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Halftrack Restoration
A couple of adjutants. Captain Bob Allsopp, the adjutant (left), and Captain "Newt" Hughes, the battle adjutant, pose with the ACV, September 1944. The ACV or Armoured Command Vehicle, with its elaborate communications equipment, allowed Swatty Wotherspoon to command the SAR while at a distance from RHQ. This vehicle was a rare White Motor Company model not normally supplied to the Commonwealth armies. Note Hughes' leather jerkin - the weather is starting to get colder. Photo courtesy, R.H. Allsopp.
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Project Manager: Sgt McCue
Engine/Powertrain OPI- Cpl Winton
Body and Chassis OPI- Cpl Christie
Welders- Sgt Wilding & Cpl MacIntyre
Labourers- WO Bergt, MCpl Elliott, MCpl Alexander, Cpl Stickle, Cpl Moehrle
Completion Date: March 1, 2005
Event Success Factor: To provide the centerpiece for the Provincial Museum Exhibit in Edmonton and to Return To Medicine Hat and once more carry the Guidon through that city
Last Message From the Project Manager Before Project Was Completed:
01 May 05
Halftrack Update
We met our Regiments goal to have the SAR Halftrack running and drive-able with the exterior complete for the Museum display, but we need to now turn our attentions to the interior and the rear CP Complex of the vehicle to fully complete the restoration.
The Halftrack needs a few components yet to make her roadworthy, the first is Service Brakes, we have a functional park brake but still need to complete the air over hydraulic service brakes. We will need to purchase a brake booster and some components to finish off that subsystem as soon as possible.
We also require a few smaller parts to complete the dashboard, we are still missing the following components; an ignition switch, a dash light rheostat, a map reading light, a vehicle compass, a heater switch, vehicle data plates engraved with our DOD number and frame serial numbers. We have covered over these openings in the vehicle but still wish to complete the dash to its wartime state.
We also require a number of parts to complete the radio room, we require 19 set cables for power, and connections as well as power transfer cables. We also require aerial to radio leads as well as various wireless parts, manuals and canvas covers, guy-lines for the spare masts and headset hooks. We will also require two chore-horse generators and a charging board and batteries, as well as parts to complete the radio operator’s seat. With all these parts we will have a running radio room that will be as fully functional as the rest of the vehicle.
For the CP side, we really have an opportunity to make the vehicle look incredibly realistic, I have found and purchased a 1936 map of Normandy made for the German Army that shows the Allied battle positions marked in grease pencil shortly after D-Day. This map is a road map at a scale of 1-200 thousand and shows the Normandy coast from St. Mere-Eglise in the NW to St Lambert sur Dives in the SE. It was captured by a British soldier after D-Day and was recently up for sale on the Internet. I intend to duplicate this map and put a copy inside the CP. As well as the great map, the 6 Int Coy has generously donated some aerial photographs of France taken from 1942 to 1944 that will also be used inside the Halftrack. We are always looking for more maps and WWII memorabilia for use inside the CP. I am currently looking at purchasing some German passbooks and letters home, as they may have been used for Int purposes by the CP staff or something along those lines. We are also looking for more WWII kit to complete our display, things such as 37 Pattern web gear, especially pistol holsters and web belts as well as kit, duffel bags, canvas cam nets, ammo boxes Jerry cans and the like to complete our war time display.
We have a partially complete tarp currently at the Mat Techs that we hope to add to the Halftrack over the next couple of months. It will really complete the exterior to closely resemble the wartime photos and should be a real finishing touch.
We must also replace the current headlights with the proper wartime lights, as well as install interior lights in the CP and Radio Room. We also need to tune the carburetor and fine-tune the engine timing; as well we may need to reseal the transmission, as we detected a small leak. We also need to finish the shelving, drawers and install the wooden divider between the CP and the Radio Room as per the wartime vehicle. Although we are looking at making a divider with a sliding panel so there is access from front to rear unlike the original wartime configuration.
Overall it is very close to being complete but we would like to complete these outstanding issues as soon as possible. We will also need to start a yearly budget for upkeep and maintenance, as well as unforeseen problems. I would also like to complete some signage so that we can display our regimental history, and vehicle data when we go on display with the vehicle. We need to complete the metal racks in order to hold the SAR Bronze Plaques when we use the vehicle in the future.
Rob McCue
Sgt
SALH
February 14, 2005
Hello, just an update to the Halftrack Restoration Project, so far the H/T has been stripped to the frame and powertrain. The engine and transmission/transfer case have been removed and have been cleaned and inspected. The armoured body panels have been removed and most have been dipped in an Acid Bath to strip paint and grease from the steel. Some parts have been sandblasted and are ready to be primed and painted. Interested in helping? Give me a shout.
It is very rare for a Canadian Army Unit to actually have any of the vehicles that were used during the war. Very few if any vehicles came back from the war and virtually none of these are in running order.
The SALH is very fortunate to have the actual command post halftrack that the South Alberta Regiment used during their victorious march across France, Belgium and Germany during World War II.
The history of how this vehicle managed to get "smuggled" back to Canada is a fascinating read.
In 2004 the Halftrack was finally moved back to the Regiment's Jefferson Armoury and it was decided to bring it upto running condition for use in the upcoming 100th Birthday Celebrations.
March 22, 2005 Project Update
Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to pass on that, one Year, two months, 5 days after starting this restoration project, "Ol' Reliable" was in motion under her own power, and we put the first Mile on the speedo during our first run.
$58,000.00 dollars, over 8700 hrs of labour, which equals 1087- 8hr days of volunteer labour, and many sleepless nights to get to this day.
Cpl Adrian Winton and Cpl Ian Christie should be commended on their dedication, preserverance and hard work during this restoration.
The Regimental Foundation who funded this worthy project should be commended as well for their unswavering support during the past year.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to this project, the biggest name that comes to mind is Reg Hodgson who has adopted the three of us like sons. And whose phone or advice was always available for comment no matter the hour.
What an accomplishment...... There is probably no other unit in the world who could have pulled off this complete frame up restoration in the time we have had to accomplish it.
No other unit in the world that I know of can say that they have their original WWII Mobile Command Post restored to near original state, and in running order.
'Nuff Said....
Rob McCue Sgt
April 7,2004 PROJECT UPDATE
Just a quick note on the SAR halftrack, the restoration is progressing well, last week we removed the tracks from the vehicle and completed stripping the frame.
All that remains is the running gear and diffs and the frame currently. The motor is going into the acid tank tomorrow night and then to be inspected.
We are going to magnaflux the block to search for any cracks or problems prior to reassembly. We are currently sourcing out the main bearings as they have been flattened from long periods of idleness.
All the valves have been unstuck and the motor is coming along well. Almost all the parts have been acid bathed and/or sandblasted so we are going to do some priming and painting in May. I am going to insert a few pics for all of you gentleman to look at.
Cheers, Rob
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