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The brave and intelligent expect to leave to their posterity the splendour of their public services, embodied in rank and honours. A country that prohibits such a legacy destroys one of the chief sources of its greatness, and blasts the vital principle of public virtue.
— A New Trend on an Old Subject, Dallas, 1791
To my friends,
Joyce Bryant and Bruce Beatty,
builders of what is herein
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Queen of Canada
Foreword
A nation’s custom of conferring honours on its citizens — to reward or to recognize service or merit — has existed for hundreds if not thousands oof years. Regarded by some as unnecessary and by others as an important symbol of nationhood, a national honours system says much about the nation itself, including its approach to egalitarianism and merit and its belief in the importance of recognizing performance, professionalism, excellence, courage, and sacrifice.
In 2005, Christopher McCreery published The Canadian Honours System, and in the foreword to that book I noted that it was: “an important and comprehensive account that should be of interest to all Canadians, as well as a valuable addition to Canadian historical literature. On a subject that is still developing, it will surely need updating from time to time.”
That time has come, given that much has happened in the Canadian honours system during the past eight years, and in this second edition, McCreery brings the original up to date. Fifty percent longer than the first, this volume includes a section on the Canadian use of British honours up until 1967 when Canada introduced its own system. Previously, and for more than a century, Commonwealth honours were Canada’s honours, something worth remembering and of which many Canadians will be unaware.
This second edition also includes descriptions of new Canadian honours such as the Sacrifice Medal, General Campaign Star, General Service Medal, and Operational Service Medal. Included also are names of Canadians recently admitted to the rare Order of the Companions of Honour and to the even rarer Order of Merit. Included, as well, is the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, a commemorative medal awarded to considerably more Canadians than in the past, fittingly so perhaps, given that a monarch’s celebration of sixty years on the throne is a rare event, indeed.
This book, like its predecessor, remains an important and comprehensive account that should be of interest to all Canadians, as well as a valuable addition to Canadian historical literature. As it demonstrates, national honours and awards are constantly developing to meet the nation’s changing needs, and no doubt it, too, will need updating again sometime. But for now, the fact that it is both authoritatively and entertainingly written should ensure that it has a wide readership.
General John de Chastelain, CC, CMM, CD, CH
Ottawa
Acknowledgements
Editing and expanding upon a pre-existing work is no easy task, and I am indebted to an extended cadre of friends and colleagues who encouraged me throughout this process. First, thanks are owed to Dundurn Press and its presi-dent and publisher, Kirk Howard, for continuing to show confidence in my writing.
Two friends in particular were central to the development of this edition. Major Carl Gauthier from the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of Honours and Recognition provided regular encouragement, editorial comments, and overall insight into many elements of the modern Canadian honours system. The deputy chief herald of Canada, Bruce Patterson, is thanked for his diligence and assistance. He possesses patience beyond measure and tremendous editorial skill for which I am most grateful. This is quite aside from the 290 comments — many which were most amusing — and invaluable direction on not only questions related to heraldry and honours but the general content of this work. One is hard-pressed to think of anyone who suffered through reading such a large quantity of McCreery screed as Gauthier and Patterson.
Thanks are owed to General John de Chastelain for his continuing friendship and support. His provision of an insightful foreword for this edition is greatly appreciated. My parents, Paul and Sharon, along with Joyce Bryant and Peter Galloway, provided constant encouragement and professed interest in my work.
At St. John Ambulance headquarters in Ottawa, Dawn Roach and Patricia Kearney were helpful with questions about the Most Venerable Order. My good friend, Lieutenant-Commander Scott Nelson, was similarly helpful in editing one of the last iterations of the manuscript.
Alan Trammell of Pressed Metal Products and Stephen Hart of Rideau Ltée each provided important information in relation to questions about the manufacture of the Order of Canada and Order of Military Merit. Emmanuelle Sajous, Claire Boudreau, Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Darcy DeMarsico, Denis Poirer, and Marie Glinski from the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall were helpful in providing photo information and minute details about insignia and the internal operations of the Canadian honours system and Canadian Heraldic Authority. Darrel Kennedy, also from the Canadian Heraldic Authority, provided important comments on errors contained in the first edition. From the Department of National Defence, Juliane Martin and Corporal Jonathan Loeppky provided repeated assistance with images. Sam Kremer, outstanding collector of Champion Shot Medals, generously furnished this work with numerous scarce images.
Of my Ottawa friends, Glen Hodgins, Lieutenant-Colonel Dan MacKay, Kevin MacLeod, Mark Reid, Alana Blouin, Brigadier-General Christopher Thurrott, Brigadier-General Hilary Jaeger, and Mark O’Neill are each acknow-ledged for their support throughout this project and my other recent work, a history of the Rideau Club.
The cottage expedition crew — Sean and Lindsay Morency, Tara Bickis, Carl Gauthier, Melanie Nicholson, Jonathan Shanks, Jennifer Brown, Vasuda Sinha, Scott and Brenda Nelson — have all survived many trips in the tippy canoe K-225 and endured too many stories about medals and governors general. They are either very good at feigning interest in my work or are among the best friends one could hope for.
In Halifax I am grateful to the household staff at Government House, who are tolerant of my work habits and propensity for depositing empty teacups throughout the house. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale Warner and Captain(N) Craig Walkington remain keen to hear anecdotes about Canadian symbols over a variety of gin-based consumables, though this book may represent the limit of their tolerance. Matt Malone and Matt Follett provided many needed breaks from writing.
Robert Watt, Jacques Monet, Sheila-Marie Cook, Bishop Ralph Spence, Charles Robert, John Geiger, and John Fraser, all highly accomplished in their fields and public service, have regularly been free with advice and support throughout my writing and professional life. I feel fortunate to count them among my most trusted advisers.
As with other recent writing projects that I have embarked upon, my employer, Brigadier-General the Honourable J.J. Grant, lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, and Mrs. Grant have offered much encouragement and friendship. My fellow vice-regal private secretaries from across Canada were also free with their encouragement and interest.
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