Canada; Uniforms of the Calgary Highlanders & RCMP

Captain, The Calgary Highlanders: Canada

This Captain serves with a famous Canadian unit with Scottish origins. His unit is affiliated with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders as can be seen in the tartan his kilt is made from and the A&SH regimental tie.

On his Glengarry cap he wears the sterling silver Officer's pattern unit cap badge on a black silk rosette. The beaver, a uniquely Canadian military icon is the centre-piece of the badge and matching collar dogs. It sits, surrounded by a wreath, on a background of the St Andrew's Cross, another reminder of the Scottish ties.

The dicing on the Glengarry is red & white only, unlike most Canadian Scottish units that use red, black & white.

The beaver, a large rodent, has appeared on Canadian coats of arms and other emblems since the 1600's. (Millions were killed for their fur which was Canada's first "industry"). Along with the maple leaf, it is now one of the official symbols of Canada. It is the centre-piece of the Unit badge of The Calgary Highlanders.

The blue felt patches on his upper sleeve indicate that his unit is part of the 2nd Canadian Division. As an Officer his have the symbol "II" inside a capital "C" made from gold wire "bullion" as opposed to the plain blue patch version worn by ORs.

His gold coloured Officer's issue buttons show a beaver surmounting a St. Andrew's Cross.

His shoulder titles carry the initials "C.H." on a gold oak-leaf and acorn design.

The right to wear these was granted in lieu of a Battle Honour for the action in an oak plantation at Kitchener's Wood at the Battle of St Julien, the first poison gas attack in WW1.

His 4 pocket Service Dress tunic is cut away to allow his 6 tassel badger-head sporran to swing freely from its twin silver chains attached to his brown Sam Browne belt.

"Sporran" is the Gaelic word for a pouch. The first sporrans were just plain leather bags containing musket balls and pistol ammunition, and they closed with drawstrings. Some Highlanders used the hides of small animals to make sporrans. When a folded-over top became popular, it was often the head of an otter or badger that was used, and this practice continues in ceremonial sporrans today.

On his lower right sleeve he wears 4 red service stripes indicating 4 years of active service, and one silver stripe showing that he enlisted in 1939.

It is early 1945 so his medal ribbon-bar does not yet carry the awards that will come his way after the end of the war (see below) but they do include the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with maple leaf device indicating his service on foreign soil. The troops referred to this as the EBGO (Every Bastard's Got One) medal. However the Dieppe Clasp worn on the riband is a badge of honour.

As well he wears the ribbons of 2 gallantry medals, the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Lion's head device signifying citation at Regiment level and the Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of Leopold II. This award originated in the Congo but later became a personal award of the King of Belgium.


Post war, most Calgary Highlander veterans were entitled to wear the five medal set of 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, CVSM with maple leaf device & 1939/45 War Medal.

Our Captain had an exciting war. Initially it was a bit boring doing coastal defence in UK. Later he fought at Dieppe, as a Sergeant, in that ill-fated "practice run" that cost so many casualties. As a result of his leadership under fire there he was promoted to Lieutenant. After regrouping in UK they trained for and took part in the Normandy Landing at Juno Beach on D-Day.

Later at Walcheren Causeway the assault boat training they had done in UK was called on and an attempt was made to cross the Slooe Channel. Unfortunately it proved impossible and bitter fighting ensued in the following frontal assault up the causeway. Although not totally successful, to this day, the Regiment considers their battle there a testament to courage, determination and endurance. They rank it alongside the Battle of St. Julien, for which they wear their cherished oak leaf shoulder titles. It was here our man was promoted to Captain.

The Nijmegen Salient had been created in September 1944 during Operation Market Garden. While British XXX Corps was unable to meet their objective of linking up with British paratroopers in Arnhem, the US 82nd Airborne Division had nonetheless managed to capture an intact bridge at Nijmegen over the Waal River. British XXX Corps had passed through, and at the start of November were defending the area; now that the Scheldt was clear, the First Canadian Army was free to take over part of the line in this area.

