A number of changes were announced that will have an effect on ranks, insignia and traditions Army-wide. Those items of most concern to The Calgary Highlanders are bolded in the text below, and some explanation on historical context and how this will affect the Regiment follow:
BG - 13.028 - July 8, 2013
When the Government of Canada announced that it was reinstating the historical name of the Canadian Army in August 2011, it restored an important part of the Canadian Army’s heritage. The restoration of traditions related to the historical identity of the Canadian Army appropriately reflects the re-designation of the institution.
The proposed changes include the re-introduction of divisional nomenclature and patches for the current Land Force Areas; traditional rank insignia for officers; corps shoulder titles following the restoration of traditional titles to a number of Canadian Army corps in April 2013; and the Canadian Army’s secondary badge. Further, the Minister of National Defence announced the intention to restore the historical Army rank names for non-commissioned members.
Divisional Nomenclature and Patches
Land Force Areas will be renamed as divisions and Canadian Army personnel will wear appropriate division patches. Formations will be renamed as follows:
Land Force Quebec Area will be referred to as “2nd Canadian Division”; Land Force Western Area will be referred to as “3rd Canadian Division”;
Land Force Central Area will be referred to as “4th Canadian Division”;
Land Force Atlantic Area will be referred to as “5th Canadian Division”; and
Land Force Doctrine and Training System will be referred to as “Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre”.
There will be no change to 1st Canadian Division Headquarters. Corps Shoulder Titles
Following the restoration of the Canadian Army’s corps in April 2013, corps metal and cloth shoulder titles will be produced. Army Rank Names
The historical rank names for non-commissioned members, which have long been used informally, are being considered for formalization, at which point they would change as follows:
Privates of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps will be referred to as “Trooper”;
Privates and corporals of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will be referred to as “Gunner” and “Bombardier” respectively;
Privates of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers will be referred to as “Sapper”;
Privates of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals will be addressed as “Signaller”;
Some Privates of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps will be referred to as “Fusilier,” “Rifleman” or “Guardsman”, depending on their type of unit; and
Privates of the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers will be referred to as “Craftsman”.
In addition, the second lieutenants and warrant officers in Guards regiments will be addressed as “Ensign” and “Colour Sergeant”, respectively. Traditional Insignia for Officers
In line with the formalization of historical rank names for non-commissioned members, the traditional army officer rank insignia – with the stars, or “pips,” and crowns – are being restored. This ranking system is more than a hundred years old and continues to be used by armies the world over. Historically, the variations of the stars and crown were used to delineate rank so that officers could recognize each other on the battlefield. Canadian Army colonels and general officers will also wear the traditional gorget patches. Canadian Army Secondary Badge
The new Canadian Army secondary badge is based on the historical Canadian Army badge used during and after the Second World War. It features the crossed swords, overlaid by three maple leaves conjoined on one stem. A crown is placed atop the maple leaves. The secondary badge will be displayed on the Canadian Army ensign and pocket badge. Conclusion
The restoration of these features is a significant step in the restoration of the Canadian Army’s traditions. Symbols and traditions establish links to soldiers’ heritage, and represent meaningful reminders of military history.
Historical Background - Divisions
Students of regimental history will know that The Calgary Highlanders, and the predecessor unit, the 10th Battalion, C.E.F., previously served in formations designated as divisions. While the 1st Canadian Division has been active in several periods of Canadian military history (1914-1919, 1939-1945, 1954-1958, 1988-1989, and 2010-present), higher-numbered divisions have previously only existed in wartime. The 10th Battalion served with the 1st Division in the First World War, and the 1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders served with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division in the Second World War.
