Standing Orders - Chapter 9
Guest Nights

901. General

1. Guest nights are held by artillery formations and units to foster esprit-de-corps and to honour guests on appropriate occasions. All must be conversant with the customs which help make a guest night a success. Most of these customs apply to all dinners, regardless of the regiment, corps or service involved, however, there are some customs which are peculiar to the artillery and have become gunner traditions.

2. There are two types of guest nights in messes of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery; the first is known as an ordinary guest night and the second as a special guest night. They are described as follows:

a. Ordinary Guest Night. This type of guest night is held at regular intervals and is less formal in character than the special guest night. Ordinary guest nights may vary from what is sometimes called a “dining-in”, perhaps at weekly intervals for living-in officers only, to the more formal regimental guest nights when mess dress is required. The procedure for an ordinary guest night may be scaled down from that given in this chapter; and

b. Special Guest Night. Special guest nights are formal functions that are held on particular occasions when guests of honour are invited. Officers should wear mess dress while civilian guests should wear evening dress (black tie) with decorations.

3. The commanding officer, or in the commanding officer’s absence the senior officer of the unit or mess, is the presiding officer at the dinner.

4. A president and vice-president should be appointed for a guest night and are known respectively as the president and vice-president of the day. The vice-president of the dinner is traditionally the youngest subaltern in the unit.

5. Although this chapter is written for an Officers’ Mess, the same general procedures apply to Guest Nights in Artillery Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes. The relationship of the regimental sergeant-major with respect to precedence in the mess and to guests is similar to that of the commanding officer in the Officers’ Mess.

902. Conduct of Guest Nights

1. The success of a guest night is largely dependent on the planning and arrangements made prior to the occasion.

2. If possible, one long table should be used with the commanding officer sitting at the centre of the table. The second in command (2IC) will sit opposite the commanding officer. The commanding officer will normally sit on the far side of the table so that he is facing the main entrance. The president of the day will sit at the end of the table to the commanding officer’s right. If possible, the table should be arranged so that the vice-president of the day sits nearest the service entrance to the dining room. The remaining officers will take their places at the table in no particular order of seniority or precedence.

3. If the attendance at the dinner is large, or if there are guests present, a seating plan showing where all guests and officers are to sit should be prepared and placed in the ante-room. This will assist officers and guests to find their respective places and avoid confusion on entering the dining room. Place cards should be used with silver holders of artillery grenade pattern when available.

4. If a “U” shaped table is to be used, officers and guests will take their places as though the legs of the “U” were straightened out, thus making one long table. Note, however, that no one will sit opposite the Commanding Officer and that the president of the day will sit at the right hand end of the Commanding Officer’s table, not at the end of the “U” (see Annex A for the different layouts)

5. If there are official guests in attendance, they will take their place at the table in order of precedence as follows:

a. the guest of honour should be seated on the Commanding Officer’s right. However, should the representative of the head of state (ie, the ambassador or high commissioner) of the guest of honour be present, the representative of the head of state will be seated on the right of the Commanding Officer and the guest of honour will be seated on the left of the Commanding Officer;

b. the next guest will sit on the 2IC’s right;

c. the next guest will sit on the CO’s left;

d. the next guest will sit on the 2IC’s left;

e. if there are more than four official guests, unit officers will be placed between guests; and

f. private guests should sit beside the officers who invited them. No officers should invite guests until they have obtained permission from the president of the day.

6. For the dinner to proceed satisfactorily, it is necessary to have quiet, quick, efficient service. Staff requirements are as follows:

a. waiters should be on a scale of one to every six or eight officers being served;

b. at least two wine waiters should be present. More may be necessary depending upon the number of officers dining;

c. a mess steward must be in control of the staff; and

d. if facilities allow, all waiters should start serving at the same time. When all officers have finished a course, the waiters will start removing the plates on a signal from the mess steward.

903. Customs and Procedures

1. Arrival. Officers will arrive in the ante-room one-half hour before the time fixed for dinner. A trumpeter or trumpeters should sound the quarter-hour and Officers’ Mess calls at the appropriate time. A piper may also be used to lead officers and guests into the dining room.

2. It is customary for each officer on arrival, or at some time during the evening before going to dinner, to go up to the Commanding Officer and to the guest of honour to say “good evening”.

