New D-Day vehicles for the Canadian army

[peter simundson]

I operate a Museum for the Queens Own Rifles. In the Museum I have at least seven original sets of Battledress from WW2. The nicest one was invasion worn and given to me by the guy who wore it. On June 8th he was
winged in the head and sent back to England to recover. Two weeks later
when he was at his "girlfriends" the Provost (he got daily passes) picked him up and delivered him to base to return to his Unit. He was in civvies, was outfitted at base and RTU'd. He survived the war and picked up his Kit on the way home. It was hanging in the basement in the original bag, with helmet, when he gave it to me. Five years ago I picked up a Kit from a Sgt. MM winner. I wanted his MM but got two sets of Battledress. One he returned home in. It had the red lanyard, rank machine stitched on and about a dozen pleats on the back. A new Cdn made uniform. The other was a well worn, pants and tunic, that he wore on the invasion and through the war.
I also have the CO's tunic, trousers and web (camo'd with dark capo yet)
(Col. Steve Lett). The rest of the uniforms are WW2 but not invasion.
If you take the time to check out paybooks and message books you will find that the sgts and section commanders made a list of weapons issued to their troops. They dont have Canadian serial numbers. Although later in the war
Canadian Long Branch Numbers start turning up.
I deal with fact. Not Part 2 orders. Or coffee table books.
In the defence of history when I say Third Div. I refer to the invading troops. Not support troops or Att's and det's that came in later or on day 2.
More on the actual vehicles later
Simundson