Provincial plates for MVs

[Darrell Zinck]

and the other...

[Colin Alford]

David,

That is a very nice set of images of early Canadian Universal Carriers. I get a bit of a giggle out of the seat cushions placed on the left sponson bins and the convoy shot which seems to indicate that this group routinely sat that high-up in the vehicle. Nowadays the safety folk would lose their minds!

Darrell,

It appears that the “DS” on NB plates equals “Dominion Service”. Please see the paper packaging on this new set from 1972:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33466323332...Kwx5N8uk90Q%3D

[Colin Alford]

Darrell,

I’m learning a lot regarding Ontario plates on military vehicles. Various sites seem to indicate that the “F” suffix plates started in ‘41, and one site claims they were in use until ‘68.

This site has various colour images of “F” plates: https://ericsplates.weebly.com/wanted.html

The following page has some excellent images of Vickers Mk VIb in 1941, and includes the quote:
“Nice photos of the Ontario F suffix plates on the military vehicles. They look to be the '41 base. I'm pretty sure that was the first year for the F suffix plates, and they were issued in '42 and '43, anually. Then in '45 they came out with permanent white on brown plates, which were used up to 1968. Since then the Dept of Defense has taken over registry of all military vehicles, with plates marked CANADA.”

Scroll close to the bottom of the page: https://wwiijeepparts.com/Archives/1...ensePlate.html

[Colin Alford]

Darrell,

I got excited when I found this video. While there is some Bobcat, and possibly Rat imagery (linked in appropriate MLU threads), and there is film of Centurions on the move in Gagetown during the ‘60s, the only provincial plates visible are from Ontario, and Quebec (there is one NB plate, but the numbers are not visible).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrNv0QOqPf8

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi David

Sorry, I missed your post. Thanks for that; those are some very nice photos. Very clear.

Hi Colin

I note in that eBay sale for the "DS" plates from NB that the prefix "I" is retained. Lends a bit of credence that the earlier "I" prefix was used in govm't service in NB perhaps?

That video is pretty cool. Something for every MLU-er there! Not only the Bobcat, the plates at 5:27 & 5:40 , but also those interesting fuel bladders at 7:00, the Mk1 Stalwart (24EK70) at 7:24 and the fine RCD shleppin' 20 pdr sabot at 10:51.

regards
Darrell

[Colin Alford]

Darrell,

I don’t think that there is an “I” prefix on your tank plate. I believe that it is the number 1. For the 1972 DS plates on eBay (now sold), the paper packaging shows the plate number as DS 1869 whereas the plate reads DS 1-869. The Wikipedia page seems to indicate that for most period series of NB plates, the number would start at 1-000, and then increase: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicl..._New_Brunswick

I have found another excellent video on YouTube. It was produced by the RCH in 1963. It has plenty of in-focus footage of Shermans in Petawawa, and Farnham. The footage seems to confirm that Ontario and Quebec did not require provincial plates on Tanks, but they were present on wheeled vehicles. The film also includes Worthy dancing at a Ball!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1dya3vbszo

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi Colin

Good spot. Yes, it is a numeral rather than a letter.

Notably, that same Wiki page suggests, by comparison (IE 1947), that my plate may be a numeral prefix vice a letter.<idea>

I have to watch that video a little closer later tonite.....8CH NCOs, RCD Officer(?), FF Worthington and LGen Fleury's medals.....

*edit* So I did watch the rest. Very good. He was an RCD Offr. Area & Armd/Sqn Tac Signs on the wheeled vehs and the Shermans. A convenient "43" in front of one of the veh #. There must has been a shortage of canvas makers (Mat Techs?) at the time or that Sherman was going into or just out of storage of some sort!

And it brings a tear to see Export A Plain as the smoke of choice for those old Blackhats. Sniff.


regards
Darrell