Canadian Army Central Ordnance Depots

[David Dunlop]

I was looking at the Govt of Canada Websites this afternoon for something I have now forgotten already, and found a copy of an April 1945 CATM. A lot of topics were covered but on one section, there was a brief history of the Central Ordnance Depots. No numbering system references were included but it was interesting, none the less.

According to this publication, when World War Two broke out, there were two major CODs in Canada, one in Ottawa and the second in Montreal (Longue Pointe). The one in Ottawa apparently had a bias towards supplying parts for mechanized equipment. Montreal did not. In addition, each Military District across Canada also maintained smaller CODs, but no locations were provided.

As war production rapidly ramped up, the supply system was adjusted. A new COD in London, Ontario was opened which also had a bias towards mechanized equipment. In addition, new CODs were established in Halifax, Amhurst, Toronto and Saskatoon. No information was provided regarding the fate of the pre-existing depots in the 10 Military Districts across Canada.


David

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

According to this publication, when World War Two broke out, there were two major CODs in Canada, one in Ottawa and the second in Montreal (Longue Pointe). The one in Ottawa apparently had a bias towards supplying parts for mechanized equipment. Montreal did not. In addition, each Military District across Canada also maintained smaller CODs, but no locations were provided.

The 1936 Defence Forces List, the one I have dated closest to 1939, shows that the RCOC had 12 Detachments across the country. One in each of the 11 Military Districts with the exception of MD 3 in Kingston which had two; No. 3 in Kingston and No. 9 in Ottawa. Unfortunately, there are no exact locations or addresses given for them.

Detachment No. 4 was, as you said, at Longue Pointe. It had stored within a complete set of saddlery and tack for a full cavalry division, along with the personnel to maintain it (oiling and cleaning the leather). I read somewhere that it was all sold to Argentina after the war.

I have some information on the post-war RCOC organization and locations which I'll (hopefully) be able to post tomorrow.

[Dan Martel]

The following is a list of the RCOC installations with their postal addresses from July 31, 1959:

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps School 6560 Hochelaga St, Montreal 5, Que
No 4 Area Ordnance Depot 440 King Street West, Kingston, Ont
No 6 Area Ordnance Depot Wolseley Barracks, Elizabeth Street, London, ON
No 7 Area Ordnance Depot National Defence Building, Winnipeg Street and 8th Avenue, Regina, Sask
No 8 Area Ordnance Depot 4050 4th Avenue West, Vancouver 8, BC
No 9 Area Ordnance Depot Buckmaster’s Field, St John’s, Nfld
No 12 Regional Ordnance Depot Willow Park, Windsor St Extension, Halifax, NS
No 14 Regional Ordnance Depot 6565 Notre Dame Street East, Montreal 5, Que
No 15 Regional Ordnance Depot Cawthra Road, Lakeview, Ont
No 16 Regional Ordnance Depot Fort Osborne Barracks, Winnipeg 9, Man
No 17 Regional Ordnance Depot Griesbach, Alta
No 25 Central Ordnance Depot PO Box 6109, Montreal, Que
No 26 Central Ordnance Depot Cobourg, Ont
No 27 Central Ordnance Depot Highbury Ave, London, Ont
No 28 Central Ordnance Depot Camp Shilo, Man
No 31 Ordnance Ammunition Depot Debert, NS
No 32 Ordnance Ammunition Depot McGivney, NB
No 34 Ordnance Ammunition Depot Ste Therese, Que
No 36 Ordnance Ammunition Depot Dundurn Military Camp, Dundurn, Sask
No 37 Ordnance Ammunition Depot Battle Street, Kamloops, BC
No 40 Camp Ordnance Railhead Camp Gagetown, Fredericton, NB
No 41 Camp Ordnance Railhead Camp Valcartier, Que
No 42 Camp Ordnance Railhead Camp Petawawa, Ont
No 43 Camp Ordnance Railhead Camp Borden, Ont
No 44 Camp Ordnance Railhead Camp Shilo, Man
No 45 Camp Ordnance Railhead MPO 500, Camp Wainwright, Alta
No 14 Company, RCOC Camp Takhini, Whitehorse, YT
No 18 Company, RCOC Fort Churchill, Man