Yes, Tin, Tin, Tin
You exasperating puzzle, Hunka Tin
I’ve abused you and I’ve flayed you,
But by Henry Ford who made you,
You are better than a Packard, Hunka Tin
An unabashed takeoff of Rudyard Kipling’s Gunga Din, this Hunka Tin version eloquently describes the feelings of soldiers toward the Ford Model T, a vitally important component of World War I.
The year 2014 will mark one hundred years since the beginning of World War I, the War to End All Wars. Despite the nine million deaths due to this war, this title sadly did not hold itself to be true.
Due to our ages, none of us have any firsthand experience with the role of the Ford Model T during those violent years of 1914 to 1918. Were it not for the writings and memories of various servicemen, especially ambulance drivers such as Ernest Hemingway, the multitude of experiences could have easily been lost to time.
Perhaps the role of ambulance is the best known of the Model T’s war efforts. It’s sheer versatility was certainly not limited to ambulance duty; it was also a delivery truck, a staff car, and an artillery mover. When one looks at the current light duty vehicle of choice of the United States military, the four-wheel drive HUMVEE, the sheer ability and ruggedness of these off the shelf Model T’s truly sparkles.
From an automotive perspective, World War I was a major turning point; previously, in every war ever waged equipment and supplies were moved in and around the battle areas by some combination of horsepower or manpower. World War I saw the first widespread use of motorized vehicles in various supporting roles. Even during the first battles of the war in 1914, the Ford Model T was a major player as many privately owned Model T’s were commandeered for various military uses.
Knowing the tactical advantages provided by automotile use, both Great Britain and France approached the subject of acquiring Model T trucks for various military purposes early on in the war. Henry Ford, very much a proponent of the isolationist movement prevalent in the United States prior to its war entrance in 1917, was not exactly cooperative with the request. While Ford wanted nothing to do with the war effort during this time, he did authorize the sale of a modest number of Model T chassis to the British military strictly for ambulance use.
Upon the United States becoming involved in the war, Ford’s mood shifted to fully supporting the effort. His change of heart prompted his selling the United States military thousands of chassis for various uses. In an effort to fulfill orders, Ford even pulled units from routine stock out of circulation to more rapidly respond to the war effort.
It should also be noted the chassis most often supplied was the basic and ordinary Model T chassis (not the heavier duty Model TT) upon which any number of aftermarket bodies could be fitted. It is even suspicioned the first set of chassis sent to Europe were designed such that the shipping crate could be repurposed to construct the box body for the T.
The United States military was a huge purchaser of the Model T, allowing the American Expeditionary Force to be the first truly motorized military operation in history. There was logic with that decision; all materiel had to be shipped to Europe and that was always a mulit-week endeavor. Sending horses meant some amount of acclimation time after arrival whereas a Model T was ready to go.
At its peak, the American Expeditionary Force would have 60,000 motorized vehicles of various varieties in the European Theatre; of those, approximately 15,000 were Model T’s.
Even though the United States had the largest number of Model T’s in use, the total number used by the American Expeditionary Force is difficult to determine. The length of time the United States was involved in the war was relatively short. This created some anticipated needs to be eliminated, orders being filled just after the cease-fire, or cancelled entirely.
This light delivery vehicle was found at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City and was one of 5,492 acquired for delivery use. The original order was for 12,002 units. This particular Model T was never painted in olive drab as it was used on base. Early on Henry Ford, in his staunch opposition to the war before United States involvement, refused to do anything out of the ordinary for military purchases. This caused a vast number of deliveries to be of a chassis in standard black. It was not uncommon for GI’s to paint a Model T in olive drab upon delivery.
The Model T made a superb ambulance for the times. This particular ambulance, also found at the same museum, was one of 5,340 ordered for ambulance use by the United States Army; this particular example was delivered at the conclusion of the war and did not see duty overseas.
France also saw the quality and potential of the Model T as an ambulance, ordering 2,400 for front line field use. According to information at the museum, the Model T was the first choice of the French High Commission responsible for medical affairs as it had earned a superior rating for field use.
Despite Ford’s initial reluctance to supply ambulances to European countries, the Model T still served the French and British Armies in both Europe and Africa.
Through some creative procurement via third parties and sheer industriousness, a Ford dealer in Paris was able to acquire chassis and assemble 11,000 Model T’s for use by the French Army. In turn, British forces were able to amass a fleet of Model T’s that numbered between 20,000 and 30,000.
The Jeep has certainly become associated with the Allied efforts of World War II. While one does not readily associate the Model T in a similar fashion to World War I, it was arguably just as durable while serving a number of similar roles.
William Seabrook, an American who drove a Model T ambulance in France once wrote, “our Fords could go over shell-pitted roads and torn terrain” at 30 miles per hour. He further wrote “the ambulance driver works over, under and upon it. He paints it and oils it and knows every bolt and nut, its every whim and fancy.”
There have been countless different cars built over the years. Yet of those, how many have repeatedly demonstrated a pronounced aptitude for such a dizzying array of varied and diverse tasks? The Ford Model T, as passenger car, pickup, delivery truck, tractor, and stationary power plant at home as well as being ambulance, delivery truck, and artillery mover in war-torn Europe and Africa, was certainly a formidable mechanical soldier during the Great War.
Thanks, Jason, for this fascinating piece. The WWI era is receding (if it has not fully receded) into the mists of forgotten history. As has the Model T. I suppose this is inevitable given the passage of time.
People forget what a high quality car the T was. It may have appeared cheap and flimsy, but was the first to use Vanadium steel, a super-strong alloy of the time, which was head and shoulders above the steel that even the most expensive cars were using at the time. The chassis of these cars were strong as anything made, never mind the price.
These things were fabulous off-road because of their light weight, short wheelbase and their relatively flexible structure. The frames on these cars were far from rigid. Frame members were rivited together rather than welded. This was the way the Model A frame was constructed as well. Between the rivits and the Vanadium steel, those Model T frames could twist and give quite a bit without cracking or tearing any metal, which made them well suited to really rough terrain.
Going from memory here, but I believe that Dodge Brothers vehicles may have been second only to Ford in their contribution to WWI.
If you like vintage Fords and Lincolns and you’re in the Netherlands you should visit the Den Hartogh Ford Museum. It’s a private collection, around 200 Fords from the 1903 to 1949 era (according to their website that’s more than the Ford Museum in Detroit) and 18 pre-1950 Lincolns. Furthermore a collection of vintage motorcycles.
http://www.fordmuseum.nl/fordmu/
Very good encapsulation of the history of military usage of the Model T in multiple countries. It reminds me that I need to dust off and use a pile of material on Harley-Davidsons in World War II that I have had sitting around for years.
Interesting you should say that. The WW1 museum in Kansas City had a 1917 Harley on display that had been used extensively during the war. While I took pictures of it, it didn’t exactly fit within this article.
US built Harleys or Japanese, both Armys used them Japanese licence built HDs saved that firm from bankruptcy.
Bryce,
You are correct that HDs served in both the US and Imperial Japanese Armies during WWII, built under license by Rikuo in Japan. That only scratches the surface of the subject, though; HDs served in almost a dozen armies during WWII, and the Soviet Union was the largest user and the one that put them in the most important combat roles. I had to read Russian sources to learn the last part, because no one has ever covered it in English.
Over 125,000 Model Ts were built by Ford for use in WWI. Surprisingly, the largest producer of trucks for the war effort was the newly formed Nash Motor Company which built 128,000 trucks in 1917 alone.
Just a small correction. American soldiers in World War I were not referred to as “GI’s.” That’s a World War II thing.
“Doughboy” was common, as was “Yank” when used by the British.
Marines earned the nickname “Devil Dogs” from their German adversaries at Belleau Wood.
Quite true; I shall correct that later today.
Enjoyed the article, Jason. I’d love to visit the National World War I Museum. I need to put that on my list. Here, in central Texas, there’s a gathering of Model T’s called the Texas “T” Party. I attended a few years ago and got my first driving lesson in a ’17 model. I was impressed how willing they were to letting outsiders (but car nuts) man-handle their vintage babies… Very down to earth.
One guy drove his (don’t remember the year) from Austin down to San Antonio for the event. Said he’d had it for over 50 years. Very impressive car.
Thanks for this fine piece of history. The T was such a versatile vehicle: it was re-purposed so successfully, everything from racing cars, tractors,and army trucks.
Its petite dimensions really make it look like a Jeep precursor, which it was in so many was, except for the drive to the front axle.
Mom was born in 1905 and left several pages of written memory. I remember her telling me of her cousin who was a truck and ambulance driver in WW1. Saw pictures of him with his truck and can’t say it was a model T but this caused the memories to come flooding back.
You are right about the memories fading. I was born in WW2 and in my childhood the WW1 vet was very common. In the past couple years we lost two WW2 vets in my family and there are none left that I can think of. And so it goes……
the nick name is tin lizzie
IIRC, the Australian forces in Palestine during WW1 used Model T Ford as reconnaissance vehicles, and may have even fitted a machine gun to them as well.
Hi Jason,
I was wondering if you could help me identify the vehicle in the attached photo. I think it may be a Ford Model T “C” Cab Truck but would like to confirm this and also determine the year if possible.
This photo was taken in Scotland early last century, my father immigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1948 after World War II and we think his grandfather may be the man on the far right in the photo. If this is true then it is the only photo of him in existence, knowing the year of the truck may help determine when the photo was taken, which is in remarkable condition given that it may be almost 100 years old.
I would be most grateful for any assistance you are able to give.
It is a Model T 1 ton truck.
In 1917, Ford introduced its $600 one-ton Model TT truck chassis. It weighed 1,450 lbs. and had total sales of 41,105 units. Ford continued to to make then until 1927. In 1924, the C-cab (named for the shape of its rear pillar) was introduced as a lower cost alternative to having a local company build one. The cabs were noisy, cramped and crude, lacking any creature comforts, while the metal beds were very shallow and not particularly sturdy. Your photo looks like a 1924 Model TT to me. Hope this helps.
This is my very first 1917 Model T Canopy Express Delivery, I found out that it is true if put a Model T in your garage it will multiply. I ended up with three, the 1917 barn find 9/2009, a 1926 Model T Coupe used in the movie “Live by Night” starting Ben Affleck and finally a 1926 Touring.
My grandfather was a member of the 113th Ammunition Train serving in France at the end of World War I. His unit arrived in France just before the Armistice. They remained in France until July of 1919 doing convoy duty throughout France and eventually in occupied Germany. While the primary vehicle of the unit was the FWD Liberty Truck, in his diary he mentioned using “a bunch of Ford’s Michigan Mules” to deliver some supplies from Marseilles to Dijon. I assume they were Ford Model T or TT trucks. Have you ever heard of the Model T, or TT trucks being commonly called Ford’s Michigan Mules, or was this just a name given to the Ford Trucks by the men of the 113th Ammunition Train.