CANADA (korean war badge) - what to look for?

[Brigade Piron]

Hello chaps - appologies if this is in the wrong forum

I believe there are fakes (or at least repros) of the Red Canada shield as used in Korea.

What should I look out for in a real one, and roughly how much should I expect to pay?

Thanks!

BP

[Bill A]

Hello BP, The formation patch is the 25 Brigade patch for the Korean War era. Later it was used as the nationality patch, and Canadian units deployed overseas wore this until the distinctive Canadian flag patch was adopted for that purpose circa 1965.
There are many variations of the patch, as they were used for over a decade. They are not uncommon. The pattern you want is the melton variety with no embroidered border.
A reasonable price would be $20 - $25, maybe a bit more.

[Brigade Piron]

Hello Bill, thanks very much for your help.




Would you say this was the KW type? It doesn't seem to have the embroidered borders you mention, but it looks a bit different...

Thanks!

[Bill A]

Hi BP, there is something odd about that patch. The laurel leaves should be white or silver white, and the central maple leaf is gold. There are patterns with segments in the leaf while others have the leaf as one embroidered part.
My research suggests the segmented type, like the one you have imaged is the type worn in Korea.

[Brigade Piron]

That's interesting! Do you think the patch I posted is a different unit then?



To my eyes, this looks identical to the example posted - is this correct? It does seem to have some stiching around the edges though...

[Bill A]

Hi BP, The patch in your image is a good example, but it is difficult to say it is Korean era.
As indicated these patches were worn by the 25 Bde, and then by Canadian contingents on UN peacekeeping duties and some other deployments until the mid 1960's.

[Voltigeur]

The stitching around the edge just means it was taken off from a uniform....
Jo

[Brigade Piron]

Thanks - quick final questions, I assume the CANADA patch was worn on one side, with the COMMONWEALTH patch on the other?

The unit I'm researching is the 22e regiment/PPCLI - can anyone recommend how to tell if they are, again, of KW vintage?

Thanks again!

[Bill A]

Hi BP, Which regiment? PPCLI are very similar in style from the 1940's through 1968. The R 22e R is the three piece melton type, with the regimental designation embroidered on the central gold panel.

[Brigade Piron]

That's intereting - I take it that the 22e R badge is the type without the appearance of an american divisional patch (slightly shiney) several of which are currently on ebay.ca?

[Bill A]

Hi BP, The one you are looking for is the one in melton, not the American style fully embroidered.

[edstorey]

Here are two images of original Korean War insignia on a pair of brassards.





The wire insignia was purchased in Japan for wear back to Canada but the malton patches were worn as late as the early 1970s so finding examples that were actually worn in Korea is slim.

[edstorey]

This is a shoulder badge that would be appropriate for the Korean War period.



This example is from the post-Korean War period.

[Michael Reintjes]

[Bill A]

The fully embroidered R 22e R title was adopted circa 1956.