3. Entry. The mess steward will inform the vice-president of the day when dinner is ready to be served. The vice-president will then inform the president; the president in turn informs the Commanding Officer. The Commanding Officer will then escort the guest of honour to the table followed by the other guests and their hosts. The other officers will not proceed into the dining room until the guests and their hosts have entered. Seniority or precedence has no further bearing on the order of entering the dining room. For mixed functions, officers will escort the person who is to sit on their right to their place at the table. On arrival in the dining room, officers and guests stand behind their chairs until every officer is present. The Regimental Grace is said by the chaplain or, if none is present, by the president of the day or an officer delegated by the president. The Regimental Grace is: “For what we are about to receive, thank God”. Everyone then seats themselves at the table.

4. If an officer must leave the table before the senior officer of the mess leaves at the conclusion of dinner, he or she will first obtain permission from the president of the day and will report back to the president on his return.

5. Gun Salutes - Miniature Cannon. In many regiments, it has been a long-standing tradition before dinner to fire a salute from miniature brass 32 pounders. This custom was founded in the earliest days of The Royal Regiment when Canadians assumed responsibility for fortress armaments on departure of the Royal Artillery garrisons. As part of the nightly retreat and guard mounting, the guns of the fortress were fired. This tradition served two practical purposes. It warned the garrison and civilian population that the fortress gates were to be closed. It also confirmed that the powder was dry and that the fortress was in an appropriate state of defence.

6. The firing of a salute by miniature guns therefore reminds us of our garrison artillery heritage and the role that gunners have played in the defence of Canada since the installation of the first artillery pieces in the fortifications of Quebec in 1608. The salute is fired by detachments of subalterns at an appropriate time after the arrival of guests. It is normal for the commanding officer to invite the senior guest to inspect and thank the gun detachments after the salute.

7. Details of safety and ammunition regulations governing the firing of salutes with miniature cannon may be obtained from the Director of Artillery or the Regimental Major. The gun drill appropriate for these salutes is found at Annex B.

8. Table Runners. It is a gunner custom to use table runners, although they are not normally used in a Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess. They will be removed after dessert has been eaten and the stewards have cleared the table of all china and cutlery, leaving only the port glasses, which are moved to the centre of the table by the waiters. Under the direction of the mess steward, the mess waiters will then station themselves at the table ends. On a signal from the mess steward, they will proceed to twist the runners, the number of turns depending on the length of cloth. After completion and again on a signal, the mess waiters at the foot of the tables will pull the runners clear of the length of the table with one swift motion.

9. Loyal Toast. When the table has been cleared, a decanter of port will be placed in front of both the president and the vice-president of the day. After removing the stoppers, the president and vice-president both pass the decanter to the left. A decanter eventually reaches both the president and vice-president who then fill their glasses. The port will never under any circumstances be passed to the right. Decanters are passed along the table; they may be in special bases or carriages for this purpose. The belief that the decanter must never touch the table is incorrect.

10. Sometimes, madeira will be passed as well as port. If this is done, the port will be passed first followed by madeira.

11. The custom which required every officer to drink The Sovereign’s health in port is no longer enforced; as long as an officer’s glass is filled to enable them to join in the toast, it is immaterial whether it contains port, madeira or water.

12. When the president of the day and the vice-president have filled their glasses, the president taps the gavel three times on the table for silence. The president stands and, addressing the vice-president in either English or French, says “Mr (Madam) Vice, The Queen, our Captain- General / Monsieur (Madame) le vice-président, La Reine, notre capitaine-général”. Thevice-president then stands and says, in the other language, “Messieurs, La Reine / Gentlemen, The Queen”. If female officers or guests are present, the vice-president will say “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Queen / Mesdames et Messieurs, La Reine”.

13. At this point everyone will stand with his or her glass in the right hand. If a band is present, “God Save The Queen” will be played after everyone stands and the vice-president has said “The Queen” or “La Reine” before the toast is drunk. During the playing of “God Save the Queen”, glasses will be held in the right hand, forearms at right angles to the body. The Loyal Toast is then drunk. Each officer present will say “The Queen” or “La Reine” before drinking the toast. It is incorrect for anyone to add “God Bless Her”.

14. Toasts to heads of foreign countries should be made after the Loyal Toast if an official representative of the head of the country is present at the dinner. Officers representing their units in response to formal invitations and officers attending international conferences are normally regarded as official representatives. In other circumstances, toasts to heads of foreign countries need not be made merely because officers of foreign countries are present.

