Panzerjäger Bren 731(e)

[JTH]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

IMHO, I don't personally think doing up a perfectly good carrier then painting it as a "capture" serves our veterans honourably, never mind anyone else. Instead, it smacks of some sort of false adoration of the Wehrmacht, seen already in too many reenactors... and I've seen first-hand the impressions some of them have left with those who once faced them for real, so long ago.

If you'd found a carrier with German colours and markings under layers of post-war paint, then I could see that being reproduced; but to the best of my knowledge, there are none anywhere, let alone in Canada. And even if I did find same and restored it accordingly, I would never wear feldgrau to parade it.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I'd ever parade it - it would mock those who once fought the Nazi horde.

The fact is that there are precious few carriers left throughout the world as it is, and each one is a testament to the courage and tenacity of those who had to ride them into battle. Better to dress them as representatives of Canadian units which once served our nation but no longer exist!

I hope that one day we might once again see a full carrier platoon on parade here in Canada... but with Canadian carriers. And lord knows, there are so many field-expedient variations which could be explored for re-creation! Not every restoration has to be factory-perfect - by the time the originals got to the front they were everything but...

Do what you wish - it's your carrier - but bear my words in mind. Yes, there were "captures"... Jeeps, trucks, carriers, everything up to and including Sherman tanks; but what does re-creating these accomplish, other than 'wasting' an otherwise perfectly good Canadian restoration??

Geoff

Thanks Geoff and I will carefully add your thoughts to the process. One of the reasons I posted this question here was to get opinions on all aspects of this proposal. I am not hard over on my choice by any means.

There are of course varying thoughts on all that we do. If I chose the WASP someone would ask what it was for and while I would clearly not answer "Roasting folks from a distance" although it would be patently obvious that is what it could (and was) used for. We are very careful at the venues we attend as to whether or not dewats are displayed - even this provokes comments from some folks.

Thin skin vehicles are usually safe and we can always make the claim that "this is the vehicle that helped win the war" with no outward display of aggression ("Happy" little jeeps). Any true fighting vehicle can provoke negative comment. Heck we have even had to defend the "American" star on our vehicles to irate folks who did not know the true story. Most calm down when we explain it (especially when you point out it's crooked) but some don't.

In any event, far be it from me to provoke a veteran, since, as they say "I are one" and am very sensitive to the issues.

Clearly more thought needed.

thanks again

Jeff