Relatives Medals/mementos

A relative of mine served with the Calgary Regiment and later the BC Dragoons. He was involved with Monte Cassino in the Sherman.

He built this box himself. The backing is made from his uniform.


Karl Troop Cross, must have picked this up along the way somewhere..


Kaschie Lighter, he was a heavy smoker so I’m assuming he carried this around with him most of the war

Very nice display. Cheers Brian

barriefield-brian wrote:Very nice display.   Cheers Brian

Thanks Brian,

As a newbie to Canadian Army research, (Done extensive RAF research prior through the National Archives etc ) what’s the best place for me to learn about the movements of the Calgary Regiment and B.C. Dragoons in Italy.

I have this relatives military records on request. They’re backed up a few months so in the mean time looking to further my research.

If you can locate the war diaries they would have the locations but not sure where you could find them. That medal looks interesting, must be Italian? Dont see much Italian items here, not sure why. Cheers Brian

barriefield-brian wrote:If you can locate the war diaries they would have the locations but not sure where you could find them. That medal looks interesting, must be Italian? Dont see much Italian items here, not sure why.  Cheers Brian

Which medal are you referring too? The Karl Troop Cross?


It was an axis medal, “... was awarded until the end of the First World War to soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army, regardless of rank, who had been with a combatant unit for at least twelve weeks and who had actually served at the front.”

I’m assuming he picked it off a German officer considering he also had a luger too.

There was no such unit in the Canadian army designated 14 RCAC. The 14 RCAC 1 CAB patches are fantasy pieces that have been discussed at length by the collecting community. Depending on the RCAC interpretation, Royal Canadian Armoured Regiments did not exist. It was 14 CAR (Canadian Armoured Regiment, Calgary Tank). The Royal designation for the Canadian Armoured Corps was not granted until 1 August 1945, and 1 CAB had been disbanded by that date.

Very interesting. Thanks for the information. lll have to dive into this some more.

So basically they didn’t receive the 14RCAR until pretty much after the Italy campaign ended which the brigade was basically disbanded anyways? I’m fairly certain at some point whether it was after the disbanding of the CAB that he joined the BC Dragoons.

The patch was never an authorized issue. It is something a maker made up for private sale.

Bill wrote:The patch was never an authorized issue. It is something a maker made up for private sale.

oh wow. I'm not doubting my relatives service but I wonder why he would display a formation patch that's not technically legit.
Do you know of any other posts that discuss this badge? I tried doing a search here and couldnt find anything. Thanks for your help Bill.

Been discussed at length on FB pages, and I think on the British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum. It is possible he picked the patches up at the end of the war in the UK, or at some later date.

Bill wrote:Been discussed at length on FB pages, and I think on the British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum. It is possible he picked the patches up at the end of the war in the UK, or at some later date.

you young wipper snapper and your facebook I dont use it much these days so Ill check out the other forum you mentioned. Really appreciate the help Bill, thank you.

I know the RCAC patch has been discussed at length. I was hoping to have some closure on this if possible. The threads I have read on this patch seem to point to this being a "reproduction". My feeling is the patch was period produced, pre 1945, but never issued since the designation on the patch was never approved. As such would it not have some collectability ? There is no telling how the patches ended up with original owner? It is possible he acquired them to create the box?

Do you know if your relative had these items since the war and created the box from items he obtained during his service only?

Thanks,

Ypres

The patches were available in quantity at British badge fairs for years. They show up on ebay constantly. There is no documentation or photographic evidence of them in wear. They do not fit any combination of abbreviations that existed or were anticipated at the time.