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Remembered Today:

Canadian armoured cars 1914


Moonraker

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This crop from a postcard shows Canadian armoured cars, very probably brought over to Salisbury Plain in 1914 by the First Canadian Contingent. When the Contingent moved to France in February 1915 it fought bravely but was hampered by inferior equipment, including boots (with heels made of paper pulp) that soon became sodden, 25,000 "Macadam shovels" (which could not be carried on the person) adapted from a Swiss entrenching tool and patented by Ena Macadam, personal secretary to Colonel Sam Hughes, the controversial Minister of Militia, and Ross rifles, Hughes' personal choice, which in trench warfare easily jammed. At Second Ypres many Canadians threw away these rifles and picked up Lee Enfields from British corpses. The Contingent also shipped a useless Burgess-Dunne floatplane that was left to rot at CFS Upavon.

Is there any evidence that these cars were used in France, and if so to what effect? Any technical details about them would be welcome. Did any other armies have anything similar at this early stage of the war?

post-6017-1130149381.jpg

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Hi Moonraker,

The armoured car in question is the US built Autocar.

The First Contingent of Canadians arrived in England on 16th Octover 1914 equiped with a 'motor machine gun corps' of sorts with twenty of these armoured cars. They called themselves the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade.

The cars themslves were built by the Autocar company of USA Pennsylvania. The steel plate was supplied by Bethlehem Steel Corporation. These cars were not intended to go into action but to action as troop carriers for two vickers machine guns.

The Candian Motor Machine guns did go into action in 1915 put their most useful roll was during the Spring Offensive in 1918 offering a mobile reserve of fire power.

Steve.

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Here are three excerpts from the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery war diary, 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade [1CMMGB] from the early part of the Great War.

Borden Battery

===============================================

Thu., Jul 8, 1915 SHORNCLIFFE, ENGLAND

Pte. A. R. Earl was struck off the strength of this Battery and returned to Canada as unfit for service suffering from Pyorrhoea.

In accordance with divisional orders of July 8th the unit moved to Caesars Camp North, Shorncliffe and went under canvas. The tents in this camp were very old and leaked frightfully in wet weather. A board was convened & condemned them. They were all replaced by new ones.

This unit was inspected by Maj. Gen. Steele.

The men inspected by Bonar Law, Sir Robt. Borden and the King at different times.

---signed by E.J. Holland, Major, O.C., Bordens Armoured Battery.

Wed., Oct 27, 1915 WESTOUTRE, BELGIUM

Major HOLLAND V.C. is attending a class and lecture with actual demonstration of MACHINE GUN emplacements and general tactics as applied to the use of machine guns in trench warfare. Capt. P.A.G. McCARTHY and Lieut BATTERSBY visited Lieut HOLLANDS party in the trenches at 5.30 A.M. and found everything in good order and things very quiet along our front.

Capt. P.A.G. McCARTHY in accordance with instructions from DIV. HQRS. took a party of ten men to be present at the inspection by HIS MAJESTY THE KING at LOCRE at 1.30 P.M. Weather fine and arrangements good. Very soft and muddy under foot. Aeroplanes and captive [balloons] added to the picturesque scene.

--- signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt. O.C., Borden's Motor Machine Gun Battery.

Fri., Aug 11, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)

Weather. Hot and hazy. Capt. P.A.G. MacCarthy “C” Battery received a Brigade Order to parade at 10 a.m. at B’g’de train lines to take charge of 12 Colt Guns and crews, which were to go to CASSELL as an anti aircraft detachment, being part of the defences of Cassel during the visit of His Majesty the King. This anti aircraft Detachment arrived at CASSELL at 12 noon. His Majesty arrived about 5 p.m.

The O.C. “C” Battery reports from the Trenches that during the early hours of the morning heavy bombing on our front line trenches. Considerable Artillery activity on our front line trenches. The enemy shelled VERBRANDENMOLEN with heavy stuff all afternoon. Between 10.30 & 11.30 p.m. heavy trench Mortars and Machine Gun fire was opened up by both sides in the vicinity of Hill 60 - All was quiet again by midnight.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt

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The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, as it was later named, arrived in England in 1915 and sailed for France in June 1915. The group, along with the spin-off 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade later became part of the Canadian Independent Force and was very active up until 5 Noember 1918. It was finally used as part of the Occupation Force stationed at Bonn.

