Governor General's Foot Guards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor General's Foot Guards |
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| Active | 1872–present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Foot guards |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 33 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Cartier Square Drill Hall, Ottawa, Ontario |
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| Battle honours | See list of battle honours |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LCol Jamie Bell |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada |
| Regimental sergeant major | CWO Stephane R Marleau |
| Insignia | |
| Headdress | Khaki beret |
The Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) is a special group of soldiers in the Canadian Army. They are the oldest reserve infantry regiment, which means their members are part-time soldiers. The GGFG is based in Ottawa, Canada's capital city. They train at the Cartier Square Drill Hall.
These soldiers train to help during emergencies in Canada, like natural disasters. For example, they helped during the 1998 Ice Storm and floods in 2017 and 2019. They also helped during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. GGFG members also train for missions in other countries. They have supported regular soldiers in places like Afghanistan, Sudan, and Ukraine.
GGFG members usually train on Tuesday evenings and one weekend a month from September to June. In the summer, from May to August, they can work full-time. They might be students or instructors on training courses. Some also take part in the Ceremonial Guard duties. The regiment also has programs to improve shooting skills and leadership. They also offer sports and fitness programs.
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How the Regiment is Organized
The GGFG is made up of several smaller groups, called sub-units. Each sub-unit has a different job:
- Regimental Headquarters: This group is in charge of leading and managing all the members of the regiment.
- No. 1 Company (Rifle Company): This is where most trained soldiers are. They practice working together as a team in different combat situations.
- No. 2 Company (Training Company): This company teaches new members and helps soldiers get special qualifications. New soldiers start here until they are fully trained.
- No. 3 Company (Combat Service Support): This group provides important supplies and help for the training of the other companies.
- GGFG Band: This is a musical band that plays at events in the city and beyond.
- Public Duties Company: This company plans and performs the Ceremonial Guard in the summer. They also help the Governor General of Canada with special events all year.
The GGFG also supports the 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets. This is a youth program for young people interested in the military.
History of the GGFG Name
The GGFG started in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 7, 1872. It was first called the 1st Battalion Governor General's Foot Guards. Over the years, its name changed a few times. It became the Governor General's Foot Guards again on September 1, 1976.
For a while, the GGFG was linked with another group called the Canadian Guards. This link was meant to create friendly connections between military groups. Even with this link, the GGFG was always its own separate regiment.
Battles and Missions
The GGFG has a long history of serving Canada in different conflicts and missions.
Early Operations
In 1884, some members of the regiment took part in the Nile Expedition. The next year, they sent a group of expert shooters to the North-West Rebellion. Here, the regiment had its first two soldiers killed in action at the Battle of Cut Knife Hill.
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GGFG soldiers in 1875
During the Second Boer War, many GGFG volunteers joined other Canadian groups.
World War I Service
The GGFG keeps alive the history of two battalions from the First World War. The 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF fought continuously on the Western Front from 1915 to 1918. They were part of many important battles, including Ypres, Vimy (1917), and Passchendaele. By the end of the war, 52 officers and 1,227 other soldiers from this battalion had died.
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The special patch of the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF.
The 77th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF also helped by sending new soldiers to the Canadian forces fighting overseas. The GGFG remembers the bravery and service of these battalions.
World War II Service
The GGFG was called into action in May 1940 for the Second World War. In 1942, they changed their role to become an armoured unit. This meant they would use tanks. They were then called the "21st Canadian Armoured Regiment (GGFG)". They arrived in France in July 1944. They fought in important battles like Normandy and the Scheldt. During the war, 101 soldiers from the regiment were killed and 284 were wounded.
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GGFG soldiers with a Sherman tank in 1944.
Modern Day Missions
Since the World Wars, GGFG members have taken part in many international missions. They have served with the United Nations and NATO in places like Cyprus, Somalia, and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. During Canada's mission in Afghanistan, GGFG soldiers were deployed to Kandahar and Kabul.
