Ford Fordson E83W - Ottawa, Ontario
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Weathervane
N 45° 25.003 W 075° 43.023
18T E 443896 N 5029494
This Ford Fordson E83W is on permanent display in the Lebreton Gallery of the Canadian War Museum, in Ottawa, Ontario. The Fordson served in England as a mobile canteen and volunteers served over 7.5 million meals during the war.
Waymark Code: WMYPG4
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 07/07/2018
Views: 7
Text of the plaque:
Emergency Food Van
The British adapted civilian Fordson (Ford of England) E83W vans to serve as mobile canteens.
This van was the first of a series paid for by Commonwealth organizations and donated to the British Government. American Ford plants donated hundreds more. Volunteers staffed the vans, serving more than 7.5 million meals during the war.
" Little van, big job
In 1941, Henry and Edsel Ford decided to offer 450 emergency food vans to the British as ‘mobile canteens’ to provide relief to victims of air raids. Their Ford E83W model was revamped to accommodate a basic kitchenette in which volunteers could stand, serve precious tea, and hand out a number of pre-cooked meals.
Their very appearance began to symbolize hope, and the modest Ford vans quickly became a lifeline for many civilians, aid workers, and soldiers. Criss-crossing day and night over stricken areas, the fleet of 450 traveled a total of 1,660,022 kilometres to deliver some 2.5 million meals on the sides of roads and over 5 million meals in schools. Local Ford dealers provided free maintenance on the vehicles which were sometimes roughed up on rough roads.
After the war ended, the Fordson emergency food vans faded into new streetscapes, re-purposed for other adventures. With them disappeared a unique witnessing of history. But since the Canadian War Museum got its hands on one of them, this special piece of the Second World War story can be revealed: the human side of conflict in all its generosity and solidarity.
Reference: (
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Fordson E83W: (
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Hours:
June 30 to September 3, 2018
Monday to Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
September 4, 2018 to March 31, 2019
Monday to Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.