1 Canadian Infantry Division jeep decal (peel & stick) likely dating from the 1950s as used on vehicles and artillery spotting L-19 aircraft. It is basically identical to the WWII version except that that was a water transfer. The red colour is too pink in this scanned image. (Author's collection)

WWII Cdn Divisional signs top to bottom 1 2 3 4 5 Divs C M Stevens.jpg (42671 bytes)

WWII Canadian Divisional formation signs in transfers 1944-45. All came in large and small sizes (truck/tanks etc., and smaller one for jeeps etc.) Same design, but changed the colour of the background. Top to bottom:

1 Canadian Infantry Division (red)

2 Canadian Infantry Division (early WWII variant has C with II inside it, as a stencil or painted) (blue)

3 Canadian Infantry Division. (French grey)

4 Canadian Armoured Division (green)

5 Canadian Armoured Division (maroon)

Transfers BMT directions.jpg (82488 bytes)

Directions from the back of a typical transfer. Most have a B.M.T. number on the back.

RASC RCASC vehcile unit sign transfer 1944 1945 BMT 2902.jpg (37009 bytes)

Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. The abbreviated title of the unit would be painted or stencilled on the white strip.

RAOC RCOC 1944 1945 BMT 3075.jpg (28240 bytes)

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps

Canadian Military Headquarters and CRU vehicle transfer (decal) made by Gale & Polden of Aldershot in World War II. (Author's collection).

Canadians serving with 21 Army Group (General Montgomery) Line of Communications. This transfer was an additional one to show that they were CANADIANS. An example was recently published inside the back cover of ARMY MOTORS - Canadian Film & Photo Unit at the end of WWII in 1945. These transfers appear in the middle of their windshield panels. (Author's collection)

Original vehicle transfer (decal) for 21 Army Group. BMT No. 2900 (Colin Stevens collection)

In broad terms, a WWII Canadian Army vehicle 'overseas' in the UK or mainland Europe would have the following markings:

War Department number (e.g. CM4242313 was on General Crerar's jeep in June 1944). This was the military's control number and once assigned, they rarely used the vehicle serial number (today we call it a VIN - vehicle identification number).
Unit sign - Identified a unit within a formation (e.g. 61 on green rectangle was Seaforth Highlanders of Canada IF the formation sign was 1 Cdn Infantry Division.)
Formation sign - This was usually a symbol for a division, corps or army. (e.g. 1 Canadian Infantry Division was a gold maple leaf on a signal red rectangle.)
Bridge sign - This was usually a black number on a yellow circle - solid or outline circle - which listed the approximate weight of the vehicle in tons. Jeeps may be seen with the number 1, 2 or even 5. If the vehicle was a towing vehicle, there could be two weights - one for the solo vehicle, and one with the towed load. The purpose was so that guards on bridges could stop traffic that was too heavy for their bridge.
Tire pressure - Usually just a number over the wheel wells, or a longer code. Often painted on the inside of the cab. NOT the US style "TP..." marking.
Gas detection patch - A mustard yellow irregular blob of paint on a surface visible to the driver.
Air recognition signs - To keep from being shot at by one's own forces or allies, many vehicles had recognition signs painted on them. In 1942-44, the British used the RAF roundel on the upper surface e. g. the hood (bonnet to British readers).
Name - Some British (and US drivers) named their vehicles, usually after girlfriends, though this was not common in the Canadian Army except in the Canadian Armoured Corps for tanks.

BRIDGE SIGNS

Click on image to enlarge it.

ORIGINAL WWII Canadian Army Bridge Sign (also called a bridge plate) 7-1/2" diameter metal disc. painted yellow. Originally it was a bright yellow but this one has aged from time, and use. Usually mounted on the right (starboard) front of the vehicle. On jeeps it was often mounted over the passenger side headlight hole or if that light was left in, then mounted below that on the grill. Larger vehicles often had the yellow disc and the black number painted directly on to the vehicle. (Colin Stevens' collection)

Bridge_Sign_NOS_British_Post-WWII.jpg (45266 bytes)

New old stock British Army Bridge sign with original packing label. This is a post-WWII manufacture, but is very like (or identical) to a WWII style. I am selling some of these for a friend. They are NOS (New Old Stock) and never used, but the pain is scrapped on the rim. $35 US + postage each. (2005-05-17 price) [email protected]

Colin Stevens' Willys MB (ex-Norway, ex-UK) in RCAF tactical Air Force markings with bridge sign. The man shown is Dr. Hugh Morse, a Spitfire pilot with 44 Sqn RCAF in WWII (he flew combat in the Aleutian Islands and Normandy and anti-V1 Buzz Bombs over the UK). I have since repainted this jeep back in Airborne markings.

"Bomb", a Sherman tank that served with the Canadian Army from D-Day through to the end of the war in Europe - shown here on June 6 1945 presumably - one year (365 days) after D-Day which was on June 6, 1944.

UNIT SIGNS

Early WWII unit and formation signs were painted on metal plates which slipped into a metal frame attached to front and rear of vehicle. - Colin Stevens' collection.

