Kangaroo Photos wanted

[Bill Miller]

Thanks for the additional info Mark. I hadn't gotten around to investigating the details yet.

My Archivanet search turned up about a half dozen or more photos in this series at Wertle, same photographer, same archives accension date. So there may be more Kangaroo photos related to this particular photo?

I really would like to get out to Ottawa and check out the Archives in person, but alas it will have to wait I just spent any future travel money on a collection of 1CACR insignia that was in Holland. Among the items are a matched pair of the elusive collar badges!

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Came across the below photo which is captioned "The advance on Schijndel near 's-Hertogenbosch, Jocks of the 2nd Bn Seaforths riding in Kangaroos driven by Canadians". If this is the case, the date would be 23 October 1944 and the Kangaroos belong to 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron.

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

Nice photo Mark,

Is this from a published source? At first glance I thought I had not seen this one before but I looked through some stuff I got from the IWM last fall and lo and behold...

This is a detail of a larger photo. I have a contact sheet of kangaroo photos from the IWM that has this photo on it and it shows more of the surrounding landscape and it appears the photographer was actually riding in the kangaroo ahead as you can see a little of the rear deck of the APC in the foreground.

The caption from the IWM is as follows:
The Advance on Hertogenbosh (sic) B11201
Troops (51st Highland Division was) committed to battle in this (the 12 Corps) atttack on Holland. The advance was in the general direction of Hertogenbosh. These pictures (11201-204) show infantry (of the 2nd Seaforth highlanders Bn.,) (152 Bde.) moving up and advancing in Kangaroos, old Ram tanks without a gun turret. Infantry travel to their objective on these kangaroos driven by Canadians on this occasion., the advance on Schijndel (sic).

Taken by Sgt. Norris. 24.10.44. RELEASED


Note of the above mentioned series of photos B 11201-204. 3 have shown up here now. B11203 has not been shown. I'll attach here, though my copy is just a very low grade photocopy. All the photos in this series bear the same caption as above.

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
Is this from a published source?

Hi Bill;

This photo appears in a publication I own entitled The 51st Highland Division at War, by Roderick Grant, published in 1977. Photos B11202 and B11204 appear in my The Kangaroo in Canadian Service, B11202 from the Bovington Tank Museum (BTM 2293) and B11205 courtesy of Ed Storey, another who shares a common interest in the Kangaroos. Photo B11203 I have seen before, but I just cannot remember where or in which publication . If I come across it, I'll post it here with a reference.

These four photos are the only ones I've ever seen or come across that are of Kangaroos of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron and at the end of the day on which they were taken (23 Oct 44) the Squadron ceased to exist with effect from 0001hrs 24 Oct 44 with the standing up of 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, C.A.C., into which the Squadron was absorbed, becoming "A" Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, C.A.C. Of course you know all this already Bill , but for those that don't.......

Cheers

[wim sikkelbein]

I found these photo's on

http://beeldbank.nationaalarchief.nl

they were taken during the liberation of hengelo holland,
the soldiers are british but I don't know if the kangaroos are canadian

[wim sikkelbein]

this one shows two curved bars over the turret ring, who knows what they are used for?

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by wim sikkelbein
this one shows two curved bars over the turret ring, who knows what they are used for?

Hi Wim;

Is this the full photo?, if not, could you please post it. The bars are probably for a tarp for overhead cover from the elements.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hanno/Bill;

Is it possible that the below two photos were taken in the same location (more or less). The top photo, Hanno had posted earlier and the bottom photo is from the IWM - reference: BU 3322. If they were taken in the same location, it would be Hopsten, Germany on 8 April 1945 and judging by the markings on the Kangaroo in the top photo, they belong to "A" Sqn, 49 APCR.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Wim;

Are you sure that the photo below was taken at Hengelo?

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

Hi Wim and Mark,

First of all thanks Wim for the interesting new photos showing kangaroo personnel!! I'm going to have to inquire about get larger copies of these photos from these archives as I may be able to identify some or all of the "kangaroos" involved! Indeed there are a couple of familiar faces in the one larger group photo. The fellow standing on the engine deck on the left is familiar to me. I also notice a faint marking of the tank's name on the fender, "SISCA"? Great photos!

Mark, as for whether the two photos were taken at or near the same place, time of year, I would think it is likely. Though Hanno would be more familiar with the architecture of the area to affirm. From what I have come across so far, most of the photos of kangaroos in action come in batches taken all on or around the same day/action by the same war photographer. My opinion/guess is same locale. Definitely both 49APCR.

