Crown and Cannon: The Long and Intimate Relationship between the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and the Sovereign.

On 11 May 2024 I was honored to provide the keynote address at the Ottawa Branch of the Monarchist League of Canada. This is the text of my speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the Ottawa Branch of the Monarchist League of Canada, distinguished guests, it is with great pleasure and honor that I stand before you today. I am humbled to address such a distinguished gathering at this annual King's Birthday Luncheon. My name is Colonel David Grebstad.

The job for which the King pays me my salary is the Director of Army Personnel Management in the Canadian Army Headquarters, however it is in the capacity of my secondary duty that I appear before you today, that is as the Regimental Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. In my capacity as Regimental Colonel, I am entrusted with three primary responsibilities: firstly, to foster connections with Canadians across our great nation; secondly, to nurture the bonds within our Regimental Family and thirdly to celebrate and preserve our esteemed regimental heritage;

One of the most important aspects of that Regimental heritage is the close relationship our regiment has with the sovereign. For that reason, the title of my talk with you today is “Crown and Cannon: The Long and Intimate Relationship between the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and the Sovereign.”

As we gather here today to celebrate the birth of our Sovereign, it is fitting to reflect upon the enduring bond between the Crown and the cannons of the Royal Regiment, a bond that lies at the heart of our regiment's identity. To begin, allow me to provide a brief overview of who we are as the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery before delving into the rich tapestry of our association with the monarchy.

THE RCA IN BRIEF

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is a national institution, our regiment comprises over four thousand Canadian soldiers serving in both the Regular and Reserve Force of the Canadian Army. Spread across twenty-six reserve units, four regular force units, one school, and the RCA band, our presence spans from coast to coast in over thirty Canadian communities. Within our ranks, we encompass three distinct elements: the field artillery, air defense artillery, and surveillance and target acquisition artillery, each playing a vital role in safeguarding our nation's security.

From the verdant shores of the Atlantic to the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains, our gunners stand ready to defend Canada and uphold the values of duty, honor, and sacrifice. They have served in every conflict to which Canada has been called to send troops including South Africa, the great wars of the twentieth century and Afghanistan. They have served their sovereign and their country with honor and courage in every circumstance.

THE RCA AND THE RA

Our regiment's relationship with the Crown is a testament to the enduring ties that bind Canada to its monarchical heritage. Any survey of the regimental heritage of the Royal Canadian Artillery must perforce refer to the Royal Regiment of Artillery because it is from the ranks of that British regiment that so much of what Canadian gunners celebrate as part of our own traditions and heritage have originated. Indeed, rooted in centuries of shared history and tradition, the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery has adopted almost all of the customs and traditions of its British counterpart, forging a bond that transcends national borders. For that reason, to understand the long and intimate connection between the Royal Canadian Artillery and the sovereign, our story must begin with the birth of the Royal Regiment of Artillery centuries ago in England.

Artillery has been an integral part of land operations for centuries, even in early medieval times. And while massive cannons were known to be used against fortifications in the first millennium, the first recorded use of cannon in support of land manoeuvre was at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 when the English army of King Edward III defeated French King Philip VI with the help of a few guns and a handful of English gunners.

After Crecy, the artillery became an integral part of the English military establishment. One might wonder why gunners of British and Commonwealth artillery are usually dressed in dark blue uniforms rather than the familiar red jackets of the British Army. The answer lay in the fact that starting in the fifteenth century, the artillery fell under the authority of the Master-General of the Ordnance and later the Board of Ordnance. While Infantry and Cavalry units were authorized to sport the familiar red jackets as part of the British Army, the Board of Ordnance was originally a different department and its members, namely the gunners and engineers, wore blue. Although the artillery and engineer arms have long since come under the authority of the British Army, the tradition of using blue as a defining colour has continued both in Great Britain and in Canada.

