Governor General's Foot Guards

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Governor General's Foot Guards


caption=Cap badge of the Governor General's Foot Guards
dates=1861-
country=Canada
branch=Militia
type=Foot Guards
role=Light Role
size= One battalion
command_structure= Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
current_commander=
garrison= Ottawa
ceremonial_chief= HM The Queen
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment= HE Rt Hon Michaëlle Jean, CC, CMM, COM, CD
nickname=
motto= "Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra" (Our Care is Queen and Country)
colors=
identification_symbol=Red
Left side of Bearskin cap
identification_symbol_label=Plume
identification_symbol_4=GGFG
identification_symbol_4_label=Abbreviation
march= Quick: "Milanollo"
Slow: "Figaro"
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The Governor General's Foot Guards is one of three Household regiments in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, along with The Governor General's Horse Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The GGFG is the most senior militia infantry regiment in Canada.

"Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra" is the official motto of the regiment. It can be translated as "Our Care is Queen and Country".

The regiment has an operational role that encompasses both the territorial defence of Canada and supporting regular Canadian forces overseas. In addition to this, it also performs a ceremonial role similar to that of the Guards regiments of the British Army, mounting the guard on Parliament Hill and at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, a task it shares with the Canadian Grenadier Guards. (See Ceremonial Guard) The regimental dress uniform has buttons in pairs similar to the Coldstream Guards with a red plume worn on the left side of their bearskin. The red plume is of different material and lengths, dependent on the rank of the soldier.

The Governor General's Foot Guards were formally allied with the Coldstream Guards of the United Kingdom (General Order 106 of 1929) after being informally allied with them since the formation of the Regiment.

Rank names

; Ensign : Infantry second lieutenants 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 : Infantry warrant officers 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). 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).

Regimental museum

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.

Battle honours

*North West Canada, 1885
*South Africa 1899-1900
*World War I: Ypres, 1915, 1917, Flers-Courcelette, Passchendaele, Gravenstafel, Ancre Heights, Amiens, St. Julien, Arras, 1917, 1918, Drocourt-Queant, Festubert, 1915, Vimy 1917, Hindenburg Line, Mount Sorrel, Arleux, Canal du Nord, Somme, 1916, Scarpe, 1917-18, Pursuit to Mons, Pozières, Hill 70, France and Flanders, 1915-1918
*World War II: The Hochwald, The Rhineland, Chambois, Falaise, Veen, The Sheldt, Falaise Road, Bad Zwichenahn, The Lower Maas, The Laison, North West Europe, 1944-1945

Victoria Cross recipients

*(Acting) Corporal Leo Clarke :2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force:Pozières, France:September 9, 1916

*(Acting) Major Okill Massey Learmonth †:2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force:Hill 70, France:August 18, 1917

*(Acting) Corporal Filip Konowal:47th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force:Hill 70, France:August 22-24, 1917

† - Awarded posthumously

Order of precedence

Alliances

*GBR - Coldstream Guards

References

*cite book
title = Ducimus, The Regiments of the Canadian Infantry
publisher = Mobile Command Headquarters, Canadian Armed Forces
date = 1992
location = St. Hubert, Quebec, Canada
pages = 248p.
isbn = 0-9696421-0-5

ee also

* Household Division
* The Governor General's Horse Guards
* Canadian Grenadier Guards
* Canadian Guards

External links

* [http://www.army.dnd.ca/GGFG/index_e.asp Governor General's Foot Guards official site]
* [http://www.ggfg.ottawa.on.ca Governor General's Foot Guards Unit Web Site]