The Meritorious Service Cross 1984-2014 CONTACT US Directorate of Honours and Recognition National Defence Headquarters 101 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2 http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/ 1-877-741-8332 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2014 A-DH-300-000/JD-004 Cat. No. D2-338/2014 ISBN 978-1-100-54835-7 The Meritorious Service Cross 1984-2014 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, wearing her insignia of Sovereign of the Order of Canada and of the Order of Military Merit, in the Tent Room at Rideau Hall, Canada Day 2010 Photo: Canadian Heritage, 1 July 2010 Dedication To the recipients of the Meritorious Service Cross who are the epitome of Canadian military excellence and professionalism. The Meritorious Service Cross | v Table of Contents Dedication ..................................................................................................... v Introduction ................................................................................................... vii Chapter One Historical Context ........................................................................ 1 Chapter Two Statistical Analysis ..................................................................... 17 Chapter Three Insignia and Privileges ............................................................... 37 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 55 Appendix One Letters Patent Creating the Meritorious Service Cross .............. 57 Appendix Two Regulations Governing the Award of the Meritorious Service Cross, 1984..................................................................... 61 Appendix Three Regulations Concerning the Meritorious Service Decorations, 1999 ...................................................................... 67 Appendix Four Register – Recipients of Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division), 1984-2014 .................................................. 77 Glossary of Post-nominals ................................................................................................. 153 Related Publications ................................................................................................. 155 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 156 vi | The Meritorious Service Cross Introduction 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Meritorious Service Cross (MSC) by Her Majesty The Queen. This decoration, which has now been awarded 205 times, is one of the most prestigious honours available to members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Its recipients represent the highest level of professionalism, dedication, perseverance and leadership in the Canadian military profession. They are examples to be emulated and this short publication intends to record and celebrate their outstanding achievements on This decoration, which has now been awarded this significant milestone in the 205 times, is one of the most prestigious honours decoration’s history. available to members of the Canadian Armed Consequently, the heart of this Forces (CAF). production is the register of the recipients which not only records the names of those who received the Cross but also their citation. The Cross derives its prestige and respect from these recipients and their actions. This register is preceded by a short history of merit recognition and of the creation of the MSC, an interesting statistical analysis of the awards made thus far and a few details related to the insignia itself. This is complemented by a reprint of the original as well as the current regulations for the award. The Meritorious Service Cross | vii Chapter One Historical Context I would like to announce to the house the establishment of a system of honours and awards for Canada. Practically every sovereign country has such a system which it uses as a means to recognizing merit or gallantry, or distinguished public service. I believe that recognition of this kind can strengthen national pride and the appreciation of national service. The Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada, House of Commons, 17 April 1967 Antecedents The awarding of honours to recognize military merit is a long-standing tradition that transcends national boundaries, political structures and historical periods. While the recognition of gallantry in combat is the highest form of military recognition, highlighting professionalism, dedication, and especially leadership in the military context has long been of vital importance, although the actions may not involve risk of life while engaged in combat against the enemy. Honours in New France In Canada, the first such honour to recognize military merit under the French Regime was the Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis, better known as the Croix de Saint-Louis. This three-level order (Knight, Commander and Grand Cross), created in 1693, was used to recognize 145 recipients for their distinguished military service in Canada. The list includes some famous names such as Louis-Hector de Callière, Governor of Montreal and first Canadian recipient; Louise de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, Governor of New France and second Canadian recipient; François Coulon de Villiers, the only man to defeat Washington in battle; and Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, last Governor General of New France and the only Canadian to be appointed to the highest level of the Order, that of Grand Cross. As was customary at that time, eligibility to this Order was limited to senior officers. Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, wearing the Insignia of Knight of the sash and breast star of a Grand Ordre de Saint-Louis (obverse) Cross of the Ordre de Saint-Louis Photo: Christopher McCreery Photo: Public Domain 2 | The Meritorious Service Cross The British Honours System The British Honours System was then used in Canada, with a few interruptions, until the establishment of purely Canadian honours in 1967. This system, like the pre-revolutionary French system, was very much organized along the lines of existing social classes. What honour one would receive depended directly upon their rank and only the senior ranks had access to honours for military professionalism (as opposed to gallantry), certainly until the end of the First World War. What is recognized today with the MSC can be separated into two streams under the British System: leadership in battle or operations and military professionalism. Military leadership would be recognized, depending on ranks, with Insignia of Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) admission to one of the British orders of chivalry, Photo: DH&R such as one of the three levels of the Order of the Bath (Companion (CB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Knight Grand Cross (GCB)) for General and Flag Officers or as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for Senior Officers. From the end of the First World War, military professionalism away from combat was recognized through appointment, again based on rank, to one of the five levels of the newly created Order of the British Empire (Member (MBE), Officer (OBE), Commander (CBE), Knight Commander (KBE) and Knight Grand Cross (GBE)) or award of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (later replaced by the British Empire Medal (BEM)) for non-commissioned members. Other British honours, such as the Order of St. Michael and St. George and the Order of the Companions of Honours, have also been Insignia of the Distinguished used on occasion depending on the context and Service Order time period. Photo: DH&R The Meritorious Service Cross | 3 Insignia of Member The British of the Order of Empire Medal the British Empire (Military (Military Division) Division with 2nd type 2nd type ribbon) Photo: DH&R Photo: DH&R Creating a Canadian Honours System After Canada ceased to use British Commonwealth Honours as a result of Government Policy in 1919 (with limited exceptions being made for the Second World War and the Korean War), Canada found itself without formal methods to recognize distinguished and meritorious service, either civil or military. The Department of National Defence acutely felt this deficiency and made numerous proposals during and following the Second World War to remedy the situation. Although the Canada Medal was created by King George VI in 1943, it was ill-suited for its stated purpose and was never awarded. Numerous and detailed proposals emanated from the Department at regular intervals suggesting either multi-leveled orders or series of decorations but all met the same fate. The Department deserves some of the credit for the establishment of the modern Honours System as its insistence played a role in the eventual creation of the Order of Canada in 1967. After decades of honours vacuum in Canada, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson saw the opportunity of the upcoming Centennial of Confederation to create a new national symbol in the form of this order of The Right Honourable Lester Bowles merit, which blends tradition and modernity Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE in a typical Canadian fashion. Photo: Christopher McCreery 4 | The Meritorious Service Cross The Canada Medal Photo: Christopher McCreery Insignia of Companion of the Order of Canada Photo: DH&R The Meritorious Service Cross | 5 This Order was to be the country’s national honour and be open to recognize both military and civilian achievements. Given its very limited numbers, however, it quickly became