Description
Physical description
A dark blue horizontal strip of printed "waterproof" cotton on which printed in red sans-serif capitals 1LAA / RCA, the LAA being 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. This badge would have been worn in conjunction with the 1st Canadian Corps Artillery patch, for which see INS 104.
This particular badge dates to the period before the unit's conversion to infantry at the beginning of July 1944 (see history below). At around this time it appears that a new shoulder title was issued, LANARK AND RENFREW SCOTTISH CANADA in blue on red, presumably to reflect its artillery origins. It appears to have retained this last title when re-converted to LAA in March 1945.
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 was mobilized effective 1st February 1941 and took under command 35th, 89th and 109th LAA Batteries, all recently converted from field batteries. The Regiment was assigned as 1st Canadian Corps LAA Regiment, armed with the 40mm Bofors. On transfer to the UK the Regiment manned sites in the south of England as part of the Air Defence Of Great Britain. The Regiment transferred with 1st Canadian Corps to the Mediterranean at the end of October 1943, landing in Sicily on 8th November. It transferred to Italy on 8th January 1944.
In the spring of 1944 the British Army in Italy was reducing its overall LAA assets as surplus to requirements. This included disbanding Corps LAA Regiments and 1st Canadian Corps followed suit. On 15th June 1944, 35th Battery was re-designated 35 Traffic Control Unit and began training in Provost duties in order to deal with the severe traffic congestion in the Liri Valley. On 1st July the remaining two Batteries were re-designated as infantry. They became part of the locally formed 12th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division, when that Brigade was formally created on 15th July. Additional personnel were drawn from 2nd LAA Regiment of 1st Division and from 5th Division's own 5th LAA Regiment as each divisional LAA Regiment in the theatre at that time reduced each battery by one troop. The new unit was initially known as the 89/109 Infantry Battalion and subsequently as 1st LAA Battalion. In October (but retrospectively effective to 13th July) the whole unit was formally re-designated as the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment. Although this designation was apparently with the full support of the prototype Regiment in the Reserve Army in Canada, the reason for this name is obscure. Perhaps it was simply that the Lanark and Renfrews happened to be the next most senior militia unit that had not mobilised an active unit.
The unit thereafter fought as infantry in the Italian campaign until withdrawn with all Canadian forces to North West Europe under Operation Goldflake in February-March 1945.
On arrival in Holland, 12th Infantry Brigade disbanded and the Regiment reverted to its LAA role as 1st Corps Troops. It retained its assumed title and effective 15th March 1945 was formally re-designated 1st LAA Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment). It was authorized to disband effective 29th June 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. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Volume II: THE CANADIANS IN ITALY 1943 –1945. Lt. Col. G. W. L. Nicholson. Ottawa, 1956.