UNEF Ferrets

Ferret MK I UNEF1598 DND photo ZK-1946-17
t MK I UNEF1598 in Gaza in with United Nations Emergency Force. DND photo ZK-1946-17

 

CANADIAN FERRETS IN UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY FORCE (UNEF)

There were 29 Canadian Ferrets with the UNEF, with 23 actively assigned to the unit and 6 as spares. There seem to be more vehicles, so some replacements may have been sent over. The replacements my be the higher UNEF numbers outside of the main block of numbers assigned. After UNEF, some (maybe all) went to Germany for duty with Canadian NATO troops and some later went to Cyprus for UNFICYP duty.

56 Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron - A very rare title as the squadron only existed for 1 year while on United Nations Emergency Force in Gaza with Ferret Scout Cars.
56 Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron – A very rare title as the squadron only existed for 1 year while on United Nations Emergency Force in Gaza with Ferret Scout Cars.

WANTED! Photos from UNEF that show BOTH the CAR number and the UNEF number!

Special thanks to L/Cpl Kevin Langille, with the Archives of the Royal Canadian Dragoons at CFB Petawawa, Ontario. Also Shawn McNicholl, son of a 56 Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron veteran.

The UNEF operated between the Egyptians and the Israelis as a buffer in the Sinai Desert in the late 1956-1967.

START DATEEND DATEUNITUNIT SIGNCOMMENTS
Jan. 1957Jan. 195856 Canadian Reconnaissance Sqn.56Made up from RCD & LdSH(RC)
Jan. 1958Jan. 19591/8 CH Recce Sqn.52
Jan. 1959Jan. 1960RCD Recce Sqn.50 ?
Jan. 1960Jan. 1961FGH Recce Sqn53Ferrets withdrawn Aug 1960. Changed to jeeps.
Jan. 1961Jan. 1962LdSH(RC)
Jan. 1962Jan. 1963RCD
Jan. 1963Jan. 1964LdSH(RC)
Jan. 1964Jan. 19658 CH

United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) Canada delivered a squadron of 29 Ferret Scout Cars plus some unarmoured “B” vehicles, to Egypt. These Ferrets were apparently withdrawn from Militia units which had been tasked with reconnaissance duties. The 56th Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron (so named as it was formed in 1956) consisted of Royal Canadian Dragoon and Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians).  It was commanded by Major R. B. Tackaberry [I would like to talk with this officer is anyone knows him. Colin Stevens  seaforth72 (at) gmail.com ]

Looking at the numbers, I deduced  that most of the Canadian Ferrets were issued in a block between UNEF 1201 and UNEF 1229.  UNEF 1597 and 1598 are not part of that series and so they were possibly shipped to Egypt as replacement vehicles.

54-82524 MAY be a UNEF one as the owner (2007 in New Mexico) found white paint in various areas under the later green.

Any additional info, photos or corrections would be appreciated.

Colin Stevens seaforth72 (at) gmail.com

Some photos of Canadian Ferrets with UNEF

 
 

 Documents relating to Canadian UNEF Ferrets

 
UNEF Ferrets in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron Gaza 14 Jun 57 - Appendix "A" to 56 Recce/7001-1 dated 14 Jun 57 - Table of Mileages
Document of UNEF Ferrets in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron Gaza 14 Jun 57 - Appendix "A" to 56 Recce/7001-1 dated 14 Jun 57 - Table of Mileages
caption id="attachment_10603" align="aligncenter" width="629"]List of repairs to Ferrets 14 June 1957 Document of UNEF Ferrets - Repairs by CAR number. War Diary of 56 Reconnaissance Squadron, Appendix "C" to 56 Recce / 7000-1 dated 14 Jun 57 (Library and Archives Canada)[/caption]
Document re: painting of Ferrets in 1957 in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron. 17 Aug 57
Document re: painting of Ferrets in 1957 in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron. 17 Aug 57
Document re: painting of Ferrets in 1957 in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron.  Revision 20 Aug 57
Document re: painting of Ferrets in 1957 in 56 Reconnaissance Squadron. Revision 20 Aug 57
 

UNEF Ferrets by Canadian Army Registration (CAR) Number  

 

UNEF Ferrets

PhotosCAR #UNEF #Comments
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82502UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82504UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Owner: Ontario Regiment
54-82506UNKNOWNPhotographic evidence. NOT on Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.Owner: Was Ontario Regiment, now Allan Duffy and restored. 54-82508 appears on Repairs list 14 Jun 57.
54-82507UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82508


