Eskimo's, Polar Bears and Lemmings.

[Bill A]

In 1944-45 three cold weather exercises were held in parts of northern Canada to develop winter warfare doctrine and test equipment and uniforms. Exercise Eskimo, the best know of the three, was held in the dry cold conditions of northern Saskatchewan, while lesser know Exercise Polar Bear was held in northern British Columbia to test in cold wet conditions. The final exercise was a small contingent of less than 20 personnel who specifically tested vehicles on the barrens north of Churchill Manitoba.
Exercise Eskimo personnel were identified by a circular formation patch, embroidered in white on a blue field. The desing included an igloo on a field of snow with a plume of smoke drifting skyward. In the upper right quadrant, the North Star, with an embroidered border in the upper half of the circle. Identified as Ex Eskimo, it is likely that both of the larger exercises were issued the tasking patch.