WOMAN UNIFORM CANADIAN RED CROSS – 1941

Vendu 1350,00 €
Nous contacter

History:
During World War II, thousands of Canadian women enlisted in a specially trained group of volunteers and uniformed personnel for wartime service known as the Canadian Red Cross Corps (CRC).
Created in 1940, the Corps offered women the opportunity to train and volunteer in one of four sections: Transportation, Nursing Assistant, Food Administration or Office Administration. All members wear a distinctive uniform and undergo training to help them function as a team. In Canada, Corps members spend their time serving in hospitals, blood clinics, Red Cross offices, canteens…
The RCC has 641 members who served overseas in Great Britain or continental Europe. Others were stationed in Newfoundland (a separate country until 1949) or aboard the ships that transported the wives and children of Canadian servicemen from Europe to Canada at the end of the war. In England, members of the Corps were subjected to nightly bombings; they followed Allied advances in Italy and France with military hospitals.
The Red Cross leaders who created the Corps envisioned these volunteers as a group to call upon in the event of an enemy attack on Canadian soil. In addition, the Corps members’ extensive training and preparation for service made them precursors to future Red Cross emergency service volunteers.

Uniform:
CCRC uniforms serve a practical purpose and have visual value on who the wearer is and what they do. The uniforms worn by CCRC members identify them as Red Cross volunteers. Their vaguely military style also connects them to the larger contexts of war during which they are worn.
Here the uniform consists of:

• A 4-pocket wool jacket (top gusseted pockets) with CRCC collar insignia, embroidered “Canada” shoulder patch, a “Motor Transport” patch (indicating a driver and transport mission) and British Red Cross patch indicating service in England, epaulets closed with a small brown button at the end of the epaulets, 1 fabric rank pin is sewn onto each epaulet- Good condition, a few visible holes,
• A visor cap with a leather strap held by 2 small buttons stamped “Canada”, a metal badge on which is written “C.W.T.S Canadian Red Cross”, made by “Muir Cap & Regalia Ltd. – in very good condition,
• A skirt matching the jacket (label illegible),
• A beige shirt, Trio Shirt MFG. manufacture, dated 1941, Size 14 ½, with War Department receipt stamp – Good condition,
• One green wool tie – Very good condition,
• One pair of brown shoes, size 7 1/2 – good condition, traces of wear,
• A brown leather briefcase – Good condition, traces of wear.

Contact