Canadian Guards
The Canadian Guards (officially known as the Regiment of Canadian Guards) was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army that served in the same role as the five regiments of foot guards in the British Army. The regiment was formed on 16 October 1953, by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, the Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army, with the redesignation of four separate battalions:
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment – 1st Battalion
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry – 2nd Battalion
- 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion – 3rd Battalion
- 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion – 4th Battalion
| The Canadian Guards | |
|---|---|
Regimental badge | |
| Active | 16 October 1953 – 6 July 1970 |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army 1953–68, Force Mobile Command 1968–70 |
| Type | Foot guards |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | Four battalions (1953–57) Two battalions (1957–68) One battalion (1968–70) |
| Part of | Royal Canadian Infantry Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Petawawa (1st and 2nd Battalions and the Regimental Depot) Camp Valcartier (3rd Battalion) Camp Ipperwash (4th Battalion) Camp Borden (Regimental Band) 1953–1957 |
| Motto(s) | Latin: A mari usque ad mare, lit. 'from sea to sea' |
| March | Quick: "The Standard of St. George" Slow: "From Sea to Sea" |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-chief | Vacant |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Major General R. Rowley |
| Insignia | |
| Plume | Red over white, left side of bearskin cap |
| Tartan | Royal Stewart (pipes and drums) |
On 25 November 1953, the following reserve units affiliated with the Canadian Guards but remained separate regiments (see § Affiliations):
- The Governor General's Foot Guards – 5th Battalion
- The Canadian Grenadier Guards – 6th Battalion
The Canadian Guards not only served as the Household Troops of Canada, but was also the country's first national military regiment. The regiment was reduced to nil strength and assigned to the supplementary order of battle in 1970.