The Battle of Ortona in Italy is regarded as the most famous example of Canadian urban warfare, but in April 1945, a much larger battle was fought in the streets of Groningen, in the northern part of The Netherlands. While the battle in Ortona proper, in December 1943, saw only two Canadian battalions committed, all nine rifle battalions of the Second Canadian Division would become embroiled in the fighting in Groningen.

The River Rhine was considered the last major physical barrier between the Allied armies and the heart of Germany itself. During the battles on the near side of the Rhine, the Canadian Army suffered heavily, losing over 5,000 officers and men clearing the approaches to the River. The Calgary Highlanders suffered over 40 men killed and many times that wounded during the fighting in February and March 1945. Our Captain survived the war.

Some text from Calgary Highlanders

Sergeant, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

(with WW2 military service)

Although it is a police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have the status of a Regiment of Dragoons, and as such are entitled to bear battle honours for the organization's war service.

The "Mounties" were awarded this status in 1921, with their first Guidon presented in 1935. Our Sergeant took part in the parade.

The current Guidon that replaced it recognises the RCMP service in WW2.

Here we see a Sergeant of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, wearing the Mounties' famous red serge tunic and Stetson campaign hat.

The RCMP rank of Sergeant equates most closely with the Army rank of captain, based on pay, responsibility, and numbers of men commanded. When they became part of a military unit RCMP members assumed military ranks. He wears gilt metal shoulder titles with the initials RCMP. The two stars on his upper left arm are Service Badges, each signifying 5 years' continuous service with the Mounties. The crossed-rifles Qualification Badge shows that he is a rifle Marksman.

He proudly wears the Albert Medal in gold, awarded for life saving on land. It was pinned on his chest by His Excellency the Earl of Bessborough the Governor General of Canada. It was awarded for his rescue of a family of six on a remote property whose house had caught fire. His personal bravery avoided a multiple tragedy.

His friends used to jest that he won it by running into a pack of ravenous, snarling timber-wolves to save a 6 year old golden haired little girl. The wolves had, so the story goes, already killed her brother and parents and eaten all the food they could find in the camp. He single handedly fought them off and with the girl under his brawny arm escaped, unhurt. Although it started as a joke many believed the tale and the legend grew. To this day the Legend of "Wolf" Wilson gets repeated.

NCOs of the RCMP wear their Sam Browne belts over their left shoulder, and officers over their right. On this Sergeant's belt is a holster bearing his Colt "New Service" .45 revolver, the standard-issue firearm of the Mounties until after World War 2. Colt's most successful model was made in 4 different calibers, .45, .44, .44-40 and .38-40 inch. Originally issued to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, it was the service sidearm of the American Army during both World Wars and was known as the Model 1917.

Attached to the pistol's grip is a silver-white lanyard which is worn in regulation style, with the knot above the top button at his throat and the loop placed under the epaulets and around the neck. The leather pouch next to the holster holds ammunition.

The RCMP was well represented in the Allied war effort in Europe, with a group of 215 members who served as No. 1 Provost Company, (later part of the Canadian Provost Corps).

They were on special leave of absence from the RCMP and wore Canadian Army battle-dress, but retained the RCMP cap badge and a shoulder title bearing the name of the force.

On his uniform as shown his collar dogs and buttons both bear the badge of the RCMP.

They were primarily responsible for traffic control and law enforcement within the Canadian Army.

Provost members served at Dieppe and in Sicily, Italy, Normandy and the Netherlands. Seven members of No.1 Provost Company were killed in service during World War 2.

In 2003 the RCMP veterans were honoured with the award of the Canadian Voluntary Service Medal for their 1939/45 service. Those with overseas service (like our Sergeant) also wear the clasp.

The Red Serge tunic that identified initially the North West Mounted Police (NWMP), and later the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), is of the standard British military pattern.

The NWMP was originally kitted out from militia stores, resulting initially in several different styles of tunic, although the style later became standardized.

This style was used to both to emphasize the British nature of the force and to differentiate it from the blue American military uniforms.