Canadian Provost Corps – Whitened P37 web equipment

Original WWII Canadian whitened P37 web equipment. The whitened equipment was the perogative of Provost, for increased visibility at night and when on traffic control duties. White web appears to have been originally adopted by Provost units in Canada around 1941, about the same time it was taken into wear by British MPs. This is a typical whitened web set worn by Provost consisted of a waistbelt, brace, brace attachment and holster. The web belt has the maker marking ZL&TD ‘Zephyr Loom & Textile of Toronto’ till readable and dated 1942, size large and equipment batch number 56. The holster is British manufactured and also dated 1942 (hard to read). This is a guaranteed genuine whitened P37 web set.

Looks like the web belt was factory whitened and afterwards stamped by the factory. Various methods of whitening the web were used, painting appears to be common although it was specifically prohibited by Routine Orders. Combinations of dyes, bleaches, web dressing and blanco or whiteballing were also employed.