Ferret Mk. I Provisional User Handbook Canadian Army reprint (1966)  of 1953 May manual. (Colin Stevens’ Collection)

I am still learning so I would appreciate any corrections or additions.

Colin Stevens, Richmond, BC — seaforth72 (at) gmail.com 

HELP!

1. What were the CAR (CFR) numbers of the Ferrets (and any other military vehicles) sent to UNEF and to Canada’s 4 Mechanized Brigade in Germany? Those that I have determined are below. There are still some mysteries.

2. I also want to find out the CAR (CFR) related to each of the UNEF Ferrets that were renumbered in Sinai to UNEF numbers (as in photo above). So far only 2 have both numbers showing. This is to answer questions but also to match up surviving vehicles with photos and history. The United Nations Archives have been unable to help. 

UNITS KNOWN TO HAVE USED FERRETS IN THE CANADIAN ARMY AND CANADIAN ARMED FORCES

Not in order of precedence, and the list may not be complete. Corrections and additions are welcomed. Interestingly, in the opposite of the normal trend for military vehicles where they first go to the Regular Army and then when replaced go to the Reserves, the Ferret was first issued to Militia units (i.e. Reserve Army) and then were recalled and then issued to the Regular Army.

1. 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars (in Quebec)   (7th Reconnaissance Regiment) (Militia, mid-1950s)
2. British Columbia Dragoons (9th Reconnaissance Regiment) (Militia, mid-1950s)
3. The Prince Edward Island Regiment (17th Reconnaissance Regiment) (Militia, mid-1950s)
4. Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians)
5. Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD)
6. 8th Canadian Hussars (8CH)
7. Fort Garry Horse (FGH)
8. 12e Regiment Blindee Canadien (12e RBC)
9. Armour School (Borden) Combat Arms School (Camp Borden then moved to CFB Gagetown)
10. Nanaimo Camp (in BC – 1 Ferret for training – ref. Brigadier Herb Hamm 2007 April)

Ferret with Radiacmeter for Gamma Survey Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare (NBCW) (Canadian Army Journal April 1958 V XII No2 p13)

Canada purchased 124 Ferret Mk. I Scout Cars in 1954. In 1981 May 22, the official Canadian Forces’ disposition of these was as follows:

In reality the distribution varied from this plan. 9 of those “sold” went to the Ontario Regiment Museum. Museums receiving a Ferret included the Canadian War Museum, CFB Borden and Fort Knox. In reality some “Hard Target” designated Ferrets were saved and went to museums (e.g. CFB Gagetown has three, and the Historical Troop of the LdSH(RC) have 4, though some of those are ex-British Army. A number of Ferrets were saved from the target ranges or rusty oblivion as monuments by various means.

Of the 75 Ferrets released for sale to the public (74 + 10 = 84 above less 9 that went direct to the Ontario Regiment’s “Ferret Club” which is now a museum in Oshawa, Ontario), probably three-quarters or more of them were sold to American buyers e.g.

1. 71 were bought by Rex Tex.

2. Mark Sonday, near Kenosha, Wisconsin ended up with about 20 Ferrets, presumably ex-Rex Tex (“Mine is like Johns also,, (ex Canadian) in the same sad shape,, No sign of  the welded tag or the plate,, like it never was there,, the only ID is the Hull number stamped near the drivers hatch. Mine and another one close by came from a Mark Sonday near Kenosha, Wisconsin some years ago he acquired 20 something of them from Canada. ” – Russ Cihlar, USA 2007-04-25) Kenosha is just North of Chicago, IL so these may be the ex-Crown Surplus LdSH Ferrets out of Calgary.

3. SECO – South-Eastern Parts Equipment Company, in Southern USA. They apparently had quite a few Ferrets probably also ex-Rex-Tex.

4. RAPCO in Texas, USA had three Ferrets they they sold in Texas. Hull numbers 310, 332 and 347.  Likely ex-Rex Tex.

As a result, it is rare to find ex-Canadian Army Ferrets available for private purchase in Canada. 

