Seeking proper trade name for WWII Canadian Radio Technician

[Daniel Roy]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Wireless Mechanic was a RCOC 'B' Trade that with the creation of the RCEME in 1944 became Telecommunication Mechanic Lines of Communication. Qualified mechanics were entitled to wear the B Trades Badge.

Good evening Ed, thank you very much! Best regards Daniel

[Chris Suslowicz]

The UK trades were:

Lineman Mechanic
Radio Mechanic
Telegraph Mechanic

I've got some of the course notes (in a box, somewhere) with a chart of the training path. Everyone got the "Workshop Practice" (Metal bashing, drilling holes and filing flat) and "Basic Theory" (Electricity & Magnetism, etc.) parts and then specialised into either Line or Wireless. Line covered telephony and telegraphy, then specialised further into (I think) Line communications (Audio repeaters, carrier telephony, switchboards, etc.), and Telegraph Mechanics (Creed teleprinters and morse transmitters, automatic exchanges (later on, probably)).

Best regards,
Chris.

[Daniel Roy]

Hello Chris,

Thank you. It is very informative. Would the qualification badges be the same in UK ? Best regards. Daniel

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Daniel Roy

Hello Chris,

Thank you. It is very informative. Would the qualification badges be the same in UK ? Best regards. Daniel

Probably. I found http://jfchalifoux.com/army_trade_badges.htm via a web search last night, and that contains some 1920-1942 sleeve patches (Signals Electrician, Signals Lineman, Signals Wireless, and a space for Dispatch Rider), but there are other patches on the internet with either a gauntlet holding 6 lightning bolts, and a red or yellow circle with 6 lightning bolts, which are presumably trade badges. Then again, 1942-1945 seems to have simplified matters by just having a larger 'T' patch, either plain (group c), with laurel wreath (group b) or with laurel wreath and surmounted by a king's crown (group a).

It might be worth asking the Signals Museum - I've not taken mush interest in uniform & badges, I'm afraid. (More webbing and equipment.)

Best regards,
Chris.

[Daniel Roy]

Hello Chris,

Thank you again for providing this valuable information.

[Chris Suslowicz]

The information on the internet is somewhat inconsistent (not to mention scanty), but there appear to be several trade patches:

Crossed flags - worn by infantry signallers (and R.(C.) Sigs. instructors.)

Lineman patch - telegraph pole with cross arms
Electrician (signals) - valve (or lightbulb)
Wireless Operator - vertical fist holding six lightning bolts
??? - coloured ring (red or yellow) with six lightning bolts.

These appear to have been discontinued at some point during WW2, and you just get the unit shoulder title, division patch, maybe a TRF patch, and rank insignia.

I looked for a reference book on these but Amazon wanted £100+ for a used copy. (A better search found the same book for £10 so I've ordered that!)

More later!

Chris.

[Neil Ashley]

This is the bible on British Army Trade and Proficency Badges and as you can see very expensive but you can normally find them for about half of this if you watch out on e-bay or the British Military Badge Forum.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353720920...iABEgJJTfD_BwE

The problem with the trade badges in both world wars was that there were many unoffical badges / colour combinations in use the purpose of some is not now known. The Canadian Army also had some of its own badges not used by us including Telegragh Pole and Valve (or Light bulb).

I have one of the biggest trade badge collection in the UK if anyone want to see what signals related badges I have.