15. Smoking. After the Loyal Toast has been drunk, fruit, nuts, cheese and coffee are served and the president and vice-president commence the circulation of the port (again to the left) for a second time. The commanding officer may say, “(Ladies and) Gentlemen, you may smoke” or indicate his permission by lighting smoking material himself. Officers and guests may not smoke until such permission has been given. Ashtrays may be distributed by the waiters at this time. It is becoming more and more customary, however, to not allow smoking in the dining room.

16. Conclusion. The bandmaster and chef may be invited to have port or any other beverage with the commanding officer. The director of music, if present, would normally be a guest at the dinner.

17. It is not normal to have speeches at artillery dinners except on special occasions. If there is to be a guest speaker after dinner, he or she will be introduced by the commanding officer.

18. Dinner is concluded when the commanding officer rises from the table and leaves, followed by the official guests and senior officers. Officers and other guests rise and remain standing until the senior officers and official guests leave (ladies shall remain seated). Guests, if present, may then leave with their respective hosts. The remainder of the officers may remain at the table. 19. The president of the day leaves with the senior officers. The vice- president, however, remains until all officers have left the table.

20. Post Dinner Protocol. Officers must not leave the mess until the commanding officer has left or has given special permission for an officer to leave. It is normal to wait until the guest of honour has left before seeking permission to leave.

904. Deportment

A guest night is a formal affair, which contributes much to the regimental and social life of the officers of the regiment. Nothing must mar the dignity with which a formal dinner is conducted. “Fun and games” must always be reserved for after dinner or if a band is present, after it has concluded its performance. After dinner, activities must not be allowed to detract from the enjoyment of the evening by the mess as a whole.

905. Music

1. Music constitutes an integral part of a guest night. It adds to the overall atmosphere of good manners, pleasant company, camaraderie and regimental tradition. The musical programme should, therefore, be selected with the same care as the wines and the menu.

2. A musical programme for a guest night normally consists of three or four parts. Each is distinctive in character and format and serves a specific purpose. The four parts are:

a. pre-dinner fanfares and calls;

b. dinner music before the Loyal Toast;

c. the Loyal Toast and regimental music; and

d. after dinner music.

3. Pre-dinner fanfares and calls are normally undertaken by a solo trumpeter. If not available, a piper may be substituted. The arrival of guests may be announced by playing regimental calls and fanfares. On arrival, the commanding officer shall be greeted with the regimental call and the first half of “Officers”. Non-gunner guests below the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel should be greeted with their appropriate regimental call. Lieutenant-Colonels and Colonels should be greeted with their regimental call and first half of “Officers”. General officers are greeted with their regimental call and “Flourish”. The artillery calls are reproduced in Chapter 6, Annex A. Other regimental calls may be found in Regimental Trumpet and Bugle Calls for the Canadian Army 1961 and Trumpet and Bugle Calls for the Army 1927.

4. If the main entrance is some distance from the receiving line, a piper may be used to play the guests from the entrance to the receiving line. Any appropriate march may be used for this purpose.

5. After all guests have arrived, the musician(s) will be used to signal the impending commencement of the dinner. If a trumpeter is used, “Officers Dress for Dinner” will be sounded 15 minutes before the scheduled hour of dining and “Mess” five minutes before. If a piper only is present he will play twice the first part of “Keel Row” five minutes before dinner.

6. At the appointed hour of dinner, the band will play “The Roast Beef of Old England”. If a trumpeter only is present he will sound the regimental call and “Mess”. If only a piper is present, he will play in the diners to “Toronto Exhibition Park”. The music shall continue until all diners are in position behind their chairs. The slow march “Toronto Exhibition Park” was selected to commemorate the Musical Drives performed by the RCHA from 1922 - 1933. Many of the performances were at the Coliseum in the Toronto Exhibition Park (Canadian National Exhibition). The tune was composed by Piper Major John Wilson of Toronto. Music can be obtained through RHQ RCA or the RCA Band.

7. Since the aim of the musical programme is to enhance the dinner, any form of music is appropriate if it achieves this aim. A military band ensemble, string ensemble, pipers, solo musicians or vocalists are equally suitable and the choice is at the discretion of the mess.

