Battle Honours

[Echo9]

With the current awarding of individual honours for valour, we seem to have returned to a place where the recognition for engagement with the enemy is acceptable again.  So, the question is- if it works at the individual level, why not at the unit level? In other words, are there some Battle Honours that are coming due?

If so, what should they be awarded for?  Afghanistan in general?  Panjwai in particular?  Do we go back and give the Patricias recognition for Medak Pocket?




(some inside baseball- I understand that the idea is under consideration at DHH on CDS direction, just looking to see the opinions here)

 

[Long in the tooth]

The point Echo9 raises about battle honours vis a vis the GG Citation is an excellent one, as I believe the GG has in a sense hijacked our historical system of awards.  The GG citation does have the advantage of recognizing members attached for an operation, be they reservists, support trades or the fourth rifle company (just to name a few).  The downside is that our award system seems to becoming a 'me first' rather than regimental award.

Battle honours have the big advantage of allowing all unit members, even the youngest battle school private, to recognize and take pride in the accomplishments of their forebears.

Caveat - this in no way is meant to downplay accomplishments of members who have received the citation, just to point out the differences....

 

[043]

Too late "Sir":

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S
UNIT COMMENDATION



The Commander-in-Chief's Unit Commendation was created in July 2002 by the Governor General to recognize the outstanding service of Canadian Forces in times of conflict under direct enemy fire. 2PPCLI is the second unit commendation to be presented by our Commander-in-Chief, the first being received by the 1R22eR Battle Group for their actions in Sarajevo in 1992.


BY ORDER OF HER EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ADRIENNE CLARKSON, CC, CMM, COM, CD

The 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group (2PPCLI BG) is awarded the Commendation for courageous and professional execution of duty during the Medak Pocket Operation in the Former Yugoslavia in September 1993. Under conditions of extreme peril and hazard, facing enemy artillery, small arms and heavy machine gun fire as well as anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, the members of the 2PPCLI BG held their ground and drove the Croation forces back. The exemplary action of the 2PPCLI BG caused the Croation Army to cease their ongoing tactics of "ethnic cleansing" in the sector, without question saving many innocent civilian lives.

 

[axeman]

To date the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation has been presented to three CF Units:

The first was to the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment Battle Group (Including N Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment) for having opened the airport in the besieged city of Sarajevo in July 1992 (OP HARMONY). The Commendation was officially presented to the unit by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces during a ceremony which took place at the Citadel in Quebec City on 9 September 2002.

The second was to the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group for courageous and professional execution of duty during the Medak Pocket Operation in The Former Yugoslavia in September 1993 (OP HARMONY). The Commendation was officially presented to the unit by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces during a ceremony which took place at the Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 1 December 2002.

The third was to the 3rd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group for professional and distinguished service in OPERATION APOLLO in Afghanistan in 2002. The Commendation was officially presented to the unit by General Raymond R. Henault, C.M.M., C.D., Chief of the Defence Staff on behalf of Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces during a ceremony which took place at the University of Alberta's Fitness Facility (Butterdome) in Edmonton on 8 December 2003.