Identify a British Jeep in Period photos

The Jeep may be an American icon, but it can often be easy to spot a British service model if you know how. First we'll look at what differentiated them back in their days In service, and then how you can figure out if a jeep you see today, whether your own or at a show, is indeed a British service Jeep.

The first thing that most people look to is the huge bonnet star seen on the bonnet (hood) in so many period photos. It is the largest recognisable symbol on the vehicle, and leads many people to identify that vehicle as American. However, the white star in a round circle, known as the invasion star, was adopted by all allied forces in the lead up to the D-day invasion. After the war, such as in Korea, many British vehicles also exhibited a plain white star on the bonnet just as the American's had used throughout the war. Before this time the British used the RAF roundel on their bonnets as aircraft recognition, such as in the Africa and Italy campaigns.

The next thing would be the colour, or camouflage pattern. The British are quite famous for using quite a bewildering array and variety of camouflage patterns on their softskin and armoured vehicles in WW2. The Americans rarely applied camouflage to their jeeps, and therefore if you seen one that has a disruptive pattern, it is almost always British (or Commonwealth). However this practice changed in 1944, when the army moved to a one colour palette, a colour called SCC15 (BS381c-298 is the modern equivalent code). This was a flat mid green colour, which was similar to the American Olive Drab. This was no accident. With the increasing volume of American vehicles being imported, and a change to a Northern European theatre of war, It was uneconomical to repaint American vehicles for British service. Therefore any imported American vehicles were left in American olive drab, whilst British built vehicles were painted in the British equivalent colour. However any vehicles not in need of re-painting were left as they were. This means that some earlier camouflage patterns can be seen in later years of the war. American lend lease vehicles were also supplied with many tins of extra paint to use in the future, and therefore it is conceivable that American built vehicles could have stayed in American OD for sometime.

Most people are also surprised to learn that the British armed forces made no attempt to convert these American automobiles to right hand drive. Well don't you know there's a war on! That's right, it just wasn't a priority. So enough of what remained the same, what changed?

The most obvious thing is the vehicle identification number, and unit formation signs. The bonnet (hood) numbers on American jeeps typically start with the numbers 20, which is the American military designation for light cars. But the British used a system called Census Numbers. Vehicle types were designated a code which would be the first letter of their census number. For light trucks this letter was Z, for motorcycles, C, and for light cars and jeeps, M, and this would be followed by seven numbers. Most British army Jeeps in WW2 had a census number that began M4, M5 or M6, but you can also find M13 (a small range in the middle east/Africa), and M15 (rebuilds, see menu) numbers. These numbers were typically painted on both sides of the bonnet, but only on the passenger side In some later years (to save paint!). Census numbers were typically painted in matt white, but also in black for the desert, and pale blue for some airborne vehicles (to match their sky blue formation sign). This census number was also painted on the rear of the vehicle, usually on the back bumper, rear body, or on the rear of the canvas roof.

Formation and Arm of Service signs are another give away that you are looking at a British vehicle. Such as the Middle east Camel, the 7th armoured desert rat, and the airborne Bellerophon riding his Pegasus. These are normally square, and between 4-6" wide, fitted, or painted on to the front bumper, or grill, the lower windscreen and the rear body or bumperettes. These denote a division, and a square box with numbers in will identify the specific unit. 

But this is all just paint. What about physical changes? Largely the British were very happy with the jeep, but there were a few small modifications to bring it in line with British service vehicles. US jeeps had 'marker lights' that were fitted in the grill. These were frequently re positioned to the top of the wings, as to better comply with British road regulations. After the war,  the army fitted a British type made version in their place, made by Butler. The Butler light is similar to the US one, but does not have the blackout mask, and so the whole round lens is visible. This is the best visual cue that you are looking at a British jeep if the census numbers and formation plate don't make it obvious. Not all British jeeps had these fitted, but the majority did.

The British army also painted the rear differential white on it's rearward facing, and they installed a small light on the inside of the rear bumper that pointed at this painted differential. This was intended as a convoy light for travelling by night. In blackout conditions it can be hard to spot another vehicle, and accidents were common. In convoy at night, each vehicle would follow the lit up white diff of the vehicle in front.

​Rifle hooks were also fitted onto the windscreen for the carrying of a rifle. This was a far simpler solution than the rather elaborate American rifle rack, though both can be seen in period photos of British jeeps. You will sometimes find these rifle hooks, or clips on other parts of the vehicle, especially on airborne vehicles, such as on the side of the body, the wing tops, and the cowl.

