Info needed: HUP s/n 3844536696 markings discovered

[cordenj]

Hi all,

Currently refreshing a May 1944 HUP for Normandy and found some marking under the green paint.

Vehicle number is clear and on both doors.

The yellow Maple leaf on rear door is on a 9" x 8" square but the colour of the square is quite indistinct...could be a mid-green. Around it is a very dark tarmac/black from the camo

Next to it is a very clear RCEME tricolour with "40" stencilled over it. Can anyone help with what the "40" refers to?

Thanks
John

[Jordan Baker]

Neat find. The maple leaf doesn’t quite look like the period ones.

[cordenj]

I'd not considered the leaf design, but I thought that Canadian vehicle numbers started with a "42*****", so a "39*****" was surprising

The vehicle seems very original, or at least not bodily restored/repainted for many years...so if these marking are a post-war addition, think it was done some to time ago.

[lincwel]

It would be HQ 4 Amoured Div RCEME

[rob love]

I agree with Jordan. The leaf looks a lot more like the stylized 1960s leaf that got onto our current flag. It wouldn't be the first time that an older layer of restoration got cleaned up and assumed to be original markings.

[David Herbert]

Remember that if it was restored in say 1975 it could have had those markings applied then (when there was much less knowledge of what was correct) and then have been repainted several times since, and could easily have fallen on hard times at some point in the second half of its life, despite having survived its first half. That would give a patina to the restoration that would look like original paint. The modified American tail lights were then considered a good way of fitting indicators but still being military and might suggest an older restoration.

Great truck for Normandy !

David

Ha ! Cross posted with Rob !!

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Remember that if it was restored in say 1975 it could have had those markings applied then (when there was much less knowledge of what was correct) and then have been repainted several times since, and could easily have fallen on hard times at some point in the second half of its life, despite having survived its first half. That would give a patina to the restoration that would look like original paint. The modified American tail lights were then considered a good way of fitting indicators but still being military and might suggest an older restoration.

Great truck for Normandy !

David

Thanks David,
I've just added the Jeep lights to give a little more illumination.
I was interested to find the markings today, but am not saying they are original...although that would be good.

Every HUP photo I can find seen has the serial numbers CZ42*****, so I am wary of a CZ39*****

[Alex van de Wetering]

I agree with Jordan on the maple leaf. "3943990-4100000" in the chilwell list is marked as "not taken up", but maybe that range of numbers was used at the end of the war.

Is it me, or could there be "45" written on the RCEME colours...in stead of "40"? "45" wouldn't make sense though......

Alex

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I agree with Jordan on the maple leaf. "3943990-4100000" in the chilwell list is marked as "not taken up", but maybe that range of numbers was used at the end of the war.

Is it me, or could there be "45" written on the RCEME colours...in stead of "40"? "45" wouldn't make sense though......

Alex

Hi Alex,

It was definitely "40" appearing as I sanded off the topcoat