Here is an earlier post of mine on the CEF Study Group discussion forum which provides some idea of this totally mobile unit. My late Grandfather was one of the few survivors of the Borden Battery which held the line near Clery-sur-Somme to allow elements of the 5th Army to retreat in good order.

Borden Battery

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade [from the original "Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade No. 1] began recruiting on 11 August 1914 and was formed on 2 September 1914. From its inception, it was totally mobile and hence functionally independent but always tied to higher units and therefore not "independent". However, for the majority of action on the Western Front, and given the static nature of the situation, the Brigade functioned more as a co-ordinated machine gun barrage unit and anti-air craft unit but with its own transport.

During the chaos of the Kaiserschlacht [Operation Michael], the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade [1CMMGB] was dispatched from the Vimy to the Amiens Sector on 6 hours notice and functioned independently along 3 sections of the front under the very loose direction/lack of direction of General Gough's Headquarters from 23 March 1918 until it is brought in to provide some communication, transport and firepower for Carey's Force during the final stand in front of Villers-Brettoneux. During this period the 1CMMGB suffered 50 percent casualties with some batteries such as Borden Battery suffering 93% casualties on 24 March 1918.

In Michael Holden's masters thesis [university of New Brunswick ] and a presented paper [source: http://www.cda-cdai.ca/symposia/2003/holden.htm] he outlined the following:

"On 14 May, the Motors received instructions, which stated that the brigades were to be engaged the following day in ‘Tactical Training carried out under Corps Orders’. The “live fire” drills were designed to teach the men of 1 and 2CMMGB to think and operate in an open warfare setting. The first day witnessed a relatively simple mobile flanking and pincer movement. The first group created a diversionary head-on attack from the north while other motor machine gun batteries paired with half squads of cavalry from the Canadian Light Horse (CLH) and the Canadian Corps Cyclists Battalion (CCCB) moved in on the position from the east and west. The movements were carried out efficiently and the objective taken very quickly. The following day, the Motors were engaged in another tactical training scheme that required the men to move into a position as if to fill a gap until a replacement infantry brigade could be moved into the line.

On the 21st of May the tactical scheme changed slightly. Some of the Canadians, including the Motors, now represented enemy forces on the attack against a railway line. The change was effected in order to give the men the semblance of opposition and to help the units along the learning curve, with respect to the observation of offensive operations. There were small communication and initial cooperation problems but overall the general exercise was deemed successful.

It is important to understand how the CMMGBs trained during summer 1918 because it had a direct influence on their success during the Hundred Days. In May 1CMMGB and 2CMMGB had been involved in two open warfare tactical schemes. The first, the pincer movement was relatively easy. While the assault on the railway proved a little more difficult, it must be remembered that as of 1 May, the Motors doubled in size. Naturally, the brigades felt some ‘growing pains'. Nonetheless, the exercise proved to be very useful. On the 17th of June the CMMGBs fought in a large tactical scheme, this time on the Allied side.

In this latest exercise the Canadian Corps with an attached mobile force, part of which was comprised by the 1stCMMGB, was sent to reinforce the Allied (British) line and keep the enemy from gaining high ground. The mobile force left its transports, and proceeded to dig in. The Motors used direct and overhead fire to prevent the enemy from establishing a footing in the northern side of a densely wooded area. They were also successful in moving their guns by foot to foil the enemy’s advance on the southern edge of the woods. The defence of the woods finished by mid-day, and the scheme indicated next that a gap had been created to the North and the brigade might be used to great advantage in that location. Consequently, the men quickly returned to their vehicles and prepared for action. The fictitious gap was never deemed to have required CMMGB assistance. The orders were designed to provide an opportunity for the brigade to practice preparation for re-deployment.

During July the units took time to learn tactical collaboration with the recently attached sections of 6-inch trench mortars, and practiced using autocars to draw fire and allow the accompanying troops to identify the location of machine guns and points of resistance

A number of lessons were derived from the July exercises. It was found that the use of motor cyclists for scouting and liaison was deficient. During the intra-brigade exercise, defenders did not make proper use of outposts or attached troops to screen and protect the machine gun nests; snipers and enemy patrols had encroached too easily. It was decided that future instruction would revolve around these points. However, this training never occurred. The men were ordered into GHQ reserve and were told that they might be called on to support either the French First Army or the British Fourth Army on the Amiens Front."

