RCCS Collar Pins

by | Mar 31, 2021 | News | 5 comments

By Order of Director Signals, all members of the RCCS are hereby authorized to the wear the historic RCCS collar pins on all orders of DEU Dress (items 1, 2, and 3) effective immediately. The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals is the oldest dedicated arm of military communicators in the Commonwealth. The Corps was founded in 1903 by Boer War veteran Major Bruce Carruthers (born in Kingston, Ontario). The badges, customs, and heraldic devices of the Canadian Signal Corps were heavily modeled and influenced by the 21st Lancers (The Empress of India’s Own): a cavalry regiment that Bruce first served with as a young Troop Commander. Though he served with distinction with the Princess of Wales Own Rifles (known today as Own Regiment), the 2nd Battalion – The Royal Canadian Regiment, and the Canadian Mounted Rifles (perpetuated by the British Columbia Dragoons), it was Bruce’s service with the Lancers that yielded a lasting and meaningful impact. The traditions, protocols, and symbols of the Lancers were woven into the design of the Canadian Signal Corps, and almost every custom of the RCCS is modeled off of the cavalry standard. Today, Director Signals endorsed the return of one of our founding symbols.

The original cap and collar badges (later amended in 1921 when the Corps earned the Royal designation in honour of its wartime achievements in the 1st World War) are as follows (from a frontal view):

  • the entirety of the badge surmounted by a crown
  • the badge proper possessing crossed signalling flags (semaphores) and bearing a scroll bearing the monogram ‘RCCS’ or ‘CTRC’
  • the right flag (Dexter): three (3) horizontal stripes of equal measure (white | blue | white) with flag pole set to the rear
  • the left flag (Sinister): a single solid banner of blue; flag pole set to the fore
  • A scroll bearing the Latin motto ‘Velox Versutus Vigilans’ surmounted with a beaver (facing left) over the centre, with a spray of maple leaves at either side (each spray with seven (7) leaves).


Enclosures:
Please see the enclosed letter from the Director (Final RCCS Communique) confirming the authority to wear the badges. Please take note of para 5, confirming that the new collar pins are not yet mandatory as work continues to have an initial set issued to each member of the Corps from the supply system. Those that wish to wear them now may purchase a set at the Mercury Kit Shop. Note that badges are available in both English and French monograms; members are permitted to wear the badge that coincides with their official language and may not wear one of each.

There is also an attached instruction that presents how the badges are to be worn. These details will be reflected in the updated Branch Standing Orders (BSO) – Chapter 6.

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Maj Young
1 year ago

Since the English version (RCCS) is currently not available, I decided to order a French version (CTRC) for my DEU.

Edwin Wityshyn
2 years ago

I wonder if there will ever be more options for small flags for the desktop, or for a bike whip, mobility scooter, etc. The only flag I can find to order seems to be a plain double or tri-coloured flag, but folks are always asking me what the flag represents. It would be nice if the flag was “self-explanatory” for civvies.

I fly my Sigs flag right under the Cdn Flag on my scooter’s rear whip.

Phillip Herring
2 years ago

Bruce Carruthers served with the 21st Hussars. The regiment became the 21st Lancers after Carruthers left the British Army.

Wilfred G LeBlanc
2 years ago

That sure is good news, it will be great to see the RCCS Collar Pin worn as it was in my days with RC Sigs from 1953 to 1969, hopefully the same thing will happen with the Badge. VVV Wilfred (Fred) LeBlanc

Lt D Shaw
2 years ago

Fantastic. I have an enamel set and a bronze OSD set from the 1960s, as well as the usual yellow metal (brass). Hopefully the cap badge is coming next.