History of the Régiment de la Chaudière

Introduction

• History of the Regiment
• Colours and traditions

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Colours and traditions

• Our colours
• The banner
• The motto
• Coat of arms and badge
• The Regimental marches
• The Regimental drink
• Awards
• Mess dinners

 

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Our Colours

Colours are a memorial to the great deeds of a regiment and the symbol of its spirit as expressed in those deeds. When the colours were carried on active service, acts of heroic self-sacrifice were often performed in their defence, for they were the rallying point of a regiment and often at the scene of its last stand. This association of colours with heroic deeds has caused them to be regarded with veneration. Indeed, before colours are taken into use, they are consecrated, as battle flags have been associated with religion since ancient times. In the Legions of ancient Rome, the Standards were worshipped. Pope Alexander II is said to have consecrated the banner of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

A Military Order dated 1634 required that first thing a Captain shall do is:

“To cause his Colours to be blessed”

In Canada, the consecration ceremony follows a standardized form which is delivered by the Chaplain General and the regimental chaplain or some other clerical representative appointed to the task.

Toward the end of the 16th century, the term “colours” was being introduced to denote an identifying banner of distinctive colours. Richard Barretts, in Theoricks and Practice of Modern Wars, published in 1589, states that:

“We Englishmen do call them of late colours, by reason of the variety of colours they are made of …”

As could be expected, the variety, number and nature of colours started to get out of hand as each regimental commanding officer was restricted only by his imagination in the design of his banners. This situation was brought under control in 1751 when a British Army regulation prescribed that there would be only two colours in each regiment: The First, the King's colours and the Second, the regimental colours. The reduction of the number of colours to two per battalion has remained to the present day, with the exception of Rifle regiments that not carry colours. The original employment of Rifles was as scouts or skirmishers, where their inconspicuous way of fighting would have been jeopardized by displaying a coloured banner.

The second colour had always been popularly known as the regimental colour but it was not until 1844 that the name was officially recognized.

Why do we carry two colours? King George VI is quoted as saying of the King’s colour,

.”.. it is the King’s colour, and therefore the symbol of the loyalty which you owe to your country. This then is the paramount of the two. That colour which represents the regiment... enshrines the history, embodies the traditions and represents the ideals...”(of the regiment).

History is filled with descriptions of innumerable acts of heroism performed in the defence of the colours. Stanley C. Johnson in his book The Flags of Our Fighting Army writes of a typical event:

“Take the case of Lieutenant Anstruther, a youngster of eighteen, in the Welsh Fusilliers. In defending the colour he carried up the treacherous heights of Alma, a shot laid him low, and eager hands snatched up the emblem without a moment's hesitation lest it should fall into the possession of the enemy. No one thought of the danger which might overtake them whilst guarding the cherished but conspicuous banner. All were resolved to perish rather than should it be wrested from their grasp. And, let it be said, five men won the Victoria Cross that day at Alma for their gallant defence of the colours.”

Fortunately, we have now reached an age when valuable lives can no longer be spent in defending military flags in battle. Regulations prevent the taking of colours into battle. Before battle, they are ceremoniously laid up in an appropriate church or federal building for safekeeping, until the regiment returns.

Canadian Forces Administrative Orders govern the design of colours. The Queen's colour is based upon the national flag and incorporates the St-Edward crown and the Royal cipher “E II R.” The regimental colour basic design will vary depending on whether it represents a Guards, Highland or Infantry regiment. In Guards regiments the reverse is true: the national flag forms the basis for the regimental colours, with the badge of one of the companies superimposed rather than the Royal cipher; the central device of the Queen's colour is the same as that of the Governor General's personal standard.

Battle honours displayed on a regimental colour include the honours awarded to the unit for service prior to the First World War; a maximum of ten honours awarded during each World War; and a maximum of two honours awarded during the Korean conflict between 1950 and 1953. Foot Guards regiments are required to emblazon their battle honours on both the regimental and Queen's colours. Battle honours awarded to Rifle regiments are emblazoned on the appointments of that regiment, most commonly on the drums carried by the band or the cap badge of the regiment.

