Door lettering C15A Cab 12

[rob love]

The visible markings are for 41 reserve Brigade Group. They are back on the books today as the 41 Canadian Brigade Group after being disbanded in the 40s. Here is some history from the current DND page:

As Canada expanded into the West, and with the establishment of its new provinces, the need for a military presence and a command structure became apparent. In 1905, Military District No.13 was established with its headquarters in Calgary. This system remained in place until 1947. In December of 1941, because of Japan's entry into the Second World War, it was decided to organize a number of brigades for the defence of Canada. In February 1942, one brigade was organized for each of the eleven Military Districts. In Alberta, it was 41st (Reserve) Brigade Group in Calgary. The wartime reserve brigades were allotted full-time commanders and their staff. Soldiers in these brigades were not eligible for service with the Active Force. This included persons between ages 17 and 19 and over age 35, those with a lower medical category and members of the Canadian Officers Training Corps until graduation. These brigades were stood down in 1945.

The Z is the marking for a Lorry, and the DND number is of the second type adopted around the beginning of 1943. That numbering system began at 50-000 and went up from there, so yours is quite low. However, most likely your truck will have an earlier type of numbering underneath that in the form of 42-1-1234. I also see the remnants of another unit marking underneath the current one, but I don't know if there is enough visible to deduce what unit it is.

Interesting in that it appears to have a very red base coat underneath the lettering.