The Stable Belt in Canadian Use

[Steve J]

Good day, this post is prompted by seeing young Richard Law's current endeavours with re-popularizing the Stable Belt (perhaps we can abbreviate to SB in this post) in the Canadian Army. As some of you know, the wear of these belts is not an army wide practice. Some regiments may still have some reference to Stable Belts (SB) in their Regimental Dress Instructions, catechisms and such but I believe that you, the forum-ites probably have as much corporate knowledge as exists anywhere.

I'll start off the discussion. During my 30 years in the Canadian Army 1979-2009 the only SB that I saw, were the REME one's in my father's collection, and anytime that I worked with the British Army or attended course in the UK. Beyond that, I have 2 REME Stable Belts in my collection.

My understanding is that Stable Belts did not appear as a cross Canadian Army piece of kit all at once. They came onto the scene in the WWI time period, their use migrating from the British Army to Canada. In Canadian service, it was introduced in a helter skelter manner, some officers and men acquired them as a privately obtained or purchased item; originally little rhyme or reason or rules surrounded wear of Stable Belts in the Canadian Army. And what about the RCAF and RCN......

Units and Corps adopted Stable Belts in the late 1940's to Korea possible even through to the early 1960's period. As quick as SB came onto the scene, they started to fade from use throughout the 1960's with a hard stop at Unification. Some belts may still have been worn in the early 1970's as there were still a few units, mostly Reserve that had the Bush Uniform and even a smattering of Battledress.

A comment I received from one friend is he knows that his father obtained his SB while serving in the Canadian Brigade in Northern Germany as part of British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).

A quick cursory google produced 4 Canadian hits on the open source internet: our esteemed Richard Law's Bespoke Stable Belts; "Regimental Manual" for the Lord Strathcona's Horse (RC); kitshops of The Black Watch and The Vancouver Gunners 15 Field Regiment (RCA).

My RCEME Blue Beret and Stable Belt below.

I'll throw this subject out there for discussion.....