Hello everyone,
I thought I would share my first wartime battle dress with the forum. It is currently only the uniform itself display wise but I eventually intend to make this into a full display with at the very least a helmet (or side cap), Pattern 37 Belt (and maybe other webbing), and trousers, on a different mannequin of course, this is just temporary.
The battle dress is to the Victoria Rifles of Canada and is in great condition for its age. It is manufactured by Workman Uniform Co Ltd Montreal and is 1945 dated. To both sides of the battle dress are machine sewn titles to the Victoria Rifles of Canada, 7th Canadian Infantry Division Patches, and rifle regiment Sergeant chevrons. To the left cuff is a sewn GS patch. No major damage or holes to the battle dress anywhere. This battle dress also came with a VRC Field Service Cap (see pictures) named to D71789 Rifleman N.B. Horstall, and is 1941 dated. The person who I purchased both of these from said he originally purchased them together as a group, but I am not sure if these two pieces are to the same soldier. Because of the the side cap being dated 1941 to Rifleman Horstall, perhaps by or before 1945 he became a Sergeant, but I have not done research on the name, so only time may tell if these two were to the same soldier.
WWI War and Victory Medal ribbons, as well a WWII Canadian Volunteer Service medal ribbon without an overseas clasp. Due to (correct me if I am wrong) the 7th Canadian Infantry Division serving with a Home Defence Role, and the Victoria Rifles of Canada that served with the division, as well as the fact that the battle dress has WWI ribbon bars (so even if he was quite young during WWI, by 1945 he'd be at the youngest around 50, probably older) I believe the man who wore this served with a home defence role, defending Montreal (and wherever else the VRC/7th Can. Inf Division were stationed) on Canadian soil for risk of invasion from an enemy force.
Hopefully this is the first of many more wartime battle dresses to come into my collection, I will always be on the hunt for battle dresses to regiments I collect to, like the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Winnipeg Grenadiers, and the Scottish units.
Overall I am very happy to add this battle dress that is in such good condition and displays well into my collection. I hope you have enjoyed reading this thread, and I shall update it as I begin to make this into a nice full display.
Should any of you have any comments, questions or corrections on my uniform or the facts presented in my post, I would love to see what my fellow forum members think of my latest addition.
Thank you all for reading, and a have a nice day.
Regards,
-Jamie
I thought I would share my first wartime battle dress with the forum. It is currently only the uniform itself display wise but I eventually intend to make this into a full display with at the very least a helmet (or side cap), Pattern 37 Belt (and maybe other webbing), and trousers, on a different mannequin of course, this is just temporary.
The battle dress is to the Victoria Rifles of Canada and is in great condition for its age. It is manufactured by Workman Uniform Co Ltd Montreal and is 1945 dated. To both sides of the battle dress are machine sewn titles to the Victoria Rifles of Canada, 7th Canadian Infantry Division Patches, and rifle regiment Sergeant chevrons. To the left cuff is a sewn GS patch. No major damage or holes to the battle dress anywhere. This battle dress also came with a VRC Field Service Cap (see pictures) named to D71789 Rifleman N.B. Horstall, and is 1941 dated. The person who I purchased both of these from said he originally purchased them together as a group, but I am not sure if these two pieces are to the same soldier. Because of the the side cap being dated 1941 to Rifleman Horstall, perhaps by or before 1945 he became a Sergeant, but I have not done research on the name, so only time may tell if these two were to the same soldier.
WWI War and Victory Medal ribbons, as well a WWII Canadian Volunteer Service medal ribbon without an overseas clasp. Due to (correct me if I am wrong) the 7th Canadian Infantry Division serving with a Home Defence Role, and the Victoria Rifles of Canada that served with the division, as well as the fact that the battle dress has WWI ribbon bars (so even if he was quite young during WWI, by 1945 he'd be at the youngest around 50, probably older) I believe the man who wore this served with a home defence role, defending Montreal (and wherever else the VRC/7th Can. Inf Division were stationed) on Canadian soil for risk of invasion from an enemy force.
Hopefully this is the first of many more wartime battle dresses to come into my collection, I will always be on the hunt for battle dresses to regiments I collect to, like the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Winnipeg Grenadiers, and the Scottish units.
Overall I am very happy to add this battle dress that is in such good condition and displays well into my collection. I hope you have enjoyed reading this thread, and I shall update it as I begin to make this into a nice full display.
Should any of you have any comments, questions or corrections on my uniform or the facts presented in my post, I would love to see what my fellow forum members think of my latest addition.
Thank you all for reading, and a have a nice day.
Regards,
-Jamie