Carrier Armour Extensions

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Dan Martel

I've seen the term 'Welsh Guards Stowage' in books and on blogs for years, but I've never seen it explained. Do you know what WGS is or means?

As Stephen posted, the change in how a MK-I/MK-I* universal carrier stowed the E.I.S., along with BREN tripod, small arms, SAA, grenades, tracer rounds, … personal issue equipment. . . you get the idea… a place for everything.

The Welsh Guards came up with a unit specific stowage system that improved on the MK-I/MK-I* standard carrier. That style became the accepted standard in the UK. The Canadian military attended a demonstration of the standard, along with the Ford Canada factory representatives who were posted to CMHQ, London. (Sid Swallow, et al)

The name, Welsh Guards Stowage remained.

With major changes in carrier production about to be implemented at Ford Canada, the UK based Canadian factory reps reported the details to Ford Canada, which were then included on the Canadian No-2 MK-II* carrier, identified as C31UCW… the UC self explanatory, the ‘W’ for Welsh, as in Welsh Guards Stowage.

Reference to the process is captured in a series of CMHQ file reports now available through Library and Archives Canada.

However, as this process was underway, the British military group assigned to Washington, USA were meeting with Ford, USA designing a completely new carrier with welded hull and updated stowage system: the 1942 birth of what rolled out as the MARK 1 T16.