Fort Garry Horse

[jdmcm]

Why do they max elevate the gun on a lot of monument tanks? I suppose it is to make the tank look "proud" or "victorious" but I always thought it had the opposite effect...strictly my own opinion

[Grant Bowker]

If they depressed the gun, some stupid would slide down the barrel, not be able/willing to return and drop of to the ground injuring themselves and then suing........ Elevated, the same stupid wouldn't be able to get to the end of the barrel and even if they did, they would slide back toward the breech when they tired of showing off to their friends what a hero they were. (But if they should fall it would be a bit further to the ground.)

[marco]

The FGH Sherman tank in Doetinchem has been cleaned and repainted last weeks. The last thing to do is to apply the FGH markings.
To do that correctly, there are some questions:

Reading the "Vanguard" , I mean to understand that T232615 was in B-squadron. Am I correct in this?
Is the troop number from Cpl Mc Donalds troop known and if so, should it be shown in the squadron marking on the tank?

Marco

[gcrossley]

T232615 was in fact a "B" Squadron tank, part of 3rd Troop, led by Lt. Holmes. It was hit in the top of the turret by a panzerfaust near Hooghalen on 12 April 1945, killing Cpl MacDonald.

By April of 1945, Squadron markings only appear on the back of the tank, as a yellow square, with the centre of the square apparrently painted black. A good example of this can be seen here. http://www.canadaatwar.ca/photo/39/the-netherlands/

As mentioned earlier the turret stars would be very unlikely for this period, but he large circled air recognition star on the turret would likely be present.

There is no photographic evidence showing troop numbers on the tanks in the later part of the war. Many FGH tanks in photos from that period carry few markings beyond the census number, and unit serial flash and 2CAB decal on the rear.

Gord Crossley
The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives