BACKGROUND: The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was formed in July 1942. Parachute training was conducted at Fort Benning, USA, the A-35 Canadian Parachute Training Centre at Camp Shilo, Manitoba and at RAF Ringway in England. The Battalion dropped into Normandy on D-Day, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in Operation Varsity, "The Rhine Drop" into Germany. After hostilities ended in Europe, it returned to Canada where it was disbanded on 30 September 1945.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Identified Beret with cap badge belonging to L.R. Stewart from Old Barns N.S. A Canadian made, maroon beret with a pair of black painted, metal alloy grommet holes to the underside, and a leather, tunnel loop with adjustment tapes to the rear. The interior is lined in ribbed cotton that is "C" broad arrow marked, along with the manufacture name "Dorothea Hats Ltd., Toronto" along with the size of 7 1/8 and a 1945 date. Come directly from the family.