Bedford QLT 1st Polish Arm Div Netherlands 1944

Bedford QLT 1st Polish Arm Div Netherlands 1944

Bedford built a series of the basic QL truck between 1941 and the end of WWII essentially for the British Armed Forces, including the QLT which was a Troop Carrier. Here we see the QLT as used by the Polish 1st Armoured Division, set up by General Maczek from their exiled HQ in the Scottish Border before joining the Western Allies in Northern Europe. At its peak the Division, nicknamed the Black Devils, numbered approximately 16,000 soldiers. The division served in the final phases of the Battle of Normandy in August 1944. Then, after the Allied armies broke out from Normandy, the Polish 1st Armoured Division pursued the Germans along the coast of France, Belgium and then the Netherlands, including a successful outflanking manoeuvre planned and performed by General Maczek in the liberation of Breda without any civilian casualties in October 1944. The Division spent the winter of 1944-1945 guarding the south bank of the Rhine before liberating - alongside the Allies -further territories along the Dutch-German border.

Our 1:76 scale replica brings to life these lesser known facts and comes decorated in the muddy brown two-tone camouflage scheme with white markings which would have blended in perfectly with the Northern European terrain in the winter of 1944. A special detail to note is the Polish Armoured Division’s crest printed on the lower front and rear side depicting a helmet and wings, inspired by Polish Hussars. History in the making!