Wim's posted photographs could be Hengelo, though maybe not the actual "liberation". I am at work right now and don't have my list of lifts and place names travelled by the 1CACR but I do know that their 12 pg History and Col. Churchill's address pamphlet were both printed in Hengelo, so at some point, somebody from the regt. was there.

The bars on the inside (in the second of Wim's photos) are definitely tarp/bivouac support. According to my Dad, these were all improvised by the guys in the field. Some used a simple, single bar traversing the length of the turret ring. Some used two bars to made a "y" or an "x" shape. Example photo attached.
http://graceland.gentle.org/whatcha/kanga.html

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
Hi Wim and Mark,

First of all thanks Wim for the interesting new photos showing kangaroo personnel!! I'm going to have to inquire about get larger copies of these photos from these archives as I may be able to identify some or all of the "kangaroos" involved! Indeed there are a couple of familiar faces in the one larger group photo. The fellow standing on the engine deck on the left is familiar to me. I also notice a faint marking of the tank's name on the fender, "SISCA"? Great photos!

Wim's posted photographs could be Hengelo, though maybe not the actual "liberation". I am at work right now and don't have my list of lifts and place names travelled by the 1CACR but I do know that their 12 pg History and Col. Churchill's address pamphlet were both printed in Hengelo, so at some point, somebody from the regt. was there.

Thanks Bill, I kinda thought that these were 1 CACR (cap badges second photo) and may not have been taken when Hengelo was liberated.

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

Hi Mark,

I went to the above posted, Dutch Archive website and did a search (zoek) for Hengelo...

There were a few more 1CACR goup photos and what certainly looks like "liberation" celebrations! There was one photo of an 1CACR officer, I think it is A/Maj. Copley, OC of B Squadron. I'll need to investigate a little more thoroughly... but later, I really should get back to work.

Always fun to discover new stuff though.

Bill.

[kevinT]

Any chance of a slightly larger scan of that photo. I just can't quite make out the name / number on the side.

Cheers
Kevin

[Bill Miller]

Hi Kevin,

If you are talking about the small photo I posted. It is "Red Chief" (as in the short story by O'Henry??). I'm sorry I don't have a better photo of it, I wish I did it is a great photo. On the cast turret is the marking C IV(roman numeral 4). This marking can be seen on several 1CACR Rams. What it stands for is up for speculation. It isn't a regimental marking. My guess is that it is some sort of identifier put on by the workshops?

Red Chief was Murray (Baldy) McCarten's kangaroo, B Squadron. I don't have a CT number for it.

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Bill;

They are photos of B Sqn, 1 CACR, but depending on which Hengelo the site refers to, nearest that B Sqn got to either Hengelo was on 31 Mar 45 in support of 43rd (Wessex) Inf Div at Sinderen, or in other words:

Sinderen is approx. 15 miles from Hengelo, Gelderland and approx. 34 miles from Hengelo, Overijssel.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

the other four photos of members of B Sqn, 1 CACR from http://beeldbank.nationaalarchief.nl/index.php the first two:

[Mark W. Tonner]

the other two photos of members of B Sqn, 1 CACR from http://beeldbank.nationaalarchief.nl/index.php

[wim sikkelbein]

Hello everybody,

I’m pretty sure it’s Hengelo overijssel because on the archive it says in the description:

Reportage uit Enschede en Hengelo van de strijd in die plaatsen front n.o.-Nederland

witch means: report from Enschede and Hengelo of the battle in those places front north-east Netherlands

Recently I bought a photo book on the liberation of Hengelo witch has a lot of pictures in it that are also represented on the beeldbank archive

The cities of Hengelo and Enschede are located besides each other and the location of Hengelo gelderland is much further away

Furthermore Hengelo is located at about 15 minutes drive from the border with Germany so the picture Hanno provided might be taken on the other side of the border a couple of days later perhaps

[wim sikkelbein]

Here is the book I mentioned earlier,

Bevrijding Hengelo 1945

isbn: 90 8569 003 x
publisher: Uitgeverij Elbertinck

It comes with it's own DVD containing film footage of the liberation and days thereafter and a interview with a liberater

[wim sikkelbein]

kangaroos parked in street in hengelo

[wim sikkelbein]

close-up of a kangaroo

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Wim;

Thank you for posting the additional photos of the Kangaroos.

The Kangaroo (1 CACR) photos that you have posted from both the archives site and the book you mention regarding Hengelo-Enschede, are in fact from the period of 16 May 1945 and after.

