Interesting Motorcycle Pannier from Normandy

[garys39]

Just received this motorcycle pannier, along with various other barn finds from Normandy (shell cases, boxes etc), the bonus is the tactical marking on the side !
Motorized Artillery ?

[Lennard]

Pannier markings,

Hi,
Lovely item, the markings are for the Stab of a III Motorised Artillery Battalion of an artillery regiment. Which usually means the 7th, 8th and 9th batteries with 15cm guns or similar.

Or as often written Stab/III (mot) Art Batt/Art Rgt xxx.

cheers lennard

[tintin44]

I do not know this model and congratulations for the tactical insignia !

[roger_m]

Hi, I have a bike in original colours with a similar symbol on the fenders but no Stab pennant symbol and II instead of III. Has also a yellow X underneath. I assume is a 1st Pz Division marking, would that mean second battalion of a motorised artillery regiment? And if it is well a 1st Pz Div bike do you think is possible to get more precise info on the unit? Thanks. Regards.

[Lennard]

Markings

Hi Roger,
A yellow X is for the 5th Panzer Div, and used from late 1940 to 1945.

Your markings should therefore mean the II (mot)/Pz Art Regt 116. Depending on what period of the war it is from, but most likely the later part of the war, a II Battalion would have had batteries 4, 5 and 6, usually having 10,5 cm towed artillery pieces or similar.

As your marking does not have the Stab pennant, your bike is therefore from within one of the three batteries of the battalion. Is there not a number alongside the marking ?

If you can post a photo of this marking, might be able to be more accurate. What is the bike ?

cheers lennard

[roger_m]

Hi Lennard, thanks. It is a R35. Appeared recently it in a French farm close to the Belgian border (Aisne region). Was "souvenired" by French civilians in May 1940 (yes, not 1944!) and hidden -completely dismantled- in an attic until recently. The markings are repeated in the front fender also. I read somewhere that the yellow X symbol was not yet in use in 1940 for the 5th Pz Div. So I deduced was the 1st. What can we tell from the markings and knowing is a bike from the 1940 combats? 5th, 1st Pz Div or something else? Thanks.

[collector19]

Hi Lennard, thanks. It is a R35. Appeared recently it in a French farm close to the Belgian border (Aisne region). Was "souvenired" by French civilians in May 1940 (yes, not 1944!) and hidden -completely dismantled- in an attic until recently. The markings are repeated in the front fender also. I read somewhere that the yellow X symbol was not yet in use in 1940 for the 5th Pz Div. So I deduced was the 1st. What can we tell from the markings and knowing is a bike from the 1940 combats? 5th, 1st Pz Div or something else? Thanks.

Wow would love to see more pics of the bike!

[Lennard]

Pannier markings,

Hi Roger,

Many thanks for the photos, still the 5th Pz Div as far as I am concerned, the dates will have to sort themselves out.

The artillery markings have been repainted, either during WW2 or afterwards, they are much much newer than the X sign. Also you can see the original " motorised wheels" painted under the very poorly painted second set.

With the II alongside the artillery sign that can now be seen, is would be for the Stab of the II battalion not any of the individual batteries of that Battalion. Guess there was no room for the Battalion pennant.

cheers lennard,

[roger_m]

Hi, thanks. Well I was hoping to be able to get a bit more specific information based on the markings. I’ll try on the Units section. Thanks. Concerning the marking is obviously not the first one since this bike is from 1938 (following the BMW archives October 1938, first delivered to Heereszeugamt Spandau) and was originally Feldgrau green like the pre war Reichswehr vehicles. We can still see other older markings from a previous assignment (vertical red bar). She was later during the war painted WH Grey. Any further ideas anyone?

This the front fender (still uncleaned)

Wow would love to see more pics of the bike!

She is still in boxes (is a recent find) but it is my intention to reassembly it in the next days or weeks, I will post a photo then. Will be an “oily rag” reassembly only.


Regards,

R.

[roger_m]

And here again the previous earlier pre-war marking when she was still green (which has peeled off) and the vertical red bars on the sides.

[Lennard]

Pannier markings,

Hi Roger,

Am confused, do I see see two grey painted rear mudguards with different markings and one green painted front mudguard with both markings ?,

is there an explanation.

cheers lennard

[roger_m]

There is only one mudguard front and one rear. And they are both grey.

[roger_m]

Now I get it. The first two pics are both from the rear mudguard. The tactical marking is abobe the division one, there is a (missing) rear plate & light between them. Front mudguard may look green on the pic, but is grey. First coat of paint (manufacturer) on both parts was Feldgrau, as in the rest of the machine. In some parts the grey has peeled off. The wartime grey was crudely applied (brush).

[Lennard]

Pannier markings,

Hi,
yes now understand myself, had not realised how "long" the rear mudguard was, so plenty of room for two tactical markings, a rear light, a reflector and a number plate, all stacked one above the other.

So the next job is to reassemble it all, good luck.

cheers lennard.
.