Description
Physical description
A dark blue wool strip on which embroidered in red sans-serif capitals 7RCA.
Label
Stitched into a loop and worn over the epaulette. Worn in conjunction with 1st Corps Artillery, for which see INS 104.
This badge must date from the period between August 1940 when the unit became 7th Field Regiment and 21st November 1943, when it was re-designated a medium regiment (see history, below).
Being of woollen cloth, this particular badge may date from before the end of 1942.
Formation patches and unit shoulder titles were both originally intended to be of woollen cloth, embroidered where appropriate. Canadian sources were unable to keep up with demand and British firms were contracted to make up the shortfall. UK orders were often placed without the benefit of the proper specifications, resulting in numerous local variations. In addition, under British wartime conditions there were problems in supplying the cloth and in its quality, the colours often fading or running. In November 1942 it was decided to switch to printed cotton patches and titles that were supposed not to fray, run or fade. These had a strong, usually black, backing and are often referred to as 'canvas'. Initial problems with poor colour matching, skewed shapes or sloping letters were overcome and after the end of 1942 most patches and titles were of this kind. Complaints that these badges too faded after use emerged in October 1944, with a request to return to wool. For reasons of supply, labour and cost this appears not to have been realisable during hostilities.
Regimental history.
The Regiment mobilized on 1st September as 5th Army Field Brigade along with 12th, 45th, 97th and 100th Field Batteries. Effective 1st June 1940, the Regiment was re-designated 21st Army Field Regiment with 12th/45th and 97th/100th Field Batteries under command. Effective 15th August the Regiment was again re-designated, now as 7th Army Field Regiment, with the same doubled Batteries under command. Effective 1st January 1941 the Batteries regained their individual identities and the Regiment retained 12th, 45th and 97th Batteries. 100th Battery became LAA and joined 4th LAA Regiment.
The Regiment arrived in the UK on 21st November 1941 and joined 1st Corps Medium Artillery, which was soon to evolve into 1st Canadian AGRA. Shortly thereafter the Regiment transferred to 2nd Canadian AGRA. Effective 21st November 1943 the Regiment was again re-designated, this time as 7th Medium Regiment. Medium regiments had only two batteries and 97th Battery was disbanded.
The Regiment landed in Normandy on 11th July under command of 2 CAGRA. The Regiment served throughout the North West Europe Campaign.
The Regiment was authorized to disband effective from 25th September 1945.
History note
Associated person: John Tiffin Murray Stewart b. 1917, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. d. 6 August 1964, 47 yrs., heart attack. Service record: Gunner M 4044 RCA. 1942: Reg. H2, HQ RCA, 1st Administration Corps. RCA CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) 1st Division. 1943: Reg. H3, 3rd Field Regt. RCA CASF 1st Division. 1944: 1st A Wing. No. 1 CARU (Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit).
Family history: 11 December 1942, married Elfreda Joan, nee Knight, at Congregational Church West Wickham, Kent. 15 June 1945, returned Canada. 27 June 1946, joined by family (on board 'Letitia'). August 1948, all family return to UK ('Queen Mary'). Moved to family home, Cavendish Way, West Wickham, Kent. Subsequently bought house, Oak Avenue, Shirley, Croydon.
History note
Bibliographical sources: THE GUNNERS OF CANADA The History of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Volume II: 1919 –1967. Colonel G. W. L. Nicholson. McClelland & Stewart, 1972. BATTERY FLASHES OF W.W.II. D. W. Falconer. Privately published in Canada, 1985.