From CATP No. 1 1942 Edition page 34 (Colin Stevens' Collection)

A Canadian Sergeant on parade circa 1941-42. He is wearing gaiters, Pattern 1937 webbing (with cartridge pouches and Pattern 1907 sword bayonet for the SMLE - No. 1 Mk. III* rifle), gas mask (respirator) on his chest, and helmet.

A soldier had to be taught many things. Some of it was to stay out of trouble, and some of it was to stay alive in battle. 

The modern collector, researcher and living history buff needs to learn much of what the soldier learned, as well as variations in models, manufacture, how to detect fakes etc.

The Canadian Army printed many training manuals. Many of these were reprints of British manuals as Canadians were fighting alongside British troops using British style weapons, wireless (radio) etc.

A general instructional manual  called the CANADIAN ARMY TRAINING PAMPHLET No. 1 -- A General Instructional Background for the Young Soldier"  (CATP No. 1 for short) was developed. Shown are covers from 1940 and 1942 Editions.

DRILL

Basic drill positions with the rifle. From CATP No 1 1942 edition p. 29. (Colin Stevens' Collection)

WHICH ARE YOU? Drawing shown in both of the above and taken from an earlier manual RIGHT OR WRONG ... 1937 (I have all three books in my collection)

Parade Weights  (click on words)

Guard of Honour story

Gordy Biss told me today (2001 April 22) that he was on an Guard of Honour in the  Canadian Air Force (post-WWII) and that just as the dignitary came by, they did a Present Arms drill movement. His rifle snagged on his uniform, tilted out suddenly and the bayonet narrowly missed the VIP! The irate Guard Commander told him that he would not be allowed to be on any more Guards of Honour. All these years later, Gordy looked so sad that he was not be allowed to spend many hours on the parade square practicing drill in the freezing cold or under the hot sun.  He was smirking as he said that. 

WEAPONS & WEAPONS CARE

SMLE (Lee Enfield No. 1 MK. III) RIFLE - Page from the 1940 Edition of CATP No. 1 shown above.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR RIFLE From CATP No. 1, 1940  and previously published in an earlier manual RIGHT OR WRONG ... 1937 (I have these books in my collection)

TACTICS

Click on image to enlarge it.  "Brains save sweat and blood!" (p. 34 The Instructor's Handbook on Fieldcraft and Battle Drill (Provisional) October 1942. (Colin Stevens' Collection)  If the scriptwriters for the movie "Saving Private Ryan" had read this, they might not have followed the dumb "Blood" option, but instead used WWII training to avid needless casualties.

EQUIPMENT

German Helmets

The soldier just had to recognize them, but the collector needs to know much more. This is an excellent site.

RADIOS

Wireless for the Warrior 

Louis Meulstee's site has a SUPERB overview of British military radios (wireless).  He has published some SUPERB books on the subject. 

Wireless Set No. 19 

This is the most common WWII to c.1960 wireless (radio) used by the British Commonwealth.

Phonetic alphabet (1943 UK) 

MILITARY VEHICLES

Military Vehicles

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