BACKGROUND: At the beginning of September 1939, the Canadian soldier looked remarkably like his counter part from 1918, wearing the 1914-18 pattern khaki service dress and the 1908-pattern web equipment. It was in September 1939 that the Canadian Army officially adopted the battle dress that had just been approved for use by the British in March 1939 and the first new uniforms arrived the last week of October. At first, Canadian troops embarking to Great Britain, were completely clothed in Canadian made battledress and upon arrival were then issued British steel helmets and modern 1937-pattern webbing. Canadian individual equipment was copied directly from the British 1937-pattern web equipment with manufacture starting at the beginning of 1940 and mass distribution began in October of the same year. The Canadian equipment differed its British equivalent by its yellow coloring and the brown paint used to cover the metal parts.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: An Armored Corps crew M1942 (short strap) holster for a .38in service revolver, most likely the Enfield No. 2 Mk.I, although the Smith & Wesson K 38/200 and Browning FN-Inglis No. 2 Mk I Automatic pistol were also used. Of Note: The original M37 pattern Canadian Armored Corp (CAC) holster was a long strap thigh holster. In 1942 the British switched to a short strap holster for use by armored personal, which was then adopted for use by the CAC. The tan-colored, webbed canvas holster is about 21cm tall and 13cm wide along its top, tapering to 5cm at its base where a brass grommet acts as a drainage hole. A 15cm tall vertical loop sewn to its front is a pocket for the cleaning rod, and an angled panel alongside of it with loops for six cartridges. A brass stud is between the cleaning rod and the cartridge loops, which mates with the brass snap to the end of a brass capped, angled webbed strap proceeding from the back. The reverse of the holster is "C" broad arrow marked.