The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, the Headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Fleet, in Victoria, British Columbia 9 November 2009 to mark the upcoming centennial of the Canadian Navy (1910-2010). Readers will know this is very dear to me, the navy there being my former occupation and home port. If you listen closely, he actually called it the Royal Canadian Navy.
His Royal Highness wore the uniform of a Canadian Vice-Admiral, which unlike its older equivalent in the Royal Navy, sadly lacks two rings of gold lace above the thick admiral braid, a fourth row of nautical buttons and the all-familiar Elliot's Eye. (It is worthy to note that almost all of the seagoing nations of the world wear the Elliot's Eye, except France, Canada and the United States).
The Prince told the guests about his time in the British Navy and how on a number of operations he served alongside Canadian sailors, including on his way back from a posting in the West Indies where he and the crew of his vessel received a warm welcome in Halifax.
During the event, dignitaries watched as one of the naval base's more prominent warships, HMCS Winnipeg, sailed past with all its crew stood on deck.
How's that petition to restore the royal designation to the Canadian navy and air force coming!
ReplyDeleteSome nice replies, but nothing in the way of commitment. There are over 4,000 signatures now, a good number to press our case.
ReplyDeleteThere is only six months to go now, it is time to send it in. Need to follow-up with Minister Kenny who attended the event with HRH as you can see in the video, and who heard the words Royal Canadian Navy right from the Prince's mouth.
No excuses now, the Conservative government is now positioned politically as very strong encumbents with their poll numbers and 2 out of 4 by-election victories. They can easily make this thing happen with a moderate amount of willpower.
Did you notice how the Duchess of Cornwall winced when she fired the gun on HMCS Haida. The 'fightingest ship' in the RCN will do that to you.
ReplyDeleteThe Monarchist and all contributors must be commended. Most impressive footage and pictures both from the Royal Tour and Remembrance Sunday. As for the Canadian naval uniform I fully agree with Beaverbrook on the fourth row of buttons and in a roundabout way on the Elliot's Eye (although having served in an eye-less, star-wearing navy myself...) On a picture showing the Prince at a Canadian wreathlaying ceremony uploaded on these pages, HRH was flanked by a saluting lady. I was stuck by her uniform. I have a vague understanding of the dsesign principles of and symbols on Canadian military uniforms post 1967 but have never seen those cuff embellishments before. Her shoulderstraps seem to bear the Governor General's crest. Please do enlighten when there is the time.
ReplyDeleteThe saluting lady in the picture was the Governor General.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Anonymous. Interesting to see that gubernatorial dress was sort of "patriated", too at federation level in Canada - never seen before. In the media over here we are used to pictures showing representatives of the Crown in civvies, morning dress or the old vice-regal attire (if or when shown at all...)
ReplyDeleteI think a way to help "sell" the resurection of the three Services to the government, would be to contrast it to the armed forces in Australia and New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteJust like Canada, they both have a "Joint" HQ to command operational deployments and the three Services are commanded by a Chief of Defence Force / Staff, reporting to the minister - so in effect it is no real difference in operations and policy, it's just a matter of conserving Service / Regimental traditions! NZ even has a bit of corporate branding along the lines of "NZDF - Three Services, One Force".