Another change that you will sometimes see is additional footman loops fitted in strange places on the body. This was to accommodate the British design of winter canvas.
Another common feature of British jeeps was to fit a blackout mask over one of the headlights. The other headlight was then frequently blanked off with a sheet of metal, a bridging plate or formation sign. The American forces rarely did such a practice, but there are some examples.

Windscreen wiper setups are another feature. As standard the jeep has a wiper on each window and these are connected by a bar so that they operate simultaneously, and can be controlled by either driver or passenger. But the British army often removed this joining bar, and sometimes removed the passenger wiper too. This was so that the wipers could be fully raised off the windscreen. You know how the British army likes everything neat and tidy!

Further modifications for airborne use and radio equipment can give other clues, but that will do for now. See the BAJR WW2 jeep guide in the MORE INFO tab.
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In 1949 when the army changed to the ERM numbering system, most vehicles had their new identity painted on a numberplate fitted front and back like a civilian car would have, though some still had them painted onto the bonnet as they had been in the war. Many jeeps at this time had refits and repairs carried out by the Ministry of Supply, and were fitted with brass plates to document this. Sadly many of these have been lost of removed over the last few decades, but many remain.

Lastly, a British flag (Union flag) fitted on the windscreen or grill as was seen in Germany postwar, and a few other places, is a little bit of a give away!

A typical representation of a British jeep in Northern Europe during WW2. Notice the Allied invasion star on the bonnet, marker lights on the wings. Formation sign on the windscreen. Bridging plate over one headlamp and a blackout mask over the other.

Another classic example of a British jeep in Normandy. Notice there are no marker lights on the wings on this one

The typical census numbering system found on British army jeeps in WW2 and until 1949. Size varied, but the text was almost always sans serif. Sometimes solid like this, and sometimes as a spaced stencil type font.

This is a Canadian service Jeep. They often exhibit many of the same attributes as a British one, as well as using the same census number system and the occupants wear the same uniforms. The maple leaf on the windscreen is a give away in this image, but the census number also tells you that this is Canadian, as they usually have the C prefix before the M census number. The blackout mask on the headlamp is also uniquely Canadian in shape, and the Bridging plate number '5' is usually only seen on Canadian jeeps.

The rear diff on British jeeps was painted white, and a small light attached to the cross member pointed at it, as seen above. This was for convoy purposes at night, follow the white dot In front!

The sidelight on the wing here is the British postwar type made by Butler. It is one of the best identifiers of a British jeep. In wartime, many had the American marker lights positioned in the same manner. Not all had these lights in the war or after it, but it is a useful visual identifier.

The Post-ww2 brass plate found on many British jeeps. The top number is its 1949 onwards registration. Check that the chassis number on this plate matches the chassis number of the vehicle it is fitted to. If they match, you know for definite that it is a British service jeep. Sadly these plates are often missing today, but all is not lost. Chassis searches can be run through the Royal Logistical Corps to reveal a vehicles army identify.

Identifying a British Service Jeep Today

You might want to know if your jeep served in the British army, or you might want to learnt o judge of those you are at shows had been. This is something we are doing all the time. Every time we see a jeep at shows we are all over it. Trying to establish it's identity and helping the owner get some history if it is possible. Not every jeep owner is interested in their vehicles potential British service, but most are. Even those who paint their vehicles as American service vehicles can still benefit in knowing their vehicles history, and many are very keen to know anything they can about the origin of their own vehicle.

Today, many jeeps that were British army have been painted as American, and many American service jeeps have been painted as British. So don't look to the paint or the markings. Also remember that these vehicles are now over 70 years old and have had many changes over the years. Even if you find certain original British features, it does not mean they are original to the vehicle. This is especially true with jeeps because it is so easy to change and replace large component parts, such as the entire body tub. Look to individual features. Go through the list from the previous section. Marker lights on the wings, separate or single windscreen wiper. Brass ministry of supply plate on the dashboard or inner wing.

Finding a MOS supply plate is the best evidence, and if the chassis number matches the vehicles chassis number, you have a guaranteed winner. But you will often not be so lucky to have all this information. For one admin, Nick Thomas, his jeep exhibited no British clues except for the solo windscreen wiper. His jeep had been modified to look like an American jeep by a previous owner. But due to the digitisation of records at the RLC (Royal Logistical Corps), he was able to find his vehicle records with a chassis search.

​What if there are no clues at all to British service? Well when was the jeep first registered for civilian road use? This will be listed on the vehicles log book. Most British service jeeps were sold between 1955-1960. If a jeep was registered for civilian use in the UK around that time, there is a very strong chance that it is a British service jeep. Due to the mass quantities of supply sold at that time, very few people imported from America until a few decades later.