Preserved Military Vehicle Registry Project

Rolls Royce Armoured Car 1920 Pattern Mk I • Tank Museum

Type
Rolls Royce Armoured Car
Version
1920 Pattern Mk I
Location
Tank Museum
Bovington
Dorset BH20 6JG
United Kingdom

Current Condition

Appears Excellent - is in full running order
Currently painted in the markings of number four section, No.5 Armoured Car Company, Shanghai, 1927, commanded by Lieutenant G.W. Richards, MC

Vehicle History

The chassis was built at Rolls Royce’s Derby works in 1920 and was armoured at Woolwich Arsenal. Issued new to 5th Armoured Car Company in Dublin in January 1921 It served in Ireland until 1922, then in Scarborough until 1927 when it was shipped to Shanghai in 1927 and formed part of the British contingent of the League of Nations International Force. From 1929 to 1932 it was in Egypt with the R.T.C (5th Armoured Car Company) who were re-equipped with light tanks in 1932 so the car was handed over to the 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales') and on their departure to the U.K. in 1934 to the 11th Hussars (PrinceAlbert's Own). Here it served for some time with the 12th Royal Lancers and 11th Royal Hussars. By 1939 it was back in Britain, undertaking anti-invasion patrols along the coast of East Anglia with the 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry. In 1940 it was trnasferred to the D&M School at the Army AFV School, at Bovington. In 1946 it was handed over to the present Tank Museum. It came to the Tank Museum after the war where it has been used on many special and official occasions. In May 1997 it was employed to transport Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to the Tank Museum.
(from Museum Website)