The above text is taken from the book Ducimus, the Canadian Infantry Regiments, pp. 249-250, ISBN 0-9696421-0-5, To obtain copies of this book, contact the Commandant, Royal Canadian Infantry School, CFB Gagetown, Oromocto, New Brunswick, E0G 2P0

In the Régiment de la Chaudière, the regimental Colours are greatly revered and respected. The Colours are displayed in the Regimental Museum at the Lévis garrison. They are deployed during regimental parades and at the officers’ annual regimental mess dinner. As the Colours are carried along, all military personnel must stand at attention and salute them. It is now a tradition in our unit that during regimental parades, the senior lieutenant carries the Royal Colour and acts as the Colour guard commander. The junior lieutenant is designated to carry the regimental Colour. The guard is also composed of a master warrant officer or warrant officer and two sergeants. Only the officers assigned the task can carry and handle the Colours. After every regimental parade, as required by the tradition, the Colour guard commander offers a Calvados to the guard members and all toast:

“To Normandy”

in memory of 6 June 1944.

The banner

The Regimental files concerning the board of colours are vague. However, the writings of Captain (Padre) Turmel reveal that the choice of colours was intended to pay homage to His Eminence, Cardinal Jean-Marie Rodrigue-Villeneuve, Archbishop of Quebec City, who helped the Regiment recruit nearly 900 men in August 1940 from the rural areas of Quebec until the Regiment’s wartime objective was achieved. The colours are:

• Brown
• Silver
• Scarlet crimson

They are the colours of the prelates chosen by the Pope to be members of the College of Cardinals (Conclave). Being a French-Canadian rural unit, the Regiment maintained very close ties with the Roman Catholic Church at that time, which explains the choice. The original drawing appearing on the helmet is by Lieutenant Raymond Beaudet, an officer with the Regiment during that period.

Markings on the steel helmet

Markings on steel helmets were common prior to World War II. The regimental crest or various emblems were painted or transferred (decals), normally on the left-hand side of the helmet. This custom was permitted during the war, provided unit orders and instructions were adhered to. The markings included: the regimental crest, the unit coat of arms, lettering and/or coloured stripes with the aim of achieving a distinctive appearance. 

Helmet markings first appeared around 1942 in England, where the Regiment was stationed at the time. 

References: Archives of the Museum of the Régiment de la Chaudière

The motto

Our motto “Aere Perennius” was proposed Major Gavan Power. It is taken from a verse of Latin poet Horace and can be translated by: “truer than steel.”

1. Momentum exegi aere perennius.
Horace, Book III, Odes

“ I have created a monument truer than steel.”

This is the first line of the third and final ode of Book III of the Odes of Horace. In concluding the collection of his first three books, the poet promises that his work will be immortal. 

The members of the Régiment de la Chaudière form an indivisible unit, as our motto states.

Crest and badges

When the choice of a coat of arms and uniform badges was made, consideration was given to using elements taken from the badges of the 5th Machine Gun Battalion and of the Dorchester and Beauce Regiment. After numerous attempts, Lieutenant-Colonel Reiman proposed the badge that we know today. It was approved by King George VI on 1 July 1938.

The official description is as follows:

Above crossed Vickers machine guns with a beaver in between, surmounted by a fleur-de-lys; below and partly encircling the machine guns, a scroll bearing the motto AERE PERENNIUS with a small maple leaf on each end of the scroll, meaning “truer than steel.”

It was also specified that the machine guns appearing on the badges of ceremonial uniforms should be silver and the remainder made of gilt metal. The badges on work uniforms were to be entirely bronze.

Meaning of the badge:

The regimental marches

The song of the Régiment de la Chaudière was not officially recognized during World War II, although it was first used at that time. According to the regimental archives, the words are thought to have been written by Major C. Taschereau. On parade, Sambre et Meuses is always played when approaching a saluting point.

In 1984, the Régiment de la Chaudière was authorized to use “The Longest Day” as its second regimental march because of its participation in the Normany landings. It should also be noted that Notre-Dame du Canada was another hymn sung by the boys of La Chaudière at religious services. 

Regimental march (to the tune of Franquet's Sambre et Meuses)

[Translation]

When thinking of the exploits of our ancestors,
Of our gruff warriors, our hairy veterans
Maybe all of Canada
Wanted us to prove our virtues
But we will march off by the left
Towards the duty that awaits us
And if the machine gun spits at us
We will reply with a song.

