Prince Michael of Kent helps celebrate Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment’s history

Prince Michael of Kent spent a busy weekend in the area celebrating the history of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.

The member of the Royal Family was in Windsor Saturday for the trooping of the new colors on Essex and Kent Scottish regimental flag that now include the honor of three War of 1812 battles – Maumee, Detroit and Niagara – and the most recent battle honor for Afghanistan . The new colors were issued by the late Queen Elizabeth II before she passed way last September.

On Sunday, Prince Michael attended a ceremony at Christ Church in Chatham where the old colors of the regimental flag were officially laid up. This was followed by ceremony at the Civic Center where the commanding officer requests the mayor to “exercise the Freedom of the City” for the new regimental flag colors to be paraded through the community.

Prince Michael told those gathered at the Civic Center the soldiers of the regiment are a “source of pride for me as their Colonel-in-Chief and should be for all of you as well.”

He said they are fathers and sons and mothers and daughters of the community.

“They’re your neighbors who have answered the call to serve Canada with honor and courage, courage rooted in the community they call home.”

Prince Michael said hopes the honors emblazoned on the flag inspires the community and fills residents with pride “for what the soldiers of your regiment have done on your behalf.”

Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. Gord Prentice said, “The colors are the regiment’s history, written in blood.”

He said the retired colors have 20 battle honours, including 10 from the First World War and 10 from the Second World War.

Retired Major Greg Childs said the regiment is very vibrant in the county and “it’s extremely important to have our Colonel-in-Chief to attend ceremonies. The laying up of colors was an extremely important aspect of the great battle honors that this regiment has fought for.”

He added it was steeped in tradition and Prince Michael was right at the center of it.

He said at least 800 Chatham-Kent residents have fought for Canada with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment during the First World War and Second World War.

Childs said all the battle honors earned by the regiment during the two World Wars are now located here in Chatham for the general public to see and appreciate.

Prentice and several other members of the Essex and Kent Scottish are Afghan veterans.

“The thing about the Afghanistan battle honor is it’s really relevant, it’s current,” he said.

The Kent Regiment dates back more than two centuries before amalgamating with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment in 1954.

Prentice said, “In our case, Afghanistan is the first battle honor won as the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.”

With respect to the War of 1812 battle honours, Prentice said as regiments amalgamate and names change, prior honors are inherited by a successive regiment.

“It’s fairly rare for there to be no successor to a battle honour,” he said.

Rev. John Maroney said Christ Church is “the spiritual home of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment and it was good to honor those who didn’t some home from the wars.”

He said the regiment flag represents a life of service and those who are willing to give the “ultimate sacrifice.”

Maroney said the laid up colors is “really quite an historical document” the preserves the history of the regiment.

Mayor Darrin Canniff thanked the regiment for their role in defending Canada with having been tasked with fulfilling peacekeeping and peacemaking missions “to protect human rights, freedom, safety and security where they may be needed.”

He added the regiment has played an increasing role in providing assistance to Canadian communities in times of crisis.

“The communities of the municipality continue to appreciate and support the service of our volunteer citizens who for generations have stepped up to serve their country in times of crisis.”

Prentice told those gathered at the Civic Center “The Essex and Kent Scottish is your regiment. Our roots go back in this community since Chatham began.”

He added, “Our ongoing success depends on your continuing support and I would ask you for that today.”