Unit_sign_authors_42_B&W.jpg (105501 bytes)

Original early WWII Unit sign/PASS plate. This one was repainted on the unit sign side in the 1970s by an owner. On pack of plate is word PASS in white on the khaki paint.

Fmtn_sig_FirstCdnArmy_painted_B&W.jpg (127468 bytes)

Original WWII unit sign. Brought back by a veteran who served with a transport unit of First Canadian Army overseas. Shown here in B&W but is actually colour. Painted on aluminum. - Colin Stevens' collection. This specimen was used and has the mounting holes drilled.

FORMATION SIGNS

Early formation signs were hand painted and/or stencilled.

WWII formation sign stencil painted on an aluminum plate. Original is in colour but this scan is in B&W. This one was never mounted on a vehicle (no holes drilled.) Brought home by a Canadian soldier who served with a First Canadian Army transportation unit. - Colin Stevens' collection.

Marking for World War II British 79th Armoured Division which operated the special purpose armoured vehicles. Shown is an original helmet transfer (decal) from WWII. The vehicle transfers were the same, only larger. (Author's Collection.)

DISTINGUISHING FLAGS FOR SENIOR OFFICERS AND VIPs

Canadian staff car flag staff. This specimen was for Commander of the Canadian Airborne Regiment as it came with his flag on it. I am looking for other examples of Canadian/British vehicle flag staffs. their mounting bases, and flags, swallowtails, and pennants.

General Crerar's jeep flag as General Officer Commanding First Canadian Army in 1944-45. His ADC, Findlay Morrison, gave it to me. I have a large collection of Canadian Army staff car flags.

Brigadier's pennant for 27 Cdn Bde (Militia) in Germany in the early 1950s. - Colin Stevens' collection.

THE AUTHOR IS LOOKING FOR MORE FLAG STAFFS AND MOUNTING BASES FOR MILITARY VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY FROM WWII CANADA AND THE UK.

The author has assembled a collection of most of the WWII military vehicle transfers used by Canadian Army overseas, and most of the pennants, swallow-tails and flags flown by senior officers of their vehicles. See may "Militaria Wanted" page for some of my wants.

HOME SERVICE MARKINGS

6, 7 & 8 Division formation signs from a September 11, 1944 "Vehicles markings" official Canadian Army document. Colin Stevens collection.

M. D. 13 (Alberta & NWT in WWII) Cowboy on bucking bronco. Dark green cricle, red thin circle near outer edge. Brown and red cowboy and horse. From a September 11, 1944 "Vehicles markings" official Canadian Army document. - Colin Stevens' collection.

MARKINGS IN GENERAL

As long as there have been military vehicles - which admittedly are often identical to thousands of other such vehicles, there have been markings. The markings serve not only to identify a particular vehicle, but also to identify the unit and formation that it was serving in.

This page will be developed over time and the emphasis will be on CANADIAN military vehicle markings and paint schemes from all periods. This will include markings painted on vehicles, transfers (decals) which came out during WWII which speeded up the process, vehicle flags and licence plates etc.

This is an aspect of our history that is often little understood and in a restored military vehicle, makes all the difference if done well, or badly. I always hate to see a vehicle that an owner has spent sometime over $10,000 and years restoring, and seeing them put incorrect markings on, or put on 'correct' markings in a wrong fashion.

After military service, most vehicles are repainted, and even those that survive in original paint jobs often have the markings painted out by the military before being sold surplus. Most of the time these markings are lost forever.

If you have an old military vehicle, remember that its history is usually in the MARKINGS. Too many collectors have sandblasted a vehicle and then asked what the history of their vehicle was. The military forces of the world usually destroy army vehicle records. Some fortunate exceptions are the British Army (post-war) and the US Navy (which also covered the US Marine Corps).

In broad terms, a WWII Canadian Army vehicle 'overseas' in the UK or mainland Europe would have the following markings:

War Department number (e.g. CM4242313 was on General Crerar's jeep in June 1944). This was the military's control number and once assigned, they rarely used the vehicle serial number (today we call it a VIN - vehicle identification number).

Unit sign - Identified a unit within a formation (e.g. 61 on green rectangle was Seaforth Highlanders of Canada IF the formation sign was 1 Cdn Infantry Division.)

Formation sign - This was usually a symbol for a division, corps or army. (e.g. 1 Canadian Infantry Division was a gold maple leaf on a signal red rectangle.)

Tire pressure - Usually just a number over the wheel wells, or a longer code. Often painted on the inside of the cab. NOT the US style "TP..." marking.

Gas detection patch - A mustard yellow irregular blob of paint on a surface visible to the driver.

Air recognition signs - To keep from being shot at by one's own forces or allies, many vehicles had recognition signs painted on them. In 1942-44, the British used the RAF roundel on the upper surface e. g. the hood (bonnet to British readers).

Name - Some British (and US drivers) named their vehicles, usually after girlfriends, though this was not common in the Canadian Army except in the Canadian Armoured Corps for tanks.