BA- British Army of the Middle East _ REME. Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.[They were the gezzers That that 'pose to fix anything that could move, that is of the wheel and track variety{ otherwise salute it}] The sand trays were metal sheets put down on the sand to get traction. [Champs were Rolls engined Austins[ we had the snorkel versions for crossing the Sinai], pre Humvees to replace the Land Rovers that did not rove too far]. I heard that when there is foot of snow on the motor way, it takes a day to get from Newport to Cambridge, so I thought that maybe you would would have these trays to get down the road across the pot holes etc. . Just a thought as things do not change when it comes to the Civil Service and its good ideas. Mind you the vehicles were nice and shining for inspection but fit to travel , that was another department's responsibilities.