WLC Serial Number Markings???

[Johan WILLAERT]

I'm working out markings for a Canadian Army Harley-Davidson WLC motorcycle with Engine Number 43WLC5668.
Unit markings will be 3MedRegt/RCA attached to 1 Can Army 1944-1945 (just like the attached image). The stencils for these markings have been cut and the vehicle should be marked appropriately before it's next ride.
That still leaves me with the bike's Serial Number. The new book by Jean Bouchery on the WW2 Canadian Army has been a great help but the only picture of a WLC in it has the front part of the number covered!!!!! What would be an appropriate number for the WLC in question. What were the numbers that were used from 1943 onwards.....(which were different style I think of the ones used on bikes prior to 1943...).....
In that same book, about 90% of vehicles shown on wartime images have the serial numbers start with 42 directly after the lettercodes (for instance CM42xxxxx).
Is there a reason for this or just coincidence???
Thanks for any info,
Rgds, Johan

[Steve Guthrie]

Hello Johan

Canadian Army Census or WD numbers are not so neatly categorized as British army ones.

But after a lot of digging (and help) I've come up with some information that may be of use.

Originally in 1940, RCASC motorcycles were issued with census numbers CC74000 - CC75249.

"B"-vehicle motorcycles were issued with census numbers CC4200000 to CC4202000.

Later in the war, it would appear the huge numbers of vehicles being issued to army units preparing for the Second Front swamped the system and it was not quite so clear-cut.

I'd go with a CC42XXXXX number and challenge nay-sayers to prove it wrong!

For what it's worth

Steve

[Don Dingwall]

The Winged Wheel Patch by Max Burns and Ken Messenger, Vanwell Publishing, 1993, ISBN 0-920277-85-3

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

Hi Johan,the soldier on the motorcycle is Corporal William James(Jamie)Shipton from Kingston,Ontario of the First Division,Royal Canadian Army Service Corp,a CMP driver of the trucks in the background recently arrived from the Italian campaign.Too bad he's not here to validate the bike number.
Regards

[Johan WILLAERT]

Hi,
Thanks for your reactions.....

I have made up the following stencil:

CC4213708

I had observed xxxxxx705 in the Bouchery book and figured the number above pretty close....

I'm looking forward to reactions at the next vehicle show.....

Rgds,

Johan

[Rob van Meel]

Hi

From a 1944 Chilwell (RAOC) allocated census number list, app. 90 pages thick and covering the issued numbers in numerical order, the following Canadian(?) numberblocks etc. appear.

In the following list the entries are arranged in the following order:
-1- pre fix for numberblock
-2- start of block
-3- end of number block (if appropiate)
-4- details as entered in before mentioned publication, eg. specification of vehicle class as used in AB 405 (unit vehicle register)
5954 6208 Not taken (Canadian army?)
25001 25249 Canadian Forces.
447001 4647524 Canadian Forces.
C 74000 75249 Motor Cycles, Canadian Forces.
195000 199579 Canadian Forces.
219234 219283 Canadian Forces.
232501 232600 Canadian Forces.
773680 773979 Canadian Forces.
1037501 1038300 Canadian Forces.
1039802 1041801 Canadian Forces.
1164421 1164620 Canadian Forces.
1165320 1166319 Canadian Forces.
1352207 1353206 Canadian Forces.
4200000 4299999 Canadian not on 'B' Census.
4425317 4426316 Canada, Various Types.
5700001 5799999 Various allotted to Canadian Forces.

C 4183563 4183595 H1081 CD817 Norton Motor Cycle Solo 500cc SV 16H (ex Canadian).
Z 4473193 4473252 ex Can. Chevrolet Truck 15cwt 4x2 G/S.
Z 4473253 4473262 ex Can Ford Lorry 3ton 4x2 G/S.
M 4473263 ex Can Ford Station Wagon 4wh.
L 5115171 Canadian Ford Lorry 3ton 4x4 G/S.

I am afraid that at the moment more specific information, covered by written source material, is missing. Whenever somebody is claiming something to be correct, one should always try to get confirmation as to where the information comes from. Although I have only briefly glanced at the newly published book on the Canadian soldier by Jean Bouchery, if his previous book on the British soldier and army are anything to judge by, one should NOT read this book as being the gospel.
If anyone has anymore information on census numbers, I am always looking for more!

Rob