Down Memory Lane in Dunfermline with David West's business

Local historian George Beattie, whose speciality is road transport, researched the company’s history and states that in 1920 David West, a former bus driver with the Autocar Bus Company, founded his own road haulage company at James Street in Dunfermline.

He later moved to Foundry Street, then Low Beveridgewell and latterly to Rumblingwell.

Our first photograph from around 1939 shows one of his vehicles parked outside his premises at 179 Rumblingwell.

Our first photograph from around 1939 shows one of his vehicles parked outside his premises at 179 Rumblingwell. (Image: Contributed)

The Albion four-wheeler was driven by Pat Tierney and it would be an accepted part of Pat’s job to load and unload the 2 cwt sacks of grain by hand or sack barrow.

The early history of the firm is somewhat vague but it is known that in 1924, Mr West operated ex-army Karrier vehicles with bodies which could quickly be converted from lorries to buses.

With the bus side of the business, Mr West operated a route from Dunfermline to Burntisland, via Aberdour from May 1924, and then another from Dunfermline to Limekilns from August 1925.

Two of David West’s earlier motor lorries, a small Bedford on the left which is dwarfed by the AFC Mammoth and trailer to the right. (Image: Contributed)

In 1926 the bus side of the business was allowed to lapse in favour of the haulage operation which in the main involved the carriage of produce, mainly grain and potatoes, for local farmers.

Our next photograph from around 1932 shows two of David West’s earlier motor lorries, a small Bedford on the left which is dwarfed by the AFC Mammoth and trailer to the right.

It was probably taken in Leith near Chancellors Grain Mills where West regularly carried grain from there to the Cooperative bakery in Dunfermline’s Randolph Street.

During the Second World War, West’s transport operation came under the control of the Ministry of War.

Our next image taken in 1944 shows David West in the centre of the photograph flanked by six of his drivers in war time navy blue battle dress uniforms.

David West, centre, and six of his drivers pictured during the Second World War, when they helped transport food and munitions. (Image: Contributed)

They were engaged in conveying food and materials to the south of England for onward transmission to the troops in France.

They also transported lorry loads of munitions from the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Crombie to Chatham Dockyard, this being kept very ‘hush-hush’ at the time for obvious reasons.

Our final photograph from around 1948 shows one of their vehicles decorated to take part in Dunfermline Civic Week, with drivers Jimmy Hynd and Jimmy Dick looking after a youthful David West Junior, grandson of the founder of the company.

One of the West lorries in 1948, decorated for Dunfermline Civic Week. Drivers Jimmy Hynd and Jimmy Dick are pictured with David West junior, grandson of the founder of the company. (Image: Contributed)

In 1966 West’s business, then operating some 50 vehicles, was sold to Transport Development Group Ltd, a holding company with over 100 acquisitions throughout Europe and Australia, with Jim West becoming the Regional Managing Director.

In 1975 West’s merged with John Russell (Bathgate) Ltd, and at that time Jim West retired from active business.

More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries as well as at facebook.com/olddunfermline.