Central to our regiment's relationship with the Crown is the venerable position of the Master Gunner St. James’s Park, an office endowed with historical significance and ceremonial pomp. The appointment of Master Gunner was instituted in 1678 originally as the Master Gunner of Whitehall and St. James’s Park, responsible for the artillery defence of Whitehall Palace and the Palace of Westminster. Eventually, the position became an honorary one held by a distinguished Royal Artillery officer selected and appointed by the sovereign.  The Master Gunner serves as the Royal Regiment of Artillery’s liaison to the Sovereign and is considered the senior gunner of the Commonwealth and thus, by extension, they are the Royal Canadian Artillery’s interlocuter with the sovereign. In this capacity the Master Gunner advocates on behalf of the other national artilleries of the Commonwealth and communicates frequently with their respective honorary heads. Today, Lieutenant-General Sir Anthony Gregory holds the esteemed position of Master Gunner - St. James' Park. Sir Anthony brings to this role a wealth of experience and a distinguished military career spanning decades. A consummate leader and strategist, Sir Anthony embodies the ethos of our regiment and upholds the noble traditions that define us as gunners.

And while the Master Gunner may be the honorary head of the Royal Artillery and senior gunner in the commonwealth, that position relative to the Canadian Artillery is found in the appointment of Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Presently held by Brigadier-General David Patterson, the Colonel Commandant provides strategic direction to the Royal Regiment, and represents the Regiment to the Master Gunner and of course the sovereign.

Returning to the story of the Royal Artillery and the Crown, the origins of our association with the monarchy can be traced back to the 18th century. Originally the artillery was manned by civilians who were hired in times of conflict, and then disbanded when the conflict ended. When the War of the Spanish Succession ended in 1714 this standard practice was followed and the gunners of the artillery train were paid off and returned home. Shortly thereafter, the Jacobite Rebellion erupted in 1715, and the artillery train was once again mobilized. It took so long to hire gunners to man the artillery train, however, the rebellion was over before the it could be formed. To avoid repeating this dire situation, the leaders at the time realized that a permanent artillery branch was required. Consequently, two permanent companies of artillery were created by Royal Warrant issued by King George I on May 26, 1716. Henceforth this date has been celebrated as the birthdate of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and, in keeping with the close relations between the British and Canadian regiments, 26 May has become known as Artillery Day in Canada. Today, Artillery Day serves as a poignant reminder of our regiment's roots in the Royal Artillery and the enduring legacy of service to Crown and country. I must also say as both a proud gunner and monarchist, I see divine intervention in the proximity of Artillery Day and Victoria Day, the date on which the Sovereign’s birthday is celebrated in Canada.

Six years after King George I issued his Royal Warrant creating the two companies of artillery, in 1722, King George I bestowed upon the British Artillery the esteemed title of "Royal," marking the regiment's distinguished status within the British military tradition. This royal patronage underscored the gunner’s close allegiance to the Crown and served as a testament to the valor and dedication of our gunners.

The rapid approval of the use of the title “Royal” is indicative of how important the artillery had become to the British military, and how close the bonds between the regiment and the Crown had become. This was reinforced fifty years later during an interesting dispute in Gibraltar. In 1773 the commander of the artillery in Gibraltar complained that the artillery had been moved from its rightful place at the right of the line. The complaint was taken all the way to King George III who upheld the Gunners’ claim to the prestigious position. This was upheld fourteen years later when it was questioned whether the Royal Irish Artillery should parade on the right or left of the Royal Military Artificers who were the next in order of precedence after the Royal Artillery. The answer to this question was: “The Royal Artillery to be on the right, either English or Irish, there is no exception.”

It was also during this period that the Sovereign agreed to adopt the Royal Appointment of “Captain General” of the Royal Artillery, bestowing upon the British gunners a tremendous honor. In 1952, the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Artillery formally requested that this prestigious title be extended to our regiment, a request that was granted. The Royal Appointment of Captain General did not automatically transfer on the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but last August it was happily announced that His Majesty King Charles III had agreed to continue this worthy tradition for the Royal Artillery. Sadly, we still await confirmation from Rideau Hall that His Majesty will continue the same role with the Royal Canadian Artillery. But, we are hopeful he will.