"During allied advances beginning on 8 August 1918 wireless became the primary communications for the Canadian Corps. The deep penetrating Canadian Independent Force (based on the Machine Gun Brigade) found that wireless was all that it required. During the 11 days of action Canadians passed 1,400 wireless messages."

[sOURCE: http://www.forces.gc.ca/commelec/brhistory/chap3_e.htm]

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Here is some background on the armoured cars used by the 1CMMGB:

"While Brutinel's Brigade did not move on caterpillar tracks it did have all of the other technical features plus the important concept of an independent tactical unit. Brutinel bought the chassis for his armoured cars in Pennsylvania paying $2800 each, and had the armour plating done in Canada [I have another source which indicates Pennsylvania but to Canadian specifications]. They each had a 22 H.P., two-cylinder engine and could cover 225 miles with a normal gas load. The vehicles usually travelled at approximately 15 mph but could reach 30 mph in emergencies. All the costs were backed by what Order in Council No. P.C. 2284 called "several public spirited citizens of Canada". The Order, dated September 2, 1914, stated that "the Automobile Machine Gun Brigade No. 1" would consist of: sixteen machine-guns, eight armoured motor cars, six trucks and four automobile cars for the use of officers.

What was to eventually make up the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade was in fact Brutinel's group plus several other of these privately established military formations. In Toronto, a unit called the Eaton Machine Gun Battery was raised by the Eaton family and others. In December 1914 it consisted of 25 officers and 281 men. In the northern Ontario mining area around Haileybury, Cobalt and the Porcupine District, a group called Borden's Armoured, later the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery, was established with six officers and 63 men. On the west coast, a colourful group called the Yukon Motor Machine Gun Battery was recruited in Dawson City and funded by 'Yukon Joe' Boyle, a miner who had struck it rich in the gold rush. In a fever of patriotic enthusiasm, Boyle enrolled and clothed in frontiersmen uniforms about fifty officers and men and sent them to Vancouver. For a time they were attached to the local 29th Battalion. In July 1915 they went overseas with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.

pp 14-15, The Glory of Their Times, Alex Lynch, 2001

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Yellow, Borden Battery

Thanks for the prompt, detailed information - just what I wanted! The cars seem to have given better service than much of the Canadians' initial equipment.

Moonraker

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Did any other armies have anything similar at this early stage of the war?

By this early stage in the war the navy (in the guise of the RNAS and RND) had already taken their armoured cars into action.

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To elaborate on the underlined statement:"The cars themslves were built by the Autocar company of USA Pennsylvania. The steel plate was supplied by Bethlehem Steel Corporation. <u>These cars were not intended to go into action but to act as troop carriers for two vickers machine guns.</u>", the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade [1CMMGB] consisted of 5 batteries.

In its first configuration of 1CMMGB, Batteries A and B [orginally the "Siftons"] operated these armoured cars and went into battle. Batteries C, D and E [borden, Eaton & Yukon respectively] operated from trucks which carried men and guns into action where they then set up positons on the ground.

The Bordens [C-battery] also appear to have had a regular armounred car in 1915, however, I have not completed the research on why this prototype [purported to have been used by Major Holland VC and referenced under the photograph notation NAC C2654 at Canadian Archives] was not recorded as going into action.

While the 1CMMGB may have been one of the first to form, owing to transportation to England and integration into the Allied forces, they did not get into action until 1915. However, they came into their own during both the retreat during the major German Offensive of March 1918 and especially during the "open warfare" period from the Battle of Amiens to the return to Mons. During this final operational period they were part of a mobile, combined-arms combat system.

Borden Battery

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The 1CMMGB was initially equipped with the US Colt machine guns. Based on war diary transcriptions [GrandsonMichael & Borden Battery] the following edited excerpts provide an indication of the time-line of integration into these units.

The first mention of the Vickers [capital letters in war diary] is 9 July 1916. There is a phased introduction of this new gun with a great deal of training and the development of a Training Syllabus. However, the Colts were still in action when the 1CMMGB was detailed to provide Anti-Aircraft service during the visit of the King on 13 August 1916.

Borden Battery

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sun., Jul 9, 1916 GODEWEARSVELDE, FRANCEWeather.- Fine.

