CWAC COMBAT CLOTHING -1944

Vendu 1850,00 €
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History:

CWAC: “Canadian Women’s Army Corps”: Corps féminin de l’armée canadienne is a non-combatant branch of the Canadian military reserved for women, created during the Second World War, in order to free men from non-combatant roles in the Canadian armed forces, as part of the Canadian war effort.

The Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) was authorized on August 13, 1941, in response to a shortage of personnel caused by male involvement in the armed forces. The creation of the unit was the work of Mrs. Joan Kennedy, who faced opposition from conventional male military authorities. In 1941, the organization was named the “Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Corps” but was not officially part of the armed forces. On March 13, 1942, the women volunteers were officially integrated into the Canadian Army and became the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. They wore a regulation uniform and a cap badge consisting of three maple leaves and a collar badge representing the goddess Athena.

The CWACs served overseas, first in 1942 in Washington, D.C., and then in the United Kingdom. In 1944, CWACs also served in Italy and in 1945 in northwestern Europe. After victory in Europe, some served with the Canadian occupation forces in Germany. Approximately 3,000 Canadian volunteers enlisted to serve their country’s forces. The CWACS were permanently disbanded in 1964.

Fun fact:

Although no CWAC members were killed in action, four female volunteers were wounded in a German V-2 missile attack on Antwerp in 1945.

Uniform:

The CWAC has many jobs with different uniforms. A canteen girl wears overalls, a radioman wears pants and a combat jacket.

Here the uniform consists of:

• A battledress type combat jacket, nominative,several patches present, epaulets patched “CWAC” in cloth at the ends and dixmude above the pocket – Very good condition,
• A beret with a three maple leaf insignia on a stem inscribed “Canadian Women’s Army Corps”, made by “Grand’Mere Knitting Company Limited”, dated 1944, size 7, with War Department receipt stamp – Good condition,
• One pair of combat pants (name) matching the jacket, made by Tip Top Tailors Limited, size 5, dated 1944, with War Department receipt stamp – Very good condition,
• A beige shirt, made by “Cluett, Peabody & Co. Limited”, dated 1944, Size 36, with War Department receipt stamp – Good condition,
• A brown tie – Very good condition,
• A pair of lace-up boots, brown leather with beige socks and red piping, boots made by “Lisman”, sole made by “Gro Cork”, size EE 6 – good condition, traces of wear on the sole.

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