Canadian Military History

Volume 19 Issue 1 Article 8

2010

Canadian Battlegroup Badges

Ed Storey

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Recommended Citation Ed Storey "Canadian Battlegroup Badges." Canadian Military History 19, 1 (2010)

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Ed Storey

very military unit, large or small, Abstract: The Canadian has these divisional patches were: 1st Elikes in some way to distinguish always strictly controlled the badges – red, 2nd Division – blue, itself from other units. This is and insignia worn on its uniforms. Still, 3rd Division – grey, 4th Division – especially the case with today’s there are examples of non-regulation green and 5th Division – maroon. somewhat drab camouflage uniform. insignia being issued and worn. As To further identify the the Canadian Army evolved after the There is a trend by the Canadian Second World War non-regulation within the divisions a device was units operating in Southwest Asia to insignia became more acceptable for added to the patch and the colour adopt individual distinctive insignia short periods of time or for specific of this device identified each of the or “theatre-made” patches. Unlike units serving overseas. With the average brigades. The colours chosen for the past Canadian wars and military Canadian earning more money identifiers were green, red and with newer machinery being able operations, this trend is widespread to manufacture custom insignia more and blue with green being the senior and has resulted in a unique collection cheaply then before, it has become brigade and blue the junior. Finally, of colourful cloth insignia with motifs easier for unit-procured or “theatre- the shape of the device, which was that reflect the individualism of each made” insignia to be purchased and also made of wool, identified each sub-unit. worn on the various uniforms. Combat within a brigade. The operations in Afghanistan are now Colourful insignia is not unique characterized by a willingness to obtain chosen shapes, again in wool were; a to the Canadian military. The and wear non-regulation ‘theatre-made’ circle, 1½ inches in diameter; a half- introduction of first khaki and drab badges by all types of units. circle, 2 inches in diameter; a triangle, serge uniforms by the British and 2 inches along each side and a square, Commonwealth during the honour or a symbol of a past historical 1½ inches along each side. The circle late part of the 19th and early 20th event and were designed to inspire a represented the senior battalion with century relegated what had been sense of esprit de or belonging the square representing the junior. splendid colourful field uniforms to the specific corps or . These patches were provided to ceremonial use. The new field The insignia was designed by the at Crown expense to the soldier to uniforms reflected the changes in unit, but approval was granted at a be sewn onto the upper sleeves of tactics and doctrine which had been higher level at national headquarters, the service dress jacket. (There were brought about by advances in small thus ensuring that the badges were exceptions such as Railway arms technology. No longer could in keeping with heraldic convention who wore their hollow red square long rows of colourfully dressed and service. at shoulder level in the centre of the massed blast away at each During the First World War, back.) These patches were a great other until one side broke. the Canadian Expeditionary Force source of pride as they were only now fought in extended formation, (CEF) in 1916 loosely adopted a worn by units serving in Europe. taking advantage of ground cover colour patch system developed by After the war, the patches continued and used drab earth-toned uniforms the British in 1915 in order to identify to be worn by veterans who remained to help conceal themselves. Units and control units more readily on the in the Canadian Militia as a form distinguished themselves by brass battlefield. The instructions for these of recognition for active service insignia in the form of cap, collar patches were outlined in a letter from in France and Flanders although and shoulder titles with perhaps the assistant quartermaster general in permission for wear was eventually corps or regimental buttons. The August 1916 and the patches were to withdrawn in 1929. metal insignia was based upon an be made of wool three inches wide During the Second World War a inspirational motif such as a battle and two inches high. The colours for system of coloured patches was again

