[Mark W. Tonner]

Dave;

In answer to your question(s):

As at 31 May 1944, the authorized entitlement for Sherman ARVs, for units in the First Canadian Army (in 21st Army Group), was for 25 Sherman ARVs, which broke down as follows:

for 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade - 3 per regiment - 1 per squadron = 9
for 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade - 3 per regiment - 1 per squadron = 9
for 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment), CAC - 1 per squadron = 3
for 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade Workshop, RCEME - 2
for 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade Workshop, RCEME - 2

total: 25 Sherman ARV

By 31 December 1944, the authorized entitlement for Sherman ARVs, for units in the First Canadian Army (in 21st Army Group), was for 27 Sherman ARVs:

for six armoured regiments (3 per regiment) = 18
for one armoured reconnaissance regiment (1 per squadron) = 3
for two armoured brigade workshops (2 per workshop) = 4
for one armoured personnel carrier regiment (1 per squadron) = 2

total: 27 Sherman ARV

In the case of those Canadian units in Italy (July 1943 to February/March 1945), Sherman ARVs did not reach the Italian Theatre of Operations until after the departure of the 1st Canadian Corps (1st Canadian Armoured Brigade and 5th Canadian Armoured Division (including 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade)) for North-West Europe. Upon reorganization to conform to the establishments and policies of 21st Army Group, by 24 March 1945, 5th Canadian Armoured Division had been issued two Sherman ARVs, while 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade had received two, which increased to six by 31 March. This scale of issue, of two Sherman ARVs to 5th Canadian Armoured Division, and six Sherman ARVs to 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, remained unchanged, right up until the end of hostilities in North-West Europe on 5 May 1945. The two Sherman ARVs, issued to 5th Canadian Armoured Division, were held by 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade Workshop, RCEME, the armoured regiments and the armoured reconnaissance regiment of 5th Canadian Armoured Division, retained their Sherman gun tanks in the role of recovery tanks, as they had operated in Italy, in lieu of Sherman ARVs. In the case of 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, their six Sherman ARVs, were divided equally among the three armoured regiments, at two per regiment.

The only Sherman ARV that would have carried a RCEME AoS marking, would be those of the Armoured Brigade Workshops, RCEME, the rest would have carried the AoS marking of the unit to which they were issued. As for the prefix to the Census (or War Department) Number, no, ‘REC’ was not used, the standard ‘CT’ or ‘T’ prefix was used.

I hope this helps.

Cheers