Leggett’s White Patrol Dress Uniform
Staff at the RCA Museum have combed the archives in search of artifacts connected to Canadian peacekeeping for the current temporary exhibit. They found a white patrol dress uniform belonging to LCol H. F. (Bert) Leggett, worn when he served with the International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) in the former French Indochina in the late 1950s.
LCol Leggett had an adventurous career in the Canadian military, serving with 2 RCHA and 4 RCHA, with the ICSC, as an Air OPs pilot and instructor, then in staff appointments before retiring in 1984. Museum records show that he wore the white patrol dress uniform at the Royal Wedding of Princess Savivanh Savang Manivong in Luang Prabang, Laos on 21 September 1957. Note the photo of him wearing a battle dress uniform to the right and of the white patrol dress uniform below.
The First Indochina War (1946 to 1954) ended with the defeat of France Colonial Troops. The North Vietnam fought to gain independence, which they achieved through the Geneva Accords in August 1954. These were three separate agreements calling for reunification, national elections and the creation of an international commission (ICSC) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
At the RCA Museum, we have two photos taken by Canadians in Indochina in 1956. One showing North Vietnam with the caption, “Women of Tien Yen in Communist North Vietnam Build a Sports Field.” The second shows Canadian soldiers standing next to a group of local children, shown below.
ICSC participant nations, including Canada, helped enforce compliance of the Geneva Accords. In August 1954, Canada pulled together a contingent of soldiers and civilians for peacekeeping in Indochina. Initially, Canadians went on one-year tours with conditions generally rough and unpredictable. While Canadians were able to assist with the transfer of power, they had little, if any, authority to stop violations of the accord. Canada participated in the ICSC from 1954 to 1974.
Leggett’s white patrol dress uniform is a curious Canadian peacekeeping artifact from the late 1950s. Our accessioning file indicates that the uniform came with accoutrements. Staff have added them to the uniform for our peacekeeping exhibit. We believe the uniform reflects the RCA’s and Canada’s proud history of peacekeeping which includes participation in the ICSC in Indochina.
By Andrew Oakden