[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

David, that decal went on just about every bit of equipment manufactured in Canada during WW2. It says 'Canada' in English, Russian and Chinese and identifies us as the source. A matter of national pride, really. You will still find ammunition boxes and the occasional weapon bearing the remnants of the original sticker - Brens & Browning Hi-Powers particularly, in the latter case - but most of the vehicle stickers never survived the veh's first repaint. Yours IS unique - I've only ever seen it on one other vehicle, a Mk.II* carrier in Yankland, and that had been carefully repainted AROUND the sticker.

The number is your Canuckistani gummint-assigned registration number, and there are a few here more knowledgeable than I who can tell you what the specific designation is; they were replaced by W/D numbers once the veh was shipped overseas.