March 31, 2016 – Mace Presentation to “E” Division Pipes & Drum Band

Thursday March 31, 2016 what a beautiful spring day and so appropriate for a parade of the RCMP Pipes and Drums Band at “E” Division HQs. During the parade, the mace which bears the Honours bestowed on the RCMP and the Honour Roll of our comrades who have fallen in the line of duty, was consecrated.

It was then presented to Drum Major Mike Guillemin representing the band. This is significant honour for the band and a piece of tradition which all members, veterans and employees of the Force can be proud of.

Photograph of the RCMP E” Division Pipes & Drum Band – taken by RCMP Veteran Tibi Roman.

Historically, the “mace” was a weapon of war which over time came to represent the symbolic authority of civic office, and was adopted for ceremonial use by the military.

The RCMP has strong para-military traditions that have included both volunteer and professional brass bands since bands began to appear with members of the North West Mounted Police on the western frontier.

Inside the bell of the new Mace is a scroll listing the names and regimental numbers of each member of the Force killed in the line of duty. The new Regimental Mace was made by William Scully Ltd, of Montreal, Quebec, whose services were secured through our Drum Major Mike Guillemin and the “E” Division Pipes and Drums in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Photograph of Sergeant Major Dave Hall holds the mace as it is consecrated with a blessing by Chaplain Jim Turner – Taken by RCMP Veteran Keith Leishman.

Special Guests for the presentation of the Regimental Mace were:

• The Commanding Officer of “E” Division: Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens
• His Executive Officer: Inspector Mike Koppang
• The “E” Division Chaplain: Mr. Jim Turner
• The “E” Division Volunteer Management Program Director: Mrs. Jane Hanson
• The “E” Division Director of Strategic Communications: Mrs. Dawn Roberts
• The “E” Division Pipe & Drums Band Officer: Retired Assistant Commissioner Fraser MacRae
• Founding member of the “E” Division Pipe Band: Retired Corporal Drum Major Rob Smith
• His wife: Elizabeth Smith
• Early supporter of the RCMP Pipes & Drums Band: Retired Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes and
• Design artist of the official tartan and wife of retired A/Comm. Holmes: Mrs. Violet Holmes

Photograph of Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, Sergeant Major Dave Hall and Drum Major Mike Guillemin.

Photograph of Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens presents the new mace to Drum Major Mike Guillemin – photo taken by RCMP Veteran TIbi Roman.

Photograph of Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens and Retired Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes.

In the early 1990s the Commissioner of the RCMP was approached by RCMP Members from Alberta and he approved the wearing of RCMP uniform with a kilt. With the support of the Commanding Officer of ‘K’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes, it was decided to form a Pipe Band.

A small group of volunteers from the RCMP supported by citizen volunteers began to develop the band. The Pipe Band performed its first official engagement at the Change of Command Ceremony when Assistant Commissioner Holmes retired as the C.O. of ‘K’ Division in 1993.

In 1997 as part of the 125th Anniversary of the RCMP a tartan was approved. Mrs. Violet Holmes of Burnaby, British Columbia and wife of Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes, provided the art work that lead to the creation of the official RCMP tartan.

 The tartan was approved by Commissioner Murray and it was officially registered with the Scottish Tartans Society. The tartan was formally presented to the Force by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne during her visit to New Brunswick in June 1998. It is comprised of 7 different colours that represent various aspects of the RCMP. They are:

• Dark Blue: Is the colour of the riding breaches and the shabrack used by the musical ride
• Scarlet Red: Is the colour of the ceremonial tunic worn by members
• Yellow: Represents the cavalry stripe on the trousers as well as the hatband. It is the same yellow taken from the crown and gilt letters of the Force badge
• Sienna Brown: Is the colour of the bison which is the centre-piece of the RCMP badge
• Forest Green: Is the colour of the maple leaves which surround the scroll and bison of the RCMP badge. The dark green of the tartan is a link to the land, the country, and the people served by the Force
• White: Represents the lanyard worn with the ceremonial uniform. It is also intended as a link to Canada’s First Nations people
• Sky Blue: Is the background of the RCMP badge and is readily associated with the United Nations and has a special significance to the Force, given its role in international peacekeeping.

Photograph of the RCMP Tartan.

The RCMP Pipes & Drums seek to benefit the community through its music and to support the RCMP on formal and ceremonial occasions.  The bands are comprised of RCMP members, employees and citizen volunteers. There are currently seven RCMP community bands formed across Canada, from west to east: Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, and Halifax.

 The Drummers constructed the Drumhead altar. A Drumhead Service is a church service conducted “in the field” during armed conflict, often near the battlefront. Lacking a church to attend, the military command used its drums, piled neatly and draped with appropriate colours (national or regimental flags, for example) to create an altar for a Service of Remembrance. In much of the Western World, when military chaplains or padres were expected to conduct Interfaith services for the troops, a drumhead altarwas a “generic” altar, suited to its military purpose.”

Photograph of the RCMP Drum Head Altar – photo taken by RCMP Veteran Ric Hall.

The mace has long been associated as a symbol of authority. The drum major uses the mace to convey signals to the pipes and drums. Mace commands vary from regiment to regiment and historically have been handed down from drum major to drum major. Generally, starts, stops, and counter march commands are similar amongst the regiments since these commands are those commonly used with massed bands and tattoos.

The mace derives from the medieval weapon of the same name. It was composed of a spiked head attached by a chain to a wooden handle. The mace was swung around the head to clear a path or to strike an unhorsed opponent. The basic parts remain, although they have been adapted over time.

As a regimental accoutrement, the mace is a significant link to the history of The Force. Upon the head of the mace, is the regimental badge of the Force as well as the Honours which have been bestowed upon the RCMP for service during wartime. Additionally, within the head of the mace is the Honour Roll of the RCMP, listing the names of all those members who have fallen in the line of duty. Prior to the Regimental Mace being handed over to Drum Major Guillemin by the Commanding Officer, in recognition of the significance of these honours, the mace was consecrated with a blessing from RCMP Chaplain Jim Turner.

Photograph of the new RCMP mace which was presented to the RCMP “E” Division Pipes & Drums Band – Photo taken by Ric Hall.

Photograph of the RCMP Mace which was presented to the “E” Division Pipes & Drums Band – taken by RCMP Veteran Ric Hall.

Photograph of the RCMP Mace presented to the “E” Division Pipes & Drum Band – taken by RCMP Veteran Tibi Roman.

Photograph of the RCMP Mace presented to the “E” Division Pipes & Drum Band – taken by RCMP Veteran Tibi Roman.

Photograph of the RCMP “E” Division Pipes & Drum Band – photo taken by RCMP Veteran Keith Leishman.

Photograph of RCMP Sergeant Major Dave Hall and Drum Major Mike Guillemin with the new Regimental Mace – photo taken by RCMP Veteran Ric Hall.

A special thank you to Sgt. Major Dave Hall and Staff Sgt. Major Andrew Martin for providing background information and to Tibi Roman, “E” Division HQs, for his photographs.