Armoured Fighting Vehicle Training in the Regiment (circa 1932)

[Michael OLeary]

At the end of the First World War the Canadian Tank Corps was disbanded and the cavalry units of the Canadian permanent Force and the Militia returned to horses as their mode of transportation and tactical combat "vehicle."  It was not until the early 1930s that Canada purchased new armoured vehicles and set about establishing training for soldiers in mechanized combat.  At the time the cavalry still resisted mechanization and the first armoured fighting vehicle training in the Canadian Army was established under the command of The Royal Canadian Regiment at London, Ontario.

The following extract from The Connecting File, published in April 1932, describes those early days of armour in the Regiment:

CARDEN LOYDING

Connecting File, Vol XI, No. 2, April 1932

It was with great interest that the members of Headquarters Wing and "C" Company [London, Ont.] saw the Carden Loyd M.G. Carrier come into our midst. These fear-some vehicles puffed and snorted their way into the barracks and their crews (most insolent fellows) paraded their dirty berets and overalls with an air that was hardly pleasant.

We foot soldiers were naturally indignant. Had we not driven our Fords or Chevs. into garages and said, with a lordly air, to greasy mechanics, "Fill her up, Mac!"? Here were we, perfectly good soldiers, being "high hatted" (with berets) by these bolt adjusters and greasers.

A great attempt was made to maintain an air of indifference, but word soon came round that a course in "Carden Loyding" was to start. Gone was the air of indifference and every motor car owner had visions of grinding his own valves and removing his own carbon, or rather the valves and carbon of his own car. Thus began the course and the first few days saw clumsy beginners making honest attempts to shift gears, and next the intricacies of the gas line and ignition system were unfolded. The great difficulty of finding neutral was soon mastered and then the excitement began. Sir Malcolm Campbell and Kaye Don would have envied the careless elegance with which we guided the machines over the driving course. .

Once we had learned to move the machines, the next task was to master the peculiar workings of the gear box. Sun wheels, constant mesh gears and all their little friends who nestled in the machine's innards gave us plenty of trouble. We must admit that our instructor had a difficult time instilling those principles into what we had previously been pleased to call our brains. As a matter of fact, we are still a bit hazy, but nevertheless we can make the machines go. The greatest problem that confronted the students was the proper way to wear. a greasy beret. It was amusing to see them appear one by one on heads that" had previously borne the khaki forage cap with grace and pride. Clean issue overalls soon accumulated grease and tears and the once proud foot soldiers wielded their open ended wrenches and conversed in terms of amps and auto-vacs.

Maintenance! Ah! what curses and harsh words were applied to inefficient grease guns. Hoses and clean rags were used with a zeal equaled only by our friends, the Cavalry, when grooming their horses. What a treat it was to see the machine spick and span and well greased. Then back to the "Snap" and hot water.) (The sale of nail brushes and efficient soap has almost doubled at the Canteen.)

We could go on at length and tell of numerous events of interest which occurred. Thumbs first bruised and then applied to the nose, machines being stalled, successful and unsuccessful attempts to manoeuvre around the flags and posts and other incidents caused both- pain and pleasure. In conclusion, may we say that the process of learning the lives and habits (not forgetting the mechanism) of the Carden Loyd is most pleasant and interesting.

[ranrad]

A very interesting read. Thanks for posting. And we thought the APC's were difficult..heheh..ranrad