[David_Hayward (RIP)]

From what I can gather, and by coincidence I found some WD papers last night on ex-French GMC and White lorries that were shipped from the US in summer 1940...on whatever ship was available and despending on what space was available.

When the crates arrived they were clearly sorted out somehow. I know that the Canadian High Commission contracted ultimately for four official dumps around the country, including Pearsons in Liverpool and Citroen Cars, Slough. I am not sure whether British vehicles were stored as well...probably not except in the case of Pearsons, as the Ministry of Supply sent crates all round the country for assembly by civvy contractors.

Anyhow, on the side of the crates at the top left side it said "CANMILTRY", indicating the destination/owner was Canadian Military HQ, Lonson. Others may know more than I do but it seems that the Canadian Mechanization HQ (CANMEC) based in CANMILTRY, had a staff that dealt with all the statistics as everything was accounted for, and that included stored crates and costs for assembling them.

I would suggest that as some Canadian vehicles were exclusively assembled by certain of the several Canadian-contracted companies, it was CANMEC that allocated them to those contractors, and then after assembly to units via Bordon. As I said the HQ kept meticulous records of everything assembled and the summary was written-up and updated by VE Day.

As to actual vehicle issue, there was a vehicle census office of the RCOC in Aldershot, which probably moved to nearby Bordon, Hampshire, that was in charge of vehicle numbers. I suggest that Bordon allocated as best they could. I get the impression that vehicles were allocated by way of type, e.g. "3-ton 4 x 4", or "Field Artillery Tractor", or "10 ton Breakdown". Did they try and issue one make as far as possible, for ease of spare parts allocation, but ultimately given the vagaries of the assembly process, have to deliver whatever they could?