MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > WW2 Military History & Equipment

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 18-10-24, 15:39
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default Did Canada make its own stretchers?

I guess they did - if so, where these made to the standard British or US pattern?

Attached is a photo of what I believe is a British-made stretcher.

Click image for larger version

Name:	2505570b-964e-442b-9b34-37eebd244b60.jpg
Views:	2
Size:	132.9 KB
ID:	138782
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18-10-24, 16:31
Jordan Baker's Avatar
Jordan Baker Jordan Baker is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,162
Default

I believe Canada made the stretchers to the British pattern. I’ll post some photos later today if I get the time.
__________________
Jordan Baker
RHLI Museum,
Otter LRC
C15A-Wire3, 1944
Willys MB, 1942
10cwt Canadian trailer
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18-10-24, 17:14
Ed Storey Ed Storey is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,717
Default SWW Stretcher

Like everything Commonwealth, there are different Marks of Stretcher depending on when they were manufactured and their intended use. A few of the older wartime stretchers used to lurk about in the back of QMs and 4 Brigade in Germany seemed to be the happy hunting ground for strange odds and ends. Some of this stuff migrated to the Balkans when Lahr and Baden closed in the early 1990s, so quite a bit of 4 Brigade material was used in that theatre.

Attached a photograph of a wartime stretcher slung off a Canadian Grizzly taken at Tomaslavgrad, Bosnia in late 2000.

Click image for larger version

Name:	C392-14 WWII Stretcher mounted on Grizzly AVGP - TSG Bosnia - Dec 2000 ECC 112301 copy.jpg
Views:	7
Size:	378.5 KB
ID:	138783
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 21-10-24, 00:42
maple_leaf_eh maple_leaf_eh is offline
Terry Warner
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Shouting at clouds
Posts: 3,148
Default

Military equipment has to change with circumstances. In Afghanistan, the troops discovered that when the Medevac helicopter was a US Blackhawk, the issue pole stretcher was too long to fit into the cabin. Consequently the handy and ubiquitous stretcher was replaced by one that folds in the middle for transport.
__________________
Terry Warner

- 74-????? M151A2
- 70-08876 M38A1
- 53-71233 M100CDN trailer

Beware! The Green Disease walks among us!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 21-10-24, 21:59
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default

Thanks for the input guys.

I gather there is not a lot of info about stretchers, even though they saw a lot of use. Same is true for e.g. tentage.

The stretchers do show up in photos of ambulance jeeps for example, and in this interior view of a CMP ambulance.

Any more info is of help!

Click image for larger version

Name:	interior view of model 3G1.JPG
Views:	2
Size:	228.5 KB
ID:	138821
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 21-10-24, 22:10
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Storey View Post
Like everything Commonwealth, there are different Marks of Stretcher depending on when they were manufactured and their intended use. A few of the older wartime stretchers used to lurk about in the back of QMs and 4 Brigade in Germany seemed to be the happy hunting ground for strange odds and ends. Some of this stuff migrated to the Balkans when Lahr and Baden closed in the early 1990s, so quite a bit of 4 Brigade material was used in that theatre.

Attached a photograph of a wartime stretcher slung off a Canadian Grizzly taken at Tomaslavgrad, Bosnia in late 2000.
That's amazing Ed. As their function hardly changed I reckon they could serve for a long time.

There must have been a large stash of British or Canadian made stretchers somewhere in the Netherlands, as they turn up at dump stores every now and then. Most seem to have come from Civil Defence stock, taken over from the Army.

As they are too long to ship by parcel service, I need to plan a trip to one of these dump stores and buy myself a pair for use in my C15TA.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Militair-vintage-opvouwbed-legerbed-campingbed-army-stretcher-military-bed-00001.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	299.9 KB
ID:	138823 Click image for larger version

Name:	Militair-vintage-opvouwbed-legerbed-campingbed-army-stretcher-military-folding-bed-00005.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	513.1 KB
ID:	138824

Click image for larger version

Name:	WP_20170819_16_24_35_Pro.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	563.3 KB
ID:	138825 Click image for larger version

Name:	WP_20170819_16_24_09_Pro.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	421.7 KB
ID:	138826

Click image for larger version

Name:	stretcher.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	114.7 KB
ID:	138822
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21-10-24, 22:40
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
Posts: 2,764
Default

