Mk 2 Carrier water can

[Ed Storey]

There is a photograph on page 192 of David B. Gordon's book, Equipment of the WWII Tommy - Revised and Expanded - 2010 ISBN 1-57510-151-4, which illustrates the tops of four petrol tins; the one with the square corners is identified as being Australian. This would need to be varified from a primary source but is certainly a good lead as to where to start looking.

Good luck with your hunt.

[Robert Bergeron]

This thread is getting very interesting . I did not know that GSW Canada ( General Steel Wares ) made cans specificaly for desert warfare . Witnness these two 2 Gallon and 1 Gallon sand coloured cans . Marked GSW with C Broad Arrow marked and both dated 1943 ! I got them just today and this is the original sand colour not a repaint . More pictures to follow .

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Both very well marked GSW 1943

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Top view . C Broad arrow marks . GSW . 1943 . Brass caps . Amazing barn find ! Could this colour scheme correspond to outfitting of Carriers and CMP trucks for the North African and Sicilian campaigns ?

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I am truly surprised by this find .

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[Ron Pier]

Robert I already posted this picture of my 1943 desert colour oil can in post 41 of this thread. Exactly like yours. Ron

[Robert Bergeron]

Thank you Ron. Now we know both the 1 gal and the 2 gal cans were made in sand colour for specific theatres of operation . It gives a clear indication of the production capacity and flexibility of Canadian industrial production during the war . A definitive strategic advantage over the opposition .

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

(paraphrased)

Thank you Ron.

It gives a clear indication of the production capacity and flexibility of Canadian industrial production during the war . A definitive strategic advantage over the opposition .

I do see some national pride in your comment, Robert. With our neighbours capacity to produce items like B-24’s every two hours, almost 50k M4’s, how many Liberty ships... our POW can production adds to the Canadian wartime forge.

A single wee virus having the capacity to bring the global economy to its knees.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

I do see some national pride in your comment, Robert. With our neighbours capacity to produce items like B-24’s every two hours, almost 50k M4’s, how many Liberty ships... our POW can production adds to the Canadian wartime forge.

A single wee virus having the capacity to bring the global economy to its knees.

Well, ya....but...at least our cans came in two tactical colours. Despite their manufacturing power the yanks could only manage aluminum coloured B-24s and monochrome O.D. M4s.

There's utube videos of wartime B-24 and B-29 manufacturing, and also one for Lee tanks in Detroit I've found. Simply amazing to watch. I'm going to search for our POL assembly plant film, surely it's out there somewhere and will be fascinating.

[Colin Alford]

Gents,

There is an eBay.uk auction ending shortly. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224111402165

The listing includes the attached images.

A couple of years ago there were two of this style of can sold on eBay out of the Northern United States. The US seller claimed that the cans were issued with T16 Carriers. The painted part number was clearer on the cans from the US and I seem to recall that there was a letter prefix to the number (not readily visible in these images)

These cans do not conform to the standard colour scheme for Commonwealth water cans, and they have an added “Made in Canada” embossed on the base of the can which does not appear on most of the G.S.W. production.

Can someone with access to a T16 parts list determine if the painted part number/ designation is correct for the T16?

Colin