Canadian Army 1 Year Service Stripe

The Canadian Army 1 Year Service Stripe is an insignia awarded to enlisted personnel of the Canadian Army to denote completion of one year of honorable service. Typically, the stripe is constructed from embroidered yellow or gold thread and is designed to be sewn onto the lower sleeve of the uniform, most often the left sleeve. This service stripe follows a tradition common to Commonwealth military forces, providing a visible record of a soldier’s length of service. The use of service stripes in the Canadian Army dates back to the early 20th century and continued through both World Wars and subsequent decades. Individual stripes are added for each additional year of service. The item consists of a single diagonally-oriented stripe and is fashioned to standard military dimensions. This insignia is of interest to collectors of Canadian military uniforms and regalia, as well as researchers studying the evolution of service recognition within the Canadian armed forces.