Infantry Master Gunner

[Jon Skagfeld]

Sitting at lunch today, an RCR Master Warrant Officer in full DEU (because of a grad pde), stopped to talk to one of our party.

He sported a Master Gunner insignia on his right sleeve below his MWO crest.

When he left, I asked of the table what the significance was, since I had never seen this before.

This is what I was told: During the South African War, a Canadian Artillery abandoned its post, leaving its guns behind. The RCR took and defended the position until the firefight was won.

The GOC, or some other higher up, presented a lanyard taken from one of the guns to the RCR who were then authorized to have qualified Master Gunners in their establishment.

As I indicated, I've never heard of this before. All during my service I associated with RCA types who always wore their white lanyard on the left shoulder.

Could it have then been RCHA who suffered this ignominy?

Anyone have authentic reference to this?

(Mark....start leafing through dusty tomes )