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now the 4th and 5th divisions were armoured formations. Only the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division adopted the Great War system of brigade and battalion devices above the division patch with the same colours and shapes. This patch system lasted until just after the ill-fated Dieppe raid when it switched to using the division patch in conjunction with some form of unit shoulder title. While the overseas divisions used the same single colour as in the Great War, the patches of the three home defence divisions were bisected laterally from the bottom left corner to the top right corner Distinguishing patch of the 43rd using two colours. The army, corps Distinguishing patches of the Lord Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary and brigade formations used Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in Force. The rectangle is grey, indicating the Second World War. The rectangular the 3rd Canadian Division, while the blue diamonds with colours that generally patch is maroon for the 5th Canadian circle represents the senior battalion of corresponded to those used by the Armoured Division. the junior brigade. divisions; and reinforcement units used yellow circles. The home defence of use and all were to be removed required to identify and control units commands also used diamonds, in from the uniform by January 1947. in the field. Just as in the Great War, this case grey for Atlantic and green Conflict and the threat of conflict this system would compliment the for Pacific. “Y” Force in Bermuda also soon renewed the issue of formation brass cap and collar insignia already used a yellow diamond. The patches insignia. The Canadian 25th Brigade in use as well as the colourful cloth could be worn in conjunction with the serving with the United Nations shoulder titles just coming into use by cloth embroidered shoulder title, but forces in Korea in 1950-53 had a the corps and of the army. supporting corps had patches with the red shield incorporating two silver By mid-1940, again following abbreviated corps name embroidered olive sprays and a gold maple leaf British practice, it had generally at the centre of the patch. Within 5th with the word “CANADA.” It was been settled by Canadian Military Canadian Armoured Division the worn on the top of both sleeves of Headquarters in London that a series regimental names were abbreviated the battledress (BD) tunic. When of coloured geometric patches similar for inclusion within the division the 25th Brigade became part of to those of the Great War would be patch. the 1st Commonwealth Division, it used. Over the succeeding war years Other formations had their received the pale blue shield which this system grew into a bewildering own patches, such as the Canadian was adorned with a crown and array of patches that rivalled those of Infantry Corps, Canadian Military the word “COMMONWEALTH,” the Great War. Overseas formations Headquarters, Exercise Eskimo, which was worn on the left sleeve. were allowed to wear patches, but so Exercise Musk-Ox and the survivors The crowns changed from Tudor were home defence formations and of “C” Force from Hong Kong. The to Edwardian with the change of reinforcement units. Canadian Army Pacific Force also monarchs in 1952. An early example As in the Great War, the patches had its own hexagonal patch which of what could be considered as were provided at Crown expense. employed the five colours of the “theatre-made” insignia would be Division patches were the same size divisions as well as black for the the wire embroidered 25th Brigade at three inches high and two inches armoured corps. and 1st Commonwealth Division wide and were made of wool. Again, Following the end of hostilities, patches that were widely available to they were sewn onto the upper repatriated troops, like their father’s Canadian troops for purchase when sleeves of the uniform, this time the generation, wore their distinctive transiting through Japan. Although battle dress tunic which had replaced formation patches home as a symbol not officially approved, many were the service dress jacket for field wear of pride in their overseas service. worn home from Korea. in the late 1930s. The colours for the With rapid demobilization of the The 27th Brigade in Germany, divisions were the same although army, the formation patches fell out Canada’s contribution to the British

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Army on the Rhine (BAOR), received of its uniforms and badges. During by using subdued insignia. In the late a French grey shield shaped patch the Great War, the service dress 1960s unification was changing the that came in four variations. The uniform was used for both garrison face of the Canadian military uniform first had the word “CANADA” and field duty and this was much the to make it distinctively “Canadian.” across the top and was worn by same case with battledress during the Combats stayed as the field uniform brigade headquarters and the Second World War and both of these with BD and TDubs being replaced supporting arms. The three other uniforms were suitably adorned with a rifle green Canadian Forces patches each identified the different with the corresponding formation (CF) service dress uniform and within the brigade and patches. Following the end of the a lagoon green workdress (WD) had embroidered devices that Second World War the Canadian uniform for use on bases. These two represented the brigade’s affiliation, Army adopted other uniforms for uniforms still benefited from a host of in this case a thistle, a bayonet and a wear other than BD. A green bush colourful badges and patches such as rifle bugle which denoted Highland, uniform was adopted for field wear enamel command badges for the CF Light Infantry and Rifle Regiment during the summer and a tropical uniform and unit or station patches respectively. Again these patches, worsted (TDub) uniform was adopted for the WD uniform. The command with cloth embroidered regimental for summer garrison wear. Each badges were officially approved shoulder titles were provided at could still be augmented with the and supplied by the Crown, but the crown expense and worn at the top appropriate cloth and metal insignia, station and unit patches were local of both BD tunic sleeves. In late 1953 which in the case of the bush uniform purchase items that were designed the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was usually mounted on removable and procured at the unit level and was reconstituted with the traditional panels or sleeve armlets. In the early were either provided to individuals “Old Red Patch” being brought 1960s a new uniform was adopted out of unit funds or purchased by back into use. The Second War First which started to replace the Bush the member. These patches were not Canadian Army patch was briefly uniform. The OG107 green coloured strictly controlled by the Canadian also brought back into use during combat uniform was introduced in military and are a study in their own the 1950s to identify Canadian Base 1964 and would have its own series right. Units – Europe. of green subdued insignia leaving Over time the combat uniform The 1960s brought about a the colourful badges for wear on the gained a little colour. Early examples massive change in not only the make corresponding garrison uniforms were a red and white Canadian flag up of the Canadian Army but the look which were still BD and TDubs. The and the blue and white United Nations adoption of the combat uniform not only modernized the garments worn in the field by the Army, but also brought back the camouflage and security principle first envisioned with the introduction of drab uniforms at the start of the century

During the Korean War, the Canadians wore two different formation patches. These examples, of a major from the Royal Canadian Dental Corps, shows the Canadian UN badge on the left and the patch of the 1st Commonwealth Division on the right.

