Why does Recce wear black toque's?

[GXP13]

I see Recce qualified guys wearing black toque's. Why is that? What's the history?
Cheers

 

[Lightguns]

You mean berets?

 

[dapaterson]

To keep their heads warm.

 

[mariomike]

I see Recce qualified guys wearing black toque's. Why is that? What's the history?

If you mean beret, there is a two-page discussion of,

Beret colours 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/377.25.html

But wait, there's more!

Armour beret
https://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Aarmy.ca+armour+beret&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&gfe_rd=cr&ei=HFwbWImRDcuC8Qfki67QAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=site:army.ca+armour+beret&start=0

 

[GXP13]

No I mean toque's...rifle companies wear OD toque's but recce wears black toque's. Is there a historical significance to the black toque's?

 

[Lightguns]

Same as beret but it is only authorized in the unit. 

 

[Remius]

No I mean toque's...rifle companies wear OD toque's but recce wears black toque's. Is there a historical significance to the black toque's?

It is historically so the enemy know that it is Recce if they get spotted.  Heaven forbid they get mistaken for a work party or a driver on a meal run.

[

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I see Recce qualified guys wearing black toque's. Why is that? What's the history?
Cheers

The hunter blaze orange ones didn't pass the field trials. So they dyed them black.

(True story- I just made it up).

 

[Remius]

The hunter blaze orange ones didn't pass the field trials. So they dyed them black.

(True story- I just made it up).

The committee that assembled to discuss these changes did indeed look at the orange toque.  The problem being that Black was/is navy and armoured and that black would cause confusion.  They looked at other traditional army colours but discovered that Brown is actually the official colour of cowards.

ref: http://www.kithfan.org/work/transcripts/two/evanshoe.html


Recce career shop would have none of that despite it being better cam during the day. 

White was thought of but already everyone else in the army wears that too so it wasn't enough to be able to point them out in a crowd.

Other colours were also dismissed because of the colour Black is the coolest colour and those other colours aren't cool enough.  Para 4 I believe covers this and included pics showing uncool toques and colours.

Ultimately they went with black because it was different enough from the infantry but just similar enough to be mistaken for Navy and Armoured.  While black toques are available in the system that also was unacceptable to recce since only a non issued toque would do.  THAT's how you can really tell.

Last I heard the whole thing is under review, since the Royal Winnipeg Army Scout Task Element (WASTE) or Royal Wasties as they are informally known can trace it's lineage to the war of 1812 and had black toques and  are contesting that no one but them can wear black toques.  They might be meeting in Jan-Feb when toque season is at its peak.

It's a big political mess.   

 

[CountDC]

nah - the black toque is so they can pretend to be navy

 

[Infanteer]

Black toques are not issued to personnel on Army scales of issue.  They are actually forbidden in most Regular Force units and formations I've seen.

 

[OldSolduer]

No I mean toque's...rifle companies wear OD toque's but recce wears black toque's. Is there a historical significance to the black toque's?

Be cause Recce Pl can't be bothered with little details like dress regs.

 

[cupper]

nah - the black toque is so they can pretend to be navy

It would be very confusing to the enemy to see a bunch of sailors sneaking around the battlefield, and not a ship in sight.  [

 

[Fishbone Jones]

IIRC, the RCN headdress is actually a midnight blue, which is about as close to black as you can get and still be blue. So someone decided 'close enough' and the black beret, belonging to the Armour Corps, went on the RCN scale of issue.

 

[McG]

I see Recce qualified guys wearing black toque's. Why is that? What's the history

There is no history.  Google "peacocking"

 

[Chispa]

Many wore black headdress, in war of 1812.

https://flic.kr/p/jz7BQ6

Canadian Forces - Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE 2014

Canadian and Polish soldiers will train for winter weather combat operations in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec from January 28 to February 5. Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE 2014 will include almost 2,500 soldiers and approximately 700 vehicles from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG). They will be joined by a Polish Army platoon (some members seen in photo).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cfoperations/12189157393/

 

[George Wallace]

Doesn't the black toque date back to the 1700's and the Quebec Volunteer Cavalry in and around Quebec City?


:warstory:

 

[Chispa]

Doesn't the black toque date back to the 1700's and the Quebec Volunteer Cavalry in and around Quebec City?


:warstory:

Not only Cavalry.

French Cavalry Corps 1759-1760

Noted that in Montreal & Quebec pre British, they wore red, black, or dark grey Toques.



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[OldSolduer]

I see Recce qualified guys wearing black toque's. Why is that? What's the history?
Cheers

There is none. None at all. Recce qualified guys can't make up their own dress regs. Period.

But they do anyway......

 

[dangerboy]

There is none. None at all. Recce qualified guys can't make up their own dress regs. Period.

But they do anyway......

At one time in the PPCLI they were wearing Brit smocks in the field and garrison, so a black toque is minor.