Wagon, General Service 'Commonwealth' Pattern : Australian Army

Reconstructed type example of a First World War Australian Army 'Commonwealth' pattern G.S. [General Service] wagon. The footboard is one of the few pieces of timber bodywork which appears to be original. This is stamped with the initials of the company KB and W. The identification plate, which is not original to the wagon, bears the following; 'Wagon G.S. Mk.X K.B. & W. 1916 reg. no. 408'. This vehicle has been painted with First World War 2nd Division Australian Imperial Force insignia.

The General Service (GS) wagon was the British Army’s main horse drawn transport vehicle from 1862 till superseded by the broad adoption of motorised vehicles following the First World War. Many variants of the GS wagon were used during the war for general haulage, ambulance and troop transport. This ‘Commonwealth’ pattern wagon shared many common components with the British GS Mark X, and was used by Australian Forces on the Western Front. Little documentation of the development and manufacture of the ‘Commonwealth’ pattern has survived and its production ceased in about 1917.