ever since.

Can anyone suggest any websites, clubs and useful links that I could use to find out more about this ex-Army bike? Is there an inventory of ex-Army bikes available anywhere??

Thanks in advance for any help
Ben

[D1 MAD]

The BSA owners club is probably your best bet, link below.

www.bsaoc.demon.co.uk/

If you scroll down through the site there's details of a chat / help forum, you don't have to be a member of the club to use it.

Or try the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.

[aeropilot]

One of these you mean.....



This was my old WDM20 which was a 1940 manufactured one as well....note the valenced rear mudguard, larger 8" Lucas lamp etc of the earlier models.

Although you'll get a lot of info from the BSA Owners Club, most of the WD owners get more involved in the various Military Vehicle clubs which to be honest is the better bet for getting bits etc, that are particular to the WD versions, and general info of the WD bike stuff. Heaps more fun in terms of ownership as well than the BSA owners club...

I was a member of Invicta Military Preservation Society, which run the huge War and Peace show at Beltring in Kent in July.
www.imps.org.uk/

The Military Vehicle Trust is the other one to join.
www.mvt.org.uk/

There are a couple of really good books available as well, I'll post details later this evening when I get home.

Russell Motors in Clapham, South London are still one of the best sources of spares for WDM20's.

[srob]

I'll have a word with my brother- he's the editor of a monthly old bike magazine (The Classic Motorcycle). I'll see if has any suggestions- I know they do a 'history sought' bit in another mag they publish called Old Bike Mart. If your Grandad's restoring the bike he probably already gets that though so he may have already tried.

[aeropilot]

The only thing you'll find from a history sought item is anything from it's demob and civie registration in 1966 (must have been about the time of the last clear out of WDM20's from surplus) until arriving in your grandad's workshop 35 years ago.....which is only about 5-6 years worth....!!!!!

There is a good chance you will be able to match the frame number to it's original army number from the BSA archieve's held by the owners club or VMCC (can't remember which of them have the archieve's)....i.e the 'C' number you see on the tank in the photo I posted of my old WDM20 in the above post.

However, if it's the military service history you are after then I'm afraid there are no records that will provide that.
It would be pure chance that an ex-DR might recognise the 'C' number, and from talking to ex-DR's, they tended to ride what was available and unless they have photo's have not been able to recall any 'C' number of the bikes they rode.

As it's been in your Grandad's workshop for that length of time, it's also unlikely to appear on any of the ex-WD bike database's held by IMPS or MVT as 35 years is before IMPS and maybe even before the MVT started.

Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 7th December 14:20