If you are bringing a Ferret back to Canada here is the US and Canadian and Provincial government’s attitudes as described to me by a friend who imports many ex-military vehicles and militaria into Canada: “The US has no interest in the fact that it’s an armoured vehicle because it is not of American manufacture. If it is registered as a road going vehicle it must be declared to US Customs outbound at least 72 hours before the vehicle arrives at the border for inspection. No drama with Canada Customs; only regarded as an overage vehicle but it would have to pass Provincial safety before being registered and licensed here.”  Colin adds: Canada Customs would also collect tax on the sale amount.

The following list is based upon a document provided by Rob Love of Shilo, Manitoba. This 1981 official document listed all 124 Canadian Ferrets by CAR/CFR number and their disposition. It listed the CAR/CFR, the Base it was released from or went to (e.g. Ont Reg’t or Cdn War Museum), its planned fate, Disposal or transfer order # and Date 

Link to: Canadian Ferrets –  all 124 listed by CAR / CFR 

CANADIAN FERRETS WITH UNKNOWN CAR/CFR NUMBERS

OWNER	LOCATION	INFO
RCD //    // 2005 FGH Reunion photo via Digger MacDougall//At CFB Petawawa in hanger, Dec 2007 Photo by CMS	CFB Petawawa	Hull # 283.B.2.4  No CFR found on vehicle. Could not scrape for it as vehicle has been restored and has made up markings “54 011” over the driver’s hatch.This is a VERY early hull number and there is a possibility that this is 54-82500.
//  // // // Photos courtesy of James McNeely, NC, USA	Tennessee, USA	Hull # 314.B.3.4 Now sitting derelict. NOT for sale.
?	Texas	Hull # 332.B.4.4  One of three sold via Rapco in Texas. Believed to still be in Texas. (310, 332 & 347)
?	Texas	Hull # 347.B.4.4 One of three sold via Rapco in Texas. Believed to still be in Texas. (310, 332 & 347)
R. C.	Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA	Hull # 355.B.4.4 He bought it from Mark Sonday near Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was Mark’s last one.
Karl	Florida	Hull # 359.B.4.4 For sale in Florida August 2007. CAR number not known yet.
Ontario Regiment	Ontario	Hull # 365.B.5.4 Now fitted with a turret as a Mk. 2/3.
Ontario Regiment	Ontario	Hull # 417.B.5.4 Now painted UN white with wrong markings and incorrectly fitted with a Browning .30 Cal. (should have a Bren) if painted UNEF white. ONT R Ferrets: CAR/CFR NUMBERS (one only has to find the LAST THREE DIGITS as first four are always 54-82) 54-82504 54-82506 54-82513 54-82519 54-82535 54-82563 54-82564 54-82582 54-82590 Two of the hull numbers are: 365.B.5.4 417.B.5.4 Now painted UN white but what is its CAR/CFR?
Dr. Dennis P. Nolan	California, USA	Hull 446.B.7.4  Purchased from Southeast Equipment Company in August 1983 for $6,500 (the going price at the time with Southeast and REXTEX.) Picked up from storage at Crown Surplus Stores in Calgary, Alberta.Tactical sign 32C was on the vehicle. Vehicle was built as a Mark I (no turret) and the turret was added later by the owner thus converting it to Mk. II specifications.Note the Canadian added M-series lights. Vehicle had disruptive camouflage paint job when bought.
