Defrocked Priest in South Alberta Regt.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

I believe this photo is also of the same line up from the first photo. Except that the RAM OP has now moved up to be in line with the other tanks and the jeeps have moved.

Nice photo Jordan. I think the Ram OP in this line up is a different one. It has spare tracks all over while the one on front of the Hotel De Draak has not.

The M7 covered with a tarp is the same Kangaroo as in post#1.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another picture of the Ram OP in front of Hotel De Draak. Dated 27-Oct-1944.



Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

[Jordan Baker]

Look again at the first picture.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ah, that first picture. Obviously I was comparing it with the famous pic of the Ram OP in front of Hotel De Draak.

So there were at least two Ram OPs.

The Priest Kangaroo in the pics above seem to be the same one - look at the dented LH fender.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by hanno spoelstra

that's pa-131627, as identified in photos needed:

Update to current location of this itme in the LAC archive: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redir...94297&lang=eng

A Priest Kangaroo used by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division moving north through the village of Delden Holland on the 4th of April 1945. In support of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment which is seen in the lower right of the photo.
This Kangaroo is either one used by the Headquarters section, or one of 10 "defrocked Priests" used as cargo carriers - note the cribbing added around the rear deck.

Credit: Alexander M. Stirton / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-131627

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Update to current location of this itme in the LAC archive: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redir...94297&lang=eng

A Priest Kangaroo used by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division moving north through the village of Delden Holland on the 4th of April 1945. In support of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment which is seen in the lower right of the photo.
This Kangaroo is either one used by the Headquarters section, or one of 10 "defrocked Priests" used as cargo carriers - note the cribbing added around the rear deck.

I seem to remember someone pointed out that there might be a second Priest behind the first one, if you zoom in on the picture.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I seem to remember someone pointed out that there might be a second Priest behind the first one, if you zoom in on the picture.

Why did I bring this up?....... ........as I can't seem to remember where I read this. It might have been on one of the scale modelling forums, but I can't seem to find it no matter how hard I try!

In stead I tried to replicate what I remember. It seems the picture Hanno scanned for the Sherman Register website is somewhat clearer than the one available through the public archives online. I played around with the picture in photoshop in attempt to make it clearer. I am indeed convinced there is another M7 behind the first one....you can see the pullpit and the front armour with the antenna mount. It looks like a crew member is sitting on top of the front armor, just above the hatch, possibly lighting a sigaret or something.

http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoels...acr/m7_07.html

[maple_leaf_eh]

As I read the new regimental history of the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment, there are three vehicles mentioned all the time - 75mm Shermans, Fireflies and Stuarts. The echelon is almost never described, except in terms of the support they provided. Not the author's fault, just the emphasis of the War Diaries and sources.

Other passing mentions are the regiment's antiaircraft tanks, the artillery observer's tank, the Armoured Recovery Vehicle or ARV, and tracked ammunition carriers. Your M7 fits the purpose of the last type, namely mobile enough to follow the armour and common enough to be easily serviced. The Canadians by late 1944, the Canadian formations had enough experience and savoir faire to know what they wanted and willingly find it. Someone winked and pressed his arguments to the Ordnance Corps officer, who looked at the vehicles in his lines, and wondered how he was going to keep repositioning them as the battle moved. The M7s weren't required, so if someone was foolish enough to want them, let him have them.