Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The Barracks => Topic started by: Major 2 on January 04, 2023, 07:51:17 PM
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Here is Lieutenant Craig Davidson's Canadian Uniform, ...
I completed dressing the mannequin today and he is on display.
In addition to his Sam Brown belt, I have his P37 web belt dated 1945 and Cold weather Fur cap ( I don't know the correct name ).
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The crest, "Truth Duty Valour" indicates The Royal Military College at Kingston Ontario. It is the primary training college for initially army officers, but now accommodates officer cadets of all three services. This item looks recent. It has a Queens crown, so during QE II's reign. College uniforms closely follow 19th Century patterns even today.
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Lieutenant Craig Davidson was a WW2 Veteran, I've met his grandson, who donated these artifacts.
Thank you for the info of the cap ;D
I'll have asked the GS how the cap was included, perhaps Davidson senior taught there or perhaps it was
just a collectable :-\
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To contact the Royal Military College Museum: www.rmc-cmr.ca
Look for a name or number inside the cap. The number, if present, would be the persons college number. Something like a regimental number, unique to each member.
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I'll do that...I know the P37 belt has his name "DAVIDSON" on it.
I won't be back in, till Saturday
I'll be putting a holster on the San Brown.
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Showing up to the party a bit late … sorry!
Nice looking uniform. However, I do need to ask if the shirt and tie came with it, or if that is something you have added … since the appearance and colour of both look "off" to my eye …
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/799x400q90/922/sTri3l.jpg)
Also, this is the "Service Dress Tunic" (frequently referred to as "Walking Out Order") and the closest thing most WWII officers may have had to a "Dress" uniform … it would be worn with the Sam Browne … and even in certain circumstances with a sword … but, to my knowledge, seldom (if ever) with a holster and handgun at any time during WWII. "Battle Dress" was the dress order in which an officer would be "under arms", and of course during WWII that would almost invariably have been in conjunction with P'37 Web Equipment, not leather equipment.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/848x400q90/922/aYyUnT.jpg)
As Sir Charles has already pointed out, the fur busby is from the Royal Military College of Canada, although dating from some time during Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Here is a KIng's Crown" example currently offered here in Canada by a militaria dealer, with indications that it is of WWII vintage …
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/986x400q90/924/zOjGkK.jpg)
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Yes Sir, the shirt & tie came with,
but I too have my suspicions', both the shirt & tie are silk and finely made.
I'm seeking additional information about Lieutenant Craig Davidson (from his grandson Craig Davidson III)
He dropped the uniform off last spring and was in again about two weeks ago (on one of my days off duty)
He has a local ph. #, and is wintering here in Florida, I'll try to contact him Saturday when I'm on duty.
Sadly, the museum has nothing Canadian service related aside from this Uniform. We have the fur busby (thank you for the nomenclature :) ) and I mentioned the web belt dated 1945, but just the belt, both also from Davidson's donation)
Personally, I own, a P37 Pistol pouch (we've discussed before) and I acquired the P37 1952 dated belt.
I also own, a 1916 Webley revolver, a 1943 Enfield tanker revolver and a S&W M&P.
We have so many Canadian visitors, I wanted to pay tribute to Canada's service.
I'm also trying to, aquire French artifacts (WW1 & or WW2) to exhibit.
I have a Berthier carbine in my personal collection, a Ruby (WW1 service) and just acquired a Savage 1907.
These I want to exhibit, if I can assemble a WW1 French Uniform.
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....always find these topics interesting. Never would argue questioning the correctness or authenticity of an item. Beings these items belonged to an Officer. Could they not have been private purchase items? I know from my own brief time in the US military. It wasn't unusual for soldiers both Officer and Enlisted to purchase items outside of the Supply System or the PX. As long as said item(s) were close or approximate to the issue or regulation requirement. My thought that though an item might not pass under an formal by the book inspection. It may not get a passing glance if being worn during a normal duty day. Now, if the goal as I perceive it here is to reproduce the uniform as it was expected to to be presented by the regulations. By all means the items need to be researched and replaced if necessary.
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There is something to be said for that. When I was in, the Sam Browne belt wasn't a required item, and wasn't to be worn in formation, but I bought one to wear when on leave because it looked cool.
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Watching eBay has been rewarding.
I scored a WW2 British Battle jacket, and I am watching another that ends in a few days.
I'm still hunt & gathering toward my goal of a May premier of my June 6th. exhibit
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Still sorting through my stuff to see what I might be able to contribute.
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Canadian allies :)
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The Ebay score arrived today, the other I was watching went way outside my budget.
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Looks pretty good!
If the battledress bits you end up getting (unfortunately, I no longer have any of that to contribute) are missing any of those distinctive metal buttons, I think I have some spares. I’ll have to put them on my list.
If that is verdigris on that waste strap buckle, better clean it off or the Sar’nt-Major will have you doubling around the parade square in full kit with your rifle held above your head!
;D
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There was one pulled button, but still there & all were still intact, a quick whip with my needle solved that.
No verdigris discovered, but it is a bit odorific of Moth Balls.
My search continues for, web belt accessories including suspenders, canteen w/ cover, maybe some ammo pouches.
I have a belt and pistol pouch.
The Rifle will be my owned loaned Enfield Mk. 1 No 3 (or the museum's )
We don't have a Mk 4.
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Major2 - hopefully you'll be able to track down at least one No. 4 Lee-Enfield to use … especially for the Canadian display, since Canada's front line troops were pretty much fully equipped with the No. 4 by D-Day. (Helped to have a highly productive factory at Long Branch which wasn't getting bombed!)
I should be able to send you at least some P'37 web equipment … I've gotten a bit sidetracked from sorting through it. I do have a couple of "pairs" of the standard web anklet gaiters I can spare. (I wrote "pairs" because, although some are not matched makers even though they look the same when worn …)
Here's one item I have decided I can include in my care package … a 1940-dated Mk II helmet ...
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The museum has two deactivated Mk 3's , I have one in WW1 and the other is in WW2 (FPs removed)
I'll maybe just leave those be and loan mine for the D-Day (but I do shoot mine, so I won't deactivate)
The D-Day exhibit is to be temporary May-Aug annually, then the components (mannequins) displayed separately. Much as we do with the Wintery Bastone' exhibit we have set up now.
We also have a Sten Gun (de'milled) I thought I'd use for the Canadian (your thought's)
The standard web anklet gaiters (two pairs Maybe? :P, ) and helmet will be GOD send.
Your generous donation will be notably credited with the exhibit.
The USAF reserve enlisted, has be on display with a note to your genericity since it arrived :) :)
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I discovered we do have a Mk 4 :)
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The No. 4 should definitely go in one of the “Commonwealth” portions of the display, but a Sten would also be good …. (If either the No. 4 or the Sten are Long Branch production, that would be ideal for the Canadian.)
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I'll do a double check, to see proof and manufacture marks.
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Actually, I doubt if it will matter much who the maker of any of the firearms was …
;)
... pretty hard to tell, from even 5 feet away, who made a particular Sten gun or No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifle …
Just thought it would be "extra cool", if one or the other happened to be Long Branch production, to put that one with the Canadian portion of the display. (Lots of Long Branch rifles and Stens went into British service too, however …)
Soon should have a pretty good idea what I can contribute … looking like it might be more than I first thought.
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I'm looking forward to examining them... seeing what we actually have :)