Description
Physical description
A dark blue printed strip of "waterproof" cotton on which printed in red sans-serif capitals 4LAA/RCA. The LAA is in small letters set at a 45' angle from the foot of the figure to the top of the R.
Label
Stitched into a loop and worn over the epaulette. Worn in conjunction with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division patch, for which see INS 30, or with CAOF, for which see INS 34.
Being of printed cotton, this particular badge dates from after November 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 towards the end of 1940 as the LAA unit of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. 3rd Division's Field Regiments each supplied one Battery for conversion to LAA, 32nd Battery from 14th Field, 62nd Battery from 13th Field and 69th Battery from 12th Field. These conversions were effective from January 1941. The bulk of the Regiment arrived in the UK at the beginning of September 1941 and moved initially to Colchester for training. At that time, Divisional LAA units had four batteries and the fourth was provided by the transfer of 7th Army Field Regiment's 100th Battery. The transfer was formally effective from 22 December 1941 but the Battery had actually joined the Regiment from Canada a month earlier. In March 1943 62nd Battery left the Regiment when Divisional LAA units were reduced from four to three Batteries.
32nd Battery landed with the Division in the assault phase on D Day, 6th June 1944 where it deployed in defence of two vital bridges and Divisional HQ. The other two Batteries landed on 12th June. The Regiment served with the Division throughout the North West Europe campaign. It was authorized to disband, effective 13th November 1945.
A reconstituted 4th LAA Regiment RCA was mobilized on 1st June 1945 to serve with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. This second unit was authorized to disband, effective 4th April 1946.
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.