Dodge wc in Canadian Army?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I agree, all I have read and seen seems to disclaim the use of Weapon Carrier by the Canadian Army in NW Europe at least.

But what about this picture? If you look closely you will see Dodge WC52's towing 1-ton trailers with mortars. The picture is captioned "Victory Parade of the 1st Canadian Division in Rotterdam, 10 June 1945".

Is this picture showing as captioned? Or did they switch it with a picture of a few years later and does it actually show a post-war Netherlands Army Parade?

H.

[Kenny Desaever]

Hello Hanno,

Indeed, strange...
Its seems to be American Dodge's and not Canadian...
I tried to enlarge the pictures to see some details but they became unclear.
Perhaps an exception?
Before the Canadian forces build their own wc's, they must have tried the American's. Maybe these are them??

greets
Kenny

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Kenny Desaever

Indeed, strange...
Its seems to be American Dodge's and not Canadian...
I tried to enlarge the pictures to see some details but they became unclear.
Perhaps an exception?
Before the Canadian forces build their own wc's, they must have tried the American's. Maybe these are them??

Hi Kenny,

Personally I think it is a post-war picture of a big Dutch Army parade, like the used to do back then, but I would like to be proved wrong!

Also see Info about Dodge WC 55 in British Service.

HTH,
Hanno

[Kenny Desaever]

hello Hanno,

Indeed, looking at the speakers and the fences along the road, it doesn't seems to be a '45 parade...
Actually, i would also be very, very happy to find a picture of an American wc 51, 52, 62 or 63 used by Canadian forces. But....NOTHING to find.....
I think it's more confincing to use an American wc than a (very late-war)Canadian one.

greetings
Kenny

[Nick T236]

Hi,
I am also trying to find info on the use of Canadian WC 52.
This may be of some use.
I have pictures and spoken to a fella that had a 1944 WC 52 Canadian who found D-day signal markings when he stripped off the paint layers, including the original bonnet no: CZ 6644117

I am no expert, but mine has been 'converted' to accept a deep water snorkel on the n/s bonnet cover over the carb intake at one point and straighten back and rewelded.Why would this have done, except to drive up the beach on D-day?

I have also spoken to the odd veteran in this country and on the beach in Normany who say that the early dodges were there,is this true?
Nick T236

[Kenny Desaever]

Hello Nick
At the moment i've only heard that the building of the 3/4apt started end '44 and ended begin '45.
They made less than 10000, exact numbers aren't known.
It is said that the "Canadian" model hasn't been on the front but came later on, when Europe had already been liberated.
The first model would be made with the wide body and later on they made the "smaller" body. The waterproof intakes were also abcent on the first models, but these would be converted later on to make them "water-proof"

Is yours a "wide" body? Do you have some pictures?

greetings
Kenny

[Nick T236]

Hi,
yes mine is the 'wide' bodied WC 52, it seems to be 1000 to 1500 earlier than any other I can find.
I have also found two Canadian WC 51's which is interesting as I thought all Canadian dodges were 52's,
I am working on photo's of mine, any one else got any pics?
The tool rack is also on the tailgate at present, but I have been adviced that it should be on the end of the passenger side locker, virtical over the step?
Nick T236

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

But what about this picture? If you look closely you will see Dodge WC52's towing 1-ton trailers with mortars. The picture is captioned "Victory Parade of the 1st Canadian Division in Rotterdam, 10 June 1945".

Is this picture showing as captioned? Or did they switch it with a picture of a few years later and does it actually show a post-war Netherlands Army Parade?

My belief that this is a post-war picture of a big Dutch Army parade, like they used to do back then, was strengthened when I received this picture today.

It shows the same Dodge Weapon Carrier trucks towing Dutch-built 1-ton trailers with mortars.

image.jpg