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3 posters

    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics

    Seaforth Highlander
    Seaforth Highlander
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    Posts : 59
    Join date : 2012-01-17
    Location : Richmond, BC, Canada

    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Empty Re: WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics

    Post by Seaforth Highlander Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:25 am

    Keep looking. They do exist. I have three Essex Scottish WWII battledress tunics but none for sale.

    Two BD uniforms are my Dad's from 1943 and have the shoulder titles, 2 Canadian Infantry Division patches, service chevrons (incl. 1939 white one). One of the blouses is the one in the photo below with him back in Canada talking to the Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada. Note that the uniform is double patched. Top to bottom on both sleeves: Essex Scottish; 21 Army Group; 2 Canadian Division.

    Colin Stevens's web site page re: Essex ScottishWWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics AHMS_Earl_of_Athlone_Gov_Gen_1944_Hamilton_Ont


    The third one is from an American who served in the band of the Essex Scottish in WWII in Canada (he did not go overseas). He lives in Californaia and gave it to me when he found out my Dad was in the regiment. The badges on that blouse were removed by him years ago but he gave the badges to me so it can be restored. None say Essex Scottish but interestingly there are two of the "U.S.A." khaki shoulder patches. If anyone has photos of those being worn I would appreciate it to determine their correct placement.

    I have lots of photos etc of the Essex Scottish in 1943 as my Dad took lots of photos. He also kept a scrapbook and a diary. He transferred to the Essex Scottish from the Lincoln and Welland Regiment (then overseas, based in Newfoundland) as a replacment officer after the Dieppe Raid as he wanted to get into action. At Freddy Tilston's suggestion, he was later attached in 1943 to No. 4 Commando for battle experience and was WIA on a raid. He came back to Canada in 1944 and even brought home his Essex Scottish Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* which had been brought back from the Aug 1942 Dieppe Raid by a wounded survivor. I have that rifle now and I only know of two others from that raid - one at CWM with no bolt and one corroded one found in the ocean and now in the museum in Dieppe. The regiment does not yet have a museum but a uniform of Freddy Tilston, VC (service dress with kilt) is on display in a display case in the foyer of the Armoury of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment in Windsor, ON. I too have my Dad's Essex Scottish officer's MacGregor tartan kilt, tartan tie, sporran, skhean dhu, hose, Sam Browne (which his Dad wore in WWI and I wore in 1970s) etc. Here is a photo of him (in denim battledress I believe) with that rifle while serving with the Essex Scottish.
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics A_H_Stevens_Lieut_Essex_Scottish_1943_with_Dieppe_SMLE

    303

    Colin MacGregor Stevens, CD
    Richmond, BC

    Michael Reintjes
    Michael Reintjes
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    Posts : 195
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    Age : 60
    Location : Southwestern Ontario

    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Empty Re: WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics

    Post by Michael Reintjes Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:57 pm

    Here is mine...Pte V Warren...woundedin Oct 44 and again in the F Tilston action in March 45...
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads239
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads242
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads238
    Seaforth Highlander
    Seaforth Highlander
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    Posts : 59
    Join date : 2012-01-17
    Location : Richmond, BC, Canada

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    Post by Seaforth Highlander Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:55 pm

    Essex Scottish cap badges - My late father was a Lieutenant and had kept 2 Essex Scottish cap badges from 1943 (presumably as he was only with them 1 year). A white metal one and a brass one. Why were there two variants? What is the significance or wearer of each e.g. Officer, Other Rank, Band etc? Are they interchangeable? Is one older pattern than the other?

    303

    Colin
    Seaforth Highlander
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    Post by Seaforth Highlander Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:59 pm

    Michael Reintjes wrote:Here is mine...Pte V Warren...woundedin Oct 44 and again in the F Tilston action in March 45...
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads239
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads242
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics Junedownloads238

    Great uniform Michael. Double wound badge really drives home what some of these men went through in 1944-45.
    303
    Colin Stevens
    Michael Reintjes
    Michael Reintjes
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    Post by Michael Reintjes Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:45 pm

    Hi Colin...both types show up around here and I have both in my collection.all the bd groupings I've had to the ESCOTS have all had the white metal badge.I,ve heard band,cadets,NCO's,and a few other stories about the brass ones but I have no idea which stories are true and which are speculation.there must be some Windsor area collectors that may know the truth...
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics IMG_7764
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics IMG_7763
    WWII Essex Scottish battledress tunics IMG_7762
    Bill
    Bill
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    Post by Bill Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:23 am

    The story that I have heard is that the brass one was an economy issue.
    Colin, Is the example you have brass or firegilt? The Essex Scottish officer's cap badges were a funny kind of fire gilt. It almost looked brass.

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