1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[James P]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Highly doubt it. There was approximately 100 Otters left in Canada for training purposes. The ones in Europe at the end of hostilities were declared surplus

I doubt it also but anything is possible. Which rises the larger question, leaving aside the Mowat shipment of captured equipment, what all did the Government of Canada bring back to Canada ?? Seems "Old Reliable" was a private purchase/shipment to Canada by SAR members was Bomb and Holy Roller returned at public expense or the same by private return ? Did Bomb and Holy Roller come to Canada together ? was there other pieces of equipment sent to Canada ?
Still sad to see short sighted folk treating this piece of Canadian wartime history like a monument to be parked outside instead of it receiving a full and complete restoration (and not some cosmetic do over) followed by indoor display.

https://sites.google.com/site/salhre...dron/halftrack

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

That markings puzzle raises some interesting points.

Most, if not all, Canadian Regiments that served overseas during WW2, maintained a presence in Canada. Their Canadian based vehicles used a number of markings distinct from what were used by the same Regiment overseas. Given those differences, my thought is the Canadian and overseas parts of any given Regiment would only ever have received vehicle markings data that was relevant to their specific location, and were very likely completely blind to what was happening ‘on the other side’.

Add to that, when members of a Regiment returned home after the war, for most, the demob process took place overseas. When they got back to Canada they went home in the vast majority of cases. So Holy Roller comes back to Canada with perhaps a lot of the overseas markings painted over and there are very few, if any members of the Regiment in Canada that would actually know what markings to should actually have, so they improvised.

As you noted, however, it is nice to see that at least for a while in 1946 back in Canada, Holy Roller was still a complete and working runner. Probably after all the official press coverage, she went back to the armoury and had her power plant pulled and all the other useful kit removed and it has been on a slippery slope ever since.

At least Holy Roller has faired better than the RCAF’s most decorated Lancaster that survived an incredible number of bombing missions and ended up in Vulcan Alberta and in spite of efforts at the time to save it, ended up scrapped.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by James P

I doubt it also but anything is possible. Which rises the larger question, leaving aside the Mowat shipment of captured equipment, what all did the Government of Canada bring back to Canada ?? Seems "Old Reliable" was a private purchase/shipment to Canada by SAR members was Bomb and Holy Roller returned at public expense or the same by private return ? Did Bomb and Holy Roller come to Canada together ? was there other pieces of equipment sent to Canada ?

Read more about the war trophies brought back to Canada here:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...5027#post15027

[James P]

And another piece of Canadian wartime history that deserves better treatment then what it is subjected to currently.

https://www.mapleleafup.nl/cmpvehicl..._vi_recce.html

[Perry Kitson]

I have sat back and kept my mouth shut about this project, but it is now at a fork in the road where either the project managers and city can be convinced to do the right thing and restore this historic machine, or condemn it to the fate now chosen for it. I have not been given the opportunity to plead the case for restoration to the city or project managers. If you want to see a better outcome for this tank, please call/email the city of London and the project managers to voice your opinion.
https://www.holyrollermemorial.ca/

[Stewart Loy]

Originally Posted by Perry Kitson

If you want to see a better outcome for this tank, please call/email the city of London and the project managers to voice your opinion. https://www.holyrollermemorial.ca/

Perry,

I went to the website and voiced my support for a better fate for this significant piece of armour.

It deserves better than a new paint job and rusting in place.

Thanks for your efforts.


Stewart

[Ed Storey]

The tank certainly deserves a better place, but the question is, where should it go?

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Is there any more information to determine if the money being spent matches the effort being expended? Is it a $250,000 paint job?

[GaryC]

Originally Posted by Perry Kitson

I have sat back and kept my mouth shut about this project, but it is now at a fork in the road where either the project managers and city can be convinced to do the right thing and restore this historic machine, or condemn it to the fate now chosen for it. I have not been given the opportunity to plead the case for restoration to the city or project managers. If you want to see a better outcome for this tank, please call/email the city of London and the project managers to voice your opinion.
https://www.holyrollermemorial.ca/

I'm going to echo what Perry has stated. Action not words.