Is it T4161 or T4761? It looks to me as if the Tac sign on the last vehicle has been painted over as it darker than the ones on the other vehicles but also darker than the one on the turret rear. Could they be AOP tanks for the RCHA? Hello Malc, Sadly I don't have the specific number listed but it is more likely to be T4161 as T4761 falls within a range of Universal Carrier numbers T4716 - T5084. cheers Kevin
According to Don Clark in Cede Nullis,"...after breakfast, perhaps mid morning (he says 12th June near Argentan) we were rewarded by a first sight of units of this new army. They were Canadian artillery units, probably 25-pounders, with ammunition limbers, armoured tractors and logistics trucks, all extremely efficient looking, all newly painted in camouflage dappled khaki, all brand new. There must have been twenty to thirty pieces of artillery, very impressive looking. These were some of the elements of the much talked about Canadian Armoured Division and to our amazement they had great banners hanging from the tractors which were towing the guns proclaiming this to all those who could read English. There was no sign of any security...they even had banners saying 'Hitler here we come' hanging across the front of the trucks." He goes on to describe how the Canadian troops asked them where their equipment was and why they were moving to the coast, in the opposite direction to them? "It was embarrassing, in their eyes, we were a crowd of bums, who were leaving it all to the Canadians". He goes on..."Late in the evening, before it was dark however, and while we were still waiting (for movement orders) we suddenly got one hell of a surprise. The Canadians came back going even faster in the opposite direction i.e. ours, but this time without the guns or the ammunition limbers.The banners had been taken down and when we asked them where Hitler was, there wasn't any reply....we never saw them again." (pages 109-110)
Following on from last post here's the Vickers tanks on same quay at Brest , if they came with the Canadians what unit would they be ? Don't Know but probably just as well they left them behind Matt
Following on from last post here's the Vickers tanks on same quay at Brest , if they came with the Canadians what unit would they be ? Don't Know but probably just as well they left them behind Matt as Phlyo mentioned, there were probably British 1st Armoured. Re-used by the Germans.
France 1940- Couple of CMP Ford 15cwts behind a Morris Commercial CDSW recovery and a Austin K30 , all burnt out and -possibly all Canadian vehicles . Only the third CMP truck photo in France I have seen. Craig
Does anyone have any idea what those Austin 4x4 30cwts could have been? I have never come across such a truck (sorry, lorry). Chris
If you go back to the first post in this 'chain', the image at the link given clearly identifies one of the Light Tanks as from 5 RTR, 1st Armoured Division.
Looking at Mark Tonners excellent vehicle list on the Maple Leaf Forum I am fairly certain this is No. 1 Light Aid Detachment, RCOC of 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade as threy were the only Canadian Unit with a Morris Commercial CDSW 6x4 Breakdown. They also had a Austin 3 ton stores lorry which looks like the one in pic and Chevrolet 15cwts and also a Bedford 0X which can all be seen in the photo.. Full List of No.1 Light Aid Detachment vehicles- Car Sedan V8 Ford - 2 Car Station Wagon Ford - 6 Lorry 30cwt G.S. Bedford - 1 Lorry 30cwt B/D Morris Commercial - 1 Lorry 3 ton Store Austin - 1 Truck 15cwt W/Tank Bedford - 1 Truck 8cwt Pers. Ford - 4 Truck 15cwt Office Morris Commercial - 1 Truck 15cwt G.S. Chev - 3 M/Cycle Norton Solo - 3 Impressed Car Sedan Packard - 1 Craig