I wonder if the length of stretchers increased over time, due to people being taller than in the 80 years ago??
__________________
Chevrolet C8 cab 11 FFW
BSA Folding Bicycle
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 22-10-24, 16:20
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default Stretcher dimensions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering View Post
I wonder if the length of stretchers increased over time, due to people being taller than in the 80 years ago??
Good point! One of the sellers lists the dimensions of the stretchers as follows:

Length over all: 230 cm
Length of canvas: 180 cm long x 57 cm wide

Click image for larger version

Name:	img-29701-54251.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	15.6 KB
ID:	138827 Click image for larger version

Name:	img-29701-54252.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	19.5 KB
ID:	138828 Click image for larger version

Name:	img-29701-54253.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	77.3 KB
ID:	138829 Click image for larger version

Name:	img-29701-54254.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	56.9 KB
ID:	138830 Click image for larger version

Name:	img-29701-54255.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	25.8 KB
ID:	138831
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 22-10-24, 22:04
Ed Storey Ed Storey is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,717
Default Stretchers

That is quite the stash of British wartime stretchers! From what little I know about stretchers, they are Stretcher, Ambulance, Mk II. Attached is a photograph of Canadian stretcher training taken in 1947.

Click image for larger version

Name:	1. RCAMC Stretcher Drill - KD Uniforms and Sun Helmets. copy.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	765.8 KB
ID:	138832
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30-10-24, 11:54
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default Stretcher, Ambulance, Mk II

Thanks Ed, here’s another photo of stretchers in use by the RCAMC:

Quote:
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_7467.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	122.4 KB
ID:	138895

A jeep ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) bringing in two wounded Canadian soldiers on the Moro River front south of San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943.”
Source: Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3314438
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-11-24, 20:56
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

As far as wartime “style” stretchers here in Manitoba are concerned I’ve been buying them as I find them over the last 35 plus years adding them to my medical corps collection.
Having a stretcher jeep, a Universal carrier Mk1 and a Ford 60 CWT ambulance I knew I needed a lot of them to outfit my vehicles.
Not to mention my Medical corps displays in the basement.
I won’t get into post war stretchers, trying to keep this post short!
I decided today to have a look at them all and see how many I actually have and how many are Canadian military marked so I started pulling them out and looking carefully for markings.
I counted 8 in the basement with my displays and 11 of them outside with the vehicles.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0490.jpeg
Views:	2
Size:	151.0 KB
ID:	138948 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0612.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	132.7 KB
ID:	138951

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0488.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	147.9 KB
ID:	138949 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0610.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	129.7 KB
ID:	138950 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0489.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	126.6 KB
ID:	138952
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-11-24, 21:01
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

Going through all of them made me realize while the construction is basically similar in appearance they all seem to be manufactured in a different way.
The folding framework & feet are similar in design but differ slightly;

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0521.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	147.7 KB
ID:	138953 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0528.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	154.2 KB
ID:	138954
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0536.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	127.9 KB
ID:	138955
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-11-24, 21:05
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

The straps that hold the stretchers closed while folded also differ between straps and snap buttons or buckles;

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0504.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	118.0 KB
ID:	138956 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0506.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	79.3 KB
ID:	138957 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0537.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	161.8 KB
ID:	138958 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0538.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	149.9 KB
ID:	138959 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0542.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	149.3 KB
ID:	138960
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-11-24, 21:09
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

Then there’s the Airborne variant folding stretcher. I have a green painted one that has seen some action and a brown painted one that seems to have sat on a shelf its whole life!
The only markings I could find on either stretcher is the end of the handles on the green stretcher. The brown stretcher I could find no markings on.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0610.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	129.7 KB
ID:	138961 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0500.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	107.5 KB
ID:	138962 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0499.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	106.5 KB
ID:	138963 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0497.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	78.9 KB
ID:	138964 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0502.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	104.2 KB
ID:	138965
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-11-24, 21:11
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

No markings on the brown stretcher.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0495.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	80.1 KB
ID:	138966 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0496.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	80.6 KB
ID:	138967
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 05-11-24, 21:15
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

I did find a lot of post war markings on the stretchers that found their way to civilian infirmaries like the one from the Hudson Bay Company infirmary, businesses like the CBC and municipalities for civil defence stock.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0507.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	95.6 KB
ID:	138968 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0508.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	103.4 KB
ID:	138969 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0533.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	165.6 KB
ID:	138971 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0526.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	133.4 KB
ID:	138972 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0534.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	90.5 KB
ID:	138970
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-11-24, 21:19
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