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than Canada who were already Canadian Forces brassard for the Kabul using enamelled badges, it was Multi-National Brigade (KMNB) of the International Security Assistance not uncommon for “theatre-made” Force (ISAF) insignia to be adopted for wear by Canadians when overseas. Usually issued to individual soldiers these badges were attached to a as required. Eventually some leather fob and hung from the right units, and at times units hand button pocket. The badges were that were only formed for approved for use while serving in the a specific exercise, would mission area but were unofficial as far procure their own titles as the military were concerned and and issue them or have for the most part had to be purchased the members purchase by the individual for wear. The use of them. These “private enamel fob badges by Canadian UN purchase” titles looked contingents is an area that requires very close to issue further study. titles, with some being By the late 20th century the i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e Canadian military was changing its from official insignia. monotone green combat uniform F o l l o w i n g w i t h to a modern digital camouflage tradition, a subdued uniform called CADPAT - Canadian version of a corps or Disruptive Pattern. There are three regimental cloth badge types of camouflage in the set, Arctic, could be worn on the Arid, and Woodland (Temperate); badge worn on UN missions, and front of the combat cap which had with the last two patterns being the orange and white Multinational been introduced for field wear at the the most prevalent. Temperate was Force and Observers badge worn in same time as the combat uniform. the first camouflage uniform to the Sinai. During the later part of One area where Canadian the 20th century, several different “theatre-made” insignia flourished Canadian Forces brassard for the types of officially approved patches was UN missions in the Middle East Disaster Assistance Response Team such as the Disaster Assistance and to a lesser extent the Former (DART) Response Team (DART) and the Yugoslavia where enamelled various NATO badges for use in the fob badges were popular. Many Former Yugoslavia were either sewn militaries, including the United to the uniform or worn on detachable States have a long tradition of using brassards. All of these badges were enamelled badges as a colourful provided by the Crown and were means to distinguish sub-units or removed from the uniform once the awards and qualifications. Relying specific mission was completed. primarily on cloth and brass insignia In Canada the situation was the Canadian military only adopted different. Other than medical enamelled badges when the new personnel and loadmasters whose CF uniform was introduced in duties required colourful symbols the late 1960s. Well established on detachable brassards for instant firms producing enamelled recognition, subdued insignia on badges for both the civilian the combat uniform both at home and military market and in Germany (except for the full were commonplace in colour Canada flag) was the norm. many countries and As part of the combat uniform, each had representatives unit had its own abbreviated title who would market that was worn on a slip-on over each their products to local should strap. Initially all of these UN units. Since many titles were officially sanctioned by UN contingents were the military hierarchy and were from countries other

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be issued during the 2000-2001 potentially damage the garment, National Brigade. During the period period and along with this uniform the new CADPAT uniform uses this 2003-2005 Canadian Forces Land came a whole new series of badges. method for securing the Canada flag Central Area embarked on a three- Much like the old combat uniform and the name tag. No corps (now year training cycle for the Militia these badges were devoid of colour called branches since unification) or units within Ontario. Known as and manufactured of camouflage regimental badge was to be worn Exercise Stalwart Guardian, this material. As with the old combat on the new “boonie” or field hat, exercise brought together soldiers uniform, rank and unit titles were a distinct change from the combat from 31, 32 and 33 Brigade Groups mounted on a slip-on, but, since uniform which had a cloth badge into a composite formation, 3 shoulder straps had been removed sewn to the front centre of the combat Light Brigade . The militia from the uniform, this identifier was cap. units contributed elements to form placed at the centre of the chest. (This With any drab uniform some form combined operational units for the feature of wearing rank insignia and of colourful insignia will eventually exercises. These composite units were unit identifiers is common with most be adopted and CADPAT has been issued with an authorized colourful, current uniforms and had actually no exception. Besides the full colour small, fully embroidered unit patch been pioneered by the Canadians in Canada flag, and the usual medical to be worn on a cloth mount just the early 1950s with the nylon winter and loadmaster insignia which are below the Canada flag. The colours parka.) still worn on brassards, other special used were traditional and heraldic Canada flags now come in three mission insignia which were again in nature corresponding to the unit versions, full colour, subdued green, officially authorized, and also worn being represented. and tan and are worn on the top of on brassards. Examples of these Since 2002, the Canadian the left sleeve. An ingenious method include the DART, Army News, Forces, in conjunction with NATO, has been devised to attach a brassard International Military Advisory has been conducting military to the CADPAT uniform. A small Training Team (IMATT) and the and reconstruction operations in flap, secured with Velcro, is at the initial CF deployments to Kabul, Afghanistan in order to control top of the left sleeve. By opening the Afghanistan with the Kabul Multi- insurgents and help bring security flap and inserting it through and stability to that nation. the top slit of a brassard When initially deployed and then securing the flap to Afghanistan, Canadians to the Velcro underneath, were wearing CADPAT TR a brassard can be held on. (Temperate Region) green Affixed to the outside face of uniforms. By 2003 Canadians the flap is a patch of Velcro were wearing CADPAT AR which is where the flag is (Arid Region) tan uniforms attached. Much like air force which were more fitting for clothing, which for the terrain of the region. years used Velcro in order Originally these uniforms to hold the patches so that were identical in cut and they could be easily removed style to the CADPAT TR and replaced without versions. There was a need having to unstitch them and for more pockets on the upper sleeves and a requirement Examples of Canadian Forces to wear infrared reflecting shoulder titles (clockwise from Canada flags and patches top left): which led to large pieces A warrant officer in the Mapping of Velcro being added to and Charting Establishment; A these new sleeve pockets in captain (pre-unification) in the order to secure the badges. Canadian Airborne Regiment; A sergeant in the Royal Highland These large Velcro patches Fusiliers of Canada (CADPAT created room for other, non- TR); A master corporal in the regulation, “theatre-made” Royal 22e Régiment (CADPAT insignia. AR).

