[Ed Storey]

Not to contradict Farley Mowat, but Neckties were actually authorized for wear by Canadian Army Other Ranks in June 1943. This was promulgated in Canadian Army Routine Order 3333. They were permitted for wear when off-duty in barracks, for leave or walking out, working in offices or when attending lectures or similar indoor instruction.

The Army issue Necktie was indeed black although U.S. and British manufactured Neckties were also worn. Canadian ORs in Italy seem to be the first to embrace Neckties, as through Mediterranean Expeditionary Force stores they were being issued U.S. manufactured Enlisted Men's (EM) shirts which had collars; so obtaining U.S. EM Neckties was apparently not difficult.

Neckties being worn by Canadian ORs in England and NM Europe took a bit longer, late 1944, as for the most part the ORs were still being issued the standard collarless shirt which would have had to have been modified with a collar at the soldiers' expense. Units training in England may not have allowed OR's to wear Neckties, but by late 1944 OR collared shirts were being manufactured by the British and or course the ubiquitous U.S. EM shirt was being issued to Canadians in NW Europe.