Chorus

The Régiment de la Chaudière
Always marches to shouts of freedom,
Seeking the road of a proud soul
That will lead to immortality

And marching in every colony
Where this fine refrain is sung,
It’s like an echo of our homeland
That follows us along the road,
At night in the moonlight,
A Canadian dreaming of love
Whistles it while thinking of his girl,
Counting the days till he sees her

The Longest Day

Many men came here as soldiers
Many men will pass this way,
Many men will count the hours
As they live the longest day.
Many men are tired and weary,
Many men are here to stay,
Many men won't see the sunset
When it ends the longest day.
The longest day, the longest day.
This will be the longest day
Filled with hopes and filled with fears
Filled with blood and sweat and tears,
Many men, the mighty thousands,
Many men to victory
Marching on right into battle
In the longest day in history

Refrain

We will march on to victory
by the blood of our comrades
who turned the wheel of history
by dying for the longest day.

The regimental drink

Calvados is a famous alcoholic beverage, between 40 and 70 degrees proof, derived from cider. It is drunk either in the middle of a meal, with an apple sorbet, or as a liqueur after a good meal.

The Régiment de la Chaudière adopted Calvados as its regimental drink during its passage through Normandy. Throughout the war, rations of Calvados were issued to the men of the regiment, who drank it in cellars and trenches while sheltering from enemy fire. 

There is one story that during the war, a certain jeep, whose owner shall remain nameless, had two jerry cans, one filled with gasoline and the other reputedly filled with Calvados.

The tradition in the Régiment de la Chaudière has us offer a toast of Calvados to Normandy in remembrance of our participation in the campaign. Furthermore, the Calvados is consumed in the “trou normand” fashion, ie, “bottoms up.” All members stand and raise their glasses and say:

À La Normandie!

We then drink “bottoms up.”

Awards

Chief Warrant Officer Gilles Lévesque CD Trophy

In September 1987, the Company Sergeants Major and the Regimental Sergeant Major considered the idea of a trophy for non-commissioned officers that could be awarded annually at the Regimental celebrations. 

1988 marks the first year that it was awarded, and it is with great pride that this trophy was instituted in memory of Chief Warrant Officer Gilles Lévesque, CD, for his dedication to the Regiment and the courage he displayed in his final years. 

This trophy is awarded annually to an NCO of the Régiment de la Chaudière for hard work, good conduct, leadership, loyalty, discipline and dedication to the Regiment.

Private L.V. Roy Trophy

Around 0200 hours on 7 June, 1944, a dozen German armoured vehicles coming from Cairon broke through onto a road protected on each flank by A Company, Le  Régiment de la Chaudière.

Alert was sounded and a firefight commenced. Two anti-tank guns supporting A Coy engaged immediately, knocking out a German tank in the process.

The Germans decided to assault the guns. Since they outnumbered the Canadians, they overcame the platoon's determined resistance and silenced the first gun after killing its crew.

A second gun, handled by the sole survivor of the “group,” Private L.V. Roy, kept firing.  L.V. Roy loaded the rounds and fired continuously. He was finally killed and when he was found the next day, his body was lying on the breech of his gun. 

The L.V. Roy trophy is awarded annually to the company in the Regiment that obtains the best results in military and athletic competition. 

Private Léo Major DCM Trophy

On 13 April 1945, Corporal W. Arsenault and Private Léo Major of the Reconnaissance Platoon volunteered to carry out a night reconnaissance of the town of Zwolle. Unfortunately, they ran into a barricade guarded by sentries, who opened fire when they spotted the patrol.

While Corporal Arsenault fell mortally wounded, Private Major opened fire with his machine pistol, killing two sentries and forcing the others to flee. During the six hours that he spent in the town, Private Major established contact with the Dutch Resistance, organized raids and himself set fire to the Gestapo HQ. In the face of this onslaught, the weak garrison decided to withdraw. 

At around 0500 hrs, Private Major reached the Regiment's lines, utterly exhausted; notwithstanding his exhaustion, he brought back the body of his comrade. 

As a result, the Regiment, under the temporary command of 9 Brigade, entered Zwolle at around noon without firing a shot, and received an almost delirious welcome from the local population. 

Private Major was awarded the “Distinguished Conduct Medal” for this splendid action.

Today, the Regiment awards a trophy that bears the name of this brave soldier. This symbol of courage and determination is awarded annually as part of the Regimental competition to the company that demonstrates the greatest operational effectiveness. 

