The Canadian Guards
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Guards was an infantry
regiment
of the Canadian Army that served in the same role as the five regiments of Foot Guards
in the British Army
. The regiment was formed in 1953 by the redesignation of four separate battalion
s:
should not be given a specific territorial identity. The Guards would be able to recruit nationally, and the chief of staff of the Canadian Army, Lieutenant General Guy Simonds
, said there was nothing wrong with infusing the standard of the Household Brigade into the Canadian Army.
A year later, a militia
component was added, when the Governor General's Foot Guards
and Canadian Grenadier Guards became the 5th and 6th Battalions.
Throughout their existences the regular components of the Canadian Guards maintained a regimental band
as well as pipes and drums. In common with the pipes and drums of the Scots Guards
in the British Army, pipers of the Canadian Guards were granted the privilege to wear the British Royal Family's household tartan – the Royal Stuart tartan
. The Canadian Guards wore a white-over-red plume on the left side of their bearskin
s. Ceremonial dress uniform is similar to those worn by The Canadian Grenadier Guards
.
The 3rd and 4th Battalions were disbanded in 1957 to make way for the formation of Regular Army regiments of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)
and The Fort Garry Horse
, leaving the 1st and 2nd Battalions and the Regimental Depot in the Regular Force. In the late 1960s, as part of a reorganization of the Canadian Army, it was decided to disband the Canadian Guards. The 1st Battalion was disbanded on 1 October 1968, and the 2nd Battalion was reduced to nil strength on 6 July 1970 (redesignated as 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment). The role of Household Troops was then passed to the two surviving militia units, which resumed their separate identities in 1976. Some members were re-assigned to the Canadian Airborne Regiment.
Colonel Strome Galloway, who commanded the Guards' 4th Battalion from 1955 to 1957 and was the first and last regimental lieutenant-colonel, believed that the disbanding of the Guards was a "political decision" by powerful "francophone" elements. "Our crime," Galloway wrote, "was that we were 'too British' in uniform and character to pass muster with the Francophone hierarchy which dominated the Defence Department at the time. The Unification program was the official excuse, but the program itself was partly a gimmick to 'Americanize' the Canadian forces and eliminate, as far as possible, the British traditions of the past."
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Canadian Army that served in the same role as the five regiments of Foot Guards
Foot Guards
-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The regiment was formed in 1953 by the redesignation of four separate battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s:
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
– 1st Battalion - 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
– 2nd Battalion - 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion – 3rd Battalion
- 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion – 4th Battalion
History
The regiment was created when it was decided that the composite 1st and 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalions that were created for the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade27th Canadian Infantry Brigade
The 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an Active Force Infantry Brigade created on May 4, 1951 for service in West Germany sailing to Rotterdam in November and December of that year. The Brigade was posted near Hanover and provided contingents for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth...
should not be given a specific territorial identity. The Guards would be able to recruit nationally, and the chief of staff of the Canadian Army, Lieutenant General Guy Simonds
Guy Simonds
Lieutenant General Guy Granville Simonds, CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD was a Canadian Army officer who commanded the II Canadian Corps during World War II. He served as acting commander of the First Canadian Army, leading the Allied forces to victory in the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944...
, said there was nothing wrong with infusing the standard of the Household Brigade into the Canadian Army.
A year later, a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
component was added, when the Governor General's Foot Guards
Governor General's Foot Guards
The Governor General's Foot Guards is one of three Household regiments in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, along with The Governor General's Horse Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The GGFG is the most senior militia infantry regiment in Canada."Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra" is...
and Canadian Grenadier Guards became the 5th and 6th Battalions.
Throughout their existences the regular components of the Canadian Guards maintained a regimental band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
as well as pipes and drums. In common with the pipes and drums of the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
in the British Army, pipers of the Canadian Guards were granted the privilege to wear the British Royal Family's household tartan – the Royal Stuart tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
. The Canadian Guards wore a white-over-red plume on the left side of their bearskin
Bearskin
A bearskin is a tall fur cap, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform. Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers, and is still worn by grenadier and guards regiments in various armies.-Origins:...
s. Ceremonial dress uniform is similar to those worn by The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards is the second most senior and oldest infantry regiment in the Reserve Force of the Canadian Forces. Located in Montreal, its primary role is the provision of combat-ready troops in support of Canadian regular infantry...
.
The 3rd and 4th Battalions were disbanded in 1957 to make way for the formation of Regular Army regiments of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)
The 8th Canadian Hussars is one of the longest serving armoured regiments in the Canadian Army. A Squadron being Regular Force served in CFB Gagetown and B, C and HQ Squadrons served in Sussex, Moncton and Sackville...
and The Fort Garry Horse
The Fort Garry Horse
The Fort Garry Horse is a Canadian Army Reserve Armoured Regiment based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is currently part of Land Force Western Area's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.- History :...
, leaving the 1st and 2nd Battalions and the Regimental Depot in the Regular Force. In the late 1960s, as part of a reorganization of the Canadian Army, it was decided to disband the Canadian Guards. The 1st Battalion was disbanded on 1 October 1968, and the 2nd Battalion was reduced to nil strength on 6 July 1970 (redesignated as 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment). The role of Household Troops was then passed to the two surviving militia units, which resumed their separate identities in 1976. Some members were re-assigned to the Canadian Airborne Regiment.
Colonel Strome Galloway, who commanded the Guards' 4th Battalion from 1955 to 1957 and was the first and last regimental lieutenant-colonel, believed that the disbanding of the Guards was a "political decision" by powerful "francophone" elements. "Our crime," Galloway wrote, "was that we were 'too British' in uniform and character to pass muster with the Francophone hierarchy which dominated the Defence Department at the time. The Unification program was the official excuse, but the program itself was partly a gimmick to 'Americanize' the Canadian forces and eliminate, as far as possible, the British traditions of the past."
Deployments
- Korea 1953–1954
- West Germany 1957–1962 – NATO assignment
- Cyprus 1964–1966 – UN mission