Description
Physical description
badge
A short upward curve of printed dark navy blue "waterproof" cotton on which printed in white sans-serif letters C.P.C., with stops between.
Label
This particular title dates to after November 1942, which is when the printed cotton material was introduced.
The white lettering on this title reflects the lettering first approved for the CPC distinctions worn over formation patches. In March 1941 CPC had received permission for white letters on 1 Corps and 1 & 2 Division formation patches but they later adopted gold letters for distinctions on armoured formation patches. In January 1943 First Canadian Army advised the CPC that gold letters should be used throughout and that these would be adopted when printed patches became available. Presumably this was an attempt to bring the CPC into line with the majority of corps and service troops and non-brigaded units whose distinctions were in gold (Signals, Engineers and Medical being exceptions). It appears that this requirement was taken by some to refer only to distinctions on formation patches and did not extend to shoulder titles.
Corps history: Motto: Servire Armatis. Unlike the British Army where postal services in the Second World War were handled by the Royal Engineers, the Canadian Postal Corps was a corps in its own right. It was officially established on a permanent basis in May 1911 and maintained strong links with the Canadian Post Office Department. Postal units were HQ troops of each formation in the Canadian Army, at Army, Corps and Division. In 1942, thirty members of the CPC transferred to the RCAF to establish their postal service. By the end of the war, there were 170 Military Post Offices in operation, which were manned by over 5,000 postal clerks. The CPC was demobilized in 1946 and most of the members returned to civilian jobs with the Post Office Department.
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: DISTINGUISHING PATCHES: Formation Patches of the Canadian Army. Clive M. Law. (Private) Service Publications, Nepean, Ontario, 1996. FORMATION AND UNIT SIGNS OF THE BRITISH REGULAR ARMY AND TERRITORIAL ARMY. Major John Waring. Identification Pamphlet No. 1. Key to Shapes of Shoulder Titles. Privately published, no date (c. 1950s) THE CANADIAN SOLDIER In North West Europe 1944 –1945. Jean Bouchery. Histoire & Collections, Paris, 2003. http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/logbranch/handbook/Volume6/chap2_e.htm (January 2007); http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki 1.5.5/index.php?title=The_Royal_Canadian_Postal_Corps (January 2007)
Around arc of badge.
C.P.C.