Canadian Coronation Contingent
The Canadian Coronation Contingent is a guard of honour, composed of members of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, assembled distinctly for participation in the coronation ceremonies of the Canadian monarch in London, England. Only three Coronation Contingents have ever been mounted, all of them before the unification of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy into the Canadian Forces; for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902, the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, and again for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
1902 coronation
The Canadian military contingent for the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra consisted of some 600 men and was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pellatt, of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.[1] The contingent, which included veterans of the Battle of Paardeberg, arrived at Liverpool on 20 June 1902, and were given an "immense reception" by local people.[2] They camped with other Dominion and colonial troops at Alexandra Palace in north London.[3]
1911 coronation
The Canadian contingent for the Coronation of George V and Mary was a force of 708, of which 53 were officers.[4]
1937 Coronation
For the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, Canada sent a contingent of 351 representing the Navy, Air Force and Royal Canadian Mounted Police who each provided about 30 men, whith the Army providing the balance.[5]
1953 coronation
For the Coronation of Elizabeth II, Canada sent the largest contingent of any Commonwealth realm; 180 men marched in the procession while 320 lined the route in the area near Canada House. Many of the participating Canadian troops were based with NATO in Germany, but horses were sent direct from Canada for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police contingent who rode with the Canadian Army, while four others formed an escort for the Prime Minister of Canada, Louis St. Laurent and his wife.[6]
References
- ^ The Annual Register of World Events: A Review of the Year, Volume 144. Longmans, Green and Co, London. 1903. p. 446. Retrieved 2 August 2014. "Early in June, the Canadian contingent of some 600 officers and men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pellatt, of the Queen's Own Rifles, left for England to take part in the Coronation ceremonies"
- ^ "The King's Coronation (p. 8)". Otago Daily Times. 21 June 1902. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ "The Coronation Contingent. Camp Life at Alexandra Palace (p. 7)". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 6 August 1902. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ Canadian Almanac and Directory. Toronto: Grey House Publishing. 1912. p. 160.
- ^ Edwards, Suzanne K. (2007). Gus: From Trapper Boy to Air Marshal. Toronto: General Store Publishing House. p. 75. ISBN 978-1897113745.
- ^ Coates, Colin (2006). Majesty in Canada: Essays on the Role of Royalty. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-1550025866.