Could one of the Canadian experts on this forum help me identifying this Canadian shoulder title? It must have been from a unit from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Pieter why would you think it came from the 1st Cdn Division at the time they were in Holland ALL five Divisions and two Armoured Brigades were there - 1st - 5th Armoured and 1st Armoured bde only landed in Belgium from Italy in February '45…. Cheers
I am most definitely not the expert you are looking for but I think the short answer is that all Canadian active service units eventually wore them. I've seen varations where it was worn below their regimental title, worn without a regimental patch or incorporated into a regimental patch. . The Second World War saw an increase in the number of uniforms a soldier was likely to be issued with and expected to wear. At the outbreak of war, unit specific metal shoulder titles were worn on Service Dress by most corps and services. With the introduction of Battle Dress, unit-specific insignia was officially not retained, though many units did wear their metal unit titles. Worsted (slip on) regimental titles were eventually issued, some of which had the word CANADA embroidered on them. A special worsted CANADA badge was also introduced. In September 1939, it was ordered that only troops of the First Canadian Division were to wear them. They were to be sewn 1-1/2 inches from the shoulder seam, and only members of the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) were to wear them. Troops returning from overseas were permitted to retain them, but no other troops in Canada were permitted to have them on their uniforms. There were many variations on these badges, especially once they began to be produced in England in addition to Canadian sources. In general, they were produced on khaki cloth (and later, printed on canvas) in buff or white thread, on either a rectangular, or upwards curving background. In January 1940, the badges were ordered worn on greatcoats in addition to Battle Dress. In late 1941, all personnel enlisting for General Service were permitted to wear these CANADA badges, no matter where they were serving, to distinguish them from conscripts. Service Dress and Khaki Drill Jackets came to have these badges also, with versions in buff thread on khaki drill cloth being produced. cangif3.gif (2230 bytes) cangif.gif (1963 bytes) In late 1942, authority to wear the worsted "CANADA" badge was granted to all ranks of both the Active Army and the Reserve Army in Canada and abroad. Those units wearing embroidered regimental or corps titles whose name included "CANADA" or "CANADIAN" in the title were not required to wear CANADA badges in addition. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/insignia/national.htm
For me, the elephant in the room is that the indicated 'Canada' flash is on Khaki drill, suggesting a shirt, or rank slipover, or KD dress. That might imply wear in the Mediterranean?
Tom, I think so because the shoulder title was given to somebody in my hometown by a Canadian soldier. The area around my hometown was liberated by the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. Staffsyeoman, that could be possible. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division fought in Italy prior to its move to The Netherlands.
Pieter F No question that it came from the 1st Cdn Div as they - as you say - liberated your home town - I do know they fought in Italy prior to moving to Belgium in late February '45 as my Brigade - and Gerry Chester's bde were the main Tank support to them from Ortona until they left in '45… Cheers
Pieter, I agree with Tom that it is certainly a 1st Cdn Div. and likely from the KD dress they wore in Sicily and Italy. In looking at various photos from that period there appears to be no uniformity in the titles worn by various regiments and support units. The many variations seen in NW Europe seems to have applied to the 1st Div as well. I will keep an eye out for that particular pattern. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/insignia/national.htm
