Great War lorry saved from scrap set to hit road again

They were used for various military manoeuvres including transporting of goods to France during the conflict.

Many thousands of these workhorses were built and even after the war they were commonly seen across the UK, but few have survived into the 21st century. So the discovery of a 100-year-old model, albeit in far from pristine condition, caused quite a stir in the world of motor restoration.

John Marshall, an enthusiastic restorer who specialises in working on vintage vehicles and steam engines, has found a rare Thornycroft lorry languishing as scrap on a farm, and he plans to restore it to its former glory.

Mr Marshall, who lives near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, restores cars, lorries and steam engines for customers up and down the country.

But when he heard about a rare Thornycroft J-Type on a farm in Buckinghamshire, he felt he had to investigate.

“These are incredibly rare,” he says.

“There are maybe half a dozen left in the country. We know that this model was ordered by the War Office in 1914 and it was delivered in February, 1915.

“We don’t know exactly where it would have served but it was probably used in France.

“I plan to have it driving again by next summer and I want to use in 2018 at events to mark the centenary of the First World War to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives.”

He says getting hold of components for such an old vehicle is difficult but staff at Thornycroft confirmed that this vehicle was ordered by the War Office. Beyond that, details are pretty sketchy.

After the war it was used by a brick company in London and it later fell into disrepair.

At some point an enthusiast planned to restore it but failed and the vehicle was left on a farm as scrap metal.

Mr Marshall said: “If all goes to plan I will take it to Belgium to the Menin Gate memorial and maybe to Ypres battlefield and I will take it to war memorials in this country.

“I have quite a few old vehicles but because of its history, this is my favourite.”

He has found a proper Thornycroft engine, a four-cylinder 40bhp engine which measures 4.0 to 4.5 litres and he is on the lookout for other components.

He found a proper Thornycroft gearbox in Ripon and the vehicle has its original axles and wheels and Mr Marshall has a few enthusiastic friends who have helped with the restoration.

For those components he cannot find, he will have modern replicas made. The tarpaulin proved problematic, but a North Yorkshire company stepped in to help.

A Malton tarpaulin and hardware company, G Woodall & Sons, is making covers for the back of the lorry.

“I’m very grateful to Woodall’s,” said Mr Marshall. “Nothing was too much trouble. They were very keen to help with such an interesting project.”

Now Mr Marshall is looking to extend his interest in old vehicles by possibly forming a club for likeminded enthusiasts.

He says there is growing interest in such off-beat forms of transport.

“I would like to form a club for people with vehicles over 100 years of age,” he said. “There is a great interest in such old vehicles at events such as Duncombe Park steam fair and the Great Dorset Steam Fair.”

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