The regiment also sends its members to support regular soldiers on current missions. They have deployed to Operation Impact in Iraq and Jordan, and Operation Reassurance in Poland and Latvia. They also served in Operation Unifier in Ukraine.
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The GGFG is always ready to help Canadians at home during emergencies. They sent soldiers to help during the 1998 Ice Storm, floods in 2017 and 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
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GGFG soldiers on patrol in Kandahar in 2010.
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GGFG soldiers on exercise in Petawawa.
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GGFG soldiers on a training exercise in Petawawa.jpg
GGFG soldiers on a training exercise in Petawawa.
Brave Soldiers: Victoria Cross Winners
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British and Commonwealth armed forces. Two GGFG soldiers received this honour:
| Recipient | Unit | Location | Date |
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| (Acting) Corporal Leo Clarke | 2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force | Pozières, France | September 9, 1916 |
| (Acting) Major Okill Massey Learmonth | 2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force | Hill 70, France | August 18, 1917 |
Important Memorials
There are several memorials that remember the GGFG's history and its fallen soldiers. A memorial tablet was put up on May 2, 1887. It remembers Privates J. Rogers and Wm. B. Osgood. They died in action at Cut Knife Hill during the Northwest Rebellion. A plaque in the GGFG Regimental Museum remembers the 5326 officers and men. They served in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion during the First World War. A Sherman tank named Forceful III is at the Canadian War Museum. It is dedicated to the GGFG members who died in the Second World War.
Special Rank Names
The GGFG, like other Foot Guards regiments, uses some unique rank names:
- Ensign
- This is what second lieutenants are called. The name comes from their old job of carrying the regiment's flag, or "ensign."
- Colour sergeant
- This is the name for warrant officers. This rank started because these sergeants were chosen to protect the regiment's flags, or "colours."
- Guardsman
- After finishing basic training, soldiers in the GGFG are called "guardsman." King George V gave this special honour in 1918.
- Musician
- Members of the band are called "musician" after they finish their training.
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Viscount Willingdon inspecting the GGFG in 1927.
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Members of the GGFG in their winter uniform on Remembrance Day 2017.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge inspecting the Governor General's Foot Guards.
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The President of Italy Sergio Mattarella inspects an honour guard of the GGFG during his visit to Rideau Hall.
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Regimental Museum
| Location | Cartier Square Drill Hall Ottawa, Ontario |
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| Type | Regimental museum |
The Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum collects and shows items that tell the story of the regiment. It has things from wars, ceremonies, training, and sports. The museum wants to keep these items safe and make them available for everyone to see and learn from. It works with other museums to preserve important historical materials.
The museum has many interesting artifacts. You can see a captured German trench periscope and different firearms from past wars. There's even a German MG42 and an MP 40 from the Second World War. The museum is located in the south end of the Cartier Square Drill Hall. You can visit on parade nights or by making an appointment.
Special Honours: Freedom of the City
The regiment has been given the "Freedom of the City" honour twice by the city of Ottawa. This is a special honour that allows a military unit to march through the city with drums beating and colours flying.
Regimental Badge and Motto
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Drill Hall Building
The GGFG trains at the Cartier Square Drill Hall in Ottawa. This building was built in 1879. It is a large, important historical building located by the Rideau Canal. It is also home to another regiment, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, and the GGFG Army Cadets.
| Site | Date(s) | Designated | Location | Description | Image |
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| Cartier Square Drill Hall | 1879 | Classified - 1985 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings | On the bank of the Rideau Canal, just south of Laurier Avenue W.
Ottawa, Ontario |
A large and centrally-located building with low-pitched gable roof houses The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) and GGFG and 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets |  |
More to Explore
- Canadian Guards
- List of armouries in Canada
- Military history of Canada
- History of the Canadian Army
- Governor General's Foot Guards Band
- Ceremonial Guard
