Some Relative Canadian Items

[DJT]

Sorry, forgot to say the patch on the shoulder is an 8th army patch. The Canadians in Italy were attached to the British 8th army and you commonly see Canadian jackets with the 8th army patches. That one on your BD looks theatre made. The aussie hat looks wartime to me. There were Australians in Italy and N.Africa so your uncle probably traded with one that he met there. Camp Borden is north of Toronto and was one of the main traning camps during the war. I know a Canadian armoured vet who did his training there also.

[DJT]

Better view of my Canadian Battledress. Its quite similiar to yours.

[Darrell]

Thanks Des,

I see your BD has the purple square patch on the arms ... what's the significance of that?

[DJT]

Hi Darrell,

Its actually maroon/dark red not purple. Your BD has the same patch and it indicates Canadian 1st Division.

[Darrell]

Hi Darrell,

Its actually maroon/dark red not purple. Your BD has the same patch and it indicates Canadian 1st Division.

Ahh yeah ... you are right ... nice to know.

Any other comments on the other stuff (that pouch or the pins?).

[leigh kitchen]

Well, the left hand button hole is Boy Scouts, the Australian sunburst (actually a trophy of arms, supposed to be an array of sword & perhaps bayonet blades) was in use through WWI - into the 50's when the crown changed.

I was'nt surprised to see it worn by an Australian General & others in East Timor last year, I think some were in a cheapish looking gilit metal & others in anodised.

For a kind of general service badge they've got a great history.

British army service books are common in this country, there are different printings & inserts, & some are instantly identifiable to a theatre by the cloth used for the covers.

I was looking at one a few weeks ago (can't remember if it's one of mine) where it was marked up that the soldier had declined vaccinations - never knew you could do that, I suspect that he got away with it as he was on the point of being discharged.

[Darrell]

Leigh ... you mention the second button hole?

I assume you mean the left button in the picture of three? The one that looks like the Quebec "Fleur-de-Lys"?

Thanks.