Canadian Officers’ Training Corps The Canadian Officers’ Training Corps (COTC) was, from 1912 to 1968. Canada’s university officer training program was fashioned after the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) in the United Kingdom. In World War Two the Canadian Army was able to produce quality officers because of the high standards of the COTC. Canadian Postal …
Tag archives: Second World War
Combat Service Support in Battle WWII
Pictures top left – right, top -bottom
British volunteer strips (chevrons)
These are WW 2 British volunteer stripes worn on the sleeve. Each red chevron denoted 12 months’ service in the Civil Defence Services after hostilities began on 3 September 1939. Introduced in February 1944, war service chevrons, which were identical to those awarded to army personnel, were worn on the lower right sleeve of the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Knife, Jack, British & Canadian Army
A Jackknife (Tools) is a knife with the blade pivoted to fold into a recess in the handle. The jack knife was issued to nearly all soldiers in the Second World War. It was a useful tool many kept after their return to civilian life. There are several variations on the jack knife depending on period, service and manufacturer, including examples with spikes for opening out ropes. The jack …
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 …