When Land Force Western Area becomes redesignated 3rd Canadian Division, it will mark the fourth incarnation of that formation. A 3rd Canadian Division was created in 1916 and served in the trenches as part of the Canadian Corps, serving in combat in France and Flanders until the end of the First World War. In May 1940, a 3rd and 4th Canadian Infantry Division were mobilized following the invasion of France and the Low Countries by Nazi Germany. Canada ended the war with 5 overseas divisions, and had also mobilized a 6th, 7th and 8th Division for home defence service. In 1945, a 3rd Division, Canadian Army Occupation Force was created in Europe for service in Germany following their surrender. Both of the 3rd Divisions served briefly concurrently, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division quickly disbanding in the summer of 1945 and the 3rd Canadian Division, C.A.O.F. remaining in Europe into 1946 when it too disbanded, another incarnation never to reappear.
No details of new insignia have been made available, but very likely the historic divisional patches of the divisions will be used, as has been the case with the "Old Red Patch" of the 1st Division. During the First World War, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Canadian Divisions adopted tactical recognition patches in the form of cloth rectangles, 3 inches wide by 2 inches tall, coloured red, blue, French-grey, green and garnet (maroon) respectively. This style of identification, and colour scheme, was again adopted in 1941 following the mobilization of five Canadian divisions for overseas service in the Second World War.
Historical Background - Rank Insignia
The Canadian Army historically used the rank sequences of the British Army up until Unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force into a single Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, and the adoption of the current system of rank insignia.
The Calgary Highlanders have maintained the use of rank crowns and stars from the older system on the older "coatee" Full Dress uniform, and on Mess Dress, per Canadian Forces Dress Regulations.
The rank star previously in use was the Star of the Order of the Bath. It is not known which star will be used for rank insignia in the new system.
There has been nothing to suggest that the current structure of non-commissioned members has been changed.
Not sure I know the reason for this. Might be like garrision dress, a huge waste of money.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Not sure I know the reason for this. Might be like garrision dress, a huge waste of money.
I think the original intent of merging the forces together was to save money and have a more efficient back office, not unlike merging companies.
So, I'm not so hot and bothered about restoring traditional uniforms, ranks, etc but rather interested in whether or not this divestiture of the navy, army and air force from each other will lead to a less efficient cost structure.
Cowperson
__________________
Dear Lord, help me to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. - Anonymous
There were a lot of good aspects to the unification of the army, navy and Airforce in limits. If it had just been about merging the logistics arms of the military to create one services corp it would have worked well and probably been efficient. However the concept of merging uniforms, rank structures and making generic unit descriptors destroyed a lot of the moral fabric of the Military.
On top of training a military lives and dies on tradition, moral and passing the torch. The American's and Russians are the king of that. When your part of a Guards unit that name and division number means everything, every private and Sergeant in that unit knows that they're part of a unit that defended Stalingrad, or drove on Berlin.
In the States you know that your unit fought in specific battles.
When Hellyar stripped that identity away he stripped away the esprit de corp from the military and tried to make it a faceless mob. He had a good logistics concept but he didn't understand anything about the importance of unit pride and moral and history.
He wanted to take it a step forward and thank god he didn't. His vision was generalized training so a army mechanic that fixed tanks could be assigned to a destroyer to fix engines. Or a rifle man would also be trained on ship board operations to man turrets. It was clumsy and dumb.
On top of that the combined uniforms were crushing, not only were the dark greens incredibly ugly, but they didn't discern army from navy from airforce. It stripped service pride.
I like the changes. As a solider when you went out, you not only fought for town and country and queen so to speak. But you fought for the guys next to you. You also fought to maintain the equal of the ghosts of the unit past.
As a side note I love the fact that Western Land Group is being renamed the 3rd Division. The 3rd Canadian Division included such formations as the Highlanders, the Winnipeg Rifles, The Queens own, the Scottish Regiment and more. They stormed the beach at Juno, they and fought in the battle of Normandy. The 3rd battalion fought in the battle of Vimy and other major WW1 engagements.
Bringing back the unit tags and insignias is a great source of pride to soldiers and ex soldiers alive.
I love the fact that they're bringing back the WW2 Canadian Army badge as a secondary badge.