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In a hundred years of Canadian Forces on their field uniforms. These Army uniform history, there have uniforms were for the most part only been a few isolated cases in which drab green or camouflage and very non-regulation or unofficial badges nondescript. The imagery used on have been used in any quantity. Since the insignia reflected the nature of the at least 2004 in Afghanistan, however, insurgency war. With the Canadian there has been a steady stream of military fighting an insurgency in unofficial or “theatre-made” insignia Afghanistan, perhaps there is a link

in use. The exact reason for this trend IS2009-1014-03 DND Photo between the “theatre-made” insignia may never be known but there are a in Southeast Asia some 40 years ago few theories. Even though there is and in Southwest Asia today. still a branch or regimental title worn The Canadian “theatre-made” on the central slip-on, the loss of the badges fall into two categories. The branch and regimental badge on the first is unit identifiers and these “boonie” hat may mean that there are generally the most colourful is an unfulfilled need for additional with many employing imagery that unit recognition, especially in an relates to the theatre of operations. overseas combat, multinational The other category is badges that environment. The latest generation identify a function. These are usually of Canadian military may have a in black or brown and include a different ethos from their forefathers series of initials (for example Military and are more willing to adopt short- Police – MP) that describe what term distinctive insignia in order to the person does or at times give reflect their unit’s individualism. valuable data on the person such Today’s soldier is also better paid as a blood group. Whether worn and receives more financial benefits individually or grouped together, then previous combat missions which these Canadian Southwest Asia means that they may have more “theatre-made” battlegroup badges disposable income available to spend make an interesting and colourful on things like badges, which can addition to the lineage of Canadian initially cost as much as $15.00 each. insignia. Technology and availability may also have something to do with this trend Note: all insignia are from the Ed as computer driven sewing machines Storey Collection. are now much less expensive than in Ed Storey is retired from the Mapping the recent past and can manufacture a and Charting Establishment and lives badge from any design. There is also with his wife and two teenage children a badge shop conveniently located at in Ottawa. He served the military for 26 years in such diverse locations as The Kandahar Airfield that can deliver a Former Yugoslavia with both the UN and product within a couple of days. NATO, Central Africa and first DART Prior to the introduction of mission in Central America. For over 35 years Ed has been an avid collector computerized sewing machines it of Canadian Army militaria and in the was time consuming to manufacture past 25 years has written numerous specialist or “theatre-made” badges. magazine articles and one book on various aspects of his collection. He is These badges were usually produced currently researching the newest designs in small shops and were often in uniforms and equipment that have been issued to the Canadian military and he is hand-sewn or in the case of the From top: cataloguing his photograph collection. enamel badges, manufactured in a Ed now has a three-year contract as a Captain Joel Chartrand was assigned special factory. Nevertheless in the Class B Reserve Warrant Officer with to the Operational Mentor and Liaison Canadian Expeditionary Force Command 1960s and early 1970s a large and Team (OMLT) in Kandahar, June 2009. Headquarters (CEFCOM HQ) as their interesting array of both enamel and War Diarist. In the short time that he has ISAF reflective marker. more importantly cloth “theatre- been in the job, he has already been to Tactical Combat Casualty Care badge. Afghanistan and is busy maintaining an made” patches were worn by the electronic database of key files. various US and South Vietnamese ISAF Patch.

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