I have a stretcher that probably dates back to the era of WWI by looking at period photos of stretchers used in that era. No military markings but a brass plate of the manufacturer. The metal legs also identify it as an earlier stretcher.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0509.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	73.7 KB
ID:	138973 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0510.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	81.6 KB
ID:	138974 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0511.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	97.9 KB
ID:	138975 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0513.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	112.4 KB
ID:	138976
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 05-11-24, 21:24
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

And out of all the stretchers in my collection I could only find 2 promising markings that identify them as Canadian military issue.
The one marked RCASC is most likely Royal Canadian Army Service Corps issued by the painted abbreviations under the wooden rail ( unless there’s a business out there with the same abbreviations???).
And this stretcher is the only one that has 37 pattern style web straps & buckles sewn to the canvas.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0488.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	147.9 KB
ID:	138977 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0519.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	88.5 KB
ID:	138979 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0520.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	94.4 KB
ID:	138978
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-11-24, 21:32
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

The other stretcher I found with markings was outside and although I could find no Cbroadarrow mark on it to identify it as Canadian military issue it did have a 1940 date of manufacture stamped in the wood that proves it was wartime manufacture.
It just so happens it was used by the Red Cross as marked in red paint on the underside of the wooden rails right over the date of manufacture stamping.

Name:  IMG_0550.jpeg
Views: 49
Size:  110.0 KB

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0530.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	151.4 KB
ID:	138985 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0527.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	169.8 KB
ID:	138986

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0524.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	185.9 KB
ID:	138988 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0525.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	119.1 KB
ID:	138987
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 05-11-24, 21:39
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

The nicest markings I found out of all my stretchers is the American stretcher I have. The canvas has nice stampings on it as well as stampings in the metal framework.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0551.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	136.6 KB
ID:	138989 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0552.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	117.5 KB
ID:	138990 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0548.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	96.8 KB
ID:	138993

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0547.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	152.3 KB
ID:	138991 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0546.jpeg
Views:	1
Size:	105.7 KB
ID:	138992
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 05-11-24, 21:54
derk derin's Avatar
derk derin derk derin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West st. Paul,Manitoba
Posts: 846
Default

The one stretcher I have, while looks similar in design to a wartime stretcher that I purchased and later learned it was not are the stretchers with the reinforcing strapping on the sides to hold the canvas to the wood rails are stapled.
The wartime era stretchers have leather strips that are tacked. Other stretchers I have also use cloth or canvas strips but still used tacks to fix the canvas to the wood rails.
I later found one of these “ newer manufactured” stretchers marked with a “FEMA” stencilled marking on it which is the US department Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0541.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	126.1 KB
ID:	138994 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0542.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	149.3 KB
ID:	138995 Name:  IMG_0545.jpeg
Views: 49
Size:  110.0 KB Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0535.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	128.8 KB
ID:	139000 Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0522.jpeg
Views:	0
Size:	136.8 KB
ID:	139001
__________________
1942 Ford universal carrier Mk 1
1943 Ford 60 cwt long CMP ambulance
1943 Ford GPW 1/4 ton stretcher jeep
1943 Bantam T-3 1/4 ton trailer
BSA folding airborne bicycle ser#R5325 (early)
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 06-11-24, 18:19
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,853
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by derk derin View Post
As far as wartime “style” stretchers here in Manitoba are concerned I’ve been buying them as I find them over the last 35 plus years adding them to my medical corps collection.
Having a stretcher jeep, a Universal carrier Mk1 and a Ford 60 CWT ambulance I knew I needed a lot of them to outfit my vehicles.
Not to mention my Medical corps displays in the basement.
I won’t get into post war stretchers, trying to keep this post short!
I decided today to have a look at them all and see how many I actually have and how many are Canadian military marked so I started pulling them out and looking carefully for markings.
I counted 8 in the basement with my displays and 11 of them outside with the vehicles.
Wow Derk, thanks for making all those photos of your collection!
It shows that behind every single item, even mundane as a stretcher, there is a whole history of the design, manufacture and use which is often sparsely documented.
I'll sit down and digest your info in detail later.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wanted: Post cold war stretchers for 1986 Iltis ambulance Stuart Fedak For Sale Or Wanted 3 04-12-14 15:20
Make any part with this technology George McKenzie The Carrier Forum 0 02-03-09 23:41
military stretchers peter simundson For Sale Or Wanted 0 07-07-06 19:58
Make sure you have a look at the truck to, eh! cmp_uc_guy The Softskin Forum 5 20-02-06 14:39
Re: Veh make ID required Mark W. Tonner The Softskin Forum 23 29-06-05 23:29


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 14:54.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016