Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Parker
The diamond shaped formation flashes on the arms: are they green or grey (Pacific or Atlantic Commands, remnants of the flashes worn while in Canada) or blue or red (1st or 2nd Corps) relating to their attachment to an overseas establishment?
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Hi Bruce;
Good question(s).
By the date of the photos (Jan 44), I would rule out both Commands and I Cdn Corps. If anything, the personnel seen wearing the formation patches in this series of photos I've posted, are probably wearing that of II Cdn Corps, and are, more than likely peronnel of the regiment serving or on strength of a unit/formation of 'Corps Troops', II Cdn Corps.
A brief outline of the Essex Regiment (Tank)'s war service may be in order here:
Some of the below mentioned information is from 'A Brief History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC)' by Sgt Jim Callard CD, The Windsor Regiment (RCAC), located:
here and from my own research.
From - A Brief History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC):
"The call finally came on 27 May, 1940. We were to provide a company of soldiers for local protection in the Windsor, Ontario area."
From my own research:
The Essex Regiment (Tank)(Details)
(Note: N.P.A.M. Called Out on Service in Military District No. 1 under GO 108/40)
Authorized: GO 108/40 - Effective 28 May 40
Disbanded: GO 44/41 - Effective 1 Jan 41
From - A Brief History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC) continued:
"On January 27, 1942 the Regiment changed roles within the Armoured Corp. On that date we became a reconnaissance regiment and the "active" unit of the Essex Regiment (Tank) became the divisional recce regiment for the 7th Division. The Regiment was sent to Dundurn, Saskatchewan in October, 1942. Camp Dundurn was the home of A27 Canadian Armoured Corp Reconnaissance Training Centre. Instead of heading west, the 7th Division went to Debert, Nova Scotia where it was disbanded in 1944."
From my own research:
Serial 1424 - 30th Reconnaissance Battalion (The Essex Regiment), C.A.C.
Authorized: GO 309/42 - Effective 12 May 42
Converted & Redesignated: GO 455/42 - Effective 8 Jun 42
Converted & Redesignated: Serial No. 1424 - 30th Reconnaissance Regiment (The Essex Regiment), C.A.C. - GO 455/42 - Effective 8 Jun 42
Serial 1424 - 30th Reconnaissance Regiment (The Essex Regiment), C.A.C.
Authorized: GO 455/42 - Effective 8 Jun 42
Disbanded: GO 299/44 - Effective 31 Mar 44
From - A Brief History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC) continued:
"On December 2, 1942 LtCol Warnica, now commanding the Regiment, was informed that the Regiment was going to an unspecified task with the 2nd Canadian Division. Six months later, the Regiment still in Dundurn, word was received that they were off the United Kingdom. The first leg of the trip was to Camp Borden, Ontario, arriving in June, 1943. July 9th was the day the Regiment headed for St. John, New Brunswick and then to Aldershot, Nova Scotia, arriving on the 12th. In Halifax on the 18th of July, the Regiment boarded His Majesty's Transport Queen Elizabeth bound for Greenock, Scotland where they landed on the 27 of July, 1943.
The CO was called to the office of General McNaughton where he was informed that the Regiment had a special assignment. There was a large amount of unassembled military vehicles that needed to be put together. So as luck would have it, the men of the Essex Regiment (Tank), many of whom joined the army to escape the auto plants, found themselves as overseas auto workers. They would be paid $1.30 a day while their friends on the assemble lines in Windsor were getting $5.00 to $6.00 a day for the same work. They became Number 1 Canadian Armoured Corp Company Canadian Equipment Assembly Unit. On April 6, 1944, the active unit was disbanded and the personnel became reinforcements for other regiments in the European Theater."
Clive M. Law found the following in War Diaries at Library & Archives Canada: (this is from an earlier thread regarding CMP Assembly)
"No. 1 Canadian Equipment Assembly Unit. Located at Borden, Hants from 18 October 1943 to June 1944. Assembled A and B vehicles in the UK".
It's a bit of a mystery to me why the two Lieutenants and the Corporal that appear in these photos are wearing a 'diamond shaped' formation patch, if anything, I could see them possibly wearing the CMHQ formation patch since No. 1 C.E.A.U. came under that headquarters, so to speak.
It may very well be that the two Lieutenants and the Corporal accompained the photographer (Lt G. Barry Gilroy) on his visit to the Essex Regiment (Tank) on 27 Jan 44 (and that's why they are wearing 'diamond shaped' formation patches and no one else in the photos are).
Anyways Bruce, thats my 2¢ worth. Maybe someone else can add something here.
Cheers
