Kangaroo Photos wanted

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by dennis trowbridge
hanno.
photos of bovingtons kangaroo

Thanks Dennis!

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Crew of a turretless Ram tank used by The Fort Garry Horse as a "flat-top" armoured ambulance, Holten, Netherlands, 8 April 1945

(L-R): Troopers Joe Fine and Bob Wright, Corporal Frank Aikens

Credit: Lieut. Dan Guravich / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-133165

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
My Archivanet search turned up about a half dozen or more photos in this series at Wertle, same photographer, same archives accension date. So there may be more Kangaroo photos related to this particular photo?

Bill, what about this one?

"Infantrymen of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada riding on a Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Wertle, Germany, 11 April 1945 "

Credit: Capt. Alexander M. Stirton / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-159065

[Bill Miller]

Hi Hanno,

It's a Canuck Kangaroo. Mark answered this one earlier in this thread (about 2 pages ago)

"If indeed it was taken at Wertle, the Kangaroos would be those of "B" Sqn, 1 CACR and the tanks would be those of the 21 Cdn Armd Regt (GGFG)."

I wish the photo included the front end of the tank.

I am quite interested in the "flat-tops" from the other regiments however, particularly the armoured ambulances. It looks like the Red Cross was painted directly to the hull. It would also be interesting to know if they had any special fittings attached on the inside (or out)? In all the archival files I have retieved I haven't come across any documentation about these Armd Ambulances.

Bill.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
It's a Canuck Kangaroo. Mark answered this one earlier in this thread (about 2 pages ago)

Yes I know, that is why I replied to it in this thread as you were asking if there were "more Kangaroo photos related to this particular photo?" - so here's one

In all the archival files I have retieved I haven't come across any documentation about these Armd Ambulances.

I am not really surprised by that, as the official Ram tank holding listings only mention Gun Towers, Ammunition Carriers, Personnel Carriers and Wasp equipped turretless Rams. So those ambulances must have been field conversions.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Note the Ram Kangaroo in the background.

National Archives of Canada, PA 113872 "R.C.A.M.C. personnel loading casualty into ambulance jeep, Sonsbeck, Germany, 6th March 1945"


Source: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/courage/...andbeyond.html

The link is dead so I deleted the original post. Attached below is the same picture.

"Personnel of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) loading a casualty into a Willys MB ambulance jeep, Sonsbeck, Germany, 6 March 1945

Credit: Capt. Jack H. Smith / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-113872"

[Bill Miller]

Hi Hanno,

Thanks for posting links to the Ram Census info... neat stuff.

I suspect that with no post-war documentation refering to Kangaroo Armd Ambulances that there were no specific modifications (like the Jeep Ambulance in the photo you posted). Rather they were simply Kangaroos with a red cross?

Speaking with my Dad, he says that the 1CACR were issued large bed sheets with a red cross painted on them when they were pressed into service to carry the wounded. The sheet was either draped over the side of the hull or put up on a pole...

Interestingly enough that is the only way I caught the kangaroo in this still from some unused Pathé newsreel footage. It only lasts a second or so. Mid January 1945, Operation Blackcock.

British Pathé reel number 1978.02 frame 127

[Bill Miller]

Also, reagrding the Public Archives photo of the Jeep ambulance in SOnsbeck.

Where there is a still photographer, there is usually a cinematographer. The Archives photos are a good lead to look for matching newsreel footage and vice versa.

Here is the newsreel footage that matches the photo (different angle, same scene).

British Pathé #2121.09. Unfortunately the Jeep Ambulance is obscuring the Kangaroo, but it does show up for a half second ...

[Bill Miller]

The elusive Priest Kangaroo, taken sometime between Sept14-17, 1944 in or near Boulogne.

I found this a few nights ago in Pathé clip 2109.02. Again more unused footage. I have an original American Press photo (sorry no scan available right now) that confirms the location.

Here is the abbreviated 5 second sequence.

[Bill Miller]

Large.

[Bill Miller]

...as long as I posting photos, I post my current favourite of the month!

A Squadron troop officer, Lt. John Campbell was nice enough to give me a copy of this photo of him and his driver and gunner. (The crew of "Helen"). taken March-April of 1945.

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Bill;

Is that what I think it is in the Sonsbeck clip:

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Bill;

... and there it is again......

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

From the 1CACR War Diary:
November 18, 1944
Stencils for marking vehicles have been made up locally, showing the Tactical Number 157 on a green and blue background, and another showing an orange Kangaroo in a black circle. The Tech, Adjt., Capt. Rook, had signs painted on a tank and a 'B' vehicle as examples for the remainder of the vehicles.

December 18, 1944
The Commanding officer, Lt. Col. Churchill approved the regimental design (Kangaroo) to be painted on all vehicles, Kangaroo in Orange (Holland's National Colour) within a black circle.

