The Colours:“The Soul of a Regiment”

Capt Michael O’Leary, CD, The RCR

Organization of Military Museums of Canada – 24 May 2013

• What are they?• Who receives Colours?• Connections.

• Emotional – Social – Historical.• Lifespan

• Presentation – Parades – Troopings – Laying Up.• Current regulations• Churches, Museums and Public Buildings?• Colours in London, Ontario• Who owns them after they are laid up?

Regimental Colours

What are they? – A Stand of Colours

What are they? – The Queen’s Colour

What are they? – The Regimental Colour

What are they? – Emblazonment

Who receives Colours?

Single Colour:

• Maritime Command (Queen’s Colour)

• Armour Regiments

• Horse guards and dragoon Guard (Standard)

• Others (Guidon)

• Operational flying squadrons (25 yrs service of Sovereign’s special appreciation)

Stands of Colours:

• Air Command

• Royal Military College

• Infantry and airborne battalions.

Who carries them? – Infantry Regiments

R 22e RPPCLI

Lorne Scots Fus de Sher Rocky Mtn Rgrs

Calg Highrs

Who carries them? – Armoured Regiments

GGHG1st Hussars

Windsor R

Who carries them? – Operational flying squadrons

434 Tactical Fighter Squadron

• Presented 1977

• Laid Up 1988

• Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax, NS

Connections

• Emotional• Social

Regimental families Family Regiments Community Congregation

• Historical Wars and Battles Recruiting and Reinforcements Returning Troops and Legacies

Lifespan – Presentation

Lifespan - Parades

Lifespan - Trooping

Lifespan – Laying Up

Current Regulations

The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces (A-AD-200-000/AG-000)

Historical Reference

Old Colours Never Die, by Francis Dunbar and Joseph Harper, 1992 (out of print) – reprint projected for late 2013 by Service Publications

Placement

• Churches, e.g., St Paul’s Cathedral

• Museums, e.g., The RCR Museum

• Public Buildings, e.g., Hall of Colours, Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa

Colours in London – St Paul’s Cathedral

Colours in London – St Paul’s Cathedral

Unit Presented Laid Up

7th Battalion Fusiliers 1864 1901

7th Regiment, Fusiliers 1901 1959

26th Bn, Middlesex Light Infantry

1873 1903

1st Canadian Infantry Bn, CEF 1919 1919

18th Canadian Infantry Bn, CEF

1918 1919

33rd Canadian Infantry Bn, CEF

1915 1919

142nd Canadian Infantry Bn, CEF

1916 1919

3rd Battalion; The RCR (Militia)

1959 (Q) 1970

4th Battalion; The RCR (Reserve)

1959 (R)

1969 (Q)2008

Colours in London – St Paul’s Cathedral

26th Battalion,

Middlesex Light Infantry

7th Regiment, Fusiliers

Colours in London – St Paul’s Cathedral1st Cdn Inf Bn, CEF

33rd Cdn Inf Bn, CEF

142nd Cdn Inf Bn, CEF

Colours in London – St Paul’s Cathedral

Colours in London – Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church

Colours in London – The RCR Museum

Colours in London – Wolseley Barracks Officers’ Mess

Ownership

“All Colours which have been consecrated and presented to a unit of the Canadian Forces (CF), whether donated or provided at public expense, are and remain Crown property in perpetuity, and are controlled by the Department of National Defence on behalf of the Canadian government.”

“If deposited or laidup, they are the responsibility of the custodian and must remain accessible to the public.”

Questions?

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