Lieut. E.D. CURRIER, SGT. W.A. MONTGOMERY, CPL. H.D. MAUDE and PTE. W.H. CLARKE went to CAMIERS for a six day course on the VICKERS MACHINE GUN.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Wed., Jul 19, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine.

By order of the O.C., Brigade ten instructors for light Vickers Machine Gun were drawn from “C’ Battery to instruct “D” Battery in the use and mechanism of the Gun.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Wed., Jul 19, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine.

By order of the O.C., Brigade ten instructors for light Vickers Machine Gun were drawn from “C’ Battery to instruct “D” Battery in the use and mechanism of the Gun.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Thu., Jul 20, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine.

Classes in progress in Vickers Machine Gun at the Billets. In the Trenches CAPT. MACCARTHY reports Artillery Duels during the Day and heavy Machine Gun Fire at night.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sat., Jul 22, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.-Fine.

LIEUT. W.F.BATTERSBY is appointed by Brigade Order to be Brigade Instructor of Machine Gunnery from this date. Things normally quiet along our front. Heavy enemy Machine Gun Fire at night. Completed rationing of Machine Gun Emplacements of B.LINE and completed requirements of amount of ammunition for each emplacement.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Sun., Jul 23, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather: - Fine.

“C’ Battery received rearmament of six Light Vickers Maxim Machine Guns complete. In checking over we found a lot of extra parts missing but they were indented for.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Mon., Jul 24, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine.

LIEUT. E.D.CURRIER, SGT. W.A.MONTGOMERY, and PTES. MANLEY, KENNEDY and HOBY went to the 3rd Divisional Gas School for a four days course. “C” Battery commenced class in New Maxims [error meant Vickers]. Instructors SGT.W.J.HILLIER, CPL. MAC NEIL, and PTE. SINGLETON.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Wed., Jul 26, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine and Warm.

“C” Battery less the two crews in the trenches carrying on with classes on the Vickers M.G.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sun., Jul 30, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather.- Fine and Warmer.

All the Battery not on duty in the trenches carrying on with instructional classes on Vickers Guns and other Routine Drills and Physical Exercises.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Tue., Aug 1, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)

Weather hot and sultry. One section of two Guns of “C” Battery in the “B” Line trenches. At Billets. Classes on the Vickers M.G. and N.C.O.’s training being carried on in accordance with Brigade Syllabus. A Machine Gun Range is being constructed for range practice with Vickers M. Guns under direction of Brigade Instructor of Gunnery Lieut. W.F. Battersby of “C” Battery.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wed., Aug 2, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather fine and very hot. Classes on Vickers M.G. being carried on by each Battery in the 1st C.M.M.G. Brigade under Brigade Instructor of Gunnery. Machine Gun Range completed and range firing commenced by “C” + “D” Batteries under Brigade Instructor of Gunnery.

The O.C. of “C” Battery received a secret order from O.C. 1st C.M.M.G. Brigade to hold all in readiness for an expected attack by the Germans along our front from Ypres to the river Douve

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

Thu., Aug 3, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather very hot. Nothing unusual to report. A course of General training of all ranks, in accordance with Syllabus laid down by O.C. 1st C.M.M.G. Brigade, comprising the following groups of subjects.

viz. Mechanical Training, Machine Gun Drills, Musketry training

Inter-communications, Scouting and field training, Discipline,

Physical Training, Infantry Training and General Tactical Training

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mon., Aug 7, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather. Fine and hot. Daily routine in Classes on Vickers Machine Gun. Captain P.A.G. MacCarthy and four Other Ranks commenced a four day course at the Divisional Gas School.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fri., Aug 11, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather. Hot and hazy. Capt. P.A.G. MacCarthy “C” Battery received a Brigade Order to parade at 10 a.m. at B’g’de train lines to take charge of 12 Colt Guns and crews, which were to go to CASSELL as an anti aircraft detachment, being part of the defences of Cassel during the visit of His Majesty the King. This anti aircraft Detachment arrived at CASSELL at 12 noon. His Majesty arrived about 5 p.m.

