Regimental Headquarters

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Regimental Full Dress - General

Details of both RCHA and RCA Full Dress may be found in The Dress Regulations for the Officers of the Canadian Militia 1907 and its amendments. These have been assembled in a publication of the New Brunswick Museum, Canadian Militia Dress Regulation 1907 (1977). This volume is held in many libraries.

Regimental Full Dress may be worn on ceremonial occasions only. It may be worn by formed units or sub-units, Quarter guards or ceremonial gun detachments or by individuals acting as sentries, doormen and escorts for VIP visits, guest nights or other formal occasions. 

Regimental Full Dress – RCHA

The pattern of full dress was introduced in 1905. It is similar to RHA Full Dress with a dark blue tunic with scarlet collar, gold braid and lace, silver collar grenades and gilt buttons. Gold cap lines are worn with the busby, which has a white ostrich plume with red base. The red feathers at the base of the plume form the distinguishing feature from RHA Full Dress. Both officer and NCM versions exist, the main difference being in gold wire accoutrements for officers and wool worsted gold braid for NCMs.

The correct designation of this dress for the purpose of parade instructions or orders is Order of Dress 1B (RCHA). 

Number 1B
Order of Dress
RCHA 

Regimental Full Dress – RCA

This uniform is described in the 1907 Dress Regulations. It consists of a dark blue tunic and trousers with scarlet collar, piping, shoulder straps and trouser stripe. The uniform is appointed with gold lace, braid, pouch belt, waist belt and sword slings. A black patent pouch with gilt badge is also worn (see Figure 12).

RCA Full Dress may be worn on ceremonial occasions by RCA units. Artillery Bands may also wear this uniform.

The correct designation of this dress for the purposes of parade instructions or orders is Order of Dress 1B (RCA).

Number 1B
Order of Dress
RCA 

RCA Band Parade Dress

The RCA Band has been authorized to acquire and wear the Artillery Band Parade Dress on parade and other ceremonial occasions.

The correct designation of this dress for the purposes of parade instructions or orders is Order of Dress 1B (Band Parade).

RCA Band Concert Dress

The RCA Band is also authorized to wear the RCA Band Concert Dress at formal concerts, guest nights and similar occasions.

The correct designation of this dress for the purposes of parade instructions or orders is Order of Dress 1B (Band Concert).

RCA Band Accoutrements

Bandsmen were traditionally armed with a short sword. Artillery bands so desiring may wear the Sword and Scabbard, Drummers Mark II, 1902 pattern.

The sword has a brass hilt, a 13.1 inch blade with a total length of 18.4 inches. The Royal Cypher is incorporated into the hilt. The scabbard is brass mounted black leather.

Approved alternates to the formal band sword are either the 1907 pattern bayonet for the Long Lee Enfield suitably chromed or the Snider-Enfield sword bayonet.

Additional band accoutrements may include capes, music pouches and a drum major’s sash.

Historical Period Dress

Certain ceremonies may incorporate historical re-enactments or the display of artillery weapons when uniforms representative of the period may be appropriate. While these uniforms do not all fall within the category of ceremonial dress, regulations for their wear are included here because of the ceremonial nature of the displays.

Permission to wear these uniforms would normally be restricted to occasions illustrating the historical traditions and heritage of the Regiment such as tattoos, dedications of colours or historical re-enactments.

Mess Dress

Artillery Pattern Mess Dress

This Mess Dress (No 2) is based on the Army pattern which consists of a scarlet jacket with shawl collar, midnight blue trousers and midnight blue waistcoat.

Regimental detail is based on facings, collars and cuffs in midnight blue and a broad scarlet stripe on the trousers.

On the skirt the scarlet stripe is the same width as on the trousers, but is limited to bordering both edges of the side slits.

Army Service Dress

An embroidered artillery badge will be worn by officers and Chief Warrant Officers on the CF green beret and the Canex fur hat. All others wear a metallic artillery badge.

Members of RCHA units will wear RCHA/RALC on both the army service dress jacket (metal) and slip-ons (cloth); in accordance with long standing custom, officers serving on the staff of the Royal Military College of Canada may retain their RCHA/RALC distinction if posted directly from a RCHA unit; and all others shall wear RCA or ARC on both the army service dress jacket (metal) and slip-ons (cloth).

Since shoulder titles are approved in both English and French versions, the choice of language will be determined as follows:

or personnel on regimental duty, as directed by the CO; for personnel ERE, as a matter of individual choice; regimental duty as used above includes field and air defence regiments, independent field and air defence batteries, the Royal Canadian Artillery School; and the wearing of mixed English and French shoulder titles on the same order of dress shall not be permitted.

Operational Dress

Abbreviated shoulder titles are to be worn on epaulettes as follows:

Ceremonial Accoutrements

The sword of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is based upon the Light Cavalry Pattern of 1822. The grip is covered in sharkskin or simulated sharkskin and wire bound and the pommel is stepped.
 

The blade is slightly curved, single edged and spear pointed. In cross section, it conforms to the “Wilkinson” pattern with a wide fuller and no pipe back.

The blade length may vary from 28 to 36 inches to conform to the wearer’s height.

The blade is embossed on the obverse with the crown, cypher, “UBIQUE” motto and regimental badge. On the reverse is embossed “ROYAL CANADIAN” above bolts of lightning and either “ARTILLERY” or “HORSE ARTILLERY” beneath. Additional embossing in the spaces provided is at the owner’s discretion. The steel scabbard has two bands and loose rings.

For ceremonial parades, non-commissioned members are to wear the Canadian Forces ceremonial belt (NSN 9390-21-591-2013) with Ceremonial Orders 1 and 1A and other Ceremonial Orders as ordered. The belt shall be worn with the large regimental buckle.

RSMs shall wear their sword carried on a white sword belt (NSN 8440-21-888-7416) with the large regimental buckle. This belt is worn outside the tunic.

Regimental Sergeants-Majors should carry CF pace sticks or canes of approved regimental pattern. Battery Sergeants-Majors should carry canes of approved regimental pattern in accordance with Chapter 3 of A-AD-265-000/AG-001.

Instructors, while teaching drill, may carry a drill cane

RCA Track Suit