From looking at the weather reports in the Diaries (a lot of rain and cold, wet weather) and some notations regarding delays in maintenance and painting, I would surmise that not all the tanks and B vehicles got fully marked by the time they went into action in early January. After that, there would be no time for painting until they stood down for maintenance just before the Rhine crossings. The lack of markings showing up in photographs from 1945 would support this. I would think "command" vehicles were highest priority for painting and trickled down from there.
Even though I have several dozen photos of 'B' vehicles now, I have none that show the "Kangaroo" stencil.

It is also possible that once they came under command of the 79th Armoured on December 21st that they were only to display the 79 AD "Bullshead" and 31 Tk Bde "Diablo"?? These do show up in my "B" Vehicle photos (but not the tanks?)

Bill

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
From the 1CACR War Diary:
November 18, 1944
Stencils for marking vehicles have been made up locally, showing the Tactical Number 157 on a green and blue background, and another showing an orange Kangaroo in a black circle. The Tech, Adjt., Capt. Rook, had signs painted on a tank and a 'B' vehicle as examples for the remainder of the vehicles.

December 18, 1944
The Commanding officer, Lt. Col. Churchill approved the regimental design (Kangaroo) to be painted on all vehicles, Kangaroo in Orange (Holland's National Colour) within a black circle.

From looking at the weather reports in the Diaries (a lot of rain and cold, wet weather) and some notations regarding delays in maintenance and painting, I would surmise that not all the tanks and B vehicles got fully marked by the time they went into action in early January..........

hmmm .......

........ this sounds all very familiar ..... and I seem to remember coming to more or less the same conclusions regarding 'markings'...... I just can't remember where I've read this before .......

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

Mark, have started to talk in... circles?

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
Mark, have started to talk in... circles?

.... Me too! .... but me thinks its because my grand-daughter keeps singing "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round".... over and over and over again ......

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
Mark, have started to talk in... circles?

Bill, Mark,

Never mind, these are excellent circles to be in. Thanks!

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another "Kangaroo" pic, although I think this is actually a Gun Tower, given the towing hook attachment on the rear.

ph325.jpg

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/820/ph325.jpg

[kevinT]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Another "Kangaroo" pic, although I think this is actually a Gun Tower, given the towing hook attachment on the rear.

That seems to be an unusual arangement on that half track more or less top centre of the picture. It seems to be some sort of board or canvas sheet. Is that to make it look like a lorry? Not seen that before.

cheers
Kevin

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by kevinT

That seems to be an unusual arangement on that half track more or less top centre of the picture. It seems to be some sort of board or canvas sheet. Is that to make it look like a lorry? Not seen that before.

cheers
Kevin

For a time, the commander of 1 Canadian Division in Kingston (recent modern times) had a GMC Suburban as his rover. The rest of the troops had 5/4 ton trucks. I saw it once, and was struck by the odd roof rack. It was high tubular framing. It occured to me that his driver could mask the passenger vehicle with a cargo truck tarp. Same profile and otherwise indistinguishable.

Maybe the half-track crew / commander had the same thing in mind?

[maple_leaf_eh]

http://www.ww2incolor.com/canada/

There are some Ram photos here, don't know if they have already been posted.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

From missing-lynx.com:

In ATB 135 (the most recent one available in the US) "The Capture of Bremen", Pg 30, there is an IWM photo of a Ram Kangaroo. It is hard to make out the name but it appears to be "CHINCER" or "CHINGER" (CHAUCER?).

I don't have that issue yet, as the Dutch edition is about two years behind the English one.

[Marco C.]

Hello this Picture was made in the Hochwald at Uedem thats not so far from my Home

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Marco C.
Hello this Picture was made in the Hochwald at Uedem thats not so far from my Home

Can you come up with a "now" picture for comparison?

[Marco C.]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Can you come up with a "now" picture for comparison?

Oh Yes i can make a Picture like than and now

I can Take a Picture at Kranenburg too

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Marco C.
Oh Yes i can make a Picture like than and now

I can Take a Picture at Kranenburg too

OK, Marco, the ball's in your court....

BTW, the Kranenburg pics are of the British 49thAPCR, but they're good lads too (I know some, and they're a part of 'the family').

[Marco C.]

@Geoff Winnington-Ball

here the Pictures from Kranenburg Today



Here the Road from Kranenburg to Wyler



The Pictures from the Hochwald come Later

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by servicepub

I need Kangaroo photos!!!

Don't know if you already have these but here goes:


Pic 1: technical drawing
pic 2: 1st variant
pic 3: 2nd variant
pic 4: 3rd variant

I hope they are of use to you. Derek.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Photo caption: "The Canadians in Varsseveld". From: Dr. L. De Jong, De Bezetting na 50 jaar (deel 3). (Apologies for the bad quality.)