AURORA, ON, May 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media are invited to follow the day's celebrations. Members of the media must pre-register by May 22 with Paul Tyler, GoldFenix Communications, pt@goldfenix.com, 416-254-0698.
Background
In 1974 the original colours of The Queen's Rangers of 1783 were returned to the Regiment. Following the surrender of British forces in North America, these colours were smuggled out of Yorktown, Virginia. They were taken to the Simcoe estate in England, where they hung in the entrance hall for 140 years before their re-discovery in 1900.
Subsequently returned to Canada and painstakingly preserved by the ROM, these colours now reside in the Officer's Mess at Fort York Armoury. One of the Regiment's most cherished possessions; they are believed to be the oldest military colours in North America.
In 1984, as part of Toronto's 150th Anniversary, Her Majesty The Queen presented The Queen's York Rangers with new colours, a Guidon, the symbol of a cavalry unit. Selected battle honours from the North West Rebellion and World War One are emblazoned on it, along with other symbols of the Regiment.
On June 5, 2014, the Queen's York Rangers will be trooping their Guidon to celebrate the awarding of four new battle honours.
The day's events:
1200 At a lunchtime reception sponsored by the Queen's York Rangers Regimental Council, HRH The Duke of York, will greet guests and will also unveil a plaque for a new Aurora-area park. The plaque commemorates The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and lists local residents who received The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
1600 A Parade at Old Fort York, Toronto. Colonel-in-Chief The Duke of York will review a Trooping of the Guidon by the Queen's York Rangers to celebrate the awarding of the four new Battle Honours.
Available for interviews:
LCol Phil Halton, Commanding Officer of the Queen's York Rangers
HCol Darrell Bricker, Honorary Colonel of the Queen's York Rangers
Follow the Queen's York Rangers on Twitter:@QYRangers, Web site: www.qyrang.ca
The Queen's York Rangers (1st Americans) (RCAC) have a storied history, serving in the Riel Rebellion in 1885 and sending troops to fight in the South African (Boer) War of 1899-1902. The Regiment also contributed men to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. During the Second World War, the Regiment was mobilized and served in Canada as part of the home defence force as well as training troops for overseas duties. In recent times Rangers have served on operations in Cyprus, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Namibia and Afghanistan.
June 5, 2014 -- Queen's York Rangers Celebrate New Battle Honours
Regiment celebrates their four new Battle Honours in the presence of their Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness The Duke of York
| Source: Queen's York Rangers