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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Claddagh on Saturday 13 March 10 21:16 GMT (UK)

Title: Could you please identify this Canadian uniform? Many thanks!
Post by: Claddagh on Saturday 13 March 10 21:16 GMT (UK)
Hello everyone,

Could someone please help me to identify this military uniform?  All I know is that the soldier in the photo is Canadian and born in 1920.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I searched the National Archives of Canada Military Records and could not find him listed.  He died in 1994.

Many thanks for your expertise!

Claddagh
 ;)
Title: Re: Could you please identify this Canadian uniform? Many thanks!
Post by: rbangorreg on Sunday 21 March 10 08:45 GMT (UK)
Hi,
  Have a look at the following site, looks like the Canadian Army??

http://www.flickr.com/photos/striderv/3019855121/

  Reg.
Title: Re: Could you please identify this Canadian uniform? Many thanks!
Post by: scrimnet on Sunday 21 March 10 09:52 GMT (UK)
This is the 1937 ptn Battle Dress (BD) worn by British, Empire and Dominion troops in WW2 and beyond. The Australians wore a version of the WW1 tunic mainly. It was also worn by foreign troops under British command such as Free French, Free Polish and Free Czech.

He wears the 1937 ptn Field Service Cap, and I'm afraid the Cap Badge is too indistinct to make out.

The only difference betwixt the general British and Canadian uniforms is that the Canadian uniforms were of a rather greener hue. They were much prized by other troops as they were a bit softer, and looked like officer pattern!
Title: Re: Could you please identify this Canadian uniform? Many thanks!
Post by: Claddagh on Saturday 27 March 10 15:20 GMT (UK)
Many thanks “scrimnet” and “bangorreg” for your expertise in this field.  It is hard to imagine him as a 17 year-old enlisting in the military.  It was the way of life back then and explains why to his death he was a private man who seemed to be haunted by personal demons.  He must have seen atrocities that scarred him for life.

With your information I hope that I can find his military papers at the National Archives of Canada.  He had an identical twin brother and triplet brothers (16 kids in total) and I wonder if they too joined up.  Time will tell.

Thanks again for your help!

Take care and keep smiling!
Claddagh
 :) ;) :D