This is a website that is dedicated to the memory of the 2/15th Battalion
Second AIF.

For some time now, Peter Barrow from Perth has been busy restoring a Harley Davidson motorbike that has a very interesting story to tell.  It appears that it was used by the 2/15th Battalion in the Middle East and in Borneo.

Here is an email received from Peter on 1 June 2010.  He has just finished his labour of love.

This email is followed by some photos that he has sent.  Well done, Peter.

Peter's second letter (received 18 June 2010) includes some more information on his restoration, and some more photos.  Download the PDF file here:

Motorbike Letter 2 (358.37 kB)

Dear David

As promised here are Photo’s and what knowledge there is on the HD  WLA 42 Army Bike.

In 1972,  I heard there was an old Army bike dismantled in a shed on the outskirts of Perth, I tracked it down and found a totally dismantled bike in boxes and bags pushed into a corner since the 1960’s so you can imagine my initial look at it.

The elderly owner a Mr TL Niven(an ex servicemen) had purchased the bike from another ex servicemen with the intention of restoring it. At the time my only interest was the bike and if it had not been for notes Niven had in the bike the following information would have been lost. The original owner had told Niven he got the bike at a disposal sale in the early 50’s and that it had been in the middle east at Tobruk and El Alamein  with the 2/15 Infantry Battalion and at the time had insignia markings on it but when I got it you could not make them out. Niven said he was told it came back to Australia via Borneo. With the Bike was an original Operator/Maintenance Manual and Parts Book and written in the O/M book is TL Niven and lightly written in Pencil is Neville FC  QX3323. At the time this meant nothing to me until later in life I became interested in Australia’s participation in WW2.

With your help I researched the 2/15^th and found Francis Claire Neville QX3323 was in fact a serviceman from Queensland and was killed at EL Alemein on July 10 1942 so I believe this supports the story of the Bike being in the middle east.

It took 3 years to rebuild the bike from the boxes and bags of parts and of course, source missing pieces, and it was painted a Purple colour and built to civilian standards,  with the army attachments stored. Again in the 80’s it underwent another makeover again civilian standards and painted Wine Red until finally with my interest in the exploits of our forces in WW2, I decided to restore it to its original livery with all the Army attachments of the time .Photo’s attached.

David I doubt if I would make an historian so make of it what you will, I am the only living owner so any other info is lost. If there are questions I will only be too pleased to assist.

Yours Faithfully

Peter Barrow

1 Fermoy Close Waterford  6152

Perth  Western Australia

08 94502043

Peter can be contacted at barrowp @ bigpond.net.au

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Photo 1/3: Left hand side view

Photo 2/3: Right hand side view

Photo 3/3: Peter Barrow (the restorer),
the motorbike and the sidecar

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Photo 1/3: Page showing "Neville, FC   QX3323" along with names of previous owners and the engine and chassis serial numbers.

Photo 2/2: Front page and inner page showing names of previous owners and the engine and chassis numbers.

Photo 3/3: Close up of inner page showing the engine and chassis serial numbers.

Chassis Number is: WREPAEM  424001

Engine Number is: 42WLA  43725

If you are interested in more about the Harley Davidson 42WLA and how/where it was used in WW2, there is a lot of information available via a Google search using "42 WLA Harley Davidson".