54-82608 ?
54-82508 UNKNOWNNOT on Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. 54-82508 appears on Repairs list 14 Jun 57.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82515UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82516UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82517UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82518
UNEF 1222On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82519UNEF 1225On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Owner: Ontario Regiment
UN photo 142100
54-82526UNEF 1217 ?On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82527UNEF 1223On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82534UNEF 1207On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Owner: Confusion as Les Branson in Texas believe he has it, but so does another collector. Mentioned in the War Diary 18 Aug 57.
54-82537UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Owner: Canadian War Museum. Painted white but incorrect markings. Incorr3ecdt markings. More photos available of details as it was in 2007.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82538UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82541UNKNOWNNOT on Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82542UNEF 1218 ?NOT on Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
UNEF 1218 MIGHT be CAR 54-82547 DND photo ME-378
UNEF 1218 MIGHT be CAR 54-82547 DND photo ME-378
54-82547UNEF 1218 ?On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Photo is indistinct.
54-82567UNKNOWN
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82571UNKNOWN
54-82575UNKNOWNOwned by CWM. Now a monument in front of Building F-104 at CFB Petawawa. Gen Radley-Walters presentation Ferret. (War Diary 18 Aug 57)
54-82585UNEF 1215War Diary 18 Aug 57
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82586UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82587UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82588UNKNOWNNOT on Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLE54-82589UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82590UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce. Owner: Ontario Regiment
54-82596UNEF 2010On Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
UNEF UNKNOWN 54-82601 in Cyprus in 1964
UNEF UNKNOWN 54-82601 in Cyprus in 1964
54-82601UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82602UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
54-82603UNKNOWNOn Table of Mileages 8 APR - 8 JUN 57 56 Recce.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLEUNKNOWNUNEF 1201War Diary 18 Aug 57.
54-82506 is painted as UNEF 1201 but the owner knows that the UNEF number for his Ferret is not known at this time.
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLEUNKNOWNUNEF 1202War Diary 18 Aug 57
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLEUNKNOWNUNEF 1205War Diary 18 Aug 57
UNEF 1208 CAR UNKNOWN DND photo ME-1142  CFJIL
UNEF 1208 CAR UNKNOWN DND photo ME-1142 CFJIL
UNKNOWN
UNEF 1208
UNKNOWNUNEF 1209War Diary 18 Aug 57 & beer photo with RCD
Ferrets UNEF 1212 on left and 1208 on rt RCEME compound Camp Rafah Egypt Apr 59 UN photo 62414 detai
Ferrets UNEF 1212 on left and 1208 on rt RCEME compound Camp Rafah Egypt Apr 59 UN photo 62414 detai
UNKNOWNUNEF 1212
UNEF 1213 as far as I can tell. 56 Canadian Reconnaisance Squadron.
UNEF 1213 as far as I can tell. 56 Canadian Reconnaisance Squadron.
UNKNOWNUNEF 1213War Diary 18 Aug 57
UNEF 1214 CAR UNKNOWN In repair shops. DND photo ME-849
UNEF 1214 CAR UNKNOWN In repair shops. DND photo ME-849
UNKNOWNUNEF 1214War Diary 18 Aug 57
UNEF Ferrets 1215 1210 1214 Tank Mus Bovington 4988 E5 -- p19 Ferret by PW
UNEF Ferrets 1215 1210 1214 Tank Mus Bovington 4988 E5 -- p19 Ferret by PW
UNKNOWNUNEF 1215PHOTO 54-82585 shows UNEF1215 WHERE DID UNEF1206 come from?
UNEF 1216 CAR UNKNOWN 56 Cdn Recce Sqn handover to 1-8 Canadian Hussars 1958  DND photo MAG-7562
UNEF 1216 CAR UNKNOWN 56 Cdn Recce Sqn handover to 1-8 Canadian Hussars 1958
DND photo MAG-7562

UNEF 1216 behind the soldiers. 1958 handover 56 Cdn Recce Sqn to 1-8 CH  DND photo ME-1065
UNEF 1216 behind the soldiers. 1958 handover 56 Cdn Recce Sqn to 1-8 CH DND photo ME-1065
UNKNOWNUNEF 1216War Diary 18 Aug 57
UNKNOWNUNEF 1221
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLEUNKNOWNUNEF 1224War Diary 18 Aug 57
UNEF 1226 CAR UNKNOWN. Photo - Royal Canadian Dragoons Archives.
UNEF 1226 CAR UNKNOWN. Photo - Royal Canadian Dragoons Archives.
UNKNOWNUNEF 1226
NO PHOTOS AVAILABLEUNKNOWNUNEF 1228
Ferret UNEF 1229 Rafah 1960-1 w FGH via Mike Furdyk
Ferret UNEF 1229 Rafah 1960-1 w FGH via Mike Furdyk
UNKNOWNUNEF 1229
UNEF 1597 CAR UNKNOWN
UNEF 1597 CAR UNKNOWN
UNKNOWNUNEF 1597The high UNEF number suggests that this was a replacement vehicle brought in later in the UNEF Mission.
UNEF 1598 CAR UNKNOWN. DND photo ZK-1946-17
UNEF 1598 CAR UNKNOWN. DND photo ZK-1946-17
UNKNOWNUNEF 1598The high UNEF number suggests that this was a replacement vehicle brought in later in the UNEF Mission.
Canada had Ferret Scouts cars with the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai and Gaza.
 

UNEF Ferrets by UNEF Number

UNEF #CAR #COMMENTS
UNEF 1201
UNEF 1202
UNEF 1203 ?
UNEF 1204 ?
UNEF 1205
UNEF 120654-82575
UNEF 120754-82534Hull 315
UNEF 120854-82587Hull 383
UNEF 1209
UNEF 1210 54-82596Destroyed in a hanger fire.
UNEF 1211 ?
UNEF 1212
UNEF 1213Nicknamed "PAT" 1957 before repainted in white. One crewmember was Cpl. McNicholl.
UNEF 1214
UNEF 121554-82585
UNEF 1216
UNEF 121754-82526 ?
UNEF 121854-82542 ? or 547 ?
UNEF 2019 ?
UNEF 1220
UNEF 1221
UNEF 122254-82518Hull 304
UNEF 122354-82527Hull 308
UNEF 1224
UNEF 122554-82519Hull 411
UNEF 1226
UNEF 1227 ?Possibly cannibalized for parts, thus not seen in photos.
UNEF 1228
UNEF 122929 Ferrets landed at Port Said on 28 March 1957. It appears a solid, or nearly solid, block of numbers was assigned.
UNEF 1230 ?
UNEF 123154-82527
UNEF 1597
UNEF 1598