'Ferret Scout Car Royal Regt of Wales Belfast', 14 July 1974

Graphite by Ralph Lillford, 1974.

With a .30in. Browning machine gun poking out from the turret, Ferret Scout cars were nicknamed 'Daleks' by the residents of Northern Ireland, and considered too provocative for street patrols. Accordingly, from 1973 they mainly operated in country areas, although they were sometimes deployed in major urban incidents. This Ferret has has the slogan 'Just Married' written on the front as well as modifications for service in Northern Ireland - headlights covered in mesh and, beside the armament port, an upright angle-iron for cutting cables stretched across the road to injure or even decapitate the vehicle commander. In the background is a Humber 1-ton armoured personnel carrier or 'Pig'.