WW II Theatre Made Canadian Insignia

[Desert Rat]

Does anyone have photographs showing the 1 CAB ASSAULT patch, Ontario Regiment bullion shoulder title or Three Rivers Regiment bullion shoulder title actually being worn? Does anyone know of the existence of an original wartime BD with any of these insignia on it? If yes, could you please post pictures of the photograph or BD.

[Bill A]

Cloth Authentication Guidelines

Unfortunately, repros, depending on the definition one uses, have been around nearly as long as badges have been used. Even if patches were "found" 25 years ago, it is not evidence of authenticity. The real test of authenticity, in my opinion inlcudes the following factors:

1. A sealed pattern example. (For comparison with examples extant.)
2. There should be RO's or GO's authorizing said title/patch. The Canadian 1st Armoured Brigade ASSAULT patch made in Italy is one that was supported by this type of evidence. Dwayne H. researched and found the actual authorization in the archives.
3. Period photographic evidence showing the item in use.
4. Regimental war diaries or histories that indicate the existance of the item or support the existance.
5. Other documentary evidence, eg letters home which mention or describe the item etc.
6. Personal recollections and diaries.
7. The source of the item in question.
8. The memories of soldiers who wore the item.
9. The actual construction and material in the object.(eg black light/burn tested etc. Unfortunately, the new batch of repros on the market are made of non uv material and do not glow and are burners not melters. I got taken on a 1 Canadian Para Bn flash that looked and even smelled good, but it was as phony as a $3 bill.)

Even all of these factors do not mean that the item at hand is authentic. For example, Canadian Corps formation patches of good quality were made up in the 1920's for use on uniforms and in the 1960's for some battalion reunions. Today, nearly 50 years later most of these fool most collectors.
When evaluating a patch or a cloth title, the more factors that can be check marked the more likely the item is an actual original example. Few items will have all the factors checked.

[Bill A]

Hello Adam, Some further thoughts on the initial question. The wearing of theatre made insigna can be established by some of the guidelines above. However, photographic evidence will be difficult to find. IIRC, it was against regulations to carry a personal camera in the field. That would mean that photographic evidence would have to be either official or taken when the unit was out of the field.

There were also bullion wire formation patches made that are attributed to Dutch or Belgian makers. Included in these are 1st Canadian Army CDC and RCOC. It is possible that the Ontario Regiment and Three Rivers Regiment shoulder titles are of Dutch (or NW European) manufacture as well.

[Dwayne H]

While not an impossibility, the 1 Assault unit was very small....basically 2 officers and about 90 men. At a couple of times in the history of the unit they actually had no officers due to casualties.

The patches were picked up in Florence by Lt Oconnor in Jan 1945. Having a unit patch was very important to the commanding officer.....all the patches being hand made and therefore are all different from each other. These did not go official sources but were paid for by the unit.Designs for a cap badge were discussed but never got to the point where it happened. Most of the guys came from CAC reserve units so likely wore the Canadian Armoured Corps cap badge.

So we have a unit who had official unit status for all of 6 months.The unit had its members attached to the different armoured units in the 1st Cdn Armoured Brigade.

If you ever get a chance , I suggest going through the unit's war diary ...the original is in the archives. I went through the diary day by day.....as I had one(actually 2 at one point) of these patches and wanted to learn the story behind them.

The patches are real and were worn....I'd love to see a photo of them in wear , but the relative size and short period of it's existence makes this unlikely.

Dwayne