RCAMC stretcher jeep markings (need help!)

[derk derin]

Hi All,
I am in the process of painting the markings on my stretcher jeep restoration project that I have modeled after a wartime photo I have admired for years now but the only description with the photo is taken in Vaucelles,France 20 July,1944 and would like to know what the unit & formation signs would have been on it.I have found a photo of a stretcher jeep with the WD number CM4233497 close to the CM4233488 that will be on my jeep but it belongs to the unit 76 (black background) and seems to have been serving in Italy.Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,Derk.

[servicepub (RIP)]

The ambulances were operated by the Field Hospitals/Casualty Clearance centres. Look up the one that was attached to the 7th Inf Bde of the 3rd Cdn Inf Div.

[derk derin]

Hi Clive,
Thanks for the starting point for my search.So far I have found out that the RCAMC field ambulances serving with the 3rd Can.Inf. Div were;

7th Canadian infantry brigade
75(black background) 14 field ambulance RCAMC (Moncton,N.B.)
8th Canadian infantry brigade
76(black background) 22 field ambulance RCAMC (Halifax,N.S.)
9th Canadian infantry brigade
77(black background) 23 field ambulance RCAMC (Petawawa,Ont.)
In searching invasion maps for the 3rd Division I noticed that the 7th Canadian infantry brigade were heading in the direction of Vaucelles.Can I assume from this that it would be a stretcher jeep of the 75 field ambulance or is there a more conclusive search I can try to find out the unit?
The formation sign will be french grey with a yellow leaf?
I would also like to find the type of stencilling font for the W.D. numbers on the hood CM4233488.Would these be 3 inch numbers?Any idea where I could find them?An internet search found a few close matches but nothing like the jeep has.
Thanks,Derk.

[servicepub (RIP)]

The stencil used is not typical of the type generally used. Further, Routine Orders (don't know the number) stated that the 'bars' created by the stencils were to be painted over - although this was often ignored.

C

[derk derin]

Clive,
I did read somewhere that the stencil spaces were to be filled in to form a solid number/letter.
I solved my stencil problem,turns out there are all kinds of stencil fonts in my computer under Microsoft office word.I can just pick the size & style of font,print them on paper,cut them out and then paint them on the vehicle.Of the many choices of fonts in my computer to chose from,the closest style is called ''STENCIL''.My research shows the letters/numbers for the W.D. numbers to be 3 1/2 inches high.

One problem I cannot figure out is on the front fender I can see 2 sets of 3 digit stenciling but to zoom in only distorts the image so I can't tell for sure what is marked there.I know the tire pressures are usually in these spots above the wheel wells and assume that is what they are but researching the tire pressures for WWII "Commonwealth" jeeps,they did not use the standard "American" TP but were supposed to be marked:
RS 30 (road surface) or CC28 (cross country).
The photo shows 2 sets of stenciling so this option doesn't seem likely,the only other option I can think of what is stencilled is;
R 30 and F 30.
Can anybody help me figure out what is correct here.Maybe somebody has access to a higher resolution photo of this jeep and can blow up the picture to see what is there.I couldn't find many jeep photo's in service with tire pressures stencilled on them at all so can't find a common pattern to go by.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Regards,Derk.

[Eric B]

Hello Derk

Not all stretcher jeeps belonged to the RCAMC.

Most belonged to an infantry unit and were used to transport ammo to the front and wounded back as needed. There were orders stating such and the trailers were used to bring up the ammo.

WD Numbers were not consecutive. Unfortunetly i have no info on the WD number you wish to use. Is its use relevent to your vehicle?

Not all WD were filled in.

In the photo there is a smal 76 painted on the edge of the passenger fender by the grill. The other numbers could be tire pressure.

Again there are orders stating the tire pressure would be inside the cab visible to the driver if not indicated on the data plate.

Regardless of orders, there are variants. As long as there is a photo to back up your research pretty much anything goes.

There are also aprox 5-6 different variants of the ambulance jeep as well. Two styles alone for the bunk bed version.

Thanks
Eric