White patch on fender ... remembered hearing about it as being part of safety regulations and WWII blackout restrictions, came up with this ...

"It became law in the UK on 18th October 1934 under the 'Road Traffic Acts 1930 to 1934, the Pedal Cycles (White Surface) Provisional Regulations'.

It was introduced amidst a number of other measures in an attempt to reduce the appaling number of road accident casualties resulting from a combination of poor roads, no driving test, no maximum speed limit and no compulsory rear light on cycles. Road casualties in the early thirties were running at twice the current rate, on one tenth of the present motor traffic. Rear cycle reflectors only had been made compulsory under the Road Transport Lighting Act of 1927. The white patch was required to be of 12 square inches, centered 13 inches above the ground."