Tomorrow, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada, is to visit members of the Governor General's Foot Guards as the Colonel of the Regiment. His Excellency is to meet with members of the regiment who have served in the Second World War, and in our present armed intervention in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
The Governor General's Foot Soldiers (GGFG) are the fourth-most senior infantry regiment, and the most senior militia infantry regiment, in the Canadian Forces. The GGFG is one of Canada's three Household Regiments, and provides both active service, and ceremonial service; much of the GGFG's work at home is related to services to His Excellency, as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada (the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment). The GGFG sent many soldiers to the First World War, as key players in Ypres, Passchendaele, and Vimy Ridge; they earned the nickname of the Iron Second, for the tremendous toughness that they demonstrated on the field. During the Second World War, the GGFG was deployed to assist in the North West European Campaign, and was converted temporarily, for this purpose, into an armoured unit.
I think it's fantastic that His Excellency is embracing his role as the Canada's Commander-in-Chief (as delegated to him by the Letters Patent, 1947, as issued by the late His Majesty George VI, then the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland). Perhaps he was inspired, having just awarded the 2010 Vimy Award to The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the 26th Governor General. Reading more, in recent days, about the unique histories of each of the regiments (to be perfectly honest, sparked by associations between regiments and the Queen's representatives), I think it would be fantastic for a joint project between the Department of National Defence, and Canadian Heritage, to educate Canadians on the histories of Canadian Forces regiments (perhaps through a style akin to the old "Canadian history" clips).
Sources
The Governor General's Foot Soldiers (GGFG) are the fourth-most senior infantry regiment, and the most senior militia infantry regiment, in the Canadian Forces. The GGFG is one of Canada's three Household Regiments, and provides both active service, and ceremonial service; much of the GGFG's work at home is related to services to His Excellency, as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada (the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment). The GGFG sent many soldiers to the First World War, as key players in Ypres, Passchendaele, and Vimy Ridge; they earned the nickname of the Iron Second, for the tremendous toughness that they demonstrated on the field. During the Second World War, the GGFG was deployed to assist in the North West European Campaign, and was converted temporarily, for this purpose, into an armoured unit.
I think it's fantastic that His Excellency is embracing his role as the Canada's Commander-in-Chief (as delegated to him by the Letters Patent, 1947, as issued by the late His Majesty George VI, then the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland). Perhaps he was inspired, having just awarded the 2010 Vimy Award to The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the 26th Governor General. Reading more, in recent days, about the unique histories of each of the regiments (to be perfectly honest, sparked by associations between regiments and the Queen's representatives), I think it would be fantastic for a joint project between the Department of National Defence, and Canadian Heritage, to educate Canadians on the histories of Canadian Forces regiments (perhaps through a style akin to the old "Canadian history" clips).
Sources
- Office of the Commander-in-Chief: homepage / His Excellency to Visit Members of the GGFG
- Canadian Forces Land Force Command: homepage / History of the GGFG