[Voltigeur]

Just after the start of Mobilization in 1914, the Minster of Militia, Sam Hughes decided to kit out the entire Canadian Military with Colt 1911's. However due to the neutrality act of the time, the Americans could not sell us military kit. So we had one or two procurement officers buy 5000 Commercial Models for themselves. They were delivered over a period of time and they are not all sequentially numbered. He was only able to really equip the first two contingents and officers had to buy thier own from the already bought lots, NCO's had their issued. Anyways, it was found that it would be two expensive, so the government moved to the Webley Mk 6, Colt New Service pistol and the Smith and Wesson in cal..455.
Clive Law➽ indicates that the pistols were possibly smuggled into Canada,
The US Neutrality Act did not prohibit private companies in America trading with the belligerents, and Colt were already supplying the British government with pistols and sending machine guns via Canada to the UK. Also, the first 2,000 pistols were shipped to the Government of Canada, Department of Militia and Defence, c/o J.Wesley Allison, Waddington, New York. If it was a clandestine purchase, surely the Canadian Government would not be the addressee?
The remaining 3,000 pistols were shipped in three batches direct to H.W.Brown,Quebec, and it appears part of a batch of 1,000 shipped was 7th November 1914.
With these Colt pistols the necessary US holsters, belts and shoulder straps were bought.

So that is why this officer was photograph with his private purchased US-made belt and shoulder strap.
➽ Canadian Military Handguns, 1855-1985.Pub.Museum Restauration Service (1994)Clive M. Law.

In Mike Chappell's book The Canadian Army at War, Osprey Men-at-Arms series,1984. there is a picture on page 10 showing a Captain Buchanan,13th Battalion,CEF. wearing the US web belt and cross strap.


Jo