Uniforms
 

This hopefully is the Elgin 1943.

Uniforms
 

And this should be the Irish also 1943. The Carleton I believe is 1945. all with 8 pleats per side , thats 18 pleats all around. except this one the C 7 Y it has 4 per side if I remember right. This fellow is missing one of the medals Victory I believe But being a 43 uniform thats posible although he must have come home with it. Just curious. Ray

Ray, Could you get a close up image of the shoulder title? Thanks.

Here you are Bill

Excellent Ray. Some evidence of the actual pattern worn in WW2.

The problem with counting pleats is that different regiments had their uniforms tailored differently. . The North Staffords for example took the front pleats out altogether and if I recall correctly the RHG reversed the rear pleats. As with everything uniform in the British army uniform is not the same as similar.

Now, this is what the forum is all about. I didn't know that battledress modifications were "regimental". Does any of our Canadian contributors know of similar practices in the Canadian army?
Ray, I wouldn't read too much into the date of issue for the tunic. The stores gave out what was at hand, and they may have had several dates in stock. I remember when I was in the Grey & Simcoe's, and my dad was in stores that there were several instances where "new" stores arrived that were older than the previous kit that had been issued. Most of the tunics that are encountered today are the tunics the fellows came home in. They got these new battledress before repatriation in 1945, and those are the tunics that are found today. There is the odd one that would have been to a soldier that had come home earlier, (due to his circumstances eg training or wounded), but those are scarce.

I also remember when I was in the Grey and Simcoes Barrie sqd all the officers has private purchase BDs which all had slight differences and it was the same when I went into the PATS so each tailor was putting his traits into those ones. Then the ORs quality ones although subject to quality controls where contracted out to several firms and slight variences in cuffs and pleats etc will always suface.

Ray, nice BD indeed. I note the rank of Cpl. and 2 wound stripes. Also two years service on the cuff. I have a copy of the Irish Regt of Canada Casualty list. A quick search would likely give in the area of 50 or so guys this tunic could belong to. Are their any other Id marking inside?

Hi Clif (Is it) Pylon anyway.
This Battle dress was belong to Ernie Belanger, At least he told me it was his, & I know he was in the Irish , both him & his Brother, He died just last year,lived in the east end of Toronto. He was quite the case. I worked with him for about 15 years then I went to a new facility. yes its a very nice BD. His initals are on the inside lining also a number.

Ray

I thought Ernie should have more than 2 service stripes to be a Corporal. NO?

Ray

Hi Ray, Time in, though a factor when considering promotion, was not the main factor. Competance, intelligence and leadership qualities were also important. If I remember correctly, there was a battalion Lt Col in WW2 who was only 28 or 29. Quite an achievement.

Hello Ray, yes its Cliff. Excellent in deed in regards to Earnest's Service. He was in fact twice wounded. First wounded on 13 September 1944 oddly enough I have no record of what the wound was. However I can tell you he was wounded at Coriano (where my uncle was killed)

The second time he was wounded was on 08 October 1944 when he was wounded in the left thigh by mortar shrapnel.


You have yourself a very fine BD to a very fine soldier.

Thanks Cliff, much appreciated. Ray