MILITARY COLLEGES AND REGIMENTS

Series - Royal Military College, 1876-1976 Issued 1 June 1976

The Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, has served Canada proudly for one hundred years. Together with Royal Roads, established in 1942 near Victoria, B.C., and the College militaire royal de Saint-Jean, opened in 1952 at Saint-Jean, Quebec, RMC trains and educates officer cadets and commissioned officers. The colleges provide a broad-based university education, develop leadership, bilingualism and physical fitness, and stimulate "awareness of the ethic of the military profession." Feeling that "a self-governing colony ought to shoulder the burden of its own defence," Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie founded a college for officer cadets in 1876. The college was to emphasize engineering, a valuable martial art and a civilian skill of which the young nation had a tremendous need. Indeed, by 1900, hardly a Canadian "bridge, road, or railway line was built without the assistance of an engineering graduate of RMC." Prime Minister Mackenzie installed the new school on Point Frederick at Kingston, a city rich in military lore. Comte de Frontenac, Governor of New France, built a fort there in 1673. Point Frederick itself was the only freshwater dockyard in British naval history. During the War of 1812, the facility was "used effectively to save Canada." The Military College opened on 1 June 1876 with the arrival of the first class of Gentlemen Cadets, "The Old Eighteen". They were greeted by Commandant Edward Hewett, a British officer who established the school's high standards and reputation and the motto "Truth, Duty, Valour". While Hewett was commandant, Queen Victoria granted the college the title "Royal", and the Mackenzie Building, appearing in one of the stamps, was erected. From the beginning, the school imbued cadets with "a sense of responsibility, of self-discipline, of fair play, and of fellowship." "The traditions, the discipline, the spit-and-polish smartness [were] ... largely responsible for building character and producing leaders" and for giving the school its colour. It is a tribute to the quality of people who have attended RMC and to the quality of the education and training, that the graduates have a spectacular record of achievement, including eight Rhodes scholarships since 1959. RMC created a nucleus of highly skilled officers such as Generals Crerar and Simonds and Air Marshal Billy Bishop, Canada's foremost air ace. Around individuals of this type, the nation assembled powerful forces. However, in forging some of Canada's greatest military feats, ex-cadets sacrificed much. The Memorial Arch at RMC, pictured in one of the stamp, commemorates those killed in wartime. RMC graduates have received many honours, including two Victoria Crosses. Former students were prominent within the RCMP. In government, business, law, medicine, science, education and other fields, the alumni have exalted the name of the Royal Military College of Canada. Will Davies RCA, the designer of this stamp, is a native of Ontario, and studied at the Royal Canadian College of Art in Toronto where he now teaches. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1974.

Series Canadian Forces, Regiments, 1883-1983

Issued 10 November 1983

The Royal Canadian Regiment, The British Columbia Regiment

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, The Royal Canadian Dragoons

The year 1883 held great significance for Canada's armed forces. The Militia Act, passed that year, for the first time recognized the existence of a professional Canadian army. In addition, two regular units - The Royal Canadian Regiment and The Royal Canadian Dragoons - and two militia units, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles and The British Columbia Regiment - date back to 1883. Canadian military history began with the earliest war between Indians and later with the militia of New France. The military history of Canada as an independent state, however, started in 1871. In 1870 and 1871 the British pulled most of their regular troops out of Canada. This left the young nation to perform its own military functions, such as training the militia and caring for stores and fortifications. A standing army might have done the work, but the public did not want one, fearing it might threaten liberty. In 1871 the government therefore created two "artillery schools" rather than a "standing army." The schools helped militia artillery units maintain their standards, but with no professional instruction of their own, standards dropped in the militia infantry and cavalry units. The Militia Act of 1883 rectified the situation, providing for a professional force not the exceed 750 men. This group was to include three batteries of artillery, one troop of cavalry, and three companies of infantry, which would "serve as practical Schools of Military Instruction...." The Infantry School Corps later evolved into The Royal Canadian Regiment, and the Cavalry School Corps became The Royal Canadian Dragoons. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles and The British Columbia Regiment also originated in 1883, thanks mainly to the initiative of officers in Winnipeg and on the West Coast. It is fortunate that the four units appeared in 1883. Within two years, three of them sent men to engage in the North West Canada Campaign in 1885. The stamps, painted by William Southern of Toronto, feature illustrations of the uniforms worn by the four regiments before the turn of the century. Ralph Tibbles, also of Toronto, designed the stamp format and typography.

Series Regiments

Issued 8 September 1989

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Royal 22e Régiment

Two Canadian infantry regiments celebrate their 75th anniversaries this year. To honour the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and the Royal 22e Régiment, Canada Post Corporation is issuing two se tenant commemorative stamps. Both regiments were formed in 1914 and both distinguished themselves during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean conflict. Tiit Telmet, Normand Fontaine and Joseph Gault have shown the Royal 22e Régiment in the First World War going "over the top" in France. They've shown the PPCLI setting out on a night patrol in Korea. These stamps are printed so that each design runs left to right across the pane. Combination Official First Day Covers will show vertical stamp pairs. Yves Baril of the Canadian Bank Note Co. Ltd. engraved the soldiers shown on the stamps; the backgrounds are lithographied.

Series Regiments

Issued 11 November 2000

On November 11th, the final stamp issue of 2000 will honour of Canada's most illustrious military regiment: Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) and Les Voltigeurs de Québec.

Title: Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)

Donald Alexander Smith (1820-1914), 1st Baron Strathcona, raised a cavalry unit (with his own money) for service in South Africa. A very wealthy man, his proposal was accepted in January of 1900, and the regiment eventually became known as Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). The first commander of the regiment as the legendary Samuel Benfield Steele (1849-1919) of North-West Mounted Police, known for bringing law and order to the Yukon Territory during the Gold Rush. Made up of former cowboys and member of the N.W.M.P., all were experienced riders and marksmen. It distinguished itself in South Africa where Sgt. Richardson won the Victoria Cross. During the First World War, Lt. Frederick Harvey earned the Victoria Cross at Guyencourt, France, and Lt. Gordon Flowerdew won the same award at Moreuil Wood. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the regiment traded their horses for tanks and saw important engagements at the Melfa River in Italy, and later in Holland. They celebrated their centenary in may of 2000 with many of this distinguished regiment's brave veterans on-hand.

Title: Les Voltigeurs de Québec

A new Canadian militia unit was created in Quebec City in 1862, becoming known as "The 9th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada" (or Voltigeurs of Québec). The regiment first saw service during the Fenian Raids (1864-1866 and 1870), then served during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Joseph Vézina, a celebrated Quebec musician and composer, was the regimental band's director from 1867 to 1879. On the 24th of June, 1880 (St. Jean-Baptiste Day), he assembled a group of musicians, including members of the military band of the 9th Battalion, to play a series of popular Canadian melodies including "Chant national", an arrangement that would in time become the anthem "O Canada" that's so well-known and loved today. In the First World War, the regiment would contribute more than five hundred volunteers and recruits for service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. While most Canadian military units have flags (or Colours) bearing the regimental insignia and combat history, Les Voltigeurs (a rifle regiment) uses drums to display their battle honours. The stamp reflects this great tradition by featuring a member of the regiment in present-day uniform with the drum bearing the honours Northwest Canada 1885 and First World War.