Shoulder title Canadian Postal Corps C.P.C. (canvas)

This particular title dates to after November 1942, which is when the printed cotton material was introduced. The white lettering on this title reflects the lettering first approved for the CPC distinctions worn over formation patches. In March 1941 CPC had received permission for white letters on 1 Corps and 1 & 2 Division formation patches but they later adopted gold letters for distinctions on armoured formation patches. In January 1943 First Canadian Army advised the CPC that gold letters should be used throughout and that these would be adopted when printed patches became available. Presumably this was an attempt to bring the CPC into line with the majority of corps and service troops and non-brigaded units whose distinctions were in gold (Signals, Engineers and Medical being exceptions). It appears that this requirement was taken by some to refer only to distinctions on formation patches and did not extend to shoulder titles. Corps history: Motto: Servire Armatis. Unlike the British Army where postal services in the Second World War were handled by the Royal Engineers, the Canadian Postal Corps was a corps in its own right. It was officially established on a permanent basis in May 1911 and maintained strong links with the Canadian Post Office Department. Postal units were HQ troops of each formation in the Canadian Army, at Army, Corps and Division. In 1942, thirty members of the CPC transferred to the RCAF to establish their postal service. By the end of the war, there were 170 Military Post Offices in operation, which were manned by over 5,000 postal clerks. The CPC was demobilized in 1946 and most of the members returned to civilian jobs with the Post Office Department.