I need help to locate the unit 31 on the knocked out armoured vehicle on the picture enclosed. I am I right that this the back of a Cromwell based 40 mm Bofors SP? The vehicle was k/o mid September '44 in the sector of the 2 CID? Who can help me?
Not many armoured formations still held Crusader AA's after August '44. The highest number were in the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, who had 18, these being shared mostly between the 29th (South Alberta) Armoured Regiment and the divisional 5th Anti-Tank Regiment RCA. The Crusaders in the latter unit were used as gun tractors, due to a delay in the supply of Crusader Gun Tractors proper. At least one tank was retained by the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade and the 1st Polish Armoured Division retained a minimum of five, all in the 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment. The Notts Yeomanry in 8th Armoured Brigade had a single Crusader AA in their RHQ. All other Crusader AA's were transferred to Anti-Tank Regiments as commanders' chargers, the decision to do this having been taken on 29th July '44. So if the South Albertas were the senior regiment in the 4th Canadian AD, they are your most likely ID.
The South Aberta Regiment was the reconnaissance regiment of 4 Cdn Armd Div, so should have the AoS Serial 45. However, it is entirely possible that the original AoS Serials were retained after they were transferred. If in 2 Cdn Armd Div, this Crusader AA originally (and maybe still) belonged to 21 Cdn Armd Regt (The Governor General's Foot Guards), which was the senior armoured regiment in 4 Cdn Armd Bde.
Crusader AA T125623 was received by "F" Sqn 25 Cdn Armd Del Regt on 20 Jun 44 from 4 VRD 1 CCOD and issued the next day to 21 CAR (GGFG). See: War diaries : T-12735 - Héritage and War diaries : T-12735 - Héritage I haven't checked yet on other movements of this particular vehicle until end of Sep 44.
