M4A2E8 HVSS Sherman tank, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, need service history

[maple_leaf_eh]

A hundred and fifty years ago when I did recruiting in Regina, we were sent to Speedy Creek to screen Saskatchewan Dragoon recruits for a planned reopened Troop or Squadron. I recall meeting an applicant who had been in the old armoured unit before it was shut down in the 60's. He wanted to rejoin. After a couple decades of farming, he still thought himself healthy enough to give it a go.

The story he told (and what I remember) was the CO and staff saw their role in the community as trainers and spreaders-of-military-skills. The now middle aged man had joined up, done Basic and trades training, and had a year of small unit experience in the armoury. Which I recall was north of the centre of town on a little hillside west of some main road. Nice place, eventually ceded to the city like many other small town armouries.

After some decent interval, his training and military exposure were deemed sufficient, and he was released. His instructions were to encourage others to join up, to keep himself ready if the nation needed his services, and to always honour his unit. (I guess the family reputation of that Colonel has been somewhat smudged with the passage of time. Don't know why.)

So if his Worship the Mayor wants to sell the "old tank" he is dishonouring the service of hundreds and thousands of young men and women constituents.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I read about this program today at lunch on my Twitter feed. I have the Min of Veterans Affairs' feeds, and this was todays!

Application rules -

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/rememb...y-war-memorial

Program guidelines -

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/rememb...ial/guidelines

The final report format -

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/pdf/rememb...ity-report.pdf

[rob love]

Thanks for the link Terry. There was a small town nearby that was looking at transferring one of it's WW1 war trophies as they did not have the resources to provide upkeep. Just getting the wheelwright to redo the wheels can run three to four thousand. I'll pass the links on.

[45jim]

On Ram Tank, this vehicle is listed as PCC Mar 64, Mar 64 COD and May 65 COD. The comment on the listing is that the status "COD" is condemned.

http://www.ramtank.ca/postwar%20sherman.htm

I don't see much information there regarding the units that operated this particular tank. Perhaps the author of the book on postwar Sherman's may provide more insight. Rod Henderson, could probably be contacted through Clive Law.

With the plaque on the vehicle already you don't need much of a case to prove this is a historical artifact worthy of preservation. There is money available for a pad, sandblast and repaint and perhaps even a re-dedication of the memorial. The biggest hurdle is normally getting a champion in the City to ramrod it and finding a suitable place to display it. No doubt there are hordes of people who want things like this removed and scrapped lest they trigger negative memories for refugees, flower children and despondent Clinton/Sanders supporters.

[Michael R.]

The Sherman Tank
A demilitarized Sherman Tank was brought to Swift Current in 1971 from the Canadian Forces Base in Calgary.* It was put on display outside the former armoury building. Sherman tanks had played an important role in the military life in this area, with four of them being used by the Hussars for training purposes from 1955-1965.* The 31 ton machine was to serve as a lasting memorial of the Second World War, and its use by the 14th Canadian Hussars.* It was officially dedicated to the 8th Recce and 14th Canadian Hussars in a ceremony held on D-day in 1995.

http://www.swiftcurrent.ca/divisions...-swift-current

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Michael R.

The Sherman Tank
A demilitarized Sherman Tank was brought to Swift Current in 1971 .....

http://www.swiftcurrent.ca/divisions...-swift-current

The funding for a lot of these little local histories was from a share of the lottery and gaming revenues. In the 90s the province took half the proceeds, and the rest split between sport, recreation and culture groups.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Not much in particular, but in general:

Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 76 mm Gun, M4A2

In 1946 the Royal Canadian Corps was equipped with 300 M4A2(76)W HVSS Shermans, bought from the US for $1,460.00 each. They were used for training only. After being replaced by Centurions, the Shermans were passed down to various Militia regiments.
The Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment which served in Korea used M4A3(76)W HVSS Shermans supplied by the USA.

from my webpage: http://www.mapleleafup.nl/g104/cdn.htm