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 3rd Canadian
Division Formation Insignia
Battle Patches
were 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 French-Grey 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
Divisional patches for the Third Division were
originally white in colour, then changed to black and finally to French-Grey.
Second World War
The 3rd Canadian Division in
the Second World War readopted the divisional battle patch that had been worn in
the First World War, being of a colour officially known as "French-Grey". In
practice the colour varied, but was usually a light blue-grey shade. Shoulder
patches were made from three materials mainly (canvas, felt and wool) and were
first issued in 1941.2
Shoulder patches were made from three materials mainly (canvas, felt and wool) and were
first issued in 1941.
Officers at Brigade
Headquarters of the Third Division wore coloured strips half an inch wide by three inches
long above the Division patch. The 7th Brigade was designated by green, the 8th by red and
the 9th by blue. This system of designating Brigade staff officers was also a readoption
of Great War practice.
Members of various corps
serving in support units wore Divisional patches with letters in the middle, such as RCE
(Royal Canadian Engineers), RCASC (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps), RCOC (Royal
Canadian Ordnance Corps), RCCS (Royal Canadian Corps of Signals), CDC (Canadian Dental
Corps), CPC (Canadian Postal Corps) and CCS (Canadian Chaplain Service). A French Grey
Formation Patch with a maroon coloured strip in the middle was worn by some members of the
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) serving with the Division.
Supporting arms eventually
moved away from the distinctive unit insignia on the formation patch, adopting their own
shoulder titles worn in conjunction with the "plain" division patch. Both
styles of unit/formation identification were in use by the end of the war.3
| Formation Patches - from the collection
of Bill Alexander. Note the variety of colours and the different types of material. |
Plain division patches.
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| Officer's style patch for the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian
Hussars. Note the silver bullion embroidery; it is possible this style of patch was
only worn by officers on Service Dress uniforms. |
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RCAMC, CDC and RCASC Formation Patches. |
CCS formation patches. Note the wide variance in colours and embroidery styles.
The wire embroidered patch was probably for Service Dress. The CCS consisted
entirely of officers. |
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In the
summer of 1945, two separate 3rd Canadian Divisions were located in Europe. To differentiate between the two
formations, a strip of French-Grey half an inch wide and three inches long was worn below
the Division Patch by members of the C.A.O.F. By this time, all arms were wearing
regiment/corps identification on their upper sleeves (or on their shoulder straps, in the
case of artillery units) and therefore, the only formation patches to be worn were ones
shown below. Also, volunteers for the Canadian Army Pacific Force attached the
hexagonal badge of the CAPF to their division patches. Patches courtesy of Bill Alexander. |
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H/Captain Robert Seaborn, Chaplain of the 1st Battalion, The
Canadian Scottish Regiment, gives absolution to an unidentified
soldier of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division near Caen, France, on
15 July 1944. The embroidered legend "CCS" is clearly visible on his
formation patch. LAC photo.
Company Sergeant Major D.D. Perkins of Ottawa, Ontario writing home before the
invasion of Normandy. Note the RCAMC formation patch on his sleeve.
(LAC photo 132881) |
Chaplain of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, shortly before crossing the channel for
the invasion of Normandy. Note the CCS formation patch, worn here in conjunction
with regimental shoulder titles.
(LAC photo) |
Felt formation patch with embroidered RCE tab sewn to it.
Courtesy Warrant Officer Thomas, Canadian Military Engineers Museum |
Printed canvas R.C.C.S. title. |
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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