CANADIAN PRISONER OF WAR WORK JACKET WITH RED CIRCLE

This is a rare jacket, worn by a Prisoner of War held in Canada during WW2.  It has a large red “target” circle sewn into the back of the jacket.  This was so that the prisoner could be easily identified and even if the tried to remove the circle it would leave an obvious hole.

Has a C-Broad Arrow on the collar of the jacket along with the maker mark by Great Western Garmet Industry.

In 1940 Great Britain asked Canada to accept 4,00 civilian internees and 3,000 German prisoners  as they were facing a possible invasion by Hitler.  
In total, from 1940 to 1946, more than 37,000 German and Italian war prisoners were imprisoned in Canada, distributed over about 30 camps, many of which were located in remote areas of Ontario, Quebec and the Rockies.  Prisoners of war were guarded by the National Defense Branch of the Royal Canadian Army.