Museum Canadian Allied Forces 1940-1945

St. Museum Canadian Allied Forces
1940-1945

Museum

Activities

Museum

The vehicles

With the acquisition of a DKW Munga Jeep in 1979 started what today has become the Museum Canadian Allied Forces. Although the collection expanded to all kinds militaria and civilian items related to the World War II era, the army vehicles always remained the core of the collection.

When trying to make the past tangible, trying to experience it as it were, than the vehicle as a means to achive this is an excellent choice. Unlike a film or picture, one can touch, smell and even hear it. And what's more rewarding than to revive a piece of history by simply starting the engine and drive away?

Indeed, the museum is very proud of the dozens of army vehicles which are exhibited. They were found and traced in the whole of Europe, but also surprisingly close to home. The only tank in the collection was found on the army training grounds in the Marnewaard, just north of the city of Groningen, where she was used as a pratice target. Other vehicles were acquired in nations as Poland, France, Norway and the United Kingdom.

However, not all vehicles were personally saved from junkyard or the destructive hands of mother nature. On occasions they were acquired by exchange. A trade with the Aviodrome gave them a completely restored AMX-13 and the museum it's first aircraft: a nice Avro Anson from 1944. The most interesting were the tips from friends and acquaintances. Sometimes it was nothing, but sometimes it produced beautifull little gems like - for example - a German searchlight complete with it's original generator truck.

French AMX-13 tank restored to full working order

Scammel Pioneer in Royal Air Force colours

Where the DC-3 Dakota was the backbone of air transport; the 2½-ton GMC truck was that for land transport. The museum has several of them. Also the heavy wreckers are represented with the Scammel Pioneer and the Diamond T 980. Both were used to salvage - often enough under enemy fire - broken down tanks from the battlefield and transport them back to the rear for repair.

There are also more specialized vehicles like small and big tractors, an obscure Hughes-Keenan roustabout crane and a Thompson self-propelled fuel tank. Wih the growing numbers of vehicles in the collection, the diversity also grew. More and more non-motorized vehicles like big and small trailers and bycles for paratroops were added to complement the scenes portrayed in the different diorama's.

The combat vehicles are represented with fast armoured cars like the Daimler Dingo, the White M3 and the Marmon-Herrington. These were light armoured and had only small guns. Although much weaker than tanks, because of their speed they made the assault troops very mobile. The Marmon-Herrington was quite succesfull in North-Africa. In the desert she could cross terrain where tanks couldn't go, and where she could threaten the enemy rear with fast flank manouvres.

On entrance the visitor will surely not miss the Patton tank from 1945. For now this is our only tank. High on the wishlist are a Sherman and Stuart tank. Both of them were used by the Canadian troops during the battle for Groningen and must have their place in the museum collection. Unfortunately, for the time being the prices for these legendary historic vehicles are far beyond the means of the museum.

Turret of the Patton tank