The O.C. “C” Battery reports from the Trenches that during the early hours of the morning heavy bombing on our front line trenches. Considerable Artillery activity on our front line trenches. The enemy shelled VERBRANDENMOLEN with heavy stuff all afternoon. Between 10.30 & 11.30 p.m. heavy trench Mortars and Machine Gun fire was opened up by both sides in the vicinity of Hill 60 - All was quiet again by midnight.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - Omitted Days - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sun., Aug 13, 1916 BELGIUM – (Location to be Confirmed)Weather fine. Capt. MacCarthy reports from Cassell that all his Colt Guns fired on an aeroplane which was flying over Cassell against all orders, this section being out of Bounds for all aircraft during the visit of His Majesty.

Major Holland reports from the trenches that the wires to Priest’s house and B.1. Emplacement were repaired during the night. The enemy shelled our back roads in vicinity of Ypres Salient from 7 to 9 p.m. Usual M.G. fire during the night.

---signed P.A.G. MacCarthy, Capt.

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The photo with which I started this string came from a Canadian auction catalogue. I've now received the postcard itself. It is one of the Tuck & Sons cards of the "Canadian Contingent on Salisbury Plain", and has this printed on it:

"The Canadian Armoured Cars which greatly interested the King. On the left of the 2nd Brigade a number of Armoured Motor Cars were drawn up. The King and Lord Kitchener entered one of them and inspected the armament, which can not only be used for ordinary fire, but is capable of repelling attack by aircraft."

This indicates the inspection of the First Canadian Contingent on November 4, 1914.

The reference to "attack by aircraft" is interesting in that I wasn't conscious of there being much awareness of the aggressive potential of aircraft at this date.

Thanks again for all the info,

Moonraker

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The reference to "attack by aircraft" is interesting in that I wasn't conscious of there being much awareness of the aggressive potential of aircraft at this date.

The need for anti-aircraft defence is recorded in cabinet papers dated 7 June 1913. The first RNAS long range bombing missions took place in September 1914 and they bombed Cologne and Dusseldorf in October. Friedrichshafen on November 21st, Cuxhaven on 24/25th December

Edited by per ardua per mare per terram
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For readers interested in a more detailed discussion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and/or access to reference information and documents, this can be accessed from the CEF Study Group discussion forum - look for Canadian Machine Gun Corps Study Group at: http://www.cefresearch.com/phpBB2/index.php

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I have a couple photos of the Eatons MMGBn equipped with a different type of armored car... What type is this and did they use these overseas?

eatonscar.jpg

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With regards to bombing raids, on 21st November 1914 in an attack on the Zeppelin works in Friedrichshafen, on Lake Constance, 3 RNAS officers: Squadron-Commander EF BRIGGS, Flight-Commander JT BABINGTON and Flight-Lieutenant SV SIPPE flying single seater aircraft flew 120 miles into German territory. The Germans had been informed of the approach and threw up a barrage of Anti Aircraft and Machine Gun fire, Sqn-Cdr BRIGGS was wounded and his petrol tank was pierced and had to land to be captured; but the other 2 flew back. They claimed to have destroyed a Zeppelin shed.

As a feat of endurance it was incredible: many accounts for the RFC’s arrival with the BEF in August emphasise the great achievement of merely crossing the channel, less than a 10th of the distance the RNAS covered on that raid. As a demonstration of navigation, that is impressive they were single seaters flying and navigating and don’t appear to have violated Swiss airspace: thirty years later, the so-called precision bombers of the USAF bombed Switzerland instead of Germany.

Imho if they had been in the RFC, BRIGGS at least would have been awarded a VC; as WB RHODES-MOORHOUSE was to be the following year.

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In ‘Fights and Flights,’ CR Samson mentions having a car fitted “with a Maxim for anti-aircraft purposes” before 25 August 1914 and it arrived in France on 28/8/14: modified so that the Maxim could also hit ground targets. Ideas for armouring the cars that they had taken across were discussed on 29/8/14. The Maxim armed car first went into action on 4th September 1914.

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One source believes believes the Canadian millionaire family, the Eatons, bought a number of Rolls Royce touring cars and had them converted with armour plate with a machine gun turret on top. A cost of $206,807 for armoured cars and $30,340 for other vehicles for their Machine Gun Battery is thought to have been provided. However, this needs to be researched further.

Also, the type of housing structure of the house/building in the background appears to me to be more likely Canadian in architect versus English structure - again - this might indicate this equipment may not have been sent over to England. However, again more research is required.

