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WWII 1 Canadian Parachute Corps officer's cap badge
made by Scully Ltd. in Canada.
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1 Canadian Parachute Battalion was authorized on Canada's birthday in 1942, on July
1st. Originally slated as a mobile home defense parachute unit, the battalion was
redesignated for overseas. Initial parachute training had been done at Fort Benning,
Georgia. Many were also trained at Shilo Manitoba and Ringway in England.
Cap badge of 1 Canadian Parachute
Corps. The officers' had a bi-metallic silver &
brass larger badge. In 1945 on their return to
the UK the small brass cap badges were
issued to the Other Ranks. Private Frank
Mowat of C Coy recalls each man was
issued one, then as a few were left over,
they were thrown into the air and a free for
all ensured. Some men such as Frank
Mowat never switched over to the brass
badge - in his case the plastic one was --
and still is -- HIS.
Interview with Frank
Mowat at his home in British Columbia, Summer 1998.
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Officers' cap badge made of Stirling silver and brass. Very rare.
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Back view of officers' cap badge. There are two screw posts. The
"nuts" are shown. The "teeth side goes towards the
cloth.
Note the markings.
SCULLY LTD.
MONTREAL
STIRLING
Not all original officers' badges have these markings, but the markings
are a nice feature.
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Officers' collar badges. These were worn only on the Service Dress
uniform I believe and are very rare. Made of Stirling silver and
brass.
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View of back of officers' collar badges. Note the markings.
SCULLY LTD.
MONTREAL
STIRLING
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Other Ranks plastic cap badge.
WARNING: These are fragile. The first one I bought arrived broken in the
mail. Rare.
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Back of Other Ranks' cap badge. There was originally a matching plastic
pin to attach it to the maroon beret.
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The above badges are from the Colin Stevens Collection.
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Doug Morrison on 2 weeks leave after graduating from jump school in Fort
Benning, Georgia. 1942-43. Note the wedge cap (pre-maroon beret), Canadian jump wings and
lanyard. The lanyard appears to be two colours. Doug remembers it as being yellow.
(Photo
copyright Doug Morrison ex-B Coy, then Vickers platoon, HQ Coy, 1 Cdn Para
Bn.. 1942-45.)
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Jump tower at CFB Shilo, Manitoba, Canada in October 1985. Veterans have
told me this tower was demolished shortly after this photo was taken. - Photo by Colin
Stevens |
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First official paratroop jump in Canada from
Lockheed
Lodestar near Shilo, Manitoba.
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Lt. Col. Bradbrooke and Major Griffin. The photo was taken
before D-Day, probably in England in 1943. The CO is on the left and is wearing the
British cloth covered rubber training parachuting helmet, and 1942 Pattern "jacket,
parachutist's" (sleeveless smock) over his battledress. His shoulder title is the
AIRBORNE CANADA early type. major Griffin is wearing his maroon beret with the bi-metallic
heavy officer's cap badge (silver & brass). As an officer he is wearing his battledress
blouse open at the neck, with a tie. Note his parachute badge on his leaf breast. Both men
are wearing the British parachutes with the quick release box (turn about 1/4 turn in
direction of arrow and then pound with your fist or palm to release three of the four
straps). Note that there is no reserve parachute. (Photo copyright Doug Morrison ex-B
Coy, then Vickers Platoon, HQ Coy, 1 Cdn Para Bn. 1942-45.)
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Padre
Harris & Brigadier James Hill
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Padre
Harris & Pte. Rodrique
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Sgt. Gordon Davies 1 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion
on a Welbike in
England, January, 1944.
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The battalion jumped into battle at night on D-Day June 5/6 1944 as part of the 3rd
Parachute Brigade of the British 6th Airborne Division. They stayed in the line for some
time and suffered many casualties. They were withdrawn to England for rest and replacement
of casualties.
Their next combat mission was by sea and land to help stop the German
breakthrough in the Ardennes ("Battle of the Bulge") in December 1944.
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Section of camouflaged British parachute that
Pte. Verne Haughian, Signaller, HQ Coy 1 Cdn Para Bn. picked up on the drop zone for Operation
Varsity in Germany, March 1945. He used
this section to line his trenches. Photo by Colin Stevens.
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The
battalion parachuted across the Rhine River into Germany in Operation Varsity in March
1945. They then participated in the race to the Baltic and eventually reached Wismar, just
before the Soviets did.
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"Prisoners coming in" Germany Spring 1945.
Photo taken from one of the vehicles in the 1 Cdn Para Bn's convoy. Click on image for
larger photo. (Photo copyright Doug Morrison ex-B Coy, then Vickers Platoon, HQ Coy, 1
Cdn Para Bn. 1942-45)
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"Johnny Rintoul + myself Wismar May 45" The
'myself' is Doug Morrison. Click on image for larger photo.
The jeep in the background
is British airborne modified (weapons clips in front of the windshield, modified front
bumper etc. The spare tire cradle is in place on the front, but no spare wheel is mounted
there in this photo.). The jeep has a round bridge plate over the right (starboard)
headlight location, and a formation sign (Pegasus and Bellerophon) divisional sign on a
plate attached to the grill to left (port) of centre. The cap badge of the driver appears
to be the Parachute Regiment, so the jeep is from one of the other units in the 6th
Airborne Division. (Photo copyright Doug Morrison, ex-B Coy & later Vickers Platoon, HQ Coy, 1 Cdn Para
Bn. 1942-45.)
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1 Canadian Parachute Battalion was returned to Canada in June 1945 and after some
parades was disbanded. The members dispersed across Canada to their homes.
1 Canadian Parachute Battalion Training Company existed in England during the war to
train reinforcements for 1 Cdn Para Bn.
A training school was operated at Shilo, Manitoba during and after the war.
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