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VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT USED BY 1 CANADIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION
Vehicles
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| 1 Canadian Parachute
Battalion airborne modified jeep (Willys MB or a Ford GPW) March-April-May 1945 in
Germany. Note the British "T" handle shovel and folding double stretcher rack on
the rear. Click on 'thumbnail' photo to see a larger version.Photo copyright Doug Morrison,
ex- Vickers Platoon, HQ Coy, 1 Cdn Para Bn. |
VEHICLES USED BY 1 CAN PARA BN
- Jeeps Willys MB and Ford GPW. Usually airborne modified
- Trailer, 10 Cwt Light-Weight Mk. I (airborne trailer)
- Fordson WOT-6
- Dodge (3 ton)
- Bedford 15 cwt
- Universal Carrier (also called "Bren Gun Carrier" which technically was an
earlier model)
- Folding Trolley, airborne (probably used by the battalion)
- Captured vehicles (e.g. a 3 wheeled German truck & at least one German staff car)
- Bicycles (Although British BSA folding airborne bicycles were available in the system,
when the Canadian paratroopers needed bicycles while pursuing the Germans through Germany
in he Spring of 1945, photos show that they appear to have used captured bicycles.)
- Welbike (one photo shows one being used in training, but no reports so far of 1 Cdn Para
Bn using them in action)
- BSA folding 'airborne bicycle' ? (available but no stories or photos of 1 Cdn Para Bn
using them so far).
- Pram (one photo shows 1 Cdn Para Bn troops using a baby pram to carry some of their kit
! )
- Churchill tanks (unit rode on British tanks at times)
- M-10 17 Pounder self-propelled anti-tank gun (unit rode on these in Germany
at times)
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| Members of 1 Cdn Para Bn on captured bicycles escorting German
Prisoners of War. Germany, Spring 1945. Click on 'thumbnail' photo to see
a larger version. Photo copyright Doug Morrison, ex-Vickers Platoon, HQ Coy,
1 Cdn Para Bn. |
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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This web site Editor owns a 1944 Willys MB jeep (ex-Norway and apparently British Army,
possibly airborne, before that) and also owns a complete 1942 BSA folding 'airborne
bicycle'. The Editor is keen to talk to veterans who were in Transport, or worked as
drivers etc. The Editor would like to know more about the markings, paint schemes etc.
used on these vehicles.
The Editor is seeking a W.W. II British Airborne Trailer (10 Cwt LtWt Mk.
I), original
transfers (decals), stencils, flags etc. as used on the vehicles, as well as W.W. II
jeep manuals, photos and orders relating to the vehicles. - Colin Stevens, Pitt
Meadows, BC, Canada seaforth72@hotmail.com
OTHER EQUIPMENT
Wireless Set No. 22 - This was the standard W.W. II airborne vehicle mounted radio. It
was similar to, but lighter than, the Wireless Set No. 19. Photo on
Louis Meulstee's web site at: http://home.pi.net/%7Emeuls003/wireless/ws22.jpg
For description of the various British WWII radios go to Louis's page at: http://home.pi.net/%7Emeuls003/wireless/wireless.html
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