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One source believes believes the Canadian millionaire family, the Eatons, bought a number of Rolls Royce touring cars and had them converted with armour plate with a machine gun turret on top.  A cost of $206,807 for armoured cars and $30,340 for other vehicles for their Machine Gun Battery is thought to have been provided.  However, this needs to be researched further.

Also, the type of housing structure of the house/building in the background appears to me to be more likely Canadian in architect versus English structure - again - this might indicate this equipment may not have been sent over to England.  However, again more research is required.

Here's another image (a portion of a panoramic showing the full unit in Toronto) In part of the image there is an amusement park in the background... and here are the same cars...and colt MGs

eatonscar2.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Here is some additional information on the "MacAdam" shovel" .... Borden Battery

An item of personal equipment for the troops in which Colonel Hughes took a special interest was the "MacAdam" shovel, an implement modelled upon a pre-war Swiss invention and patented by the Minister's woman secretary, whose name it bore. Designed to serve as a combined shield and entrenching tool for the infantryman, it had a blade 8-1/2 by 9-3/4 inches made of three-sixteenths inch steel (said to be capable of stopping a bullet at 300 yards). When used as a shield, it was stuck into the ground on a four-inch handle which formed an extension of the blade, two loopholes being provided, a large one for shooting and a smaller for sighting through. Twenty-five thousand MacAdam shovels were purchased in Philadelphia at $1.35 each, were taken to England, where even with the addition of a special folding handle they proved unsatisfactory. The Commander of the 1st Canadian Division reported that they were not effective as shields, were too heavy for the men to carry and were awkward to dig with. The issue of entrenching tools of War Office pattern to the Division brought prompt instructions from Hughes to "hold a tight hand on all that improper work over there" and to cancel the order for the English implement, which he termed "absolutely useless for any purpose". Nevertheless, the 1st Division proceeded to France without their MacAdam shovels, and when trials in the field by the 2nd Division brought more adverse reports, all were withdrawn from use and eventually sold for $1400 as scrap metal.

Source: Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War, p 26

Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919, Colonel G. W. L. Nicholson

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Is there any evidence that these cars were used in France, and if so to what effect? Any technical details about them would be welcome. Did any other armies have anything similar at this early stage of the war?

I have seen a photo on the internet , and I think it was also in David Fletcher's book "War Cars". Thet were Canadian and I am sure they were the same/ or very similar to the autocars in your photo. Unfortunatly they had been over run, and the crews lying killed in and around the vehicles. As I recall the ones in that photo were armed with Vickers.

Regards David.

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The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade was dispatched from the Arras/Vimy Ridge sector to the Amiens and Villers-Brettoneaux sector in March 1918. During this period they were used and used-up in several rear-guard battles to enable British units to retreat in good order. My late Grandfather's battery [borden Motor Machine Gun Battery] was reduced from 56 men to 5 men at Clery-sur-Somme.

The photograph you are referring to is that of Major William Battersby, MC at the Licourt-Pertain Road intersection and is German in origin. Note the Germans in the background.

There is a complete article on the battle in the Canadian Military History Journal, Summer 2002, by Dr. Cameron Pulsifer of the Canadian War Museum. It provides a detailed discussion of the actions of this special battery and some background on all the casualties associated with the photography. Battersby body was never recovered and is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial.

Here is a summary of the event by Brig-General Raymond Brutinel after the war:

"The appreciation of its work by Sir Arthur Currie is here reported "Verbatim" :

'The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade (Lt-Col. W.K. Walker), under orders of the Fifth and later of the Fourth Army, was ordered, to fight a rearguard action to delay the advance of the enemy and to fill dangerous gaps on the Army fronts. For 19 days that Unit was continuously in action North and South of the Somme fighting against overwhelming odds. Using to the utmost its great mobility, it fought over 200 square miles of territory. It in difficult to appraise to its correct extent the influence, material and moral, that the 40 machine guns of that Unit had in the events which were then taking place. The losses suffered amounted to about 75 % of the trench strength of the Unit and to keep it in being throughout that fighting it was reinforced daily with personnel of the Infantry branch of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.'"

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The best illustration I can think of that supports these cars being used in France is the attached photo. This is from the group of photos I believe most people are talking about.

