The Deelen Dump in Holland

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

They agreed on a (partial) trade against the costs the Dutch government was making for billeting and repatriating Canadian troops. I will see if I can find more sources on this subject later.

From Alex Souchen's dissertation "Peace Dividend: The War Assets Corporation and the Disposal of Canada's Munitions and Supplies, 1943-1948":

Later in May 1946 (and as part of the war claims settlement), the Dutch purchased all the remaining medical and dental supplies situated in the Netherlands (mostly at Alverna), Canadian General Hospitals No. 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 21, and all the remaining armoured and unarmoured vehicles located at the Deelen airfield.

It is worthwhile to download Souchen's dissertation for a good read on how Canada disposed of its Army's assets.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The vehicles supplied by UNRRA to Czechoslovakia came from the Deelen dump before the remainder was sold the the Netherlands government:

https://youtu.be/Y4JDvvPVJeQ

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The vehicles supplied by UNRRA to Czechoslovakia came from the Deelen dump before the remainder was sold the the Netherlands government:

https://youtu.be/Y4JDvvPVJeQ

My wife's dad drove a 60cwt from Holland to Czechoslovakia waiting to demob. Maybe he was in that film?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

My wife's dad drove a 60cwt from Holland to Czechoslovakia waiting to demob. Maybe he was in that film?

That would be amazing if you could recognize him.... I know the feeling!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sign owned by Jordy Mensink. From No. 1 Demob Vehicle Park at Deelen?

Mark Tonner commented:

Jordy Msk - the ‘97' marking is actually for Serial No. 912, No. 204 Armoured Ordnance Sub-Park, RCOC (15 July 1944 to 12 July 1945).

There was no unit under the designation of ‘No. 4 Armoured Division Ordnance Field Park,’ there was however Serial No. 912, the 4th Armoured Divisional Sub-Park, RCOC (1 March 1942 to 14 January 1944), which was converted and redesignated Serial No. 912, the 4th Armoured Ordnance Sub-Park, RCOC, effective 7 February 1944, and was in turn was redesignated Serial No. 912, No. 204 Armoured Ordnance Sub-Park, RCOC, effective 15 July 1944, and was disbanded effective 12 July 1945.

80486E73-A3DD-48A3-8AD3-19537A1B9C7C.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This sign was found at a flea market in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands.

Likely to come from one of the dumps in the Netherlands.

Anybody who can identify the number “715”?

IMG_3085.jpeg IMG_3086.jpg

[maple_leaf_eh]

Deelen wasn't the only vehicle park used by Canadians. 27CAR's tank Bomb was stripped of her extra tack-welded armour, and turned into a dump in Belgium.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From Alex Souchen's dissertation "Peace Dividend: The War Assets Corporation and the Disposal of Canada's Munitions and Supplies, 1943-1948":

It is worthwhile to download Souchen's dissertation for a good read on how Canada disposed of its Army's assets.

When I asked Bing Chat: "Is there any mention of dumps in Belgium in Alex Souchen's The War Assets Corporation and the Disposal of Canada's Munitions and Supplies, 1943-1948?" it replied:

"In **Alex Souchen's** dissertation titled **"Peace Dividend: The War Assets Corporation and the Disposal of Canada's Munitions and Supplies, 1943-1948"**, the focus is primarily on how the Canadian government and military handled surplus munitions and supplies after **World War II**. The study explores the disposal program from **1943 to 1948**, emphasizing the political, social, and economic significance of these objects. Here are some key points from the research:

1. **Disposal Program Establishment**:
- In **November 1943**, the Canadian government established the **Crown Assets Allocation Committee (CAAC)** and the **War Assets Corporation (WAC)** to plan, control, and implement the disposal program.
- The objects accumulated during the war persisted long after hostilities ended and required careful procedures for demobilization or destruction.

2. **Critical Themes Explored**:
- The study elaborates on four critical themes:
- The **continuous and evolving nature of public pressure** for government action on disposal.
- The **role of the CAAC and WAC** in controlling disposal operations.
- The **stewardship** required for objects of war as they transitioned from one use to the next.
- The **process of reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling** munitions and supplies into new forms and functions.

3. **Postwar Impact**:
- By examining the **extended social lives** of these objects, the study connects material culture with **postwar reconstruction, rehabilitation, and demobilization**.
- Although disposal was not perfect and left behind some **environmental legacies**, the conversion of surplus assets into peacetime purposes helped mitigate their threatening impact on economic stability, political authority, and public safety.

Unfortunately, there is no specific mention of dumps in Belgium in this particular dissertation. However, it provides valuable insights into how Canada managed its surplus assets during the critical postwar period¹.

For further reading, you can explore Alex Souchen's work, which contributes to fields such as **military history, Canadian history, material culture, and disarmament studies**¹².

Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/25/2023
(1) "Peace Dividend: The Disposal of Canada's Munitions and Supplies 1943 .... https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/3638/.
(2) War Junk: Munitions Disposal and Postwar Reconstruction in Canada. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51087852-war-junk.
(3) War Junk by Alex Souchen – Canadian War Museum Boutique. https://www.warmuseum.ca/boutique/pr...-alex-souchen/.
(4) The War Assets Corporation and the Disposal of Canada's Munitions and .... https://docslib.org/doc/1805594/the-...lies-1943-1948.
(5) undefined. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/3638.
(6) "Under Fathoms of Salt Water" Canada's Ammunition Dumping Program, 1944 .... https://www.academia.edu/34899569/_U...gram_1944_1947.
(7) â•œUnder Fathoms of Salt Water:â•š Canadaâ•Žs Ammunition Dumping .... https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/303921595.pdf.
(8) UBC Press. https://www.ubcpress.ca/a-vexatious-...tions-disposal.
(9) undefined. http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol26/iss2/3."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This Cab 13 door reportedly came off an ex-Deelen Dump CMP truck. As you can see the truck it came off had seen postwar civilian service at Haarman building contractors in Raalte, The Netherlands.

5707 (1).jpg
Source: https://www.archief.museumdeelen.nl/...3-6ab083c63c0f

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"HQ Canadian Demob Depot"

Screenshot 2023-12-29 214939.jpg


Some more photos of the endless rows of vehicles awaiting their fate at the Deelen Dump, ca. 1947

Screenshot 2023-12-29 214736.jpg Screenshot 2023-12-29 214645.jpg Screenshot 2023-12-29 214447.jpg

Source: https://www.archief.museumdeelen.nl/, search for "Canadian Demob Depot Deelen"

[zemsi]

AEC armoured cars in the front. Mk.III (75mm) in the middle and Mk.II (6pdr) on the left. Staghounds in the background. Picture from facebook.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by zemsi

AEC armoured cars in the front. Mk.III (75mm) in the middle and Mk.II (6pdr) on the left. Staghounds in the background.

… and Jordan’s Otter is lurking in the background somewhere.

[Ed Storey]

Is that second Staghound from the right Guy Simonds' turretless mount?