The Willys Jeep
I am grateful for many things and I've just discovered one that I'd never thought of before: my surname is not Willys.
Whether or not John Willys (1873-1935) liked his family name I don’t know. It doesn’t matter; the Willys Jeep appeared in 1941 and was a blessing to military units anywhere and everywhere.
Find the steepest hard-baked field you can, have it scattered with crevasses and just go. The Jeep could carry a quarter-ton over this sort of terrain with ease. Of course, things could go wrong. Not many, but when something as reliable as a Jeep goes wrong it does take you by surprise.
I was in India, between jobs and making myself useful as Driver.
‘Get this lot over to Armoury,’ said the Flight Sergeant, pointing to a stack of crates. ‘Take the Jeep.’
And so I met the Jeep. It was 1944. The terrain from Transport to Armoury was virtual wasteland. Well-baked wasteland. I loaded, got in, checked the feel of the gears and clutch, found the ignition, started up and went. It was great. I got the feel of it and I began to like it. My bottom and the seat parted company frequently.
And then it happened.
I felt the gas pedal leave the sole of my shoe and drop to the floor. We leaped forwards, engine screaming at full revs. I glanced down. The pedal was just lying there.
Now, you’re thinking,‘Why didn’t you just switch off, you idiot.’ But that isn’t what I was thinking. No. I am a straightforward thinker in these matters and, to me, the obvious solution was to lift the pedal and keep my toe under it. While looking ahead, I felt around for the pedal. I could feel it but I couldn’t get my fingers under it. It was flush with the metal floor.
By the time I had thought of the ignition we were quite a long way past the Armoury. I braked, we stopped. I got out, shaking, and walked back to the workshop.
A heavily-sweating Armorer was carrying an M2 Browning gun over to a bench.
I had my speech ready but as I opened my mouth it struck me that I couldn't say it. It was too silly. After all, to say ‘There’s something for you in that Jeep over there on the horizon - and can I please have a lift back to Transport?’ is just not on.
But don’t ask me what I did say because I’ve forgotten.
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Text and illustration ©Paul Wigmore 2010