36 Tech sqn was the militia unit RCEME which was located in MooseJaw. I had sanded down the unit markings while the vehicle was still in Manitoba, and on my return to MJ, I asked a retired ET (the short term given to the MWO/CWO of a maint unit or section) if he had any info on the 36 tech sqn. He told me he though it was a MJ vehicle but I doubted him. The next year, while on a course in Borden, I asked the museum if they had any info on the various tech sqn numbers. They said no, and at the same time I reached for an old stack of EME journals, and mentioned that sometimes info could be found in them. I opened a random one up to it's center page and there was a map showing all the tech sqns in Canada.
The cowl of the vehicle had been butchered for the installation of a heater so it has since been replaced from another donor. I have photos of the origional yellow cowls' markings which included the prairie command shield along with the later western command (which absorbed the prairie command in the late 50s) and if memory serves, also included a MD10 marking on the right cowl beneath these two markings. The marking on the left cowl; that of the RCEME flag with the 36 tech sqn, was just as it is now.
The doors were missing and replaced as well. The DND numbers on them came from one of the doors used on it now. I tried to go through the archived moose jaw herald photos at the library to find a photo of this truck (it was the only KL in MJ) but never did find it. There was also the retired Colonal still in town who said he had photos but never did find them for me.
Mechanically, the truck went through a pretty extensive rebuild. I even had the axles in half to replace the inner seals. The complete brake system was replaced including the M-cyl, all wheel cyls, all steel lines, and all flex lines. The shoes were actually in good shape.
The engine had taken on water over the years and I installed the engine out of the welder which was found at a neighbors of Dave Thompson of stead MB. This engine proved to be in excellent shape.
It was too bad about the origional engine as it was a rebuild, and the clutch even still had the words "this side towards engine" visible on the lining.
Tires were all replaced with Ferret runflat type, and the canvas was all redone. Wiring was also brand new, using cloth covered wire.
I had to safety the truck in Manitoba and thats when the turn signals went on it. It was a very heavy truck to drive, and I towed it with the militia's MLVW at 60 kmh from MJ to Wpg several times to participate in some of the larger parades like the 50th of D-day and VE day.
All in all, 36 tech sqns contribution to the world were fairly minor. Some info on it can be found if you get a hold of some of the RCEME journals of the 50s. You could also try and contact Rick Yuke who still resides in MJ and has been on this board a few times. He could well know if the old Col is still around.
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