Famous James Military Lightweight (ML) Motorcycle "Clockwork Mouse"
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 10:45 pm
Hi there,
Looking to find someone that might know about WWII-era motorcycles. Specifically, I'm looking to learn more about the Famous James Military Lightweight (ML) Motorcycle. I am eventually looking to find one to purchase somewhere in the Commonwealth (ideally in reasonable condition). Here's a pretty good online description: http://www.roncobb.com/JamesML.html My grandfather was a motorcycle courier with 3rd Can Inf Div HQ on D-Day and rode a Famous James throughout Normandy, which is why I'm interested in it. Are there any in museums in Canada that anyone is aware of?
I found an online post discussing a Famous James ML, which provides some insight:
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bboard ... 22017.html
James ML with a 122cc Villiers 9D 2-stroke engine. Made 1946-1948... ML stands for "Military Lightweight" and the 1946-48 commercial version shipped in large numbers to the USA during that time was based on the wartime ML which was a version of the 1939 K17 model James Lightweight motorcycle. Military versions were used by glider and airborne (parachute) British and Canadian troops and some MLs were landed on their Normandy beaches early on D-Day , June 6, 1944 for use in carrying messages to and from the Beachmasters who were directing troops and equipment under fire. The story goes that at some time that afternoon, a dispatch rider, more used to a full-size and much heavier motorcycle, was asked what he thought of the little James. "Oh! (he replied) "You wind it up and it goes - just like a 'Clockwork Mouse'". And ever since, the James ML has been nick-named, "The Clockwork Mouse".
An original reference to the "Clockwork Mouse" can be found here:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=k00dDA ... se&f=false
Looking to find someone that might know about WWII-era motorcycles. Specifically, I'm looking to learn more about the Famous James Military Lightweight (ML) Motorcycle. I am eventually looking to find one to purchase somewhere in the Commonwealth (ideally in reasonable condition). Here's a pretty good online description: http://www.roncobb.com/JamesML.html My grandfather was a motorcycle courier with 3rd Can Inf Div HQ on D-Day and rode a Famous James throughout Normandy, which is why I'm interested in it. Are there any in museums in Canada that anyone is aware of?
I found an online post discussing a Famous James ML, which provides some insight:
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bboard ... 22017.html
James ML with a 122cc Villiers 9D 2-stroke engine. Made 1946-1948... ML stands for "Military Lightweight" and the 1946-48 commercial version shipped in large numbers to the USA during that time was based on the wartime ML which was a version of the 1939 K17 model James Lightweight motorcycle. Military versions were used by glider and airborne (parachute) British and Canadian troops and some MLs were landed on their Normandy beaches early on D-Day , June 6, 1944 for use in carrying messages to and from the Beachmasters who were directing troops and equipment under fire. The story goes that at some time that afternoon, a dispatch rider, more used to a full-size and much heavier motorcycle, was asked what he thought of the little James. "Oh! (he replied) "You wind it up and it goes - just like a 'Clockwork Mouse'". And ever since, the James ML has been nick-named, "The Clockwork Mouse".
An original reference to the "Clockwork Mouse" can be found here:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=k00dDA ... se&f=false