battleHonours

A Battle Honour is an Honorary Distinction granted by Royal Authority in commemoration of War Services that are shown in CFP 200 (Flags, Ensigns, Colours, Pennants, and Honours for the Canadian Forces). It is awarded to a regiment for significant participation as a combatant force in an armed conflict. Battle Honours, in a Guards Regiment, are displayed on both the Queen’s Colour and the Regimental Colour. A Parliamentary Committee determined that Battle Honours displayed on Colours would be limited to 10 from each of the World Wars and those won from other campaigns. The Regiment, which has been awarded 34 Battle Honours, is entitled to display 22 on the Colours.

When the Regiment carries the Colour(s) on an anniversary of a Battle Honour, it is tradition that the Colours are decked with a wreath of laurels. The wreath of laurels draws attention to the anniversary and is a reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by members of the Regiment in times of conflict. The following are the Battle Honours awarded to the Regiment, or perpetuated by the Regiment.

Nile Campaign 1884 – 1885

In 1884, Canada sent a contingent of boatmen with the Nile Expedition to assist in navigating the Nile River to relieve General Gordon at Khartoum. Among these volunteers was Captain Telmont Aumond, who was second-in-command of the contingent, and four other soldiers who were all members of the Regiment.

North West Canada, 1885 (borne on the Colours)

Awarded to the Regiment in 1919 for the service provided during the North West Rebellion in 1885.7 Officers and 50 Other Ranks participated in the campaign, of which 2 were killed and 2 wounded.In 1885 the Regiment sent a company to North West Canada to help quell the Riel Rebellion. All members of the company were selected because they were expert shots and as a result they were known as “The Sharpshooters”. They formed part of Colonel Otter’s column that relieved the town of Battleford on April 24th. On May 2nd members of the Regiment came under fire for the first time at the Battle of Cut Knife Hill. It was here that the Regiment suffered its first fatalities; Privates William Osgoode and John Rogers.

South Africa, 1899 – 1900 (borne on the Colours)

Awarded to the Regiment in 1933 for the service provided by the Regiment during the war in South Africa. 6 Officers and 85 Other Ranks participated in the campaign, of which 2 were killed and 2 wounded.

Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel
St. Julien (borne on the Colours) Festubert, 1915 (borne on the Colours)
Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916
Pozières (borne on the Colours) Flers-Courcelette
Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18
Vimy, 1917(borne on the Colours) Arleux (borne on the Colours)
Scarpe, 1917, '18 Hill 70 (borne on the Colours)
Passchendaele (borne on the Colours) Amiens (borne on the Colours)
Drocourt-Queant (borne on the Colours) Hindenburg Line
Canal du Nord (borne on the Colours) Pursuit to Mons
France and Flanders, 1915-18

Awarded to the 2nd Battalion, C.E.F. for the service provided during the Great War. These Battle Honours are perpetuated by the GGFG. 242 Officers and 5,084 Other Ranks served in the Iron Second, of which 1,279 were killed and/or wounded.

Great War, 1916

Awarded to the 77th Battalion, C.E.F. for the service provided during the Great War. The 77th was mobilized in 1915 under LCol D.R. Street, a former Lieutenant Colonel Commanding of the Regiment. In 1916, while awaiting orders to move to France, the 77th Battalion was broken up to provide reinforcements to other units. The Battle Honour was awarded in recognition of the service that the 77th provided. This Battle Honour, awarded to a non-combatant force, is not perpetuated by the GGFG.

Falaise (borne on the Colours) Falaise Road
The Laison (borne on the Colours) Chambois (borne on the Colours)
The Scheldt (borne on the Colours) The Lower Maas (borne on the Colours)
The Rhineland (borne on the Colours) The Hochwald (borne on the Colours)
Veen (borne on the Colours) Bad Zwichenahn (borne on the Colours)
North West Europe, 1944-45 (borne on the Colours)

Awarded to 21 Canadian Armoured Regiment (GGFG) for the service provided during World War Two. 165 Officers and 2,339 Other Ranks served, of which 515 were killed and 178 wounded.