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Old 24-08-15, 01:27 PM
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Bill A Bill A is offline
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Default 2014 issue Division signs

The issue of the new division signs is well underway. These are worn on upper left sleeve of the DEU, while a brigade patch is worn on the upper right. For those collecting the same, they are somewhat difficult to acquire. They are (for now) strictly controlled and limited issue per soldier. An initial issue for 3 Division was made in the wrong colour. There is also a patch for the Canadian Army Training and Doctrine Centre and for NDHQ.
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Old 25-08-15, 09:14 PM
Michael Dorosh Michael Dorosh is offline
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The issue of the new division signs is well underway. These are worn on upper left sleeve of the DEU, while a brigade patch is worn on the upper right. For those collecting the same, they are somewhat difficult to acquire. They are (for now) strictly controlled and limited issue per soldier. An initial issue for 3 Division was made in the wrong colour. There is also a patch for the Canadian Army Training and Doctrine Centre and for NDHQ.
As you no doubt know, the latter are technically not "div" patches, but of course the former patch of 1 Canadian Corps and 1 Canadian Army. Personally, I'm thrilled we are using these formation patches. Any soldier in the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, etc. wears the SSI that have been in continuous use since those formations served - First World War in the former case and World War II in the latter. Kind of nice to now do the same here.
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Old 25-08-15, 11:53 PM
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Michael, in the US situation, their formations have been basically continuously active and have not changed the basic patch. The Canadian situation is significantly different. Perpetuating the Second World War divisions as has been done in Canada is not continuing the historical precedent in the same way as the US SSI's. It is not a continuation of the traditions of a historical antecedent. In Calgary you have your unit which was 2 CID, the KOCR which were 1 CAB, and in Edmonton, the Loyal Eddies, 1 CID, PPCLI 1 CID, LdSH were 5 CAD,while the SALH trace their lineage in part to the South Alberta Regt, which was 4 CAD. (It has been suggested by some that the PPCLI had an inordinate influence on the choice of revived division sign. They wanted the French gray to commemorate their First World War division.The PPCLI use French gray in some other dress aspects.) The divsion sign is symbolic of the heritage, but not perpetuating the lineage of those divisions.
Canadian traditions, perhaps due to both the size of our army and the British heritage has been more regimental rather than to the larger formation. It is also a significant departure from First World War and Second World War policies and practices to wear two different insignia on the same uniform. That practice did not start until the Korean War, when the Canadians wore both the Commonwealth division sign and the 25 Brigade patch.
It is certainly reflective of Canadian military history to revive the use of formation patches and that is a good thing to instill the sense of history in the contemporary army.
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Old 27-08-15, 06:22 PM
Michael Dorosh Michael Dorosh is offline
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Michael, in the US situation, their formations have been basically continuously active and have not changed the basic patch. The Canadian situation is significantly different. Perpetuating the Second World War divisions as has been done in Canada is not continuing the historical precedent in the same way as the US SSI's. It is not a continuation of the traditions of a historical antecedent. In Calgary you have your unit which was 2 CID, the KOCR which were 1 CAB, and in Edmonton, the Loyal Eddies, 1 CID, PPCLI 1 CID, LdSH were 5 CAD,while the SALH trace their lineage in part to the South Alberta Regt, which was 4 CAD. (It has been suggested by some that the PPCLI had an inordinate influence on the choice of revived division sign. They wanted the French gray to commemorate their First World War division.The PPCLI use French gray in some other dress aspects.) The divsion sign is symbolic of the heritage, but not perpetuating the lineage of those divisions.
Canadian traditions, perhaps due to both the size of our army and the British heritage has been more regimental rather than to the larger formation. It is also a significant departure from First World War and Second World War policies and practices to wear two different insignia on the same uniform. That practice did not start until the Korean War, when the Canadians wore both the Commonwealth division sign and the 25 Brigade patch.
It is certainly reflective of Canadian military history to revive the use of formation patches and that is a good thing to instill the sense of history in the contemporary army.
I'm aware of the differences in how formations are built, but even the 101st Airborne in the U.S. has had different composition throughout its history as far as major component units. The Calgary Highlanders have now worn three different formation patches (including the 10th Bn, the perpetuated CEF battalion), 1st Div, 2nd Div and now 3rd Div.

It may seem odd for a unit today that never served historically with 3rd Div to take pride in the honours and association with that formation, but is it really any different than the amalgamated regiments in the British Army who inherit the battle honours of dozens of historical battalions?
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