Printable View
In the course of researching some files in the British archives I noted the following 1939/40 contracts for ammunition-related materiel :
60,000 bandoliers from the Hamilton Carharrt Co, Toronto (2000/week by 29/4/40)
1,940,000 bandoliers from Lampron Shirt Co., Trois Riverieres (160,000/month by Jan. 1941)
400,000 bandoliers from American Pad & Textile Co., Chatham, Ont
plus two contracts for chargers, will have to look at those again as the picture I took is blurred.
Hamilton Carharrt is the presumably the company of workwear fame now. A small plant to have only got a contract for 60,000. or else they were too busy making workwear.
Would they have been making military clothing also? More than just the bandoleers? Even if it were gaiters or web belts or something, it might explain their small contract?
Eventually someone is going to pop up here with some of these things with the cryptic initials on them and demand information.
I bought a gas mask bag in an old Army-Navy Store in Daytona Beach, Florida when I was a kid made at American Pad and Textile in Chatham, Ontario. It helped generate my interest in all things pertaining to military history since I was born in Chatham! They also produced No.36 Mills grenades at another war plant in Chatham and I remember one being found in a farmers barn relieved of it's charge and fuse when I was a kid.
There was lots of that stuff around that area. I was raised around Leamington/Wheatley...
I know the area well. My Great Uncle taught vehicle mechanics at the Basic Training Centre there during WWII. There was also a POW camp and a neighbor used to have German prisoners out to his farm under guard during the sugar beet harvest. My Dad remembers them working there. They had white uniforms with a big red "dot" printed on the backs. The soldiers guarding them were armed with Ross rifles. There's lots of history there if you can find anyone who cares anymore!
I didn't understand the history until I left. Now, it's clear. Too late for easy access though.
The Chatham-Kent Museum has quite a bit of stuff on hand. Our old family farm was located at Kent Bridge.
On 2 between Chatham and Thamesville...