Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars

Sir,

I am enclosing a photograph of Rolls-Royce armoured cars in the desert (in Iraq probablyI) on which my father (the late Flight Lieutenant H. F. Blackburn served during 1939. You will see that each car was designated “His Majesty’s Armoured Car” followed by a name. Here are shown. “Dhibban”, “Avenger”, “Diana”, “Terror” And “Mt. Kilimanjaro”, with the lead car “Virginia”. I cannot decipher further names but my father commanded “Cheetah” (as a Flight Sergeant) and I have individual photos of him with “Cheetah”, also “Eagle”. One can assume these two cars are present in this photo, I expect, of the Air Defence Corps, Habbaniya, Iraq. You will see my partner’s. name, R. Kay, on my letter head. We are, with others, restoring 1932 12-h.p. Economy Saloon Armstrong Siddeley here. I could certainly use my late father’s skills on that. Alas after joining the RAF in 1923 he was unfortunate to lose his life in a lifeboat following the sinking of the “Laconia” in the South Atlantic while returning home on leave in September 1942. I never knew him but would like to hear front anyone who did.

As far as I am aware, my partner, R. Kay of the local Armstrong Siddeley group, has no connection with Squadron Leader R. Kay (Retd.) who wrote about these vehicles in the May issue. Howerer, in view of his letter, and the recent interest shown in one being presented before the Queen at Windsor, I thought this photograph may be of some use to you.

New Durston, David Blackburn