Newfoundland
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Two caribou cloth formation signs, one backed in blue the other grey.
What does the different backing colour signify? And when were these patches worn please? Thank you for looking, Keith |
These caribou are very confusing (to me, at least). The yellow head on blue was unfortunately misidentified in Len Whittaker's STOPA as the golden brow deer of IFBU. But two examples featured here recently from a group associated with 166 (Newfoundland) Fd Regt RA in Italy. The same design in yellow on red features in Heraldry in War (p214) as "Newfoundland Units RA". A variation on a rectangle - red head on green- with subtitle NEWFOUNDLAND features in Charles Edwards' "Canadian Army Formation Signs 1939-1945 as Serial 143, p 37. There's also a helmet transfer - which I've only seen in BW photographs. Mike
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Clarification. The red caribou on green rectangle with NEWFOUNDLAND in red is a Canadian army formation patch. Unauthorized it was worn by some Canadians sent to Newfoundland on protective duties as part of W Force during the Second WW. They were made in matched pairs. These were not worn by Newfoundlanders. (Newfoundland did not become a province of Canada until 1949.)
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Thanks. Presumably the Canadians of Force W were back-filling for those Newfoundlanders who had gone to UK. Mike
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Hi Mike. The story is a bit more complex. Newfoundland was not capable of defending all the strategic and vulnerable points even if they had kept their RA regiments in the colony. The startegic importance necessitated substantial artillery and ground force protection. This was agreed to by the governments of both Canada and Newfoundland. At the same time it was a political need to show active participation in the war against Hitler and the Newfoundland government desired a contribution to the overseas effort.
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That's very helpful. Thanks. Mike
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So both the blue and grey backed yellow caribou head patches are Newfoundland Artillery?
Thanks, Keith |
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Here is a set of three I found several years ago as well as a picture of a sign used by the 59th Newfoundland Heavy Artillery regiment.
Attachment 176728 Attachment 176729 Attachment 176730 |
Garth, there is no tell tale evidence any of the cloth patches were sewn on at one time?
The plaque is amazing. Is it in your collection? |
Agreed. The plaque is a remarkable piece of contemporary evidence. Mike
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Just to add to the Caribou images - note title and helmet transfer in this IWM image. Mike
Attachment 176747 |
Thanks Mike. Excellent image.
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Thanks Garth. Should you ever decide the patches are not needed, I know of a good home for them.
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