My WW2 Canadian collection

[ledfut]

I haven't posted on these forums for quite a while. I was spending some time cataloguing my collection of WW2 Canadian militaria and managed to find time to take some updated photos of a bunch of my stuff. I like to collect all sorts of militaria - uniforms, field gear, personal items, etc. As well as collecting books on Canadian military history (I will spare you pictures!), I have a special interest in collecting WW2 Canadian headwear - it is relatively inexpensive (compared to BD) and doesn't take up a bunch of shelf space.

[Woolgar]

A superb focused collection

Nick

[Pretorian81]

Very nice collection!

[Patrick Dempsey]

Beautifully presented too.

Are any of the uniforms posessed of research potential at all?

[ledfut]

Beautifully presented too.

Are any of the uniforms posessed of research potential at all?

Thanks for the compliments!

Quite a few of the uniforms and items have been researched or have research potential. I am especially attracted to items that have provenance or that can be researched further. As much as the items themselves, I am fascinated by the story that goes with them. For me, the hobby is not about the items - it is about the people who wore or used them. With this in mind, I am a sucker for items that have a name or service number with them. I generally try to research every item that has potential.

Whenever I pick up an item with a name and/or service number, I hire a gentleman in Ottawa to research the service file for me from Library and Archives Canada. In fact, I am currently waiting on 3 files that should be arriving in the next couple of weeks. One is for a gentleman who served with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (I have his beret, ID discs, brassards, and some paperwork), one is for a gentleman who served with the Lake Superior Regiment (I have a panoramic group photo that he has written on), and the third is for a soldier who was killed in action late in the war while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (I have a field service cap named to him from earlier in the war while he served with the West Nova Scotia Regiment).

Some of the items that I have already researched include the Type B flying helmet, my RCAF Irvin jacket, the RCAF service dress tunic, and several of the caps in my collection. A few items that I plan on researching in the future include my RCAF warrant officer's visor cap, the RCAF suitcase, and a couple more caps. One of my favorite groupings that I plan on researching further includes the hand-painted suitcase belonging to a local gentleman who served with the RCN. Along with the suitcase are 3 incredible wartime photo albums (with captions under most of the photos), his RCN sleeve badges, and his ID discs. The photo albums tell most of his story, but I would like to see what else I can find out.

The most treasured items in my collection are the items that belonged to my wife's grandfather, who served with the Hasty P's, the First Special Service Force, and the Perth Regiment. I have done extensive research on his military service. He had a fascinating military history - fighting his way up the boot in Italy and then fighting through France and Northwest Europe right until the end of the war, being wounded three time along the way.

[Sebastien T]

Hello,

Beautiful collection and very well shown with nice pictures. Nice to see so many WW2 original canadian items. I'm more into RCAF and your items are just amazing, espicially your flight helmet . I would love to get one like that into my collection one day.

Congrats

[JEROEN1944]

I realy like your collection

Jeroen

[Mike McMenamin]

Beautiful Picture's!!


Mike

[Patrick Dempsey]

Quite a few of the uniforms and items have been researched or have research potential. I am especially attracted to items that have provenance or that can be researched further. As much as the items themselves, I am fascinated by the story that goes with them. For me, the hobby is not about the items - it is about the people who wore or used them. With this in mind, I am a sucker for items that have a name or service number with them. I generally try to research every item that has potential.

Ahh....we are of a similar persuasion.

Please start a few threads on these men if you get the chance.

[Adam S.]

Wonderful collection and well presented! It's always great to see the Canadian stuff getting the attention that it deserves. I especially like that netted helmet and the pilot set-up. What program did you use to present these images?

[ledfut]

Wonderful collection and well presented! It's always great to see the Canadian stuff getting the attention that it deserves. I especially like that netted helmet and the pilot set-up. What program did you use to present these images?

I used Microsoft Publisher to lay out the images. After finding a selection of pictures that I wish to use, I create a blank page (black background) and paste the pictures onto it. I am then able to move them around on the page, edit size, etc. When I am finished, I use a program I downloaded called Howie's Quick Screen Capture to take a picture of the page. Last step is to crop the picture using Paint. Nothing fancy - just taking advantage of the software that came installed on my computer!

[Adam S.]

Thanks very much for the tip. I might give it a try!

[Mark Broughton]

Great collection,beautifully layed out
Mark

[mufasa]

... I have a special interest and sympathy for the Canadian military (unfortunately I have only some cap badge) because they were among the first to arrive in Rimini in September 1944 ... congratulations for this wonderful collection!!!!