Garter Crest-Should It be Our Hatbadge?

[Old Sweat]

If I can go back to the cap badge discussion, when I joined the Canadian Army (Regular) as a gunner recruit in 1957 and drew my kit in the RCA Depot in Shilo, I was issued a gunner cap badge. Don't forget that new entries were allocated to a corps and wore the cap badge. However, I got my white lanyard and regimental belt buckle on our graduation parade from the depot on 21 June 1958. The practice of issuing RCA cap badges lasted into the 1960s at least. It was not until the cornflake came along that the tradition of issuing our badge to new gunners after their first live shoot was adopted.

As an officer cadet in 1960, even though I was officially on the general list until slotted to the RCA midway through Phase 1 (read BOTC run by real mean guys), we also wore the regimental badge from day one.

It really doesn't make much difference, as both methods have a lot going for them.

Ubique

 

[Old Sweat]

Now, as for Gunner 98's assertion that SP guns came to Petawawa in 1968, 2 RCHA was in Gagetown then. The magnificent 4 RCHA (I started in it and it still holds first place in my affections) was in Petawawa. In the 1970 4 was disbanded and 2 (at least the name) took its place. At that time the regiment in P was a light regiment with L5s.

 

[Gunner98]

I bow to your attention to detail, Old Sweat.   My post coulda, shoulda have read "the SP Arty came to 2 RCHA in 1968".   Although I have moved on from the Guns, it was a very sad day when I attended the firing of the final rounds from 2 RCHA's M-109s last year.    To see one up on blocks and the Leopard AVLB on display in Gagetown is a sad state of military affairs.

Bruce, you can tell the old Gunners as they generally have less than 10 complete fingers, are hard of hearing and are justifiably proud of the cap badge.

To return to the debate - a Garter Crest as a cap badge, I think it would look more like it belonged on a rearview mirror than a proud rocket scientist's beret.

I loved the old spinning wheel on the forage cap badge.

Rounds complete.

 

[Old Sweat]

Gunner98

It was just an independent check.

 

[the_moose]

I never said I dont think they shouldn't wear the badge.. I just said they get it before any time on the guns...   they should be given the hat badge after they fire the gun for the first time, just like all us "non-coms"....


Like i said the cap badge binds us all together.....   we are a family.



Moose

 

[Mercers]

I'm a British ex G Parachute Battery (mercers Troop) Royal Horse Artillery member and consequently wore the cypher in a maroon beret all my gunner career (I transfered over from Abn Inf so blue beret and the gun were never worn by me).

I remember being bemused when I came over to do my Canadian jump course that 2 RCHA  didn't wear the cypher also. As all the correspondence had it on. I also was presented with a plaque with it on when they came to UK for their Brit wings.

It's pride in our unit's and history that counts. If the gun has always been worn, then wear it with pride.

I'm new to this site and am impressed. I hope to partake fully without upsetting anyone.  I have no axe to grind on any trade as I was a No.1 Gun bunny, CP ack, OP ack and DC Sigs so have a grounded understanding of Artillery and the special men in it.

 

[Gunner]

Mercers, welcome to army.ca.  I hope you enjoy the site and provide "value added" based on your experiences in the HA.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask myself, any of  the other moderators or post it on one of the threads.  Welcome again.

Ubique