Canadian Motor Battalion using C15TA

[Julian Weber]

Thank you so much. Operation Goldflake was a good hint. Found another one:

https://legionmagazine.com/en/wp-con...Feb13-1945.jpg

Caption says: "Armoured truck of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division crossing the Guillotiers Bridge over the Rhone River during Operation Goldflake."
Source: https://legionmagazine.com/en/2012/0...te-february-2/


Do you have more info, Ed? What is the source of your picture?

[Ed Storey]

Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

[Julian Weber]

Another one from R.V. Lury;

By 6 June (1944), 596 C15TAs had been received by CAOS (Canadian army overseas) and, by early September, sufficient C15TAs were on hand that first Canadian Army could begin replacing its White Scout Cars and US half-tracks.
...
By 3 January 1945, CAOS had received 918 C15TAs, of which 445 had been issued to units in Italy and 465 in Northwest Europe.

That plus the goldflake pictures to me is enough evidence that there should've been enough to equip A Motor battalion and if it was A battalion, my best guess would still be the Westies.

I will still look out for something more conclusive but at least I feel confident enough that it is not going to be a dead end.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Julian Weber

Thank you so much. Operation Goldflake was a good hint. Found another one:

ttps://legionmagazine.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PA-142073_Feb13-1945.jpg

Caption says: "Armoured truck of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division crossing the Guillotiers Bridge over the Rhone River during Operation Goldflake."
Source: https://legionmagazine.com/en/2012/0...te-february-2/

The current URL of this article: https://legionmagazine.com/on-this-date-february-2/

IMG_6450.jpeg
Armoured truck of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division crossing the Guillotiers Bridge over the Rhone River during Operation Goldflake.
13 February 1945
PHOTO: BARRY G. GILROY, DND, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA-142073

I read that most if not all bridges in Lyon over the rivers were demolished by the retreating German Army in September 1944. The pont de la Guillotière was no exception. But the US Army Engineers were able to lay a Bailey bridge over the collapsed section so it could be used again. This French webpage describes the destruction of the bridges in Lyon: https://museemilitairelyon.com/2021/...lyon-detruits/

The caption led me to the record at the LAC: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...01520&lang=eng, sadly there is "No digital object". But the Context of this record lead me to a pdf file containing a few pictures which could be the one in question. The photo sown above is on the right side, it is also featured in Gregg’s book. The photo on the left shows another C15TA towing the largest trailer I have seen behind one.

General Motors 15cwt. armoured truck of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division crossing the Guillotiers Bridge over the Rhone River during Operation 'Goldflake'
Date: c.a.20 Mar 1945
1 Can Corps en route through France.jpg