Bonus Mannequin - Private, PPCLI, Kapyong, Korea, April 1951

A look at the kit of a Private of Princess Praticia's Canadian Light Infantry serving in Korea in April of 1951.
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[@erikbutterfield8341]

Great work with the mannequin and a fine eye for detail, especially the inclusion of the 08 large pack and groundsheet and the proper older bayonet frog for the spike. There's a lot of confusion when it comes to Canadian Korean War kit as it's this strange mix of WW2-surplus worn and used differently for the situations troops found themselves in during the war and newer equipment that was largely introduced after Kapyong.

[@reccecs4]

No, they didn't. They'd been issued the new 50 Pattern parka and wind pants prior to the battle. It's in the war diary. You can see them in use in the famous pic of Sgt Prince and Maj Flint. Prince is wearing the wind pants, and some of the officers are wearing the new parka. The British photos post battle show the same parka, and in the famous pic of Piche and Chrysler, just the liner being worn. They did get some British battledress after the advance north and before Kapyong as immediate replacements for uniforms trashed in the previous few months of operations, but that's it.

[@erikbutterfield8341]

@@reccecs4Dunno if you're the same guy who corrected me on Facebook or if it's just coincidence that I've been told this twice today, but I've corrected my mistake, thank you.

[@lib556]

Good one. To be specific, the unit was the Second Battalion, PPCLI. From its creation in 1914 until 1950, the PPCLI, like most Canadian regts, was a single battalion. For service in Korea, the regular regts that were not relegated to reserve status post-WW2, raised second battalions for deployment. This left the first battalions in Canada to supervise the depots and expansion. After a year, the first battalions replaced the second and, after another year, the newly-created 3rd battalions were deployed for the end. For the 2nd battalions, the troops were generally brand new off the street. Recruiting was rushed and the quality was a bit dodgy. There was a framework of experienced vets to build on. This was reflected in the commanding officers selected to lead them. In the case of 2 PPCLI, the CO was LCol Jim Stone, DSO. Stone had joined the army as a private in 1939 and, by the end of WW2 was the CO of the Loyal Edmonton Regt. The french-Canadian battalion, the Royal 22nd Regt (Van Doos) was lead by LCol Jacques Dextrase, DSO who had been the CO of le Fusiliers de Mont Royal in WW2. Off the top of my head, I can't recall much about the RCR CO. Most of my service in the PPCLI was in the 3rd bn but I was temporarily posted to the 2nd for a year in Germany during the Cold War. All members of the 2nd still proudly wear the US Presidential Unit Citation on their uniforms. This was awarded to 2 PPCLI (and 3 RAR... and the NZ gunners I assume) for its outstanding performance during the battle of Kapyong. Very few non-US units have received this distinction.

[@keithdurose7057]

41 Indipendant Commando Royal Marines. Also received a Presidential Citation for action in the Korean War.

[@lib556]

@@keithdurose7057 As did the Gloucestershire Regt, I believe...

[@VonTurtle8282]

Oh yeah! Love Canadian kit!

[@66kbm]

Did not expect to see the 1908 Pack, but it makes sense as suggested by Simon.

[@reccecs4]

Great video, good detail. One thing to add could be a second skeleton canteen holder with a mess kit in it. They were nearly ubiquitous with 2VP, and the other 2nd battalions too. It may well have been a 25 CIB standing order, but I can’t recall. Generally on the left, but pics and film show them on either side. 2 VP didn’t go to Japan first, they went straight to Pusan and then into training for eight weeks. They were to be sent immediately into action but the CO Jim Stone said no and got time to work them up.

[@reccecs4]

My mistake - I forgot they did indeed stop briefly in Japan on the way to Korea; for a day on 14 Dec 50 in Yokohama for R&R, then back to sea, then another day ashore for R&R on 16 Dec in Kobe, then to Pusan.

[@thehistoadian]

Epic

[@CDNR711]

Do you want a period correct Canadian parka?

[@RiflemanMoore]

I have one of the Modified 1950 Pattern parkas covered elsewhere on the channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKK2fGycl7FspdU I'm looking out for a pair of the matching over trousers.

[@johnmiller8412]

Heavy Canvas