While reading through the First Canadian Army AA&QMG War Diary, I found a list of vehicles, complete with WD numbers, which were made available to various officers in the unit. There were Sedans, Station Wagons (NOT Heavy Utilities) and things called Chads.
Any ideas what this was?
The WD numbers are in the CM116XXX range so they are early cars of some type
At the risk of demonstrating stunning ignorance here; could they be talking about 'Quad' rather than 'Chad' ?
A 'Quad' is just an army term for a four wheel drive, and the term is most commonly assosciated with the Morris Commercial and CMP gun tractors used to pull the 25 pounder with that little ammunition trailer in between, hence;
'Quad,limber,and 25pounder'
I would imagine the Canadian Army would also have used the term on anything like a C8A, for example.
While checkig an OCR'ed list of Canadian Vehicles for inclusion on the Milifax website, what did I find but reference to 'Station Wagon' (CHAD, 5-passenger, 4x2, 114 in wb)!
What the......?
Turns out, the OCR software read 'C11AD' as CHAD.
So did someone back in World War Two, I guess, and the Ford truck axled station wagon was forever know as a CHAD in many circles.
The DND papers show that in and around August 1940 discussions took place about what vehicles were required for officers and troop carrying, etc. It was decided that the usual Station Wagons that had been used up to that point would be replaced instead, i.e. alternative contracts be placed, for what we now know were DND-pattern trucks. In other words the C.8/C.8A personnel carriers took over the job. However some Wagons were ordered, and we also know that 1940-41 Chevrolet and Ford passenger cars plus McLaughlin-Buicks were acquired before frozen stocks were sequestred and called up. I have a photo of a 1941 Chevrolet 2-door in RCAF service in civilian colours I think that must have been taken off a dealer.