Airborne Battle Dress

[beaverpass]

A post on another forum requesting info about this battle dress blouse has not been answered, so thought I would try the picture here.

The original poster in the USA recently received the blouse from a relative in New Brunswick and wishes to establish its authenticity. He has not been able to find any reference to the "Airborne Canada' shoulder patch. Marked inside as 'Battle Dress Blouse Serge, Size No. 2, Tip Top Tailors Ltd', and is dated 1942.

Can anyone advise regards its authenticity, when it was in use, etc.?

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f133/beaverpass/post-201-1136128384.jpg

 

[Gunplumber]

Its from the 50s 60s, most likely 60s as it doesn't have any war medals. It looks real but its hard to tell from the photos. You you have any names associated to it?

 

[Big Foot]

Its from the 50s 60s, most likely 60s as it doesn't have any war medals. It looks real but its hard to tell from the photos. You you have any names associated to it?

Gunplumber, I'm going to have to call you on that. It does in fact have a war medal on it, the Canadian Voluntary Service medal with Overseas bar on it. What is strange to me, however, is the fact that there is no Defence Medal for service in Britain or no 1939-1945 War Medal or any campaign medals. Strange yes, impossible, I doubt it.

 

[RangerRay]

Isn't that private's hook upside down and in the wrong position on the sleeve?

 

[army outfitters]

The airborne Canada title was worn in Canada before the 1st can para titles were made and issued. Also all troops that were instructors etc or not posted yet overseas wore the airborne canada title. This does not mean that 1st can para titles were not worn in Canada just that in general the airborne canada title was only worn in country and when overseas you wore 1st can para

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Have you tried posting at the forum at www.canadiansoldiers.com  ?

 

[army outfitters]

It is called a good conduct stripe not a upside down pte hook

 

[Michael Dorosh]

It is called a good conduct stripe not a upside down pte hook

It is called a Good Conduct Badge to be technical.  Canadians don't wear 'stripes' they wear chevrons. Unless you mean a Wound Stripe.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Good_Conduct_Badges

Oh, and Privates didn't wear chevrons or insignia of any kind until Unification in 1968 and the restructuring of the rank system thereafter.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Private

 

[army outfitters]

I stand corrected and digress to someone who is more grammatically correct than I am in this case.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I stand corrected and digress to someone who is more grammatically correct than I am in this case.

I also look better than you in a pair of shorts, Dave. So they tell me, anyway.  You need to take your ebay auctions off line, though; you have so much good stuff on there at such great prices I fear I may be inspired to stop saving for a house and just go wild buying "army crap".

 

[Trinity]

I also look better than you in a pair of shorts, Dave. So they tell me, anyway.  You need to take your ebay auctions off line, though; you have so much good stuff on there at such great prices I fear I may be inspired to stop saving for a house and just go wild buying "army crap".

Be thankful you don't live down the street from his store.

Its now a weekly excursion for me on Friday after work to pad
my already bursting collection of kit.

 

[RangerRay]

Thanks for the clarification on the "hook".

I should have said "lance corporal" though...  :-[

 

[larry Strong]

I also look better than you in a pair of shorts, Dave. So they tell me, anyway.  You need to take your ebay auctions off line, though; you have so much good stuff on there at such great prices I fear I may be inspired to stop saving for a house and just go wild buying "army crap".

Can you help me here, what is he listed under, and does his store sell online also.

Thanks

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Can you help me here

I doubt it.  Do you know the old saying: you can lead a horse to a guy's profile but you can't make him click on it? 

 

[Trinity]

I doubt it.  Do you know the old saying: you can lead a horse to a guy's profile but you can't make him click on it? 

Michael.. you are an evil man...    but never change 


www.sgtbilkos.ca

his ebay store is under the name sgtbilko but can be accessed
from his webpage also..

 

[army outfitters]

The thought of you in shorts is enough thanks. I will be having nightmares tonight with that one. Hey I sell from the store to so it does not have to be via ebay/epay. When you are in TO next mike drop by. I think you will be very very surprised as to how much and what I actually have.

 

[larry Strong]

I doubt it.  Do you know the old saying: you can lead a horse to a guy's profile but you can't make him click on it? 

Your right  :-[ never thought of that. Thanks for the help ;D

 

[beaverpass]

Thanks all for your always illuminating replies. One more question....Is the 1950's vintage para wing consistent with the 'Airborne Canada' shoulder patch on the same blouse?  Would this shoulder patch have been worn post WW2?

 

[klambie]

I'm not an expert, but does not the GS Badge also imply service in Canada only?  I also presume that it would have gone away at the end of the war.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I'm not an expert, but does not the GS Badge also imply service in Canada only?  I also presume that it would have gone away at the end of the war.

Yes.  It denoted a GS man, or General Service volunteer, someone who volunteered to serve outside of Canada. Once he left Canada, the GS badge was removed, since it was now irrelevant.  Once you had the CVSM with clasp, the clasp denoted overseas service so one probably didn't need to put the GS badge up again, even in the case of someone returning to Canada before the end of the war.