I think this is a great thing.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to CaptainCrunch For This Useful Post:
There were a lot of good aspects to the unification of the army, navy and Airforce in limits. If it had just been about merging the logistics arms of the military to create one services corp it would have worked well and probably been efficient. However the concept of merging uniforms, rank structures and making generic unit descriptors destroyed a lot of the moral fabric of the Military.
On top of training a military lives and dies on tradition, moral and passing the torch. The American's and Russians are the king of that. When your part of a Guards unit that name and division number means everything, every private and Sergeant in that unit knows that they're part of a unit that defended Stalingrad, or drove on Berlin.
In the States you know that your unit fought in specific battles.
When Hellyar stripped that identity away he stripped away the esprit de corp from the military and tried to make it a faceless mob. He had a good logistics concept but he didn't understand anything about the importance of unit pride and moral and history.
He wanted to take it a step forward and thank god he didn't. His vision was generalized training so a army mechanic that fixed tanks could be assigned to a destroyer to fix engines. Or a rifle man would also be trained on ship board operations to man turrets. It was clumsy and dumb.
On top of that the combined uniforms were crushing, not only were the dark greens incredibly ugly, but they didn't discern army from navy from airforce. It stripped service pride.
I like the changes. As a solider when you went out, you not only fought for town and country and queen so to speak. But you fought for the guys next to you. You also fought to maintain the equal of the ghosts of the unit past.
As a side note I love the fact that Western Land Group is being renamed the 3rd Division. The 3rd Canadian Division included such formations as the Highlanders, the Winnipeg Rifles, The Queens own, the Scottish Regiment and more. They stormed the beach at Juno, they and fought in the battle of Normandy. The 3rd battalion fought in the battle of Vimy and other major WW1 engagements.
Bringing back the unit tags and insignias is a great source of pride to soldiers and ex soldiers alive.
I love the fact that they're bringing back the WW2 Canadian Army badge as a secondary badge.
I think this is a great thing.
The combination to "Armed Forces" was garbage. I can't recall exactly when, I am sure you can, they seperated the services. I think it happened before I join (89).
These changes are really above the unit level. Trust me the units know their history (I know you know this). I know my unit history, I know the Highlanders (10th Battalion) stood when nearly everyone else ran on April 22 1915. I know that we stood up and walked across a little strip on land in Holland on Oct 31 1944. I know that the Patricias stood when everyone else ran away at Kapyong. I know that we stood in the face of agression in 1993.
The units (for the most part, sadly some are lost forever) maintain their names and/or already honour their predecessors.
I just don't see the point I guess.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
The combination to "Armed Forces" was garbage. I can't recall exactly when, I am sure you can, they seperated the services. I think it happened before I join (89).
These changes are really above the unit level. Trust me the units know their history (I know you know this). I know my unit history, I know the Highlanders (10th Battalion) stood when nearly everyone else ran on April 22 1915. I know that we stood up and walked across a little strip on land in Holland on Oct 31 1944. I know that the Patricias stood when everyone else ran away at Kapyong. I know that we stood in the face of agression in 1993.
The units (for the most part, sadly some are lost forever) maintain their names and/or already honour their predecessors.
I just don't see the point I guess.
I get what your saying, I knew my individual unit history, more because I was a history buff then anyone took the time to teach it.
But attaching units to the historical division names to me is significant as is bring back things like the WW2 badges instead of the really ugly bland Canadian Forces badge that was placed on my beret when I first trained.
To me, its a point of pride.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
I get what your saying, I knew my individual unit history, more because I was a history buff then anyone took the time to teach it.
But attaching units to the historical division names to me is significant as is bring back things like the WW2 badges instead of the really ugly bland Canadian Forces badge that was placed on my beret when I first trained.
To me, its a point of pride.
We will agree to disagree.
Quote:
Canadian Forces badge that was placed on my beret when I first trained
Happy day when I removed that. Although, I think it will still be worn during Basic.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Canadian Army, everything that is old is new again
