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 1st Canadian
Division Formation Insignia
"The Old Red Patch"
was originally adopted in the summer of 1916 in time for Canadian participation
in the Battle of the Somme. The patches were created as an aid to command and
control of fighting troops in the battle line and extended later to other
elements of the division. Originally placed on the back of tunics, just below
the collar, the patches were quickly moved to uniform sleeves. The division
was represented by a red rectangle 3 inches wide by 2 inches tall, while
individual units were further designated by coloured geometric shapes worn in
conjunction with the divisional patch.1
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Artifacts and image
courtesy of Bill Alexander.
Click to enlarge. |
Second World War
The 1st Canadian Division in
the Second World War readopted the divisional battle patch that had been worn in
the First World War.2
Shoulder patches were made from three materials mainly (canvas, felt and wool) and were
first issued in 1941.
Officers at
Brigade Headquarters of the division wore coloured strips half an inch
wide by three inches long above the Division patch. The 1st Brigade was
designated by green, the 2nd by red and the 3rd by blue. This system of designating Brigade staff officers was also a readoption
of Great War practice.
Supporting arms were also
differentiated by the use of initials on the division patch; towards the middle of the
war, these patches began to be phased out in favour of plain divisional patches worn in
conjunction with embroidered (or printed) shoulder titles worn on the upper sleeves of the
battle dress.3
Brigadier J.A. Roberts of the 8th
Canadian Infantry Brigade and Major-General Harry W. Foster, General
Officer Commanding 1st Canadian Infantry Division, examining a small
German submarine, IJmuiden, Netherlands, 25 May 1945. Major-General
Roberts wears the red 1st Division formation patch in the prescribed
location. LAC photo.
For further information, see the book
DISTINGUISHING PATCHES by Clive M. Law, published by Service Publications.
Artifacts and photos
courtesy of Bill Alexander.
Click to enlarge.
Gold wire officers RCOC
version, courtesy Dwayne Hordij.
Post War
A 1st Canadian Division
Headquarters (later renamed 1st Division) was also authorized in April 1946, but
remained dormant until formally disbanded in July 1954. Simultaneously, however,
another "Headquarters, First Canadian Infantry Division" was authorized as part
of the Canadian Army Active Force, in October 1953. This, the first peace-time
Division in Canadian history, consisted of a brigade in Germany, one in Edmonton and one
at Valcartier. This formation was disbanded in April 1958. During its short
existence, it wore the same badge - the Old Red Patch - that the First Division had worn
between 1916 and 1918, and again from 1941-1945. This was a piece of red melton, 3
inches wide by 2 inches tall, worn on each sleeve. |
Artifact and image courtesy Bill
Alexander
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The 1st Canadian Division was reactivated in
1988, and once again, The Old Red Patch was worn with pride.4
On the Garrison Dress Jacket the patch was now rendered in modern materials with swiss embroidered embroidered edges. The
colour was not subdued for wear on Garrison Dress as other insignia was. On the DEU
Jacket, a melton patch - similar to that shown above - was worn. The patch was only
worn on the left sleeve, and the applicable brigade patch on the right sleeve. |
Artifact and image courtesy Bill
Alexander
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Notes
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Law, Clive M.
Distinguishing Patches: Formation Patches of the Canadian Army (2nd
Ed.) Service Publications, Ottawa, ON, 2008 ISBN 978-1-894581-50-9
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Falconer, D.W. Battery
Flashes of W.W. II (D.W. Falconer, 1985) ISBN 0-9691865-0-9
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Law, Ibid, pp.25-45
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The Old Red Patch: The 1st
Canadian Division 1915-1988 Minister of Supply and Services Canada,
1988
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