Although few items of camouflaged gear were issued to Canadian troops during the war, the face veil proved to be one of the most useful and popular. Made of reasonably soft, cotton netting irregularly coloured dark brown and dark green similar to bi-coloured Helmet Net, the veil measured 3 feet by 3½ feet. It was intended to be worn over the helmet to cover the face, respirator and gas cape, but to judge from hundreds of archival photographs, this procedure does not seem to have been followed in active operations.

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According to the British scale of issue, every man in the infantry and field artillery was issued with a veil. In Canadian use, it is most frequently seen worn around the neck like a cravat or scarf, which may have prevented the harsh wool of the battledress blouse from abrading the skin. Although the neck was camouflaged in this position, the veil did nothing to hide the face and ears.

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In active operations, snipers often wore the veil as a pirate-like bandana, but this method of use was not commonly followed by line infantry as they wore helmets.

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There is some thought that the veil was manufactured in Canada and can be distinguished from the British version as having a darker shade of green.

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Source:
Brian L. Davis, British Army Uniforms & Insignia of World War Two (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1983)