8. Available space may be a limiting factor and as a rule it is better to have a small ensemble positioned where it may be heard rather than a larger band positioned so that it cannot be. On the other hand the band should not be so large or so positioned that normal conversation is made difficult. If the dinner is large it may be appropriate to conduct the musical programme as an interlude between courses rather than during.

9. The choice of music is at the discretion of the president of the day and the commanding officer. If a programme of regimental music follows the dinner then only a small portion of the dinner music should be martial. Light classical music, Broadway tunes and Canadian folk songs are among the most suitable and popular selections. It is appropriate to show appreciation of the musical programme by applauding after each set.

10. After the president of the day has called for the Loyal Toast and the vice-president of the day has proposed the toast, diners will stand and the band will play the first six bars of “God Save the Queen”, whereupon the toast will be drunk. A similar procedure is followed if toasts are proposed to other heads of state officially represented at the dinner. If a piper is present he/she will play “Point of War” instead of “God Save the Queen”. If a trumpeter is present he/she will play “Royal Salute” instead of “God Save the Queen”.

11. After the Loyal Toast, the band should play regimental music. It is appropriate to play “The Royal Artillery Slow March”, “British Grenadiers”, “Keel Row”, and “Bonnie Dundee” in that order. If only one tune is played, it shall be “The Royal Artillery Slow March” , the primary artillery regimental march. These tunes may be followed by other regimental music such as “The Screw Guns”, “Voice of the Guns” and the “Post Horn Gallop” as desired. If pipers only are available they shall play “St. Barbara’s Day”, “Keel Row” and “Bonnie Dundee” in that order. If only one tune is played it shall be “St. Barbara’ s Day”. ( “St. Barbara’s Day” was specifically composed for and dedicated to The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery by Pipe-Major Hugh McPherson, CD in 1984). The music of “St. Barbara’s Day” can be found at chapter 6, Annex C and the music for the other pieces can be obtained through the office of the Director of Artillery or the Regimental Major. Diners shall remain seated for this part of the musical programme.

12. It is appropriate to honour guests and non-gunner members of the Regiment by playing their appropriate regimental marches prior to playing the artillery marches and associated music. The normal precedence as prescribed in CFAO 61-6 shall be followed except that in artillery messes “The Royal Artillery Slow March” shall be played last as the “host” march. If allied gunners are present as guests, their artillery marches, national or regimental, shall be played immediately prior to “The Royal Artillery Slow March” in alphabetical order of nations (English alphabet). The non-artillery and foreign guests may stand to acknowledge their regimental march. However, Canadian gunners hosting or in attendance in an artillery mess shall not stand when any march or selections, including “The Royal Artillery Slow March” are played. It is incorrect for artillery officers to stand for their affiliated infantry or armour unit march past. Only when an officer has been posted to another corps may an acknowledgement at formal dinners be given.

13. When gunners are present as guests in non-gunner messes or at multi- regimental or formation functions, it is the custom to stand and acknowledge the regimental march which, in such cases, shall be “The Royal Artillery Slow March”. Notwithstanding the presence of RCHA and RCA officers at a dinner of this type, only “The Royal Artillery Slow March” shall be played. The presence of an RCHA officer shall determine the precedence of the artillery march in relation to those of other represented regiments/branches (i.e., if even one RCHA officer is present, “The Royal Artillery Slow March” shall precede marches of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps).

14. It is customary for the commanding officer of the mess and the senior guests to show their appreciation for the musical programme by inviting the bandmaster or trumpeter to partake of a glass of port or any other beverage with the commanding officer. Chairs could be provided to permit the drink to be taken seated. Diners should show their final appreciation for the musical programme by applauding on the departure of the band master/trumpeter/piper from the head table.

15. On many occasions it is now customary for a dance to follow dinner when spouses are present. The choice of the form and tempo of the music, live or taped, is entirely optional. Normal courtesy and practice shall be for the first dance to be of such a tempo to permit the commanding officer to dance with the spouse of the senior guest, and the senior guest to dance with the commanding officer’s spouse. After a few bars, the remaining couples shall join the lead couples on the dance floor. The remainder of the dance shall be conducted in an informal manner with normal courtesies.

(906 to 999 inclusive: not allocated)

• Annex A to Chapter 9 Seating Plan
• Annex B to Chapter 9 Gun Drill for 32 Pdr Model Guns
• Standing Orders Chapter 10 Condensed History