On 16-17 May the Regiment moved into Enschede, where they were based until disbandment on 20 June 1945, with their tanks departing for turn into Ordnance on 11 June ("A" Sqn) and 15 June ("B" Sqn), followed by the remaining wheeled transport and personnel departing Enschede mid morning on 20 June 1945.

Cheers

[Bill Miller]

Thanks very much Wim for posting the info about the book and the great new photos! That these photos are Enschede makes more sense and the photos of the tanks lined up on the street is similar to other photos I have or have seen of Enschede. I wonder if this location has changed much in 60+ years. It would a good subject for a "then and now". I also wonder if the school house where the Regt. was billeted is still standing? It has rather unique architecture. Photo attached.

[Eric Heijink]

Hello Bill,

I saw your post about the school in Enschede. I am new on this forum.
The school is located in Glanerbrug, a village close to Enschede. And it is still there.

Originally Posted by Bill Miller

I wonder if this location has changed much in 60+ years. It would a good subject for a "then and now". I also wonder if the school house where the Regt. was billeted is still standing? It has rather unique architecture. Photo attached.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Eric Heijink

Hello Bill,

I saw your post about the school in Enschede. I am new on this forum.
The school is located in Glanerbrug, a village close to Enschede. And it is still there.

Eric,

Excellent then & now picture! Bill will be thrilled to see this, but as far as I know he's busy with other stuff now so we'll have to wait untill he chimes in.

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Have we seen this one before?

Kangaroos of the Canadian Army formed up after the Battle of Wanssum in the Netherlands, 1945.

Photograph by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe, 1945.
The Kangaroo was a Canadian armoured personnel carrier (APC) based on a converted tank chassis. The majority of vehicles converted were Canadian Ram tanks or Shermans. The armoured Kangaroo gave infantry more protection than the standard Commonwealth Bren Carrier and thus proved more suitable for infantry units accompanying tanks into battle.
From an album containing 222 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
NAM Accession Number

NAM. 1975-03-63-21-105

[Bill Miller]

The previous photo was A Squadron, taken around the end of May 1945 in Enschede. This attached photo is of the NCO's of RHQ. same locale, different viewpoint. Late May or early June.

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by wim sikkelbein
kangaroos parked in street in hengelo

Hi Wim;

Reference this photo:



can you read the number on the rear of the tank that should begin with CT...... (should be within the red box) and also what is forward of the allied star on the tank side (within the red box).

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Wim;

A note concerning the liberation of Hengelo and Enschede. Enschede was liberated on 1 April 1945 by elements of the British 3rd Infantry Division and Guards Armoured Division, followed on 2 April 1945 by the liberation of Hengelo by elements of the British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division and 8th Armoured Brigade.

During this period (1-2 April), No. 1 Troop and No. 2 Troop of "A" Sqn, 1 CACR were engaged with the 4th Wiltshires (129 Inf Bde/43 (Wessex) Inf Div) in the area of Lochem (31 Mar/1 Apr) and Borculo (2 Apr), to the south-west of Hengelo-Enschede. On the evening of 2 April, both Troops rejoined "A" Sqn who had been harboured (in various locations) west of Lochem-Borculo since 30 March, leaving this location and moving north on the morning of 3 April in support of 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (6 Cdn Inf Bde) operations towards the Schipbeek Canal.

Also, during the period 1-2 April, "B" Sqn, 1 CACR were harboured in the area of Westendorp (having arrived in location on 1 Apr), also to the south-west of Hengelo-Enschede, moving north from this location late on the afternoon of 2 Apr, passing to the west (Deldon) of Hengelo-Enschede, in support of 4th Canadian Armoured Division (10 Cdn Inf Bde) operations.

No sub-units of 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment were directly involved with the liberation of either Enschede (1 Apr) or Hengelo (2 Apr).

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Bill;

Regarding the photo of "A" Sqn:



This was taken on Sunday, 20 May 1945 in Enschede, according to the "B" Sqn diary for May 1945, the diary entry reading:

'20 May 45.

A bright Sunday morning, ideal for the taking of Squadron Photographs, that Major Copley had arranged for the previous day. The photographer arrived somewhat late and unable to decide how the 200 members of the Squadron were to be posed, kept everyone standing about for over an hour. Not calculated to put the men in good humor, but nevertheless they all had a smile for the birdie when he finally came. The rest of the day was a rest period and the day passed without further note.'

********************

I believe Art Bell has a copy of the photo that was taken of all of RHQ in the same area as that of the one you posted of NCO's of RHQ, it has a single scout car on either flank if I remember correctly.

Cheers