Pete Roy Dickau 8th field ambulance

[KikiFace]

Finally got my grandfathers service record. I am trying to figure out some more about his service from 1943-45. Looks like he was a Dr Mech for the 35 Tps Comp Coy. Any more info on where he was in Europe or war diaries from that unit?

[Temujin]

I had a Quick Look at the info you posted, and because he was a Driver he was posted to many units, such as (these are just a few, their are more in his file)

8th Field Ambulance
2 Division Petrol Company
35 Cdn Troops Composite Company
36 Cdn Army Troops Composite Company

So from your question you wanted more info on the 35 Cdn Troops Composite Company (as this is the one in landed in France with and spent most of his front line service), Correct?

I’ll see what I can find on that unit

[Temujin]

This file at LAC “may” give you more information, below is a screenshot of the page, and I’ve given you a link to the file (which you will need for ordering or viewing purposes)

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect? ... 8&lang=eng

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[KikiFace]

My grandfather Roy told my dad an uncle that he had a weapon with him in the truck. He said it was a "Sten" gun or "piat" gun maybe(though that doesnt seem to match the info i have found online. It was a mortar type weapon that was fired by hitting it on the ground or on a plate.
Any ideas what this would be?

[Temujin]

My grandfather Roy told my dad an uncle that he had a weapon with him in the truck. He said it was a "Sten" gun or "piat" gun maybe(though that doesnt seem to match the info i have found online. It was a mortar type weapon that was fired by hitting it on the ground or on a plate.
Any ideas what this would be?

Your question is a little confusing, but I will try to give you some info.

In the first question, as a Driver he would have been armed. It was NOT unusual for Driver’s to be armed with a “Sten Gun”, as these were fairly short, and can be managed within the cab of a vehicle. For example a rifle is really long, and if you were attacked (say by a patrol), a rifle is to long to get ready to use and fire within a cab bout a Sten Gun can quickly be brought us to fire (thru the window, or just getting out of the truck to defend yourself. So I think he was meaning a Sten Gun.

A PIAT is an anti-tank weapons, not carried by Drivers within the cab of a truck……so this isn’t a likely option.

A “mortar type weapon” would also NOT be carried by a Driver…….BUT, if he was “transporting it” in the back of a vehicle this may be likely. The smallest Mortar at that time was the 2” mortar, small, fairly light, fired from a “base plate” that one man held (no sights, just held in an angle that the man holding it thought was right) and then a second man loaded the mortar, which fired “automaticallY’ when the bomb slide down the tube, struck a fixed firing pin and fired immediately. AGAIN, I don’t believe this would have been assigned to or carried by a driver

I believe the “likely” option is that he carried a “STEN GUN” as his personal weapon (weapon assigned to him)

Link to the 2” Mortar below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-inch_mortar

Other’s on this site may have other thoughts and recommendations on the above

[KikiFace]

My grandfather Roy told my dad an uncle that he had a weapon with him in the truck. He said it was a "Sten" gun or "piat" gun maybe(though that doesnt seem to match the info i have found online. It was a mortar type weapon that was fired by hitting it on the ground or on a plate.
Any ideas what this would be?

Your question is a little confusing, but I will try to give you some info.

In the first question, as a Driver he would have been armed. It was NOT UNUSUAL for Driver’s to be armed with a “Sten Gun”, as these were fairly short, and can be managed within the cab of a vehicle. For example a rifle is really long, and if you were attacked (say by a patrol), a rifle is to long to get ready to use and fire within a cab but a Sten Gun can quickly be brought up to fire (thru the window, or just getting out of the truck to defend yourself. So I think he was meaning a Sten Gun.

A PIAT is an anti-tank weapon, not carried by Drivers within the cab of a truck……so this isn’t a likely option.

A “mortar type weapon” would also NOT be carried by a Driver…….BUT, if he was “transporting it” in the back of a vehicle this may be likely. The smallest Mortar at that time was the 2” mortar, small, fairly light, fired from a “base plate” that one man held (no sights, just held in an angle that the man holding it thought was right) and then a second man loaded the mortar, which fired “automaticallY’ when the bomb slid down the tube, struck a fixed firing pin and fired immediately. AGAIN, I don’t believe this would have been assigned to or carried by a driver

I believe the “likely” option is that he carried a “STEN GUN” as his personal weapon (weapon assigned to him)

Link to the 2” Mortar below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-inch_mortar

Other’s on this site may have other thoughts and recommendations on the above

SIDE NOTE: the STEN GUN, which “became” the redesigned SMG in Canadian service AFTER the war was used in the Canadian Forces until the mid 1980’s. It WAS the weapon used by Drivers and other trades, again as it was light and short and put out a lot of bullets rapidly (BUT NOT VERY ACCURATE). The Service Battalion is was in (1 Service Battalion) in Calgary in 1971 was ALL ARMED with the SMG (their was approx 800 men in the Battalion at that time). ALSO the SMG could be armed with a 10 round or a 30 round magazine. Drivers were normally given the 10 round magazine for use inside the cab of a vehicle…….again because it was “short” and easy to grab and use within the cab of a truck.

AND ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: IF you are a Star War’s fan, and have watched the movies from the beginning……THE Weapon the “STORM TROOPERS” use in the movie was a SMG, with fake bits, like a sight put on top and the short 10 round magazine….but it was an SMG…..some useless information for you (I use to work for the Department of Useless Information while in the Canadian Government - I was very good at this job and miss it, so I tried to BS on this site every once in a while……..just kidding, the info above and below is all TRUE)

A couple of photos below. STEN GUN then SMG. NOTE: the SMG has a folding stock, and in the photo it is folded up, making the weapon even shorter and easier to use in a confined space

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