Skill At Arms by Thomas Bennett, CD
Skill At Arms is a book that contains a job description for every trade in the Canadian Army since before the First World War.
The vast majority of trades described in this book are long obsolete. For example, Carriage and Wagon Repairer, Checker Number Taker, Chemical Technician, Paperhanger, Panel Beater, Watchmaker, Despatch Rider, Photogrammetrist and hundreds of others.
For each job, a photo of their trade badge is shown if one existed. Not all trades had badges.
Testimonials
“The author has done a tremendous service to the preservation of the story of the evolution of the Canadian Army” Major General Herb Pitts, MC, CD.
“Not just a review of badges, but a history of the trades and qualifications of the Canadian Army, and a landmark book.
The book is highly recommended for badge collectors as a useful reference guide; it is also recommended for researchers attempting to understand the actual duties of tradesmen in the Canadian Army/Canadian Forces. Many of the badges pictured have not been covered in any other reference book, and the subject of the actual trades themselves, as the author has noted above, has not been given any treatment whatsoever in any other published work. This work truly breaks interesting new ground and does it well.” Canadiansoldiers.com
“Extremely detailed book and a labour of love by the author who has made great inroads into a detailed and complicated subject. Good illustrations of some very rare badges and makes the sensible decision to approach the subject from the standpoint of the trades themselves rather than just the details of the cloth. Good detailed info on such things as pay grades and the actual assigned duties of the tradesmen in addition to who wore the cloth.” Michael Dorosh.
Author’s Comments
Five years of research went into the making of this book. It describes trades that are have been long since forgotten by the military and historians. My three goals in writing this book were: (1) to create a guidebook for collectors of Canadian Army trade badges, as none existed previously (2) to describe their job, not just their badge; and (3) to preserve the history of long obsolete trades. Although jobs such as the Loftman, Bomber and Scrutineer are now obsolet, soldiers did work hard at those trades during their time. I think it would be a shame and a significant loss to the history of the Canadian army if it were forgotten that they ever existed.
Notice
Sold out and out of print. I am currently working on a second edition.