20 April 2018

Bike on display for ANZAC Day

To commemorate ANZAC day this week Shop On Carroll has an incredibly special piece of New Zealand Wartime History on display in the window.

The HQ 44 South Military Collector's Club has generously lent a 1943 James ML motorbike to the shop.

Darryl Brewer of the HQ 44 Club was recently rummaging through the store's collection of vintage Army Coats and struck up a conversation with the store. As has happened with others in the past, the customer quickly became a contributor to Shop on Carroll

Fiona Dodds, Shop on Carroll Manager, said, "We always enjoy the opportunity to connect with the community to explore shared interests and allow them to contribute to the shop. This is the first time I can recall having a motorbike in the shop window!"

The motorbike itself played an integral part in WWII, with Royal Marine Commanders using it as a dispatch commander bike in the 1943 war efforts. It was likely used by Allied Forces in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill himself, is said to have owned and rode one of these models following WWII.

Darryl Brewer purchased the motorbike 10 years ago at a swap meet and restored it back to it's former glory. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with the public by having it in the shop in the lead up to ANZAC. 

The HQ 44 Military Club have a range of historic wartime memorabilia they collect and display across the Otago Region. The club has approximately 30 members, from Ashburton through to Invercargill.

In the words of Darryl Brewer the club stands to "keep history alive". Shop on Carrol is extremely grateful to the club for their generosity with the bike and other items on display.

We encourage the public to come and view the motorbike which will be in the window until ANZAC Day.