Tag Archives: Canada

The Sun Helmet of Frederick Charles Denison

The name Frederick Charles Denison may not be as well known as that of Garnet Wolseley, but Denison played an important role in the Sudan Campaign when he commanded the Canadian Voyageurs on the Nile. Denison distinguished himself during the war, and was given prominent mention in dispatches but he also received multiple honors and awards.

Had Denison not taken part in the ill-fated campaign, he still would have left his mark as a militia officer, lawyer, author, businessman and politician. Born to the wealthy and influential Denison family, he was drawn to military service after his older brother Captain George Taylor Denison III became a militia officer. Continue reading →

A Second Pressed Fiber Wolseley

It is odd how when one item suddenly is found another shows up! It could be that some things are more common than we realize and didn’t notice previously, or perhaps multiple items were uncovered at the same time. In this case it is the Canadian pressed fiber naval style Wolseley.

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Universal Pattern Helmet to the Lorne (Scots) Rifles

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The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) is today a Primary Reserve Infantry regiment of the Canadian Army .The Lorne Scots originated in Brampton, Ontario in September 1866, as the 36th “Peel Battalion of Infantry,” and was redesignated as the 36th Peel Regiment in May 1900, as The Peel Regiment in May 1920 and The Peel and Dufferin Regiment in April 1923. In December 1936, it was amalgamated with The Lorne Rifles (Scottish) and redesignated The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).

The first Scottish connection was made in September 1879 when the Halton Rifles were reviewed by His Excellency The Marquis of Lorne and permission was received in 1881 to redesignate the 20th Halton Rifles as the 20th Halton Battalion Lorne Rifles. Continue reading →

The Canadian Royal Horse Artillery

RCHA2The Canadian military is most remembered for its heroic actions in Italy and Western Europe during the Second World War, but it was still active in every theater of war. More than 1.1 million Canadians served in the Army, Navy and Air Force and its entry into the conflict was the nation’s first independent declaration of war.

During the North African, Middle Eastern and Sicilian campaigns the Canadian army was outfitted in a tropical uniform. Among the more “anachronistic” looking of these was the uniform worn by units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

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Regimental Identity and the 20th Century Khaki Helmet

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Plain Wolesley helmet, dated 1913 and marked with the Canadian C/Arrow property mark.

When, in 1911, the Department of Militia & Defence (M&D) ordered the transition from the white Universal helmet to the white Wolseley pattern helmet they permitted existing pugarees to continue to be worn. This satisfied the need for regimental identities for most orders of dress. However, the 1904 introduction of drab Service Dress called for either a khaki cover to the helmet or a khaki helmet left the Militia with little opportunity for regimental expression. Continue reading →

Canadian Universal Pattern Helmet

A Royal Canadian Artillery Universal Pattern Helmet Circa 1905.

A Royal Canadian Artillery Universal Pattern Helmet Circa 1905.

Shortly after the adoption of the Home Service Helmet in 1878 by the British War Office, the Canadian Department of Militia and Defence (M&D) followed suit. However, within a few years this pattern, which included blue helmets for Infantry and the various Corps, Green for Light Infantry and a short-lived dark Green for Rifle regiments, M&D did a volte face and ordered the white ‘Foreign Service’ pattern helmet for general use. Continue reading →