Governor General's Foot Guards

The Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) is one of three royal household regiments in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army (along with The Governor General's Horse Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards) and the most senior militia infantry regiment in Canada. Civitas et princeps cura nostra (our country and ruler are our concern) is the regiment's motto.

Governor General's Foot Guards
Cap badge of the Governor General's Foot Guards
Active1872–present
Country Canada
Branch Canadian Army - Primary Reserve
TypeFoot guards
RoleLight role
SizeOne battalion
Part of33 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQOttawa
Motto(s)Latin: Civitas et princeps cura nostra, lit. 'Our country and ruler are our concern'
MarchQuick: "Milanollo"
Slow: "Figaro"
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Quesnel
Colonel-in-ChiefQueen Elizabeth II - Monarch of Canada
Colonel of
the Regiment		Governor General of Canada
Insignia
PlumeRed (left side of bearskin cap)
AbbreviationGGFG
Camp flag
Regimental colour
HeaddressKhaki beret

The regiment has an operational role that encompasses both the territorial defence of Canada and supporting regular Canadian forces overseas. It also performs the mounting of the Ceremonial Guard on Parliament Hill and at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, a task it shares with the Canadian Grenadier Guards. This gives the regiment a role similar to that of the guards regiments of the British Army. The GGFG are formally allied with the Coldstream Guards of the United Kingdom after being informally allied with them since the formation of the regiment. The regimental dress uniform has buttons in pairs, similar to the Coldstream Guards, with a red plume (of different material and lengths, dependent on the rank of the soldier) worn on the left side of the bearskin.

The GGFG perpetuate the 2nd Canadian Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF, and 77th (Ottawa) Battalion, CEF.[1]

Regimental structure

The 1st Battalion is composed of 250 officers and non-commissioned officers who make up of the following companies:

The regiment also supports the 2784 GGFG Army Cadets of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.

Lineage
Governor General's Foot Guards, 1875

The Governor General's Foot Guards originated in Ottawa, Ontario, on 7 June 1872 as the 1st Battalion Governor General's Foot Guards. It was redesignated as the Governor General's Foot Guards on 16 September 1887; as The Governor General's Foot Guards on 1 April 1896; as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Governor General's Foot Guards on 7 November 1941; as The Governor General's Foot Guards on 31 January 1946; as The Governor General's Foot Guards (5th Battalion, The Canadian Guards) on 1 September 1954; as the Governor General's Foot Guards (5th Battalion, The Canadian Guards) on 25 April 1958; and finally returned to the name Governor General's Foot Guards on 1 September 1976.[1]

Operational history

The 1st Battalion Governor General's Foot Guards mobilized a single company for active service on 10 April 1885. It served in the Battleford Column of the North West Field Force. The company was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.[1]

The regiment contributed volunteers for the various Canadian Contingents, mainly the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.[1]

The Great War

Details of the Governor General's Foot Guards were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.[1]

The 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 26 September 1914. It disembarked in France on 11 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.[1]

The 77th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 19 June 1916. It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 22 September 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 47th Battalion (British Columbia), CEF and 73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF and the battalion was disbanded.[1]

The Second World War
Personnel from the GGFG with a Sherman tank, 1944

Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 for local protection duties. The details were disbanded on 31 December 1940.[1] The regiment mobilized The Governor General's Foot Guards, CASF, for active service on 24 May 1940. On 26 January 1942, it was converted to armour. It embarked for Great Britain on 23 September 1942. On 24 July 1944, it landed in France as part of the 4th Armoured Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 31 January 1946.[1]

Modern day
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch the inspection of the GGFG during their 2011 royal tour.

In the 1990s the regiment was well-represented in several international operations. The Foot Guards took part in rescue operations in the National Capital Region during the 1998 Ice Storm. Members of the Foot Guards have served in Cyprus, Somalia, the Former Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Sudan and combat operations in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Despite all of this, the GGFG is best-known today for its CG role in the summer, mounting the guard of honour during ceremonial occasions at Rideau Hall. The Strengthening the Army Reserve (StAR) initiative increases the ceremonial effect the GGFG has on the performance of public duties in the National Capital Region.[2]

Legacy

The No 1 Company Governor Generals Foot Guards and the Ladies Soldiers Aid Association of Ottawa erected a memorial tablet which was unveiled on May 2, 1887; The memorial is dedicated to the memory of Privates J. Rogers and Wm. B. Osgood who fell in action at Cut Knife Hill on May 2, 1885, during the Northwest Rebellion.[3]

A memorial plaque in the Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum is dedicated to the memory of the 5326 Officers and Men who served in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion Canadian Expeditionary force during the Great War 1914-1918.[4]

