parachute corps

[jim a]

I haven't seen to many parachute corps badges yet. Here is my one and only badge for this corps. Maybe we could see a few more.

[rubicon]

Hello,
Here is a Canadian Parachute Corps officer cap badge I was fortunate to get some years ago in Quebec. The plate is made of brass and stamped at the base "Scully Montreal" but canopy and scroll are made of blackened silver I think. I got it with papers, documents and picture of the officer who wore this cap badge. His rank and name was Captain Roland Prairie MC-C de GF-CD (C de GF means Croix de Guerre Française). I know he was previously a first Lieutenant in the RCA (I have a picture of him in Service Dress) but I found out he was latter qualified as paratrooper on 29 May 1944 at Shilo Camp Manitoba. But he is not listed as 1st Cdn Para Bn officer nor known by the 1st Cdn Para Bn veterans association. I wonder in which unit he won his Military Cross and French Croix de Guerre? I could not find his MC citation... I would love to hear from anyone information about this Canadian officer!
Cheers.
J-F

[Bill A]

J-F, I think your enquiry about Captain Roland Prairie MC-C de GF-CD may be better posted on the British Medals Forum.
Strangely quiet on this thread. I thought that there would be much more discussion, especially with all the repros that are made of the 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion badges?

[rubicon]

Thanks Bill for your suggestion I'll do it.
I agree with you this thread is stangely quiet for a variety of cap badges which have probably the most of reproductions and "bugs" of all the Canadian cap badges!
I add this couple of original brass metal cap badges for the Canadian Parachute Corps Other Ranks. I think they are the only original types for these cap badges.
Two different fixing patterns, one has the most commun fixing by wire lugs, the other has two plates cut and drilled. I am not sure but I heard of they had been made by the same factory located near Shillo Camp in Manitoba? Does it exact? According to the book "Into the Maelstrom" they would have been made late in 1944 and 1945. I wonder why they made in first the "plastic" pattern? Very few Canadian cap badges were made in plastic...
Cooper was so scarce in Canada during the war?
Cheers.
J-F

[Bill A]

Somehow I missed this post.
Your badges are nice authenic examples of the Canadian Parachute Battalion badges.
J-F, To partially answer your question about the plastic (NOT BAKELITE for those that use the term), it was considered an "ecomomy issue". Brass, nickel, and copper (among many other metals) were considered a strategic materials for a period of time during WW2. There was an attempt to make badges in other ways, and plastic was the cheapest. The issue was not so much scarcity, as need. Brass was required for other products, as was nickel and copper.
I believe the manufacturer was in the Toronto area?

[Luc]

Jim, are you sure yours is a genuine badge? I understand the voids next to the canopy signifies it is a replica.