Regimental mess dinners

Regimental dinners are evenings that contribute to officers' and NCOs’ regimental and social lives. Nothing may disturb the decorum and dignity with which a regimental dinner is conducted. Traditions and protocol are observed throughout the dinner. The officers' regimental dinner is held on the third Saturday of October, while the NCOs’ is held on the first Saturday of November and the latter is accompanied. The dinner is considered a parade, and all officers and NCOs must attend unless excused by the CO.

The dress code for the evening is the ceremonial or the Canadian Forces dress uniform with white shirt and black bowtie. Civilians are required to wear an appropriate semi-formal dress.

The dinner is hosted by the president, seconded by the vice-president. For the officers, the president is normally the unit's second in command while the vice-president is the junior officer of the unit.

The room is arranged as in the following diagram. Opposite the head table, a place setting is laid on its own to represent the officers (or non-commissioned officers, as applicable) who died in battle. 

Procedure for the dinner

Before dinner

Guests must arrive at least 40 minutes before dinner. While waiting for the guest of honour, members of the unit must entertain the guests in the mess. The vice-president attends to last-minute preparations. He escorts the guests to the mess and distributes a card to certain members of the Regiment on which is written the name of an officer or NCO of the Regiment killed in battle.

During the officers' regimental dinner, the CO greets the honorary colonels and guests of honour in his office.

Thirty minutes before the dinner begins, dignitaries will go to the museum to join the receiving line. The vice-president escorts the guests to the museum and publicly announces each guest, in turn, for the benefit of the dignitaries. Wine is served at the museum exit.

Fifteen minutes before the dinner, the trumpeter sounds first call.

For the officers' dinner, two officers are designated to carry out the regimental colours. Colours are brought to the dining hall a few minutes before dinner and will remain in the hall all evening, guarded by two soldiers.

One minute before dinner, the second call is sounded and all guests must go to the hall and stand behind their chairs according to the seating plan. A few minutes later, while one of our regimental marches is being played, the dignitaries enter and take their seats at the head table.

Once the president has taken his seat, “O Canada” is played. After a short pause, the call to fallen soldiers, the “Last Post,” is played. The president then reads aloud the list of officers and NCOs killed in battle. Members of the unit with cards previously given to them by the vice-president answer “Present” when the name on the card assigned to them is called. After one minute of silence, “Reveille” is played.

The president then invites the Chaplain or the designated officer or NCO to say Grace. Everybody then takes their seat and the first course is served.

During the dinner

During dinner, all must remain seated unless dismissed, and smoking is strictly forbidden. Music is played during the evening. Waiters are assigned a table and the maitre d' serves the head table. The head table is always served first and everyone must wait until the dignitaries have begun their meal before beginning theirs. Guests are served from the left, except for coffee.

Once Calvados has been served, the president rises and says, “A la Normandie.” All rise, repeat the president’s words, drink their Calvados “bottoms up,” and resume their seats.

After dessert, there is a 15-minute break to allow the servers to clear the tables, except for the candlesticks and the port glasses.

After the interval, when everyone has resumed their seats, the president and vice-president each receive a decanter of port, which is passed from hand to hand without ever touching the table. When all the glasses have been filled, the waiters withdraw with the decanters. The president rises and says “Mr Vice-president, The Queen, our Colonel-in-Chief.”  Then the vice-president rises and says “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Queen.” All then rise. The band then plays the first seven and the last seven bars of “God Save the Queen.” After the music, all say “The Queen, our Colonel-in-Chief” and then resume their seats.

The band plays, in turn and in order of unit seniority, the regimental march of each unit represented at the dinner. Members of each unit rise dutifully and raise their glass to the health of their unit when their march is played, as everyone else applauds.

Ashtrays are placed on the tables and cigarettes and cigars are passed around.

The decanters of port are placed on the tables and the port is served without formality. Coffee is also served. 

The head waiter brings the band director and cook to the head table to have a drink (usually port) with the dignitaries, in appreciation of their services.

The CO or the Chief Warrant Officer then introduces the head table, finishing with the guest of honour, who addresses the company. Then, a designated person, usually our Honorary Colonel, thanks the guest of honour. After these formalities, everyone rises and joyfully sings “Sambre et Meuse,” our regimental song.

The head table withdraws to the museum for liqueurs. The guests follow.

After dinner

The designated officers carry the colours and replace them in their showcase in the museum. No one may leave the mess before the Commanding Officer.