CANADIAN STAMPS ISSUED 1938 - 1942

Title: Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

Date of Issue:15 June 1938

Canada's pictorial stamps of 1938, covering the higher values, represented a very definite theme showing Canada's gateways to the north, south, east and west. The precedent established in 1928 of utilizing the higher denominations to illustrate scenes and subjects of Canadian geographical, industrial and historical interest, follows in this series. In an endeavour to maintain artistic balance of the designs, the Post Offices Department decided in the case of the pictorial stamps of this issue to eliminate subject descriptions from the designs. This information appears in English and French in the marginal paper along with the plate number. Memorial Chamber, Peace Tower of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. This subject symbolizes the reverence Canadians hold for their fellow countrymen who lost their lives in the wars that have involved Canada. In the right foreground is the Altar of Remembrance containing the deathless roll of those who died in the wars for Canada and the Empire.

Title: National Memorial, Ottawa

Date of Issue: 15 May 1939

In 1939 Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Dominion of Canada. Thus Canada had the signal honour of being the first of the Commonwealth nations to welcome the new King and Queen in person. To honour this historic occasion and add to the warm sincerity of Canada's welcome, the Post Office Department issues three special commemorative postage stamps to coincide with the tour of Their Majesties throughout the Dominion. The stamps were printed in two colours each. View of the National Memorial in Ottawa, designed and executed by the March family, of Kent, England. It was erected as a noble memorial to Canada's sacrifice in the Great War of 1914-1918. Surmounting an arch, through which the armed forces of the nation are pressing onward, are the figures of Peace and Freedom. To win peace and secure freedom, Canada's sons and daughters enrolled for service during the Great War. This National Memorial holds their sacrifices in remembrance of present day and succeeding generations.

War Effort Series 1942

During the early days of the Second World War Canadian Postal authorities believed that the stamps in use since 1938 should be replaced with a new issue featuring Canada's substantial contribution to war work. A new general issue to last for the duration of the hostilities was designed. Subjects depicting Canada's munitions, war supplies, shipbuilding, agriculture, her importance as a great air-training centre, and as a source of food were chosen for the pictorial stamps.

Title: Parliament Buildings, OttawaDate of Issue: 1 July 1942

A view of the Central portion of the Parliament Buildings, at Ottawa. The design incorporates the maple leaf and Union Jack.

Title: Ram Tank, Canadian ArmyDate of Issue: 1 July 1942

"Ram" tanks of the Canadian Army, named after the Rocky Mountain ram, were produced in Canada by the railway equipment and locomotive manufacturers. The Ram tank, weighing 32 tons heavily armed, was probably the first piece of armament of a specifically United States type produced in Canada. It was patterned after the commonly known General Lee tank developed in 1939 in the United States. After actual combat in Libya, the design was materially modified; it had a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.

Title: Corvette Ready for LaunchingDate of Issue: 1 July 1942

A Canadian corvette ready for launching. This scene displays the contribution of the smaller shipyards of Canada in building vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Merchant Marine. The corvette was among the early weapons of the Second World War. These ships were engaged in action against submarines and proved to be invaluable aid, due in no small measure to their seaworthiness. Vessels produced in Canada were used to transport men and supplies to the different war fronts.

Title: Canadian Munitions Factory

Date of Issue: 1 July 1942

Interior of a Canadian munitions factory, showing a 25-pound gun being inspected. Modern war required the total mobilization of economic forces to equip and supply armaments to the fighting forces. For Canada this implied that in addition to providing men and materials for her own fighting forces, she must, to the maximum of her ability, furnish her allies with munitions. The scene illustrates the change of Canada's factories from a peacetime to a wartime basis.

Title: Destroyer, Royal Canadian Navy

Date of Issue: 1 July 1942

"Tribal Class" destroyer of the Royal Canadian Navy was another ship from Canadian Shipyards. The destroyers bore names of Indian tribes as: H.M.C.S. Iroquois. Destroyers of the Tribal class had the important duties of convoying men and supplies to the different war fronts and the protection of Canada's coastline.

Title: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Air

Date of Issue: 1 July 1942

Pilot, training under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada, entering the cockpit of a training plane. Under this plan, administered by the RCAF in Canada, men from all parts of the British Commonwealth and her allies were trained in schools established across the country. Early in the war an announcement stated that Canada would be called upon to provide trained men for overseas service. Facilities were rapidly expanded to provide training. Agreement of the four Governments concerned, on the principle of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, was announced on 10th October, 1939, and by early November, representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand had arrived in Ottawa to work out details of the plan with the Canadian government. A joint agreement for the large-scale training of air crew was signed on 17th December, 1939. Under this agreement the Commonwealth partners were to share pro rata in the training program.

Title: Canadian Coat of Arms, Special Delivery

Date of Issue: 1 July 1942

Displays the flags of the armed services to compliment the War Effort Regular Issue.