Canvas doors

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks, Mike, nice spotting!

MGO Equipment Memorandum No13, Sept 1944 discusses the application/conversion/retrofitting of existing CMP steel doors to canvas doors at workshop level (4th Echelon repairs), due to shortages of maintenance components for steel doors, rather than as a response to climatic conditions.

This is the application of the canvas door kit I mentioned earlier, for retrofitting to existing vehicles (pre-44 pattern cabs). In such cases, the fitting was optional as it depended on factors such as extent of damage to be repaired, availability of spares, desirability of the owner unit to have the doors replaced, etc. While it does not mention specific CMP models, it does state that 'this changeover will occur on 15cwt and 3 ton WD vehicles when undergoing 4th Echelon repairs'. In other words, the vehicle had to be pretty banged up before such a changeover was going to occur, and then only if the damage warranted it.

New production vehicles were equipped with the 44 pattern cab as standard.

MGO EM 13 also contains the jeep winch entry (another thread....), and the autopulse electric fuel pump to overcome vapour locking.

There is an ex-RAAF Heavy Wireless/Telegraphy CMP truck done up as a 'field cash office' at the Pay Corps Museum at Watsonia Barracks: such a shame it is not at the RAAF Museum done up as what it actually is! (The Pay Corps Museum knows, but.....)

I'm sure Alan would welcome the return of the booklet to the Growse Family Military Library!!

Mike C