Princess Elizabeth examining the engine of an Austin 10 'Tilly' light utility truck, 1945

Photograph, World War Two, Home Front (1939-1945), 1945.

Princess Elizabeth working under the bonnet of an Austin 10 'Tilly' light utility truck while her mother, Queen Elizabeth, looks over her shoulder.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in February 1945 as a subaltern. By the end of the war she had reached the rank of junior commander, having completed her course at No 1 Mechanical Training Centre of the ATS, and passed out as a fully qualified driver.

'Tillys', the nickname derived from the word 'utility', were military conversions of civilian vehicles such as the Austin 10 saloon and similar vehicles manufactured by Morris and Hillman. These utility or pick-up vehicles were widely used by British forces for various logistical, liaison and supply tasks during World War Two and they continued to be used even when American made models such as the Jeep became available.

From a collection of photographs relating to the Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1939-1949.