Introduction

Over the past decade we have noticed a rampant increase in the number of people who are wearing their orders, decorations and medals incorrectly. The cadre of people who flagrantly violate the official rules on how you are supposed to wear your medals ranges from the average veteran right up to current and former Governors General. Indeed, there is much evidence to suggest that the higher the rank of the individual the more likely they are to just wear whatever they want, however they want. We like to think of this as “Instant Dictator Syndrome” or self-aggrandizement at its most obvious.

Why do people wear their medals incorrectly? Often it is because they simply do not know any better. If you are one of these people you should consult WEARING ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS which is available from the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall. This guide will help you figure out how you are supposed to wear your officially granted orders, decorations and medals.

When it comes to wearing your medals incorrectly the worst offenders tend to be former Governors General, Lieutenant Governors and retired Generals. When these people – all in authority and all surrounded by staff who know better – wear their medals wrong they are obviously suffering from the dreaded Instant Dictator Syndrome. The attitude accompanied with this most severe condition is “the more medals I wear the more important I will look.”

This simple blog is aimed at revealing the myriad of fellow Canadians who cannot seem to wear their medals correctly.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Vice-Regal Report Card

Duchesne, a good example
As a number of the Queen's representatives seem to have difficulty wearing their orders, decorations and medals correctly I thought it a good idea to put together a little report card. These various officials have all been graded on the basis of how they wear their medals -- for some it is an easy test. For the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec we give an automatic pass. Poor M. Duchesne has no medals to wear, so he could hardly wear them incorrectly. The Lieutenant Governors of Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Newfoundland and New Brunswick get an "A" for they all seem to be wearing their insignia correctly. Governor General David Johnston also gets an "A" for wearing his CC and two commemorative medals correctly. Saskatchewan gets an "A+" as Lieutenant Governor Barnhardt has done a stellar job of wearing his various insignia.
Lee, another good example
Lieutenant Governor Francis of Nova Scotia gets a "B-" for wearing her Order of Nova Scotia like an olympic athlete. A harsher grade has not been assigned as she does not seem to make this error often, at least not in photos on the web.
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Mr. Point gets a "D-" for wearing the wrong insignia and incorrect insignia on mess dress, not to mention wearing insignia in the wrong order. Let us hope that the Crown's representative in BC will cease breaking CF dress regulations!
Former Governor General Michaelle Jean gets an "F" for the many and bizarre ways which she wore her orders, decorations and medals -- going so far as to wear the wrong insignia on at least one occasion!
Lieutenant Governor Ethell of Alberta receives very special "F-" for wearing two neck insignia simultaneously and for wearing a medal bar that is more than twice the length authorized by the CF dress instructions.

To the bottom of the class; NS, BC, AB and former GG Jean, when will you people learn you cannot just wear your medals any old way? !!! Some of you are setting a terrible example. No one really cares that you hold a high position if you look like a trumped up dictator -- Instant Dictator Syndrome seems most serious with the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta who is verging on a terminal case of Instant Dictator Syndrome, the likes we have not seen since Richard Rohmer wore three neck orders with his mess kit!



Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. JabrwockNovember 25, 2010 at 7:32 AM

    The Hon. Gordon Barnhardt is a former cadet. He was obviously taught well.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)