HIRIART Canadian Sets (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

It seems that our Canadian friends don't have many examples of current manufacturers who make toy soldiers from their country. I suspect that it may have something to do with the fact that many Canadian uniforms are indistinguishable from British uniforms. Fortunately, Hiriart has seven sets representing Canadian units in their catalog. This first set is 1050 THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT which I have in my collection. I ordered it with two extra men.

 

[ucla1967]

I don't have a photo of the next set which is 1087 PRINCESS PAT"S LIGHT INFANTRY. However, they are wearing the same uniforms as the Royal Canadians, but with a sky blue band on their helmets and sky blue collar and cuff trim. This set is a present arms with an officer, drummer, and 7 men. It is on my future "to buy" list.

 

[ucla1967]

The third set is 1158 THE GRENADIER GUARDS, CANADA. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of this set, either. However, it is identical to set 1065 BRITISH GRENADIER GUARDS except that the flag is Canadian, not British, and the plumes are red, not white, as in the photo. Set 1158 has nine figures, not eight, as shown below.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Mike. I don't have any pictures of the PPCLI by Hiriart either. But I do have an artists image stored of a drummer of the Regiment c.1927, which I show below.

Interessting fact about the blue pugaree around the helmet that you mentioned - is that it was non-standard - and they were ordered to replace it. They refused - and some time later the order was rescinded. Very smart uniform. jb

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks for the photo JB. Was the pugaree ordered removed for just the Princess Pat's or all regiments? The Royal Canadians have a red pugaree.

 

[ucla1967]

The fourth set is 1159 THE ONTARIO HIGHLANDERS, CANADA which I don't have a photo of, but I do have a photo of the flag bearer below. The uniforms are described as being similar to those of the Scottish Black Watch except they have a white plume rather than red and the sporran has three flecks rather than five. The set includes a bagpiper.

 

[ucla1967]

The fifth set is 1201 THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. In this version, the figures are on foot and include a bear. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo; I got it from somewhere on the internet other than from Hiriart's catalog CD.

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks for the photo JB. Was the pugaree ordered removed for just the Princess Pat's or all regiments? The Royal Canadians have a red pugaree.

No - it was just the colour of it - which was light blue. Now, I'm going from memory here - but I think I read (a while ago) that it should have been white according to the current regs - but they preferred it as the facing colour (collar cuffs tec). Some "jobsworth" at the top I expect, took exception. Anyway, they ignored the order to change it to the correct white colour - and some time later (maybe when jobsworth retired) they had the okay to keep it - which they had done anyway. ^&grin

I think it looks just right as light blue. Hey Mike - it would look good as a "special" drum and fife band!!!

 

[ucla1967]

The photos below are non-catalog versions of set 1201 THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE where the five figures are mounted. THe first photo I got from Stefano Allorini's SAIMEX Toys website in Italy. The second photo is from Hiriart.

 

[ucla1967]

No - it was just the colour of it - which was light blue. Now, I'm going from memory here - but I think I read (a while ago) that it should have been white according to the current regs - but they preferred it as the facing colour (collar cuffs tec). Some "jobsworth" at the top I expect, took exception. Anyway, they ignored the order to change it to the correct white colour - and some time later (maybe when jobsworth retired) they had the okay to keep it - which they had done anyway. ^&grin

I think it looks just right as light blue. Hey Mike - it would look good as a "special" drum and fife band!!!

Thanks again JB for the information. I, too, really like the sky blue color especially compared to white. What were they thinking? An you are right, it would make a terrific drum and fife band.

 

[ucla1967]

The sixth set is 1273 THE ROYAL "BEAVERS" 22ND REGIMENT. I do have a stock photo of this set shown below. I don't know the history behind their nick name, but I am sure it is interesting. Heck, I was born and raised in the beaver state (Oregon) although I never saw one in the wild in my life. They appear to have some sort of brass detail on the front of their bearskin hats.

 

[ucla1967]

The seventh Canadian themed set is 1281 MOUNTIES, DOGS, & WILD BEAST. I love the title of the set and suspect that something may have been lost in the translation from Spanish to English, but maybe not. In any case, it is an unusual and attractive set, in my view.

 

[johnnybach]

The sixth set is 1273 THE ROYAL "BEAVERS" 22ND REGIMENT. I do have a stock photo of this set shown below. I don't know the history behind their nick name, but I am sure it is interesting. Heck, I was born and raised in the beaver state (Oregon) although I never saw one in the wild in my life. They appear to have some sort of brass detail on the front of their bearskin hats.

The Canadian Royal 22e Regiment - Bearskin and uniform below. You can just see the badge in the fur cap - especially the Officer out in front. Another pic below that shows the cap badge more clearly. I'm guessing that this may be why they are nicknamed "The Beavers". Incidentally, they were allied to The Royal Welch Fusiliers - before they themselves were assimilated into the new Royal Regiment of Wales as their 1st battalion, some while ago. And before you ask - Je Me souviens - means "I Remember" in English - and is the official motto of Quebec.^&grin jb

Incidentally - the facing colour and pugaree of the PCCLI that I described earlier as light blue - is actually called French Grey (I looked it up!).

