A forage cap is a small military cap with a visor and a round flat crown to be worn with undress uniforms (a uniform worn on other than formal occasions). The Canadian Provost Corps School was formed at Camp Borden, Ontario in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were at least ten Provost Companies, including five Militia Provost Companies, …
Author archives: The Service Battalion Senate, Inc.
Calculator, Water Contamination
The Radiac Calculator No. 1 6665-110060 (1952-1956) was produced by Blundell Rules Limited of Luton England. If the radioactivity exposure rate (roentgens/hr.) is known at a given time after a nuclear explosion, the calculator predicts the exposure rate at any other time. It also estimates the dose to personnel who are in the area at …
Antidote, Nerve Gas, Auto-Injector
An antidote is a drug that neutralizes the effects of another drug or a poison. Autoinjectors are often used in the military to protect personnel from chemical warfare agents Atropine is the most common drug used to combat nerve gases. The Smithsonian Institution reports both the Egyptians and Greeks used atropine, although it was not until 1901 pure atropine was made …
Brass Button Stick
Although ‘stay bright’ (anodized) buttons were introduced to the Canadian Army in the mid-1950s, many units continued to use traditional brass buttons. Button sticks were used to clean them without getting polish on uniforms. The sticks were also useful for cleaning brass hat badges and other polished metal surfaces on kit. Button stick: A strip …
Boots, RCASC
The boots shown (two styles) in the photo are pairs of (First World War / Second World War) brown leather ankle boots worn by officers. Officers wore brown boots or shoes, either privately purchased, or more commonly, obtained from military stores. Brown ankle boots were worn with service dress or battledress. Heavier boots with buckles, sometimes double …
Booklet, “Shoot to Kill”
The top photo is a Second World War Army military pamphlet/booklet known as “PART X BASIC & BATTLE PHYSICAL TRAINING “. ‘Shoot to Kill’ had long been a British Army slogan, appearing in numerous training films and pamphlets. In the late 70s and early 80s a new introductory pamphlet on marksmanship– ‘Shoot to Live’–replaced the …
Bibles
Military Bibles: There were over 40 million Bibles, Testaments and prayer books distributed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in the First World War. Most military Bibles and Testaments are small – the smaller the better, with many printed-on India paper to keep them lightweight and suitable for carrying in pockets and knapsacks. Canadian …
Wireless Set, Radio, No. 19
The wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile radio transceiver designed for armored troops. Canadian-built No. 19’s saw continued service for many years with a variety of users. Purpose: Designed for tanks and armored vehicles, the radio provided three communication channels: The A set provided longer range communication within the squadron or …
Whistle, ACME Siren (England)
Whistles were mainly used by the army for signaling, in particular the infantry, artillery and cavalry units combined into ‘columns’ where signaling was essential. Dimensions: It is approx. 80mm long, 17mm wide and made from aged nickel plated brass. History: The British army was among the first to use whistles on the 1WW front and …
Stove, Esbit and Fuel, Original 2WW, German
What were Esbit stoves used for? Prior to 1945 there were a few different types of these stoves offered, of which the most commonly encountered today is the Model 9. Esbit stoves were issued to German soldiers in 2WW and were also available for soldiers to buy. “Esbit” is a type of hexamine-based solid fuel invented in …
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