1 Canadian Corps AGRA and 2 Canadian Corps AGRA, same patch!

[Bill A]

Notes for cloth collectors.
Early in the Second World War, the Canadian Army (Overseas) authorized the use of corps patches in diamond shapes to identify various services and corps. For example, the RCAPC had a blue diamond with two small yellow bars across the top, the RCASC had yellow on red, Canadian Dental Corps, yellow embroidery imposed on a green diamond, the RCAMC a plain maroon diamond, or the purple/mauve diamond with CCS. Many of these are often mis-represented in sales or mis-identified in collections. They are attributed to the wrong formation. For example, the CDC corps patch is frequently identified as a Pacific Command patch.
Of note, some of the patches fit into more than one identification. The RCASC patch mentioned above can identified as the RCASC corps patch or as the corps patch for the RCASC in 1 Cdn Corps. Similarly, the 1 Cdn Corps early pattern Army Group Royal Artillery was red on blue, which was the same colour as 2 Cdn Corps Army Group Royal Artillery.
Understanding the issue of Canadian formation patches and shoulder titles is a complicated process. Collecting these patches is a challenging area of the hobby.
See Clive Law's Distinguishing Patches Second Edition for colour charts and explanation of the sequence of issue.

[Raymond Gilbert]

How is CDC (Canadian Dental Corps) patch is confused with Pacific Command? Is it the colour/shape of the two? A photograph or two would assist us non-formation patch collectors to see the issue somewhat clearer.
Thanks Bill for the many clarifications in the past.

[Bill A]

Hi James. The colour of the CDC is the green diamond, the same colour and shape as the Pacific Command. Many collectors / dealers are unaware that early corps diamonds were made in the corps colours. There in the confusion.
Sorry, no images available yet.
Distinguishing Patches has an excellent colour chart of the formation signs along with a full explanation of the evolution of patching in the Canadian army, SWW. A must have book for the Canadian military collector.

[Michael Reintjes]

What about this strange beastie?

[Bill A]

Hi Mike, To date there is no authorization for that patch. There are authorizations for the "thunderbolt" patches, so they are official. I don't think the RCA is an official issue.