The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Canadian Army

THE ROYAL WINNIPEG RIFLES, CANADIAN ARMY

Official blazon

Badge: Gules a devil courant grasping in the dexter hand a trident Sable and in the sinister a chalice his feet resting on a scroll Argent inscribed HOSTIUM ACIE NOMINATI in letters Sable all within an annulus Vert fimbriated and inscribed ROYAL WINNIPEG RIFLES in letters Argent surmounting a cross pattée Sable fimbriated and pommé Argent below a plaque Vert fimbriated and inscribed with the battle honours FISH CREEK / BATOCHE in letters Argent and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper, the whole within a wreath of maple leaves Argent enwrapped by a scroll Vert fimbriated and inscribed with battle honours in letters Argent: dexter YPRES, 1915,’17 / MOUNT SORREL; VIMY, 1917 / PASSCHENDAELE; DROCOURT-QUEANT / NORMANDY LANDING; CARPIQUET / CALAIS, 1944; LEOPOLD CANAL / THE RHINE; and sinister FESTUBERT, 1915 / SOMME, 1916; HILL 70 / AMIENS; CANAL DU NORD / PUTOT-EN-BESSIN; FALAISE / THE SCHELDT; MOYLAND WOOD / N.W. EUROPE, 1944-45, and at the base of the wreath NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885 / SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.
Motto: HOSTIUM ACIE NOMINATI.

Origin/meaning

The wreath of maple leaves represent service to Canada, and the crown, service to the Sovereign. The Maltese cross, which is based on the insignia of the Royal Guelphic Order, is common among badges of rifle regiments. The black devil carrying a trident and offering a chalice preserves the legend that during the North-West Rebellion the soldiers were referred to by the opposing forces as “little black devils” because of their almost black (dark rifle green) uniforms. Hence, the adoption of the regiment’s motto “HOSTIUM ACIE NOMINATI”, which means “Named by the enemy force”. “FISH CREEK”, “BATOCHE”, “YPRES, 1915,’17”, “MOUNT SORREL”, “VIMY, 1917”, “PASSCHENDAELE”, “DROCOURT-QUEANT”, “NORMANDY LANDING”, “CARPIQUET”, “CALAIS, 1944”, “LEOPOLD CANAL”, “THE RHINE”, “FESTUBERT, 1915”, “SOMME, 1916”, “HILL 70”, “AMIENS”, “CANAL DU NORD”, “PUTOT-EN-BESSIN", “FALAISE”, “THE SCHELDT”, “MOYLAND WOOD”, “N.W. EUROPE, 1944-45’, “NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885” and ‘SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900” are regimental battle honours. “ROYAL WINNIPEG RIFLES” is a form of the regimental title. HOSTIUM ACIE NOMINATI, meaning “Named by the enemy force”. For many years, the regiment used HOSTI ACIE NOMINATI, a grammatically incorrect version of the motto.

The Blazon of the badge was confirmed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on May 15, 2008.

Literature: Image from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/canadian-forces-badges/