Donington Leicestershire. Military Army Depot

During the course of my genealogy research I came across a scrap of information relating to two army vehicles.

My father and his business partner purchased two ex army trucks in about 1955. They were brand new, and a recently discovered note in one of their old business ledgers suggests that they came from an army depot in Leicestershire, which I believe is likely to have been Donington

I know the present Donington Racing Circuit very well, and I know there is a very brief glimpse of part of the circuit and trucks, in the movie “ Millions Like Us” but other than that I have not been able to find anything and in particular any photos.

I have written to the circuit museum and also the libabries and archives of Leicestershire. I await their reply.

Regards

Peter

Winnipeg
Canada

 

Apart from the "Millions Like Us" scene, I don't think I've ever actually seen pictures of Donington during the war. Although they first promised to derequisition it in 1949, the Army actually retained it until the mid 50s, so those trucks may be part of some sort of "clearance sale".

As soon as it became clear in 1945 that Brooklands would not reopen there were calls for the release of Donington for a resumption of racing, with suggestions it could also function as a vehicle testing facility for manufacturers. The was even a Times editorial calling for this in 1946!

The original time scale envisaged the Hall and estate being returned to the Shields family in 1955, but in August of that year, this was put back until 1957. This rather scuppered Major Gilles-Shields' plans to resume racing in 1956 and hold a Formula 1 race in 1957! The estate was handed back on schedule, but the race circuit plans fell through and it did not reopen until 1976 after it was purchased by the late Tom Wheatcroft.

I've hunted through the obvious online archives like LAT and the MPL at Beaulieu, but only a small proportion of LAT's enormous archive is on the internet, so it might be worth you contacting them direct: LAT Photographic Digital Archive. A couple of other possible sources would be Coventry Transport Museum and The Heritage Motor Centre, who also hold the Nick Baldwin Collection.

 

Hi Vitesse. Many thanks for that valuable information and contacts. I will write to them and keep the forum informed here. Neither the motor museum at Donington or the local library have any information, but they have given me other leads which I am pursuing.

 

I'm afraid this is going to be a frustrating answer for you, but I do recall having seen one photo purportedly taken at Donington either during or immediately after WWII ; it showed a lienup of AEC Matadors IIRC and also IIRC was in a copy of Motor Sport magazine. But I'm sorry to say that it was some time ago and I cannot recall the particular copy.....

 

Hi Martin... far from frustrating. I have gone from 0 to +0 in just a matter of days, thanks to this forum. One lead takes me to another and so on.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply....

Regards

Peter

 

I thought after I posted that I vaguely remembered something like that in one of the motoring mags - could be Motor Sport, Autocar, Motor or even Light Car, as I've used all in research at various times. I think it's a still from "Millions Like Us" though. Looking up the hill from the old Melbourne Hairpin, with trucks parked at right angles to the track.

I have the 1924-49 Motor Sport Digital Archive CD, so I'll try and find the time to see if it's there. Trouble is there are nearly 140 references to Donington between 1940 and 1949, which is as far as you can narrow down a general search ...

 

That is very generous of you. I appreciate your help.

Peter

 

Hi Vitesse. Have you picked up my e-mails and PM since 25th November.. ??

Regards

Peter