Let us turn to the nineteenth century and the young Dominion of Canada, where we find a proud tradition of artillery excellence that stretches back centuries. Born from the pre-Confederation militia, the Royal Canadian Artillery has stood as a bulwark of defense and a beacon of national pride.

Canadian Militia Batteries have existed as long as our country has. Indeed, some are even older. Take for example the 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in St. John, New Brunswick. It was created as the Loyal Company of Artillery on 4 May 1793 in response to the threat posed by French privateers. Sadly, regulations in the Directorate of History and Heritage essentially sever unit historical timelines at the date of confederation, but fortunately the gunners in St. John have been allowed to add the honorific title “The Loyal Company” to the regiment’s official title.

Almost a century after the Loyal Company formed, the Canadian Government took a major step forward in asserting its commitment to our national self defence with the creation of the first two permanent elements of what would become the Canadian Army. When the British decided to recall their foreign garrisons in 1871, the young Dominion Government was forced to take steps to replace the garrisons which had manned the fortifications and equipment of Fort Henry in Kingston and the Citadel in Quebec City. Consequently, Militia General Order 24 was issued on 20 October 1871 authorizing the creation of A and B Batteries to man the fortifications in those cities and serve as schools of artillery for the Militia. A and B Batteries still exist as sub-units of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba. In recognition of their service to crown and country, on the 150th anniversary of their creation, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was kind enough to allow members of the Regiment to perform guard duties at various royal locations in London from 4-22 October 2021. Moreover, Her late Majesty bestowed upon A Battery the honorific “the Queen’s Battery.” A Battery is now known officially as A “The Queen’s” Battery, RCHA.

Known originally as “Canadian Garrison Artillery”, on 10 August 1883, the “Regiment of Canadian Artillery” was officially created, and ten years later, on 24 May 1893, Queen Victoria was kind enough to bestow upon the Regiment the title “Royal.”

From the creation of the first permanent batteries in Kingston and Quebec in 1871 to our present-day deployments in theaters of conflict around the world, the Royal Canadian Artillery has remained steadfast in its service to Crown and country, and as such the connection between crown and cannon resonates throughout our heritage and traditions. From the recognition of the sovereign as our Captain General, a tradition we hope we will return to in Canada, to the long-established tradition bestowed by the sovereign of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery when on parade with their guns, taking the right of line in army parades, the connection between the regiment and the sovereign is profound. Even today, the Royal Cypher is etched on the howitzers of the Royal Regiment, bestowing upon each gun recognition as a Regimental Colour deserving of the proper respects when paraded past.

In conclusion, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the Crown and rededicate ourselves to the noble ideals that unite us as monarchists and defenders of tradition. As we celebrate the King's Birthday, let us honor the timeless bond between the Crown and the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, a bond that has endured through the ages and will continue to inspire generations to come.

Explanation of Photos Above

1.    Her Late Majesty inspecting gunners of the RCA performing guard duties in London in October 2021.

2.    30th Field Regiment, RCA (The Bytown Gunners) from Ottawa firing the coronation salute on Parliament Hill.

3.    The Badge of the Royal Artillery and Royal Canadian Artillery.

4.    The Cypher Badge used on the camp flag of the units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

5.    An example of the sovereign’s cypher etched on the barrel of a gun, designating it a regimental colour, to be saluted when paraded past.

6.    One of the casings of one of the 96 rounds fired in honor of her late majesty. Gifted to me by the soldiers of 26th Field Regiment, RCA in Brandon Manitoba after they fired the salute on the Legislative Grounds in Winnipeg.

7.    Soldiers of the RCA parading in London.

8.    Full achievement Badge of the RCA