 

[4th Hussar]

The sixth set is 1273 THE ROYAL "BEAVERS" 22ND REGIMENT. I do have a stock photo of this set shown below. I don't know the history behind their nick name, but I am sure it is interesting. Heck, I was born and raised in the beaver state (Oregon) although I never saw one in the wild in my life. They appear to have some sort of brass detail on the front of their bearskin hats.

The beaver mascot is probably related to how Canada was settled by trappers. The Hudson Bay and the Northwest Companies moved west from Montreal and Ottawa trapping and trading. The target fur was beaver pelts. It was Canadian traders and trappers who first explored and mapped western Canada and the northwest US. Government officials in the form of the RCMP came later.

 

[ucla1967]

The Canadian Royal 22e Regiment - Bearskin and uniform below. You can just see the badge in the fur cap - especially the Officer out in front. Another pic below that shows the cap badge more clearly. I'm guessing that this may be why they are nicknamed "The Beavers". Incidentally, they were allied to The Royal Welch Fusiliers - before they themselves were assimilated into the new Royal Regiment of Wales as their 1st battalion, some while ago. And before you ask - Je Me souviens - means "I Remember" in English - and is the official motto of Quebec.^&grin jb

Incidentally - the facing colour and pugaree of the PCCLI that I described earlier as light blue - is actually called French Grey (I looked it up!).

Thanks JB for the information and the photos. Interesting regimental cap badge. I refered to the PPLI trim colors as sky blue because the Hiriart description was "celestes" which I assumed meant sky blue. Thanks again for everything.

 

[ucla1967]

The beaver mascot is probably related to how Canada was settled by trappers. The Hudson Bay and the Northwest Companies moved west from Montreal and Ottawa trapping and trading. The target fur was beaver pelts. It was Canadian traders and trappers who first explored and mapped western Canada and the northwest US. Government officials in the form of the RCMP came later.

Sounds like a plausible explanation for their nick name to me. Thanks.

 

[Partner]

This regiment is more commonly referred to as "The Van Doos" which is a spin on Vingt-deux (22) as it is a French speaking regiment.


thanks for showing the Canadian sets

KIrk

The sixth set is 1273 THE ROYAL "BEAVERS" 22ND REGIMENT. I do have a stock photo of this set shown below. I don't know the history behind their nick name, but I am sure it is interesting. Heck, I was born and raised in the beaver state (Oregon) although I never saw one in the wild in my life. They appear to have some sort of brass detail on the front of their bearskin hats.

 

[ucla1967]

This regiment is more commonly referred to as "The Van Doos" which is a spin on Vingt-deux (22) as it is a French speaking regiment.


thanks for showing the Canadian sets

KIrk

Thanks for the information on the van doos, Kirk. It was my pleasure to post the photos of Hiriart's Canadian sets. I just wish there were more of them. Canadians are overlooked regarding their significant contributions in World War I and World War II. My son Keith, then 24-years-old, and I took a 40th Anniversary D-Day tour in 1994. One of my vavorite veterans on that tour was a Canadian who served with The Regina Rifles and who landed on Juno beach on June 6th.

I have always been fond of Canadians since meeting the the first ones in 1963. They were Canadian soldiers returning from UN duty in the Sinai who were staying at the same pensione in Rome as I was; we spent several days touring the city together. My wife and I have vacationed in Canada several times including on our honeymoon, such as it was, when we visited Montreal's EXPO67 in 1967. We subsequently vacationed in Nova Scotia in 1978, driving through New Brunswick. We also have vacationed in British Columbia in 1985 and 2005. Great country and a great people.

 

[ucla1967]

I will defer to others on this, but I was wondering if the Hiriart World War II British infantry set I had made for me as a special could also be used as Canadian infantry? I don't really know how much different the uniforms might be (color, web gear, etc.) and whether the same figures could also be used for World War I. In any case, here are two photos. If this would work, I would order the set with the appropriate Canadian Ensign for WWI or WWII. So it would have an officer, flag bearer, bugler, and six men.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Mike - have a look at these two sites for details. I think you would be on safer ground with the WW1 uniform - called Service Dress, by the way - which with the stand up collar was supplied to Canadians in WW1. There were small differences like number of buttons etc - but as the war went on these vanished and standard uniforms for both British and Canadians were common. Choose appropriate badges for arms etc - and just ask Hiriart to add I s'pose (eg PPCLI???)

WW2.
http://www.mpmuseum.org/provostbd.html

WW1.
WW2 Battledress was different - and the Canadian version had a greener hue altogether than the British which was browner and closer cut (and itchy!!).
These two articles will probably help you choose. jb
Webbing was originally in leather - but didn't like the weather - and much webbing gear was used later on.
As to the rifle used - the second article above mentions that the Ross had problems - and was more or less replace by the SMLE by 1916 - so shouldn't be a problem either.
http://www.cmhslivinghistory.com/ppcli1_equip_tunic.htm

http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/uniform3.htm