August 28, 2022 marks the 90th anniversary of the presentation to the Ontario Regiment of its third set of Colours. A Regiment’s Colours are essentially two flags – one is a Sovereign’s Colour and one a Regimental Colour. The Ontario Regiment received its first set of Colours, prepared by the ladies of Ontario County, on July 1, 1868. Both a Queen’s Colour and a Regimental Colour were intended to be presented, but only the Queen’s Colour was ready in time. The fate of the Regimental Colour is unknown, and may have never been presented. The tattered remains of the Queen’s Colour now hang in St. George’s Anglican Memorial Church in Oshawa. The 1868 Colours were in rough shape in 1895 when they were replaced by the second stand of Colours, consisting of a Queen’s Colour and a Regimental Colour. These Colours, a gift of the citizens of Whitby, were presented on September 19, 1895. They also hang in St. George’s Anglican Memorial Church.

The third set of Colours, both a Regimental and a King’s, were a gift of Mrs. Alice Houston (nee Carswell) of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Houston had grown up in Oshawa and had always taken an interest in the Regiment. She and her late husband, Edgar Houston, had considered this gift for four years. The plan was put on hold due to the death of Mr. Houston during that time. The new Regimental Colours carried the battle honours of the 116th Battalion earned in the Great War.

The presentation ceremony took place on August 28, 1932 at Alexandra Park in Oshawa. The Oshawa Times noted that the “one of the biggest crowds ever assembled” at the Park was on hand. There were many veterans of the 116th Battalion, in addition to other Great War veterans, who attended the ceremony with a special section of the Alexandra Park grandstand reserved for them. The Regimental band led the Regiment to the park, with the Colours cased. The ceremony began with an inspection led by Major-General J.H. MacBrien. He was the Commissioner of the RCMP at the time and was also a former resident of Oshawa and began his military career in the Ontario Regiment. The inspection party also included Colonel H.F.H. Hertzberg representing Military  District 2, Colonel F. Chappell, commander of the 25th Infantry Brigade, Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel McLaughlin, Colonel G.R. Pearkes VC (former commanding officer of the 116 th Battalion), and Lieutenant-Colonel R.B. Smith, commanding officer of the Ontario Regiment.

Next on the agenda was the consecration ceremony. The Regiment formed up in a hollow square around the drums. The new Colours were laid on the drums and a prayer was recited by Captain the Reverend S.C. Jarrett, Regimental Chaplain. The presentation ceremony saw the Colours handed one at a time to Mrs. Houston, who in turn handed them to the officers from the Colour Party. Mrs. Houston made a short address, followed by Major-General MacBrien, who noted that he began his military career in the Ontario Regiment. This was followed by short speeches from Colonel Pearkes, Lieutenant-Colonel R.B. Smith and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel McLaughlin. A Trooping the Colour ceremony was carried out and then a march-past. Taking the salute were Major-General MacBrien, Mrs. Houston and Colonel Pearkes. The Regiment marched back to the Oshawa Armoury with the Colours flying. The day was completed at the Armoury with social functions in the Officers’ Mess, Sergeants’ Mess and band room. These Colours were retired in 1967 upon the presentation of the Regiment’s current Guidon and are now displayed at the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Library. Rod Henderson Rod Henderson is the Regimental Historian of the Ontario Regiment. He served as a Sergeant in the Regiment and is the author of “Fidelis Et Paratus: The History of The Ontario Regiment RCAC”.