Knowledge of the Canadian Army on 6 June, 1944

[Mark W. Tonner]

The following is taken from Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume III, The Victory Campaign, The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945 (pages 209 - 210): "The other innovation was the use of what have since come to be called armoured personnel carriers, which made in "Totalize" what seems to have been their first appearance on the battlefield*."

This is what the footnote for * has to say: "In 1947 an application was made to the United Kingdom authorities for an award to General Simonds as having suggested the introduction of the armoured personnel carrier. The Inter-Departmental Committee on Awards to Inventors did not recommend an award, since the idea was considered as being a valuable improvisation falling within General Simonds' normal duties as a commander."

So, in black and white, more or less, it states that the use of the M7 Priest Kangaroo APC, in Operation TOTALIZE was the first battlefield use of an armoured personnel carrier and that Gen. Simonds was the, more or less, 'Father' of such.

See what I mean, when I wrote earlier that the information is out there, all you have to do is look for it..........

Cheers