Canada. A 3rd Battalion Royal 22nd Regiment Japanese Service Cigarette Case
Item #C4651
Price:
(The Van Doos) Of outstanding quality fabricated from a magnetic metal with a black matte finish, with fine Gold and Silver inlays on the front cover, illustrating the Royal 22nd Regiment beaver surmounted by the King's crown insignia above the inscription "3/R22e R" at the top, with a traditional Japanese scene below, the scene incorporating a house, a gate (AKA torii) to the left, a pagoda behind the house, with two ships casting waves and Mount Fuji in the background, along with the notation "K24" at the lower right, the lips of both covers trimmed in brass, the case opens by sliding the front cover slightly upwards, the cover releasing from the tab catch on the right side and the spring-loading popping the cover open, stamped "12" at the upper right of the inside cover, a ten-link metal elasticized restraining strap with clips at either end, connected to the frame and running vertically on the inside back cover, the full-length hinge in brass on the left side, 82 mm x 155 mm x 13 mm in depth, exhibiting scattered spotting on the front cover, along with patches of surface rust on the back cover, near extremely fine.
Footnote: Three battalions of the Royal 22nd Regiment (Royal 22e Régiment) served in the Republic of Korea, as part of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Commonwealth Division during the Korean War and was formed on January 10, 1951. The 2nd Battalion formed as part of the Special Force was the first to arrive in Korea via Japan, serving there from May 4, 1951 to April 24, 1952, followed by the 1st Battalion from April 20, 1952 to April 21, 1953, then the 3rd Battalion from April 16, 1953 to the Armistice on July 27, 1953. 3 RCR replaced 2 RCR in Korea in early 1953. Early in May, the battalion withstood a strong enemy assault on its position about Hill 187. The attack was repulsed, but the engagement cost the Canadians heavy casualties: 26 killed, 27 wounded and seven taken prisoner.