This was taken from Canadian Military History Summer 2002 which has an excellent article of the action of 25 March 1918 where the Germans knocked this out.

Joe Sweeney

Edited by Joe Sweeney
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  • 3 weeks later...

The following transcript is from a series of 32 tape recordings we have chosen to call "The Raymond Brutinel Tapes - 18 October 1962", and represent a re-discovery of original manuscript material. They were obtained from the Archives Section, Canadian War Museum, and George Metcalf Collection. We have permission from the Canadian War Museum to post them on the CEF Study Group discussion forum for discussion and further research.

Borden Battery

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tape 1: What led to the formation of the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade?

Interviewer:

What led to the formation of the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade?

Reply:

I have very often been asked to relate the circumstances which led to my joining the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and consequently to the formation of the First Canadian Machine Gun Brigade.

I have done so verbally many times but I feel that this simple story should be told again and recorded, as it is really the starting point of a great adventure, the multiple phases of which could not be foreseen in August 1914.

I had been a close student of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 and had been struck with the great fire power of the Machine Gun when employed in sufficient numbers by resolute men, well trained. I deplored the systematic ignorance of the qualities of these weapons shown by the French General Staff and also by the British General Staff, although with the light Vickers machine gun the British had the best machine gun available at the time - and, as far as I know, still unsurpassed.

When war was declared in August 1914, I was in the First Reserve of the French Army. A German Naval Squadron had interrupted shipping across the Atlantic and I could not speedily return to France from Montreal where I was at the time.

After corresponding with Mr. Jusserand, then French Ambassador in Washington, I decided to have some machine guns made to take with me to France when possible.

The Colt Company agreed to make these machine guns promptly but they needed French cartridges to calibrate them properly. The French Embassy suggested that I might obtain cartridges in St. Pierre Miquelon. I tried to make arrangements to go there but coastal navigation being suspended, I met with serious difficulties.

At that point, the Hon. Sir Clifford Sifton heard of what I was trying to do and came to see me in Montreal. He told me in substance, "Brutinel, we have known you for quite a few years, we like you and look upon you as a Canadian, why not do for Canada what you are trying to do for France?"

I replied that I would do so gladly if the French Ambassador had no objection. Sir Clifford said. "Let us call him up now and hear what he thinks of it all". We very soon had the Ambassador on the telephone and after hearing what I had to say, he replied substantially, "Whatever you do for Canada you are doing for France. We are in the same boat. Do the best you can for the Canadians, join their Forces, we will regularise your position later on. God bless you".

Following this advice, I devoted myself to serve the Canadian Forces, ruthlessly to the best of my knowledge, strength and ability till the end of the War.

The French War Office requested several times that I should be returned to France, but the British War Office, after consultation with the Canadian Authorities, represented that I could not be spared and that I should be authorised to remain with the Canadians till the end of the war. This was granted by M, Poincaré, President of the French Republic by a decree No. 902, dated the 20th of April, 1915 countersigned by M. A. Briand, Minister of Justice.

The appreciation of my services is witnessed by the following awards and mentions :

Awarded the Distinguished Service Orders L.G. No. 29608, 3-6-16.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No, 29623, 15-6-16.

Awarded the Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazrus (Cavier) L.G. No. 30096, 24-5-17.

To be a Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George, L.G. No. 30716, 3-6-18.

Awarded the Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Officier, L.G. No. 30945, 10-10-18.

Awarded the French Croix de Guerre, L.G. No. 31222, 11-3-19.

To be a Companion of the Order of the Bath, L.G. No. 31370, 306-19.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 29890.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30107.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30448.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30706.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 31318.

Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 31448.

Later promoted to Commander of the Legion of Honour.

I would like to say that these distinctions are not considered by me as personal rewards but rather as the "Satisfacit" granted to the combined efforts of all members of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.

On the 11th of November 1918 the Canadian Corps was made of 422 officers 8349 other Ranks 464 Machine Guns the total overseas of the C.M.G.C. reached 16,315 of which 5,777 became Battle Casualties.

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  • 1 year later...

Just won on eBay - for a couple of quid - a "letter card" containing eight postcard-size photos of the First Canadian Contingent on Salisbury Plain in the winter of 1914-15, including this one of the "armoured machine gun wagon".

Moonraker

post-6017-1175179118.jpg

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