{"id":627,"date":"2018-05-28T19:22:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-28T19:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rca-arc.org\/?page_id=627"},"modified":"2023-02-13T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T20:20:25","slug":"customs-and-traditions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rca-arc.org\/heritage\/customs-and-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Distinctions and Customs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Distinctions and Customs<\/h1>\n
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Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the fire – Gustav Mahler<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

As Gunners, we are denoted by an especially rich array of distinctions and customs which recall our history, underlie our \u00e9sprit de corps and help define our identity and ethos. The most prominent of these are summarised on this page. For a complete and authoritative listing, please refer to Regimental Standing Orders – Volume I<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Precedence<\/h2>\n

\"\"The honour of “the right of the line” (precedence over other units), on a army parade, is held by the units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery when on parade with their guns.<\/p>\n

On dismounted parades, RCHA units take precedence over all other Canadian Army units except formed bodies of officer cadets of the Royal Military Colleges representing their college.<\/p>\n

RCA units parade to the left of units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.<\/p>\n

See Regimental Standing Orders for precedence and seniority within The Royal Regiment.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Regimental Mottos<\/h2>\n

\"\"The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery has two Regimental mottos: “Ubique” (Everywhere) and “Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt” (Whither Right and Glory Lead).<\/p>\n

In 1832, His Majesty King William IV granted The Royal Regiment of Artillery the right to wear on their appointments the Royal Arms and supporters over a cannon with the motto, “Ubique Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt” (Everywhere Whither Right and Glory Lead). The next year (1833), the order was amended to make clear that “Ubique” and “Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt” were two separate mottos.<\/p>\n

The word “Ubique”, takes the place of all past and future battle honours in recognition of the artillery’s widespread service in all battles and campaigns. Both the motto and Ubique may be borne on Regimental appointments.<\/p>\n

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery was authorized to wear on its appointments “Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt\u201d and “Ubique” by His Majesty King George V on 5 August 1926. The usage of \u201cUbique\u201d was confirmed by the CDS on 11 May 1994 (NDHQ 1065-1 (ADM (Per)) dated 9 May 94).<\/p>\n

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The Arms of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery<\/h2>\n

\"\"Before 1832, the Royal Artillery used the Ordnance Arms or the Royal Cypher as part of the insignia on its buttons and badges. The Ordnance Arms had as their central devices three cannons and three cannonballs. The Royal Cypher consisted of either the garter and motto surmounted by a crown enclosing the monarch’s monogramme or the monarch’s monogramme alone surmounted by a crown.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"In 1832, the Royal Arms with supporters, together with the mottos “Ubique” and “Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt” and cannon were granted to the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a badge by warrant of His Majesty, King William IV. In this form, it constituted the full achievement of the Gunner badge. For the next hundred years, it was featured on shako stars, helmet plates, shoulder belt plates, sabretaches, cross belt pouches and busby plume holders.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"Canadian Gunners adopted the “Full Achievement of the Badge” and it was used from 1855 as a helmet plate, on sabretaches and cross belt pouches. “Canada” was used instead of the motto “Ubique”.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"Letters Patent approving the Badge of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery ensigned by the Royal Arms of Canada.<\/p>\n

In 2006, Her Majesty the Queen did approve that this Badge and Mottoes may be borne ensigned by the Royal Crown or by the Royal Arms of Canada.<\/p>\n

The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 17, 2007, in Volume 141, page 586 of the Canada Gazette.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Cap Badge<\/h2>\n

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As uniforms were simplified to meet the demands of modern warfare, it became apparent that the full achievement of the gunner badge was too large.\u00a0 Beginning with the introduction of the peaked forage cap in 1907, abbreviated versions of the full achievement have been adopted for day to day use.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"In 1926 the word “Canada” was replaced by the motto “Ubique” in The RCA badge.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"In 1960, a new heraldic drawing of the badge was executed which replaced the Tudor Crown with the St Edward Crown worn by Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"The official description of the badge of The Royal Regiment, approved by the Chief Herald of Canada in 2006, is: \u201cA smooth- bore 9-pounder field gun Or (gold) on a field Vert (green) above a scroll Azure bordered Or inscribed \u201cUBIQUE\u201d Or below the gun a scroll Azure bordered Or inscribed \u201cQUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT\u201d the whole surmounted by the Royal Crown proper.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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RCHA Badge<\/h2>\n

\"\"Royal Canadian Horse Artillery units are distinguished by the presence of the Royal Cypher on some of their appointments.<\/p>\n

The RCHA Badge (or Garter badge as it is sometimes termed) is based on the badge of the Order of the Garter which dates from 1348.<\/p>\n

The motto on the cypher is “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (\u201cShame on him who thinks this evil”3), and is the motto of the Order of the Garter, not an artillery motto.<\/p>\n

The background colour, including the centre of the garter is the colour of the material on which the crest is mounted.<\/p>\n

