Hi all,

I'm think of joining up for the The True North Strong and Free campaign.

I would like to depict a Matilda A12 in Canadian use. I'm quite certain that the Canadians used them but I'm struggling to find any details or photos to get me started.

Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Philip

Hey Phillip,
Look half-way down the page on this site, it may be of some assistance.
!8 Matilda IIA's were assigned to the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade in 1941, most with the 14th Tank Regiment, the Calgary Regiment(Tank).
This site will help too.
I've seen a few photos of them in training, can't recall where though.
Will look for them.
Cheers

jjumbo

Hey Philip

There are pictures of Matildas in Canadian Service... i.e. Training in England... in David Fletcher's book "Mr Churchill's Tank", I'm not 100% positive of the Mark in the photo, but as the links John has posted they should be Mark IIA (they have the double exhaust on the top of the engine deck), unfortunately they're rear shots so I can't see the front.

There's also photos in "Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: an Illustrated History" By J. Marteinson.

I'm at work right now so I'll have to confirm these statements when I get home.

Ultracast makes decals for the 14th Calgary Regiment, but if you know anyone that has Echelon's Dieppe Churchill decal set you can use those as well, since the 14th Calgary Regiment was equipped with Churchills from Matildas prior to the Dieppe Invasion.

Send me a PM, and I'll scan the pictures and email them to you.

Hi Philip! Being the leader of 'The True North Strong and Free' Campaign I hope that you find the correct information on the Matilda, and enjoy the rest of the campaign!



zaltar

Thanks for te links jjumbo I've book marked them.

Carmen, thanks for the info.




I have a staghound in the stash too. As there isn't much time left I may use that for the campaign because I can start the staghound this weekend. #

Thanks,
Philip

Matilda's were also used by the Three Rivers Regiment. Picture of them in training in the book, The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
As well check out the website "Armoured Acorn", under Canadian Vehicle Markings for Matilda's in Canuck use.

Art

Carmen & Phil,
Good calls guys !!!
Those pics in "Mr. Churchill's Tank" and in "Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: an Illustrated History" were the ones I was recalling.
Cheers

jjumbo

CORRECTION! - I double checked "Mr. Churchill's Tank" and there's NO Canadian Matildas there... my mistake! Sorry Guys!

But there is definitely one in "The Royal Canadian Armoured Corp". The photo caption says it's a Three Rivers Regiment tank. The body of the text says that The Ontario Regiment received Churchills right off the bat, but the Calgarys and Three Rivers were issued Matildas until they were equipped with Churchills in November 1941. So now we have two choices for units...

Armoured Acorn refernces a few Matildas in Canadian Services as mentioned above, including a Matilda CS.

I found a few more Matilda pictures in "Tank Power 291 - Matilda 1939-1945"... there are several photos of Matildas with captions saying "Training in Britain" with unknown units... but I'm pretty sure the unit markings are Canadian... one matches up with Armoured Acorn's drawings. If not, they're probably 7th Royal Tank Regiment (British) and these are the hand me downs to the Canadians later on.

This is great discussion as a good friend of mine wants to build a Canadian Matilda as well and I've been trying to help him out with his research.