by Bill Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:02 am
Hi Ron, As Stephen indicated the shoulder title is one of the standard early issue titles. Insignia policy evolved over the war, but one of the key points was that the army wanted Canadian units clearly identified as Canadian. This initially manifested itself with the worsted CANADA title worn by 1 Canadian Division (later 1 Canadian Infantry Division) when they went overseas in 1939. When coloured cloth shoulder titles were authorized in the fall of 1940, it was set that the nationality must be either in the shoulder title (eg Royal Canadain Regiment) or indicated by the separate Canada nationality title. Three regiments of 1 Can Div had titles before the authorization, the PPCLI, No 1 Provost Coy (wore RCMP abbreviated title) and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. As their title did not include Canada, it was stipulated that it be added. The interpretation at regimental level was that the nationality title was to be sewn to the L Edmn R title.