Ford 01A(F) Complete after 12 years!

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Mark,

Many thanks for the info on the MTVRD, much more than I ever anticipated! I take it the 277 serial would be on RCASC diagonal colours of red and green? Have you any idea what formation they were actually attached to/part of? I definitely now need to redo the markings as not only do I have the correct vehicle number but at the moment 50% of the correct unit ID's. If only dear old 'Pte. J. Dickson' could complete the story. I have actually emailed Library and Archives Canada hoping for some info on either the individual or the unit.

Re the Canadian Second Div sign my efforts were not complete at the time of the photo attached in the last message and now have the 'CII'' added although unfortunately in Blue as that was what I assumed it was from the old B&W photos used for reference!

Believe it or not our route from East Anglia to Portsmouth takes us past Bordon and you can even see the old REME facilities as you drive past that comprises the original wartime depot. Certainly a photo shoot opportunity not to be missed. Ford 'bug' etchings on the window glass have a variety of dates from 12-39 with the last being 5-40 meaning this vehicle would not have atrrived in the UK until probably 3rd quarter 1940. Also of course where did it go after 1st. MTVRD disbanded? We do know it was released from service and first registered for civilian use in West Riding in June '47 although I have no details of owners until 1986.

Still have to take some decent shots of the interior in daylight but will send some 'before and after' shots in a separate mail.

Again many thanks and any more info on the unit or photos of these vehicles in service very much appreciated.

Yours Aye,

Ian

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

I take it the 277 serial would be on RCASC diagonal colours of red and green? Have you any idea what formation they were actually attached to/part of? I definitely now need to redo the markings as not only do I have the correct vehicle number but at the moment 50% of the correct unit ID's.

Hi Ian;

The 277 serial of 1 MTVRD, had nothing to do with their AoS marking.

The AoS marking for the 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC, was the letters: M.T.V.R.D., in 1¼-inch (3.2-centimetres) black letters centred on a 2-inch (5.1-centimetres) high white strip, above the diagonally divided Green/Red (with the dividing line running upper left to lower right(opposite of the RASC)) AoS background colours of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. The Formation sign used by the 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC, was that of Canadian Military Headquarters, which was a gold (or yellow) rimmed 8-inch (20.3-centimetres) diameter khaki circle with a centrally located gold (or yellow) maple leaf. 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC, were Base Troops under the control of Canadian Military Headquarters (London), and was not a field force unit.

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

I have actually emailed Library and Archives Canada hoping for some info on either the individual or the unit.

Ian, these are the file references for the War Diaries of the 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC, that are held by The National Archives (Kew), Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom:

WO 179/518 - Serial 277 - 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC - War Diary for Mar to Dec 1940
WO 179/519 - Serial 277 - 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC - War Diary for Jan to Jun 1941
WO 179/520 - Serial 277 - 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC - War Diary for Jul to Dec 1941
WO 179/1366 - Serial 277 - 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC - War Diary for Jan to Aug 1942
WO 179/1508 - Serial 277 - 1st Mechanical Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, RCASC - War Diary for Sep to Dec 1942

Also, if you were to leave it in the markings of the Calgary Highlanders, the style of the 2nd Canadian Division formation sign that Jordan provided, would be appropriate.

Cheers

[Ian McCallum]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

the diagonally divided Green/Red (with the dividing line running upper left to lower right(opposite of the RASC)). Canadian Military Headquarters, which was a gold (or yellow) rimmed 8-inch (20.3-centimetres) diameter khaki circle with a centrally located gold (or yellow) maple leaf.

Hi Mark,

Many thanks for the comprehensive info, on correct AoS and that 277 has nothing to do with that depicted on it. Also the correct formation of which it was part completing the requirements for change at the earliest opportunity!

HOWEVER from looking at www.canadiansoldiers.com it indicates in the early part of the war the split was from right top to bottom left as per the RASC with change to the Canadian specific RCASC not coming until The mid war period? I most certainly am not contradicting your info and what I have read may in fact be inaccurate. Just checking to ensure what would be right for 1940/41 as I want to get it 100% right this time.

Re the Canadian Military HQ I am glad you gave the correct colours or I would have faithfully reproduced the uniform formation sign, which has completely different background! Strangely enough one of only three photo's I have found of the 01AF in service is of a Canadian Military HQ vehicle and indicates the Maple leaf fills the circle whereas it doesn't on the uniform insignia. Any clear artwork/true background colour on this one as Khaki can be a multitude of sins? Would it also have the early style leaf as per Jordan's info?

Looks like the vehicle serial is CM4202123 which is a completely different series of numbers and depicted in a different font, as per the bridging plate number.

Again, many, many thanks for the help. Will make inroads to contact Kew re war diaries.

Yours Aye,

Ian

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

I most certainly am not contradicting your info and what I have read may in fact be inaccurate. Just checking to ensure what would be right for 1940/41 as I want to get it 100% right this time.

Hi Ian, perhaps I should have wrote it the way it usually appears, which should read: Red/Green (for red over green), which in the case of the RCASC, meant that the top right half of the diagonally divided background was red, and the lower left half, was green, with the dividing line running upper left to lower right, which was opposite of the RASC. I, myself, have not come across anything indicating, that the RCASC background was diagonally divided, lower left to upper right, as used by the RASC, in any of the files I’ve received from Library & Archives Canada.

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

Any clear artwork/true background colour on this one as Khaki can be a multitude of sins? Would it also have the early style leaf as per Jordan's info?

No Ian, I do not have any clear artwork/true background colour images. Records only state khaki as the colour to be used. Also, yes, the stylized maple leaf, as per Jordan’s illustration, could be used.

Your restoration as turned out very well Ian, it looks really great?

Cheers

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Mark,

Thanks again, I bow to your wisdom and will ensure it is faithfully reproduced.

All I need now is a cleared indication of what the CMHQ actually looked like
Yours Aye,

Ian

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Ian McCallum

All I need now is a cleared indication of what the CMHQ actually looked like

Ian, I'll dig around and see what I can find.

Cheers

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ian,

you probably have this picture already, but I have attached it just to be sure.
census: C.M4202392
Stencil lettering so it seems.

It's a picture Clive Law posted in this thread (I know he has a pic of the front of the same Ford as well)

Alex