C15TA: first deployment in combat
 

"During the Battle of the Scheldt several innovative weapons, tools and tactics were specifically developed and implemented.

One of the more general innovations, was the first deployment of the Canadian made C15 Armoured Truck as a Armoured Personnel Carrier. Basically designed to replace the US made White Scout Car, an alternative role as APC was also foreseen. The first trucks had arrived from Canada only a few weeks before. Fresh from the factory, totally 30 were available for the offensive to get onto Zuid-Beveland the end of October.

In the night October 23, 1944, C Coy Essex Scottish mounted several C15 trucks and formed an ad-hoc Jock Force, that included a troop of tanks of the Fort Garry Horse and Armoured Reconnaissance cars from the 14th Hussars. The action of the force failed miserably. One German anti-tank gun outside of Rilland, hit two tanks and two Daimler cars from appr. 3.000 meters on the elevated dyke road. The 'poor bloody infantry' of the Essex debussed and did it in the end on the slow, but effective old fashioned way. The C15TA armoured truck was not to blame and saw effective use later in the campaign."


Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in South-Beveland. The back of these trucks was roofless. Only a tarp protected the passengers:
Attachment 137917


Traveling on top of the dykes towards the next canal. ...hurry up and wait... 6 Pdr A/T gun towed by a carrier follows suit..
Attachment 137918


The Kreekramdam, were the C15TA Armoured truck was first deployed on October 24, 1944:
Attachment 137919

Source: https://bftours.nl/ | https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gv1pnAQSmCJznL1w/ |

The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in General Motors C15TA armoured trucks
 

Here is the original caption and source of that well known photo:

"Infantrymen of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in General Motors C15TA armoured trucks, Krabbendijke, Netherlands, 27 October 1944."
Credit: Lieut. Ken Bell / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-137145 (http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...05115&lang=eng)

Attachment 137931 Attachment 137930

On the Beveland Causeway
 

"Lance-Corporal J.C. O'Connor of the 2nd Provost Company directing traffic on the Beveland Causeway"

Date(s): 27 Ot. 1944
Place: Krabbendijke, Netherlands
Credit: Ken Bell/Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-138419

Attachment 137934

C15TA use in Italy & move through France
 

I will continue this thread with photos of the C15TA in use during WW2.

See some in the thread: Canadian Motor Battalion using C15TA

C15TA in The Netherlands
 

C15TA during the Battle of Groningen, 14-18 April 1945.

Attachment 138570
Source: https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/17750...-andere-tijden

C15TA in the Ambulance role
 

Two stills of a C15TA Ambulance near Apeldoorn. These are screenshots from this footage: The liberation of the Dutch area of Apeldoorn in 1945 in color

Attachment 139024 Attachment 139025

Hanno, here is a C15TA with urban camouflage.
Barry

Attachment 139031

Liberation of Apeldoorn
 

I find it interesting to see just how oblivious the civilian population is to the whole military operation that is being conducted in their vacinity. They are very happy to be liberated, but seem to have forgotten that there is still a war on. The German POWs seem pretty lucky as most don't appear to be guarded and they are not being harried by the local population. It is hard to believe that we are coming onto 80 years that that footage was filmed.

Look at the practical addition - to me this looks like a typical Canadian vehicle during the closing stages of WW2 :)

C15TA during the liberation of the town of Hoogeveen, 11 April 1945:

Attachment 139076
Source: https://hoogeveenschecourant.nl/hoog...-26368617.html

C15TA Combat Configured
 

What a fantasitc image. If I were the proud owner of a C15TA, I would configure mine to look exactly like the vehicle in that photograph! Right down to the star and chalked writing.

You could dress your kids up in period costume too !

David

They’ll be thrilled to be made to wear shorts in winter ;)

Civilian Clothing
 

Wearing shorts in winter is an everyday occurance here in Canada!

I'd just like to have the civilian clothing in my collection as it is even rarer than the uniforms. Especially garments that were captured in a wartime photograph with Allied troops.

Ah, that would match quite well with the flip flops some wear in public every day :D

Nice picture Hanno.....never seen that one before!

Ed, if you and I pool our pocket change, we might be able to pick one up. I'll set an alert on FB Marketplace for vintage armoured trucks, and see what hits we get.

Roof rack
 

Bruno Bobak spotted one, too:

Attachment 139106

C15ta
 

Some nice First Canadian Army markings on that Bobak example.

Another C15TA Ambulance
 

Another C15TA Ambulance: "Parade in Eelde of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division; a.o. Lord Strathcona's Horse Sherman Firefly; Westmister Regt. (engine) Can. universal carrier + .50 Browning"

Attachment 139113
Source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/en/imagebank...1-13a195a25a28


"The entry of the Allies. A British armoured car on the Nieuwe Laagzijde in Schagen". May 1945
Attachment 139114
Source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/en/imagebank...a-25e048497516


"Postcard with photo of the entry of Canadian troops into Amsterdam. Left girl with bow tie. In the centre is a Truck, 15 Cwt, Armoured with trailer with tacsign 50."
8 May 1945.
Attachment 139115
Source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/en/imagebank...c-3fe2537acab8

C15TA Photograph
 

Yes the 50 Arm of Service marking indicates an Engineer Field Company.

Another photo of a C15TA Ambulance (not C15TAA) crossing a temporary bridge in Hoogeveen, The Netherlands. Date 11 april 1945.

Attachment 139169
Source: https://hoogeveen2000.com/overigen/g...11-april-1945/

C15TA with a snow plough, must have been a post-war conversion:

Attachment 139236

C15TAs parading in Utrecht
 

Here are a number of photos of C15TA Armoured Trucks taken at the town of Utrecht, The Netherlands. They are all taking part in the Memorial D-Day Parade of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division in Utrecht, The Netherlands, 6 June 1945.

Most of the vehicles in this parade have been cleaned up and/or repainted during the month since the fighting ceased. There are some interesting details to be seen.


The truck on the right seems to have a raised canvas roof.
Attachment 139391
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...534701000AF959


Two photos of what seem to be the same trucks.
Note the wire frame rack over the driver's position on the C15TA on the left.
The items on the left front fender look like chore horses under a canvas cover. So are these Signals trucks?
And notice the headlights are not the standard items.
Attachment 139393 Attachment 139392
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...1E37423D0EAC12 | https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...72E9A36D8EC969


Another one with a roof rack.
Both trucks have one headlight fitted with a black-out shield.
No census numbers visible, possibly they were repainted.
Attachment 139394
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...3AFDAA7073D591

Your first picture, the C15TA on the left has an uncovered Chorehorse on the left fender.

Thanks Jordan!

Some more photos showing that markings were not always done as per instructions.


Location: Wormerveer, the Netherlands
No date given.
Note the marking on the side of the hood and the registration number on the front of the nose:
Attachment 140446


Location: Leidscheweg street, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Date: May 1945.
Note the lack of markings and registration number. This C15TA seems to be towing a British 10-cwt trailer:
Attachment 140447
Source: http://www.faase.nl/utrecht.faase.nl/1940/wo2.htm?2


Location: Molendijk street, Oud-Beijerland, The Netherlands.
Date: 8 or 9 May 1945.
Again, note the lack of registration number and the placement of the formation signs.
Attachment 140448
Source: https://www.omroephw.nl/2025/04/maan...waard-actueel/