A Second-World War era Sherman tank nicknamed "Forceful III" in the Canadian War Museum, is dedicated to the memory of the members of the Governor General's Foot Guards killed during the Second World War while operating as an armoured regiment.[5]

Battle honours

Victoria Cross recipients
2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Pozières, France
September 9, 1916
2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Hill 70, France
August 18, 1917

† - Awarded posthumously

Rank names
Viscount Willingdon inspecting the Governor General's Foot Guards, 1927
Ensign
Second Lieutenants (OF-1) in Guard regiments are referred by their former title of ensign (Esgn). The name derives from the task the newest joined officers were entrusted with, carrying the ensign or colours.
Colour sergeant
Personnel carrying the rank of Warrant Officer (OR-7) in Guard regiments are called by their former title of colour sergeant (CSgt). This rank originated from the appointment of specific sergeants to escort and defend the colours.
Guardsman
Upon successful completion of recruit training soldiers are to be addressed as Guardsman (Gdsm/OR-3). King George V awarded this honour in 1918 to mark the service of regiments of Foot Guards during the First World War. General Order 138 of 1928 promulgates this honour.
Musician
Upon successful completion of recruit training members of the band are addressed as Musician (Muscn/OR-3).

Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum
Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum
LocationCartier Square Drill Hall, Ottawa, Canada
TypeRegimental Museum

The museum collects, preserves, studies and exhibits those objects that serve to illustrate the history and traditions of the Regiment. The museum will collect materials that depict the regiment’s past in terms of war, ceremonial, training, sport and other affairs that have influenced the Regiment over the years. The museum will provide for the preservation of such material and for its availability to all those who wish to see and study it. The museum will be a non-profit educational establishment, operated for the Regiment and open to the public, regardless of race, creed, or occupation. The museum will disseminate knowledge and stimulate interest through materials, information services by holding meetings and arranging special programs for the regiment, the association and the public for the furtherance of the purpose of the museum. The museum co-operates with the regiment, association, the National War Museum and other museums as well as the Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, to collect and preserve materials of significance so that these materials may be preserved and aid in the advancement of knowledge of the Regiment.[7] The Guards' museum holds many artifacts from throughout the history of the regiment. Some of the artifacts displayed are a captured German trench periscope, various firearms from past wars including a Second World War–era German MG42, and a copy of Mein Kampf signed by Adolf Hitler. Also on display are several books containing photographs from World War II. The museum is located in the south end of the Cartier Square Drill Hall and is open on parade nights or by appointment.

Members of the GGFG in their winter uniform, Remembrance Day 2017.

Order of precedence
Preceded by
Royal 22e Régiment		 The Governor General's Foot Guards Succeeded by
The Canadian Grenadier Guards

Alliances

Arms
Coat of arms of Governor General's Foot Guards
Motto
CIVITAS ET PRINCEPS CURA NOSTRA; Meaning "Our country and ruler are our concern".
Banner
Symbolism
The badge is based on the star of the Order of the Garter, which is used as the cap star of the Coldstream Guards, an allied regiment whose uniform, with minor differences, is worn by the Governor General’s Foot Guards. "CIVITAS ET PRINCEPS CURA NOSTRA" is the motto of the regiment.

Drill Hall
Site Date(s) Designated Location Description Image
Cartier Square Drill Hall 1879 Classified - 1985 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings On the bank of the Rideau Canal, just south of Laurier Avenue W.

Ottawa, Ontario

A large and centrally-located building with low-pitched gable roof houses The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) and The Governor General's Foot Guards and 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets

See also

References
  1. Department of National Defence, Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces, 3: Combat Arms Regiments, Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003
  2. http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/star/index.page
  3. "Rogers and Osgood memorial (brass plaque): Cartier Square Drill Hall: Memorial 35059-090 Ottawa, ON". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  4. "2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (First World War): Cartier Square Drill Hall: Memorial 35059-091 Ottawa, ON". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. "Forceful III: Canadian War Museum: Memorial 35059-011 Ottawa, ON". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  6. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  7. A-AD-266-000/AG-001 Canadian Forces Museums – Operations and Administration 2002-04-03

Further reading
  • Governor General's Foot Guards (1947), Governor General's Foot Guards: Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, June 8, 1872-1947, Ottawa
  • Governor General's Foot Guards (1 January 1948), The Regimental History of the Governor General's Foot Guards: 1872-1946
  • Captain Robert M. Foster, CD (1999), Steady the Buttons Two By Two: Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental History, 125th Anniversary, Foster
  • Ducimus, The Regiments of the Canadian Infantry, St. Hubert: Mobile Command Headquarters, Canadian Armed Forces, 1992, p. 248, ISBN 0-9696421-0-5

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