About

I was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa where my father farmed before moving to Scotland. I have always been in and around vehicles. My father was a carrier officer with the 8th Punjab Regiment in the British Indian Army during World War Two which influenced me to purchase a carrier. I live near Dundee with my wife Pam and our Great Dane Archie.

My Universal Carrier MkI was found and bought in Scotland and after a complete renovation was attending shows and events a year later. It is painted in sand colour with a distinctive camouflage wavy line in terracotta colour. I enjoy meeting veterans and was lucky enough to meet Bill Millin, the Normandy Piper, when he visited our national show in Scotland.

Apart from carriers, my interests are the African Campaigns of 1939-1943 and the 8th Punjab Regiment. I collect for the Auchinleck Appeal whose monies go to the Indian Army soldiers and their families of World War Two.

During the restoration I researched my carrier and found it difficult to find any information available that would help me. This was when I ventured to places like the Tank Museum at Bovington, and the Imperial War Museum. Here I found a wealth of information which I collected and used on my restoration project. My interest grew and soon I was delving into the archives out of pure interest, so before too long someone suggested I write a book as there were no reference sources for this vehilce apart from actual manuals etc.

Two years of research and compilation, both in the UK and Canada, have culminated in the Universal Carriers Books with volume 1 and 2 available now.