CFB Shilo, Manitoba WHAT IS ITS REAL IDENTITY (CFR)?   //  //	CFB Shilo, Manitoba	Hull # 448.B.7.4 When the CFB Chilliwack base was closed by the Liberal Government, the CME Museum was moved to CFB Gagetown and the vehicles were sent to various locations. This Ferret is ex-LdSH(RC) and was legally bought surplus by Crown Surplus in Calgary. Ian Newby bought it from Crown Surplus for $6,500.00. The Canadian Forces later erroneously seized it thinking it had been improperly removed from the target holding area at CFB Shilo. In 1989 was displayed on a portable bridge at CFB Chilliwack. It was painted in 2 colour camouflage and had an odd CFR number in small white numbers on the side. This number 52-03311 does not match any of the known Canadian Ferrets so this number is likely a  fake.  Its true identity is not known at this time.Ian Newby bought this vehicle surplus from Gord Cumming’s Crown Surplus back in the early 1980s. The Armed Forces, incorrectly thinking it was one of the 2 Ferrets from the ranges at Shilo, even though permission was received to remove those, seized it and the ex-Shilo one that was then held by Robert Rostecki in Winnipeg.Colin Stevens’ photos 1989 4949 -10 & 4949-11.   “at least three were salvaged from the Shilo hard targets; there were two removed by Ian Newby in the early 80s, and as well there was the one I got which is now with John Huddleston. In the case of the one I had, it was a stripped hull which had been laying in a gully untouched by any direct fire. I got to remove it by replacing it with a British hull. The last target one is still laying in the Round Plain area of the training area here, and has suffered some fair blast damage. As an aside, I am presently restoring ferret 82511. This one is listed as disposal, but must have found it’s way back into the CF museum system. Valcartier sent it to Shilo about 5 years back.” – Message of 2005-05-24 from Rob Love.    One of the Ian Newby Ferrets (448.B.7.4) ended up going to the CME Museum in CFB Chilliwack. When that museum was closed, the vehicles were moved. Ferret MAY have gone to CFB Shilo or Gagetown.  – C. M. Stevens
// CFB Gagetown c.1984-5   // CFB Gagetown c. 2002	CFB Gagetown	CFR and Hull # not known at this time. A CFR was painted on the hull but is not legible in the photo.Mike McKinley photo taken c. 1984-5.Believed to be the Ferret loaned by the Museum at Gagetown about 1997 to a collector for restoration.Note that it has the British late (1969) tower style turn-signals.It is now under a tarp near Gagetown, and owned by the Gagetown Museum. Held for museum in trust by MWO (Retired) Bill Mulholland?
//   // CFB Gagetown 2007	CFB Gagetown	Painted as a UNEF Ferret. CFR not known at this time. Photos from Jason Meade in CFB  Gagetown.
// “Dictator”	LdSH(RC) at CFB Nameo	“DICTATOR” One of 4. History of this one is not yet known.
//	USA	http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/your_garage/cars/5449.shtml A fellow bought an ex-Canadian Ferret Mk. I. Identity not known as yet. He posted a photo on “Jay Leno’s Garage” web site.
//  //  // //	Charlottetown, PEI	Photos by Gord Falk Spring-Summer 2006.Identity of this Ferret not yet known.It has the Canadian M Series lights.  Tail panel shows holes for mounting two Jerricans.One of two Ferrets there. Second one is a runner apparently and under restoration.I would like to know the CAR/CFR numbers for each of these Ferrets.
// Photo by Patrick Keenan – Aurora, Illinois USA	Russell, Ill.	Mark Sonday. is the owner. Formerly called the “Kenosha Military Museum” MOVED IN 2007 to Russell, Ill.Ferret has the welded on loops on top of rear panel, suggesting that it likely went tot he Middle East with Canadian United Nations Peacekeepers (Cyprus and or/ Egypt. http://www.warwheels.net/ferret1_1Kenosha.htmlhttp://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=487315 Hull number and Canadian Army Registration number not yet known.
// Photo by seller in Flower Mound, TX, USA	Flower Mound, TX, USA. Going to Finland.	Ferret sold on eBay in early March 2008  out of Texas, USA.  There is apparently a US M-series light in the parts pile. It  MAY be ex-Canadian. Missing rear panel, engine cover, most fenders and bins. May be ex-Canadian as it is an early Mk. I