Cyprus vets
 

I have canadian ferret 54-82589....looking for Canadian vets that may have served in Cyprus. 1965-69.....any photos....service with ferrets...ect.....thank you.

Canadian Ferret
 

Contact Robin Craig in Ontario. He is a few years further along researching Canadian Ferrets and might have something for you.

I have a number of photos of the Ferrets as they were being prepped in Canada for their deployment (goofy chicken cages over the top opening), their trip and offloading from the Bonaventure, and some photos of them in service in Cypress. I'll dig through the files tonight and see if they surface.

The chicken wire cages were not to be seen in any of the cypress photos...I suspect they were quickly discarded.

I didn't go to Cypress until 89, by which time the Cdn ferrets were long gone. I do have some photos of a Brit Ferret that hit a landmine while I was there. It blew off one of the front wheel stations and expelled both occupants. The crew commander said when he came to, he was going to give his driver shit for rolling the vehicle, not realizing they had hit a mine after travelling down the same path they had travelled a hundred times before.

Hello Rob....im in contact with Colin Stevens and Robin Craig....collected many photos and info from them....yes the cages were removed i think on there trip over...thank you all for your sevice....and thanks for responding back.
....ill try posting some photos of 589 progress soon.

Ive had ferret 589 for 31 years now...last year found out she did service in Egypt in the 1950s and went to Greece in the 1960s....over the years there have been many modifications so the era im restoring her to is about 1965....the previous owner had added a turret and removed and sold or lost some parts...i removed the turret and had to replace a fluid coupling seal....clean and paint....so heres where she is now...

Ferret 82589
 

Nice looking Ferret, I am curious about the 1960s Greek service.

Hi Ed....im not too educated in the Cyprus conflict...just that about 29 or so canadian ferrets were sent there for u.n.peace keeping service from about 1964 or 65 till about 1969....i have a copy of a list that shows 589 was there....and of all the photos i have collect im yet to find one that is showing her c.a.r. number.

Ferret 82589
 

Ah, just so that you know, Cyprus is a seperate independant republic and the UN mission there was not refered to as Greek service, which is why I asked. I have run a check through my collection and I don't have an image of 82589, the closest I have is 82585.

Cyprus Ferrets
 

Here is an image of the RCD Squadron on parade in Cyprus which shows most of the Ferrets.

Attachment 114746

Thanks Ed...great photo...i ve never seen that one...heres the list from cyprus....reec.sqd royal canadian dragoons
..oct 1965

The cherry on top of the pie or cake in the restoration of ferret 589 will be a no. 7 or no.8 browning m.g. mount. Years ago i had a brand new one and let it go in a trade...thinking i would never need it.....i kick myself every day ....anyway that will be my goal...complete 589 and take a rest....ive been the caretaker of this project a long time....and she has never complained...thank you all...hope you enjoy the story and photos.

A fantastic vehicle and a fantastic story. I'm confident it's one of the Ferrets in Ed's pic...just not clear which one!!! This is truly one vehicle you wish "if only it could talk". Think of the adventures it has seen!!!

As a radio guy, I see the 42 set which nicely matches the C42 aerial mount in Ed's pic. I'm sure in Egypt it sported a 19 set and a Bren gun.

David,

by what means did you get the war diary entry page, that is interesting and quite definitive. I have not seen the whole vehicle from that angle. Looks really good, and the rubber pieces around the top are grand.

Hello all my mates to the north....hope all is well with you and yours....the war diaries copy..from colin stevens....
I have about 80 pages... there are many photos of groups of ferrets...but imposible to see car numbers.....on youtube there are some old films from cyprus....some with ferrets...poor. and again cant see numbers.thank you again Bruce and Robin. Love to here from you.

Bruce...im not educated in the radio stuff...the c-42 is as complete as i could get it...the ferret also carried a portable radio...i think a cprc-26...something like that....589 also served in Egypt...and yes it originally had a no.19 set and a bren gun at that time...over the years there have been too many modifications....the cost and work to restore her to that period would be too much for me. I hope to find a crew member that remembers her and has a photo...?????

I only have a few photos of 589 given to by the previous owner before he sandblasted....and started selling off important parts....note the painted over u.n. decal on the hull side....these photos are from 1987.

There were many modifications done since 1965 but how far should i go? ? I do have the old side lights....i could remove the spot light....on and on....only an expert would know.....

Modifications to Keep
 

I guess it would depend on which era you want your Ferret to represent.

Hello Ed.....thank you for your reply.....with all of the modifications....most from the 1970s.....that would be easier....just a repaint in camo.....thats another question i have....anyone know what colors were used? I have some old photos....looks like black....an olive drab and a very light celery green...i may have to toss a coin to deside.....or take a vote???

I had a talk with Bill Mulholland (RIP) many, many, years ago and he told me that the Canadian Ferrets had a patrol track through mountains that left the open topped Canadian Ferrets very exposed. The solution he said was a short term swap of Brit closed down Ferrets for the open topped Canadian Ferrets.

Has the old Sentinel monthly magazine ever been digitized and findable on the internet ? Man, now that would be a gold mine of knowledge, insight, and pictures of the Canadian Forces during the magazines run.

A lot of them here on the prairies had the black, one of the two greens (I think it was the flat green and not the olive green), and a tan/white colour.

The way she is now ....i want to finish out a 1965 cyprus look and do a photo shoot....with the history she has i really want to keep the paint as it is now....i may change the side lights....it will lose the turn signals and brake lights mod... The spot light is a 1970s mod but original Canadian.....the sand channels....were used in Egypt....i have photos of two canadian ferrets with them....she did serve there also....the internal stowage bins are some 1970s mods...use to have two jump seats...i dont have....thats ok she looks good loaded for battle....the fire extinguishers i think they changed every other day....hard to pin that question down....the list could go on and on....but this has been a very interesting project.....love it....History!

589 also has the scares of a set of wire cutters...they were cut off and the welds ground down....nasty thought but a part of her history....still interested in photos and if anyone has a no. 8 m.g. mount for sale???

Well dont worry about the m.g. mount i think i have found one.....we shall see how this deal goes....thanks to all you good people for the help....

The vets who deployed with the Ferrets in the 60s are now old men. But, they have children and grandchildren. There is also a network of regimental associations, such as the Guild of the RCDs. In my experience, the associations have a good sense of who is still around. Present your question to the Guild and you might get lucky.

Secondly, if Ed or Collin have operational records, are they any names? Even a CO, Ops O, or Ops Clerk's name is a start. You might enlist their help to reconnect the vehicle with the crewmembers.

Finally, I just want to say I'm pleased that you are getting so much enjoyment from your Ferret. See the note below from the British government. ((( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...th-coronavirus ))) This advice includes not sharing food, kissing or cuddling your ferret.

Ferrets can catch Covid Terry ? Damn , give us a break ! Nice work David ! I rode the Ferret in the service but a British one in Suffield Alberta ( BATUS ) circa 1990 . They are a hoot . They were long gone from the Canadian inventory by then .

Capital F Ferrets are cute and cuddly, but have four wheels (unless under restoration) and can be temperamental if not well treated like a deserving lover. Lower case F ferrets are cute, cuddly and are incredibly agile, but can carry disease according to the authorities. :yappy: :yappy:

Thank you all...i love to hear from you guys up north....ferret589 is in my care...for 32 years now....love working on her...somethings not so easy...but i enjoy the work....i will continue....

I did find a suitable m.g. mount....looking for one for 30 years....very happy about that....still need a steel antenna stowage tube and maybe a cprc-26 portable radio....no big deal but this has been a life long project and has been very interesting and fun....best to all....power to ya....thanks MLU.