Description
Physical description
An upwards arc of green wool with a matching extension centrally below on which embroidered in yellow / gold sans-serif letters CANADIAN DENTAL / CORPS.
Label
The first style of shoulder title appears to have been a slip-on shoulder flash, with the letters CADC (dating from pre-1939) or CDC in black embroidered on battledress material. This particular badge was of a style probably adopted during 1941.
In the early stages of the war corps initials were worn superimposed onto formation patches in place of shoulder titles. This was a peculiarly Canadian practice and was gradually phased out by the summer of 1944 in favour of plain formation signs worn with shoulder titles.
Originally all patches and titles were intended to be woollen cloth but there were difficulties in supply of wool and with colour fastness. From November 1942 a new style badge was introduced that did not fray, fade or run. It was a printed cotton fabric with strong, usually black, backing, often referred to as 'canvas'. (See INS 142)
Corps history. Motto: Sanitas in Ore. (Oral Health.) The Canadian Army Dental Corps was created in 1915 as a corps of the Non-Permanent Militia and was re-designated The Canadian Dental Corps on 31 August 1939. On the same date a Regular component was also formed, with the same title.
Some 40 CDC units were formed during Second World War. One was attached to each of 1 Canadian Army, 1 and 2 Corps and each Canadian Division, plus Military HQ and Base units in UK, Italy and North West Europe. The balance served with RCN and RCAF forces and in Canada.
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: CANADA'S ARMY IN WORLD WAR II: Badges and Histories of the Corps and Regiments. F. R. Tripp. Unitrade Press, Toronto, 1983. FORMATION AND UNIT SIGNS OF THE BRITISH REGULAR ARMY AND TERRITORIAL ARMY. Major John Waring. Identification Pamphlet No. 1. Privately published, no date (c. 1950s). Key to Shapes of Shoulder Titles. THE CANADIAN SOLDIER In North West Europe 1944 –1945. Jean Bouchery. Histoire & Collections, Paris, 2003. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki 1.5.5/index.php?title=The_Royal_Canadian_Dental_Corps (January 2007)
Inscription
CANADIAN DENTAL / CORPS