Released on July 31, 2014
The Battle Colours of Saskatchewan’s 28th North-West Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force returned to the Legislative Building today. The Colours were escorted into the building by a Guard of Honour from the Royal Regina Rifles and presented to Premier Brad Wall. They will go on display as part of the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of the First World War.The 28th Battalion was made up primarily of young men from Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert additional recruits from Fort William and Port Arthur, Ontario. Formed at Regina in 1914, the 28th landed in France on September 18, 1915 and it fought through to the end of the War. The battalion is perpetuated today in the Royal Regina Rifles.
“When war was declared, Saskatchewan stepped up to do its part,” Premier Wall said. “In the farm fields of France, Belgium and Flanders, young men from our province in the 28th Battalion and under other commands fought with courage and honour. We will never forget that 6,400 of our young province’s best and brightest laid down their lives so that we could be free and enjoy the quality of life we have today.”
Today’s ceremony marked the temporary return of the 28th Battalion Colours to the Legislative Building where they once hung, before they return once again to St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina. The Colours will be on display on the rotunda level for the next four years through to the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice in 1918.
"Honouring the battles fought by a Regiment is a military tradition that goes back hundreds of years,” Lieutenant-Colonel and Deputy Commander 38 Canadian Brigade Group Malcolm Young said. “For military personnel like the current members of Royal Regina Rifles, the Battalion Colours of the 28th represent the service and sacrifice to community, country, and Regiment by past generations of soldiers that should not be forgotten."
On Monday, August 4 – Saskatchewan Day, the Government of Saskatchewan will mark the exact day the First World War began, during a public commemoration service of remembrance at the Saskatchewan War Memorial on the Legislative grounds in Regina. At that time, the names of 1,200 Saskatchewan citizens who lost their lives during the war will be added to the Honour Roll on the Saskatchewan First World War Memorial.
The public is invited to attend the outdoor ceremony starting at 2:00 p.m. After the ceremony, the public will be welcomed into the Legislative Building to see the Colours, displays and school heritage fair exhibits as well as a presentation and projection of all 6,400 names now on the Saskatchewan Honour Roll.
For those outside of the capital area, information on other commemoration activities in Saskatchewan can be found at www.heritagesask.ca/events.
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For more information, contact:
Sean St. George
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9087
Email: sean.st.george@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8635