Governor General's Foot Guards Colours

This memorial, erected by members of the Regiment, was unveiled on 21 May 1933 and dedicated to the Governor General's Foot Guards.

The Governor General’s Foot Guards was formed on June 7, 1872 in Ottawa. The Regiment has been headquartered at the Cartier Square Drill Hall since 1879. Members of the Regiment took part in the Nile Expedition of 1884 and the following year provided a company of sharpshooters to the Battleford column during the Northwest Resistance, where the Regiment suffered its first two casualties at the battle of Cut Knife Hill. During the South African War the Regiment contributed volunteers for the various Canadian contingents, mainly the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.

The Governor General’s Foot Guards perpetuates two battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who took part in the First World War. The 2nd (Eastern Ontario) battalion “The Iron Second”, which was a part of the 1st Canadian Division and saw continuous service on the Western front from 1915 to end of war in 1918. The 2nd Battalion also fought at the battles of Ypres, St. Julien, Festubert, Pozières, Vimy (1917), Arleux, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, and Canal du Nord, to name only a few. By the end of the war, 242 officers and 5,084 other ranks had fought with the battalion. Of those, 52 officers and 1,227 other ranks were killed. The 77th (Ottawa) battalion provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps until 22 September 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 47th Battalion (British Columbia), Canadian Expeditionary Force and the 73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) and the battalion was disbanded. The honours and traditions of these battalions are perpetuated by the Governor General’s Foot Guards.

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[3]

The original 1874 Regimental Colour of the Governor General's Foot
Guards Regiment. The Governor General's Foot Guards was authorized
on 7 June 1872. The title of Guards was authorized on 15 December 1920.
The Foot Guards' motto reflects its national significance: "Civitas et
princeps Cura nostra - Our Country and our Rulers are our Concern."
Battle honours were acquired under this Regimental Colour at Northwest
Canada, 1885; South Africa, 1899-1902, Ypres, 1915, 1917; Graveenstafel,
St Julien, Festubert, 1915;Mount Sorrel, Somme, 1916; Poze'eres, Flers
Courcelette, Ancre Heights, Arras, 1917, 1918, Vimy, 1917, Arleux, Scarpe,
1917, 1918, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Drocourt-Queant,
Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders,
1915-1918. These Battle honours can be found on the replacement
Regimental and King's Colours [5][6]. The embroidered garlands of
shamrocks, roses, thistles and maple leaves are worth a second glance.
they surround a six-pointed star symbolizing the six provinces of Canada
in 1874: Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia and
new Brunswick. The initials of Queen Victoria (Victoria Regina), who
chose Ottawa to be capital, are at the centre of the star. A garland of maple
leaves, a beaver and the Crown complete the complement of Canadian symbols.

[4]

The original 1874 Queen's Colour of the Governor General's Foot Guards
Regiment. On 7 June 1872, Civil Service rifle regiments from Québec
and Ottawa amalgamated to form No. 1 and No. 2 Civil Service Rifle
Companies. This stand of Colours was presented by Her Excellency the
marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, Wife of Governor General Dufferin, on
behalf of her majesty Queen Victoria, on 24 may 1874, after being
dedicated by the Bishop of Ontario, the Right Reverend John Travers Lewis.
under it, the Governor General's Foot Guards marched off the First
World War in 1914. Colours remain perpetually the property of the Crown.
When no longer used, Colours are retired or "laid up," usually in churches,
because of their sacred aspect. In the chancel the Queen's Colour hangs on
the congregation's left and the Regimental Colour on the congregation's
right. Outside the chancel, as is the case here, the Queen's Colour hangs on
the right and the Regimental Colour on the left. After being in use for 60
years, this stand of Colours was "laid up" with stately ceremony in this
Cathedral on 21 May 1933.