List of 1st Batch of Parts to be Sprayed

Hi there!

It's been a busy weekend.

Here is a list of the 1st batch of motorcycle body parts that are going to be sprayed a matt desert khaki :

• Fronts crash bar
• Rear crash bar
• Battery box and lid
• Air cleaner cover 
• Toolbox and toolbox mounting bracket 
• 2 @ rear view mirrors with stems and clamps 

Bruce Palmer's Comments on the Nuts & Bolts of the UDF (SA) Harley-Davidson's

Hi

I have bought Bruce Palmer's book on "How to Restore Your Harley-Davidson" and I'll also buy the "How To Restore Your Military Harley-Davidson" once it is available.

 

At the same time I asked him whether the nuts and bolts on the UDF (SA) Harley-Davidson's were all parkerised. This was his reply:

Hello Jacques,

Mostly Parkerized. The 1941 UDF WL plating is mostly the same as a civilian 1941 WL except that many of the chrome items were painted.  When I get more time, I will try to answer your other questions that came with the photographs of your 41.

Getting Ready for Painting

Hi.

I have arranged that someone will respray the bike parts and have started to get the parts together for spray painting.  I would like to have:

• The body parts and frame sprayed in a matt desert khaki;
• The engine parts and the nuts and bolts sprayed in a matt black. 

UDF (SA) Harley-Davidson's in the Battle of Madagascar in 1942

Hi

Here is some more interesting information about the UDF's HarleyDavidson's in the Battle of Madagascar during the Second World War.

Japan's entry to the second World War in December 1941 and the startling success of her forces in South East Asia and the Indian Ocean suddenly increased the strategic importance of the Vichy-held French colony of Madagascar.  Allied Planners were of the opinion that it was just a matter of time before Japan would occupy the Island and thereby gain control over the vital shipping routes around the Cape.

Madagascar was crucially important to the Allied Forces (Source The National WWII Museum, New Orleans)

The Battle of Madagascar was the British campaign to capture Vichy French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began with Operation Ironclad, the seizure of the port of Diego Suarez near the northern tip of the island, on 5 May 1942.

UDF (SA) Harley-Davidson's in the East Africa Campaign of 1941/42

Hi

Here is some interesting information about the Union Defence Force (UDF) of South Africa Harley Davidson's in East Africa during the Second World War.

The 1st Battalion SA Tank Corps (SATC) was formed in May 1940, and was initially situated at the SA Military College in Voortrekkerhoogte.  The battalion comprised of one light tank company, two armoured car companies, and three motorcycle companies, and at full strength would comprise of 58 officers and 1063 other ranks.

During May 1940, 1st Battalion SATC started to receive the first batch of the locally produced Marmon Herrington armoured cars.

South African Marmon-Herrington Mark 1 Armoured Car

The UDF ordered nearly 4,500 motorcycles from the Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee in August of 1940.  A large number of these motorcycles were supplied to the 3 Motorcycle Companies attached to the Battalion.  A large number of Harley-Davidson's were also supplied to the Signal Corps to be used by dispatch riders.  The photo below depicts a number of dispatch riders on their 750cc Harley-Davidson's (the Solo model).

A photo of a number of Dispatch Riders on their Harley-Davidson's at their training camp (source unknown)

Bruce Palmer's Comments on the Restored UDF (SA) Bike

Hi

I have been in contact with Deborah Palmer Publications to try and obtain a copy of Bruce Palmer III's book "How To Restore Your Military Harley-Davidson".  The book is out of print, but Bruce is apparently busy with a revision of the book and the book should be available again soon.

In our communications I mentioned that I wanted to restore my Harley-Davidson to the SAUDF example shown in my previous post.

A day or so later, Bruce send me the following e-mail:

Change in course

Hi

About two weeks ago I saw an advert for a reverse gear kit for a 1941 Harley-Davidson WL on-line.  I contacted the seller (his name is Deon) to enquire about the kit and found out that he has been restoring war-time Harley-Davidson's for nearly 20 years!

When I went to pick up the reverse gear kit, I had a long chat with Deon.  He gave me some really good advise on a number of issues.  As a result, I have decided to rather restore my Harley-Davidson WL to the military version of the motor cycle used by the South African Union Defence Force during their campaign against Field Marshal Rommel in North Africa.