The Colonel Commandant approved the design and colour of the RCHA badge on 22 February 1961. This badge may be used on RCHA unit flags, plaques, stationary, silverware, and decals. The RCHA Badge design is based on originals prepared by the College of Arms in 1949 as reproduced in The Journal of the Royal Artillery, Vol LXXVII, No 1, January 1950. When it is displayed with The RCA Badge, The RCHA Badge shall take precedence.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Grenade<\/h2>\n

\"\"The grenade, like St. Barbara, has a common heritage with all those who work with explosives and pyrotechnics – artillerymen, engineers, grenadiers and fusiliers. The word grenade derives from the ancient French “pomme grenate” or \u201cpomme granate\u201d. Heraldically, the grenade is depicted as a sphere spouting flame. The relation to the pomme granate is retained in the orifice-like appendage from which the flame spouts.<\/p>\n

The grenade was first worn by gunners in the mid-1880s as both a collar badge and a cap badge on the coloured field service (wedge) cap. The grenade used was the universal grenade which was also worn by the engineers and by several fusilier regiments. In 1907 a revised grenade was adopted with a more stylized flame and “Canada” in a scroll underneath. At this time the convention was established to depict the artillery grenade with seven flames. The Engineers adopted a grenade of the same pattern but with nine flames. The Fusiliers retained variations of the universal pattern grenade.<\/p>\n

At the time of the adoption by The Royal Canadian Artillery of the motto “Ubique” in 1926, that motto replaced “Canada” on the scroll beneath the grenade. With minor variations in size and material, the grenade continues in use today as the collar badge of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Royal Cypher<\/h2>\n

\"\"In Great Britain, guns were originally inscribed with the “Founders Mark” of the private foundry that manufactured the guns. By contrast, in France, the arms of the reigning monarch were customarily inscribed on the barrels. As the Royal Ordnance Factory, whose mark was the Royal Cypher, became responsible for the manufacture of most British artillery, it became customary to inscribe the Royal Cypher on all guns.<\/p>\n

\"\"When, in 1893, Her Majesty, Queen Victoria conferred the title “Royal” on the artillery in Canada, the honour included the right to engrave on artillery equipment the Imperial Cypher VRI surmounted by the Imperial Crown. The honour is perpetuated today by inscribing the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch on each artillery piece for the current Royal Cypher for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Colours<\/h2>\n

\"\"Traditionally, the guns of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery are treated as its Colours. They serve the same central role in pride and identity as do the Guidons or Colours of armour and infantry regiments.\u00a0 The custom of the guns being the Colours of the artillery has its origin in the British practice of designating the largest piece in an artillery train as the “flag gun”. This gun was accorded the honour of carrying the equivalent of today’s Queen’s Colour. Use of the flag gun has been recorded as early as 1722. After this period, the guns themselves came to be regarded as the colours of the artillery, as gunners in battle rallied to their guns in the same fashion as regiments of cavalry and infantry rallied to their Colours.<\/p>\n

\"\"The introduction of rockets and missiles has in some cases changed the nature of the artillery’s equipment\u2019s. Consequently, the term “guns” shall be deemed to include all Artillery weapon systems used to inflict damage or casualties on the enemy. Thus, rocket and missile launchers, despite not being inscribed with the Royal Cypher, will be accorded compliments when they are on ceremonial parade with formed artillery units or sub-units.\u00a0 Compliments are not paid by the troops on parade to the guns during roll pasts or other parade movements. The artillery has no equivalent to the Trooping the Colour ceremony. It should be noted that spectators will pay compliments to the guns, as Colours, during a roll past or during similar movements on formal parades and ceremonies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Although it may be impracticable in modern times to treat guns as Colours in non-ceremonial circumstances, they must be accorded the dignity and respect they deserve. Such practices as smoking on or near the guns, sitting or leaning on them, decorating them for social occasions or leaving them insecure are unacceptable<\/strong>. This respect and treatment should be extended to include all historic Artillery weapon systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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King’s Banner<\/h2>\n

\"\"In November 1904, His Majesty, King Edward VII presented banners to the Royal Canadian Field Artillery and the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery. It was His Majesty’s pleasure to present these banners to commemorate the service of C, D and E (Special Service) Batteries during the Boer War.<\/p>\n

The banners were officially presented by the Governor General, Lord Minto, in a ceremony on Parliament Hill. A similar banner was also presented to the Royal Canadian Regiment. The banners were accorded the honours of colours but did not supplant the guns as the colours of the Regiment.<\/p>\n

The original King Edward VII Banners were not paraded for many years. By the 1980\u2019s the last remaining Banner, which was located in The RCA Museum, had fully deteriorated. In accordance with Royal Decree, these banners will not be replaced.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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War of 1812 Theatre and Battle Honours and Honorary Distinctions<\/h2>\n

\"\"War of 1812 Theatre and Battle Honours and Honorary Distinctions were awarded to the following units of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery on 20 October 2011:<\/p>\n