Canadians and the Combined Operations shoulder flash.

Spurrat · #1 10-11-05, 16:48

I was wondering if anyone had a good source for the Canadian units that would have worn the Combined Operations shoulder flash.

The only reference to it that I have found so far is in Jack A Poolton's book "Destined To Survive, A Dieppe Veterans Story". This is an excellent book, I would highly reccomend it to anyone. Jack served with the Royal Regiment of Canada and I will attach a photo from his book of the shoulder flash.

Spurrat · #2 10-11-05, 16:50

I know these are probably repros but I will post them as a color reference.

Front

Spurrat · #3 10-11-05, 16:51

Back

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #4 11-11-05, 03:21

I have a Canadian battledress dated 1943 with this flash on the left forearm, exactly as shown in Mr. Poolton's book.

It has British made 'Royal Canadian Engineers' flashes over 2nd Canadian Division patches. If you look closely at these you can see where the 'RCE' has been carefully plucked out. There are 4 red and one white service stripe on the right cuff, corporal rank and ribbons for the CVSM and 1939-45 Star.

My theory, and please confim or correct, is that returning Dieppe vets may have been given this flash to sew on their going home batteldress after being released from POW camps. The raid was, after all, a "Combined Operation" and giving this 'commando' patch may have been a way to partly make up for the stupiditiy of sending them there and at least letting them go home with a pretty distinctive and special badge.