Tim Gosling investigates an all-but-forgotten armoured car used by the RNAS during the first years of World War One
Despite the perception that fighting in World War One mainly comprised of static trench warfare, this was certainly not the case at the beginning of the war in Belgium. The armoured cars of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) undertook a crucial role in undertaking reconnaissance, recovering downed pilots and harassing the German invaders.
Among the vehicles involved in this campaign was the Seabrook Standard armoured truck. The basis for this armoured vehicle was a five-ton general service truck supplied by the Londonbased company Seabrook Brothers, a machine purchased in limited numbers during the first two years of the war.
Seabrook Brothers was formed in 1896 by brothers Henry, Allan and Percy Seabrook who initially sold cycling and then motoring accessories such as bicycle bells, tools, car horns and lamps. with the Detroit-based Regal Motor In 1911 they entered into an agreement Corporation and started selling their touring cars and roadsters under the name of Seabrook RMC from Great Eastern Street in London.
Britain’s declaration of war on Germany in 1914 created a new business …
