Moustache Major

And with that, I think it’s time that I retire my Twitter account. I won’t be posting here anymore but you can find me with the same username on Instagram and Facebook. See you there!

I've previously posted a smaller version of this poster, but this is the full sized version - about two feet by three feet in size. #MoMonday

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That marks our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below." We will remember them - Nous nous souviendrons d'eux. #RememberThem

To continue the current kit series, this is a trials tac vest from early in the war in Afghanistan. I'm not sure how many made it into use, but given the wartime need I imagine most of those made probably did. #RememberThem

This month, Moustache Mondays will focus on art relating to remembrance. For Veteran's Week 2019, @VeteransENG_CA issued commemorative materials including for the Italian campaign. This bookmark features nursing officer Maxine Bredt, who passed away in 2020 at 101. #RememberThem

Remembrance isn't just about long ago wars - it's present-day, and this next series reminds us of that. First up is a water carrier - I think this particular one is after-market, rather than issued, but from what I understand there are similar ones currently in the supply system

I've gotten through the O'Keefe's prints, I've gotten through the Hiram Walker prints, and now this is the last UK officer print I currently have! Here's a Queen's Own Highlanders officer print.

Today marks the 81st anniversary of the Canadian Intelligence Corps being authorized! As a sequel to last year's post, featuring the book Scarlet to Green: A History of Intelligence in the Canadian Army 1903-1963, here is the book covering the modern history of the C Int C!

To cap off an Argyll-heavy week, here's an item from the Canadian Argylls - a piper's belt buckle. I don't have a black leather belt to fit it, to show it as-worn, so here it is on a black leather backdrop.

It's Argyll week due to the anniversary marked today - Balaclava Day. Honouring the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, this is an especially important day for 5 SCOTS - the perpetuation of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Scotland, also called Balaclava Company.

Another week, another #MoMon! This time, another UK officer print - for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

Lastly, to close out the week, here is another unique piece - a cap badge from the Pipes & Drums of the Canadian Guards. I haven't come across many CanGuards P&D items in my collecting, so I pretty much always grab whatever I see!

Along the lines of other foot guards units, the CanGuards used a badge for the 'pips' used to denote officers' rank (along with 'crowns') that was unique to the unit. Pictured is one such pip.

To follow in the #TBT buckle series, here is a CanGuards buckle! In the usual locket-style, the main motif is again the three maple leafs.

The Canadian Guards is often referred to as being the first unit to recruit nationally. Here are shoulder patches from the band/depot, and 3 of the 4 bns stood up from 1953 to 57 (reduced to 2, and then 1 later on).

Today, some cap and collar badges - the three maple leafs are a common element throughout the unit's insignia, as both a Canadian symbol and perhaps a convenient coincidence as the unit was the third foot guards unit formed in Canada.

I missed last week, so to make up for it today's #TBT marks the start of a new series - what comes next alphabetically after bayonet? Buckle! This first one is a locket-style buckle from the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) & features the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria to this day!

Happy Thanksgiving! For this #MoMon, an interesting variation on the highland officers - similar to the Black Watch one we featured in mid-September, here is another mounted Highland officer. This time, a Seaforth!

Another #MoMon, another officer print! This time, a Gordon Highlanders officer saluting with his sword on the march.