Consecration of Queen's Colours

[greatbigseas]

I am searching for any photos of the Royal Canadian Navy consecrating and trooping its colours. Apparently consecration occurred in 1979 and back in the 50s too. Any help would be appreciated.

[JohnS]

I've included a couple of photos in a previous post.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3483&page=2

I think I may have a few more, somewhere. I'll check.

[JohnS]

Here's what I have.

[greatbigseas]

fantastic photos and very much appreciated. Are these originals that you possess or are they from a book, article or website? If original, a high quality scan would be very much appreciated so I could use them in display products for the Navy.

I am writing about the significance of the Queen's Colours and offer the following to stimulate input from forum members. Some is cut and paste from other sources, and some is specific to the Queen's Colours of Maritime Command today. It is simply a work in progress and I invite feedback.

Since earliest times armies have carried standards or flags as a distinguishing mark and to serve as a rallying point during battle. To lose the standard often meant the Leader was lost and thus the standard became symbolic of the spirit and tradition of the group to which it belonged.

Arising from this ancient tradition, units of the Canadian Force are allowed Colours, which is the official term for this distinguished flag. The Queen's Colour is a reminder to all ranks of their loyalty and duty to their Sovereign and their country. The Colour is highly valued, carefully guarded and treated with great respect. While most army regiments have their own colours, the Navy, or Maritime Command by its proper namer, has only one.

The King approved the use of a service colour by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1925, 15 years after Canada's very own Navy was formed. Two were purchased, one for Atlantic Command in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and one for Pacific Command in Esquimalt, British Columbia. In 1936 two replacement colours bearing the cipher of George VI were ordered. The old colours were laid-up in 1937 when the new colours were delivered. The Pacific Command Colour was formally presented by HM King George VI on 30th May 1939 in Victoria, B.C.. This was considered to include the consecration and presentation of the Atlantic Command Colour as well.

When HM Queen Elizabeth II succeeded her father in 1952 it was decided that Naval Colours would not be replaced until worn out. They were known as Queen's Colours, even though they still bore the late King's cypher. A White Ensign-style colour with the Queen's cipher was formally presented in Halifax by HM Queen Elizabeth II, on 1st August 1959. The present Queen's Colour was presented by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1979.

The Queen's Colours are not not simply heraldic symbology, and traditional elements of naval culture. They are a primordial symbol of our institution, its inherent strength and lasting qualities. Challenges of today such as a class modernization of our frigates, or a period of operational or budgetary challenge will not be historical themes retold as the rallying symbols that convey institutional unity, strength and sense of purpose. It is the display and parading of the Queen's Colours, and their replacement and consecration by another generation say 30 years from now that will be important.

Any thoughts on this theme would be appreciated. And certainly, more pictures would be super.

[JohnS]

Unfortunately, that's best quality of these photos I have.

All of the photos are from collections at the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) archives located in Ottawa, or at 'Library and Archives Canada'. You should be able to obtain original copies from there.

e.g. Here's a link to the King George VI photos @ Library and Archives Canada
King George VI presenting the King's Colour to the Royal Canadian Navy during a ceremony in Beacon Hill Park (http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/result/arch.php?FormName=from+MIKAN+Search+Results&PageNum=1&SortSpec=score+desc&Language=eng&QueryParser=lac_mikan&Sources=mikan&Archives=&SearchIn_1=&SearchInText_1=king%27s+AND+colour+AND+navy&Operator_1=AND&SearchIn_2=&SearchInText_2=&Operator_2=AND&SearchIn_3=&SearchInText_3=&Media=&Level=&MaterialDateOperator=after&MaterialDate=&DigitalImages=&Source=&ResultCount=10&cainInd=)

A few of the DND archived photos have DND negative numbers for reference, as shown below.

Hope this information helps.

[Blackfly]

Get on down there on Saturday and get some new ones with the rest of us Navy who will be there. :)

[greatbigseas]

absolutely Blackfly. Everybody is invited, the more the better. Weather is going to be great, there will be a lot to see and the guards are extremely polished and eager to display the reward of a month's worth of practicing. Arrive no later than 0915 so you don't miss any of the pomp and ceremony, Governor General arrives at 1000 and then we're off for two hours of pure military spectacle. Artillery salutes, low flypast of maritime aviation and a feu de joie from 400 rifles of the guards, and of course lots of music from the 100 person massed band of the Navy. See you there, I will be in uniform and proud of it.

[harry.gibbon]

I hope it goes well for you all.

Good luck for a marvelous turn out and spectacle

and

of course we'll look forward to seeing the pics

Little h

[gfed]

Did anyone in this group attend? Comments? Here are a few pictures, Crown Copyright.

[astraltrader]

Whilst I am sure these are not what you are after, I will post them just in case they are of any interest.
From some photo`s I have taken on the Queens 1957 Tour of Canada.

[gfed]

Whilst I am sure these are not what you are after, I will post them just in case they are of any interest.
From some photo`s I have taken on the Queens 1957 Tour of Canada.Interesting that an RCAF guard has an RCN officer as guard commander.

[greatbigseas]

I was at the Queen's Colour ceremony. It was very moving, a great moment for our Navy, to reflect on tradition yet look forward to the future with great personnel, great leaders, great equipment and the promise of government to keep maritime investment a priority.

[gfed]

Here's a link to a Picasa photo album with several good pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/petercairn/QueenSColourPresentation20090627#