Canadian snow related equipment post WW2

[Ed Storey]

To illustrate just how the toboggan load can vary according to time period, environmental concerns and equipment held in a unit QM, I have attached this reference photograph taken in 2010.

IMG_2962 copy.jpg

[rob love]

While the black jerry can of water may well do in Southern Ontario, it would serve very little purpose here in Shilo. After a day or two, it would only be good to lay in front of that GPMG mount for it's bullet stopping capabilities.



The tin cans in the first set of photos were for bringing in snow to melt. Although time consuming, it is usually fairly abundant if you are using the toboggan. Ice is better, but if said ice is locked within a jerry can, then it is just dead weight.



The collapsible blue bag toilets are definitely a product of the environmentalists. It seemed like most of the rations were in tomatoe sauce, and what goes in must come out. There was nothing like getting onto one of those just in hte nick of time, only to have one side of it start sinking into the snow.



As to the fire extinguisher, it was always my understanding that when those tents went up, it was with extreme speed. I'm not sure there would have been ample time to use the extinguisher.



You can see the local purchase stuff has entered the system. Both axes are different (I think a fiberglass handle on the one), the snow saw is commercial, and even the small pack looks like it is an aftermarket surplus look-a-like.



What is in the green bag to the front. Would it be a pot-set?

[James P]

Jerry can for water - ditch
Fire extinguisher - ditch
Potty chair - ditch
Glass globe on lantern - ditch

Pack more naptha cans, then pack MORE naptha.

The bag would ( I am guessing and working from experiance(s) all the little things like TP, generators, slip joint pliers, flat tip screw driver, space blankets, gun tape/para cord, candles, etc

[Robin Craig]

So a comment here. I have been privvy to watching troops in the field conduct winter indoctrination training and I have to say it is a miracle that no one ever got killed or seriously maimed with the axe. Honest to goodness a good bow saw did so much more work cutting material for snow defences and improvised shelters it just wasn't funny and with much less expenditure of effort. Axes bouncing off frozen springy wood and glancing blow beside feet made me wince.

I know with the Militia toboggans the bow saw was a unit local purchase and so it doesn't surprise me to see it omitted here.

No pictures so far of the cardboard ice boxes and the inserts to replace the jerry cans of water.

And Rob, I agree, tents go up faster than troops can deploy an extinguisher. A snow shovel wielded by a fit and accurate member is faster and more effective.

[rob love]

The ice boxes were for defensive positions, not for bringing ice to the field.



Funny story about burning tents. When in Kandahar, the fire inspector would get onto us for having plywood in the tents, declaring them fire hazards. Some guys would use it rather than the canvas dividers that originally came with the structure. We each were in a 8x9 room/cubicle. Anyway, the nearby "old Canada house" caught fire one day, apparently from an old coffee pot. The tent burned down in minutes, and all that remained you ask? The plywood sub-structures within the tent, much of which was barely singed.



That said, I heard of a soldier who decided to ride out the fire in a 10 man tent. He reportedly suffered severe burns to his back. Of course, back then the combats were nylon which did not help matters.

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi Rob

Yes, they were for snow defences.....and for hauling drinking water to the field. The ice boxes were for drinking water. The jerry can was in our toboggan too but that came into the tent so we had wash water. When available this set up was perpetuated throughout my career. Armoured thing?

I'll try and get some pics of them.

Here's the FE we used. Low temp. Worked well on erratic Coleman Stoves when idiots were involved.

regards
Darrell

[rob love]

The best thing I found for the coleman stoves was to use one of the propane trigger torches on the stove's generator to preheat it before lighting. It prevented the sometimes disastrous initial lighting of the stove....you instantly had the blue flame. The propane torch could also be used to heat the intake manifold of the skidoos so they would start in the arctic conditions. But the problem with propane is that it does not vaporize at temps below -35. In those cases, I remember having to pre-heat the propane torch on the coleman stove, put it into my parka, and then I could pre-heat the skidoo.



I cannot say I miss those days.

[James P]

^ Generator or warming the burner ? Pumping up the stoves tank and then spraying the burner wet (not a crazy amount) light the fuel and let it heat the burner, stick the tank back on and open the valve works great to get a cold stove producing BTUs. The Brits had some diesel fuel stove that must have been invented by a burn care doctor, the Coleman works like a champ compared to it.