Ferret CFR List

[Wayne Henderson]

The Canadian Ferret list looks very much like the Australian list.
The Ferrets delivered to Australia (mine and others on this side of the paddock) had British ARN/numbers under the Australian numbers.

The contracts must have been mixed as there is an Australian Mk I as 36BA87 and the British numbers are not in any run of numbers.

[Robin Craig]

I think, one day, we will all agree that there was a yard full of vehicles fully built and someone went down the rows counting off vehicles for Oz and Canada until they had the order filled.

There was no need to follow serial number order, it was superfluous. Just ship 'em out mate, next!

Jim, yes I have a memory, and would like to keep it a memory not a legend.

R

[Robin Craig]

Oh and the other thing about the Canadian Ferret List, is I have never seen the original, will anyone scan it and upload it please? So many people quote it but wont show it around.

R

[Robin Craig]

Just to add fuel to the fire, I was today reliaby informed by an "informant" that there is documentation floating around that substantiates a rumour that Canada never actually paid for their Ferrets nor their Centurions.

I understand that they were part of war reparations.

"How do you like them apples?"

Robin

[Ed Storey]

I believe the monies owed by the UK to Canada for WWII expenses had been 'written off' by the time those AFVs were obtained. What would be handy is if someone could actually produce a document of sale or the paper trail leading to the purchase of the Cent and Ferret.

[Robin Craig]

Well, for this forum it seems that the fuel has worked to stoke the fire!

Mr Storey, yes, I agree, I will be getting my sweaty palms on a copy of that document as soon as I can and making it public.

Robin

[45jim]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6215847.stm

There is a document in the LdSH(RC) archives showing UK vehicles transferred from British to Canadian stocks and lists Tanks (Centurion), Scout Cars (Ferret) and Motorcycles (Triumph TRW).

This may mean that the vehicles were not produced specifically for Canada (or Australia) but just run through regular UK production and then allotted to fill these needs. This would explain the hatch variation in Robin's Ferret (as it is appears a genuine Canadian). Vehicles were just batched together and sent.

This is the best kind of aid as it kept UK industry working not just handing out cash.