Mk 2 Carrier water can

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Kirk Armitage

Picked this can up the other day, never paid attention until I got it beside another one. The common one on the left has rounded corners and the usual markings, the mystery one has sharp corners and no markings that I can find.Any info would be appreciated. Thanks K Armitage

The petrol tin with the square corners may be Australian.

[Kirk Armitage]

Thanks Ed , I'll start looking that direction, any hint on what made you think it's Australian ?
Regards K Armitage

[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.