The Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, was in Petawawa on Friday, December 9th, to present the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) with a new Guidon.
The Royal Canadian Dragoons Guidon has now been updated five times with the last change in 1998. Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas Forsyth, says a long time has passed and the old Guidon needed to be replaced.
The new Guidon has the battle of Afghanistan emblazoned on it, something Forsyth says is very important, as it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices the regiment made and the ultimate sacrifice 12 Dragoons made in the conflict.
Forsyth says past Guidons have been laid up in the Church on Garrison Petawawa, at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa and the Commanding Officer of the Dragoons has a plan for the most recently retired Guidon at a historical site for the regiment.
Forsyth says the RCD are represented by 542 soldiers in Petawawa and Gagetown, New Brunswick, with roughly 420 Dragoons based out of Petawawa.
Governor General Mary Simon says it was an honour to present the updated version of the Guidon to recognize those who served in Afghanistan. Simon says it was in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014 that the regiment saw the first combat action since 1945 and lost 12 Dragoons – good soldiers with family and friends, hopes and dreams – who we still mourn today. Simon says many other Dragoons returned home with injuries, sometimes very serious and with permanent effects to their bodies and minds. Simon went on to say one priority as governor general is mental health and well-being. Simon hopes to reduce the stigma of asking for help when required.
HISTORY OF THE GUIDON FOR THE ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOONS
Standard (or Blue Guidon): This was presented to the Regiment by King George V (then Duke of Cornwall and York) in Toronto on October 11th, 1901. The battle honours “North-West Canada 1885” and “South Africa 1900” were emblazoned on this standard as was also the badge of that time, The Royal Cypher and in gold on crimson “Royal Canadian Dragoons”.
Second Guidon: This was delivered to the Regiment in Belgium and was first carried on parade at Amiens when a detachment of the Regiment dedicated a memorial tablet in the Cathedral of that city. It was officially presented to the Regiment at Bramshott Camp, England, by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1919. The Springbok was emblazoned on this Guidon. In January 1931, the ten additional battle honours of the First World War were approved for emblazonment on the Guidon.
Third Guidon: This was presented to the Regiment by His Excellency, The Governor General of Canada, General G.P. Vanier, at Camp Gagetown, NB on May 23rd, 1964. It carries the battle honours of the Regiment including those approved for emblazonment from the Second World War.
Fourth Guidon: This was presented to the Regiment by His Excellency, The Gvernor General of Canada, Romeo Leblanc, at Garrison Petawawa on June 19th, 1998. It is a replacement of the third Guidon which was worn from operations in Germany, Cyprus and the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
Fifth Guidon: This was presented to the Regiment by Her Excellency, The Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, at Garrison Petawawa on December 9th, 2022. The Afghanistan Battle Honour is emblazoned on the new Guidon, in honour of the unit’s service in Afghanistan.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)
