So, pips and crowns and "Fusilier Bloggins" again.
(see below the cut if you don't know what I'm talking about)

Er-hr-h'rm... colour me unimpressed.

This is class-A pandering.
A symbolic act from a government that understands well, but really doesn't care, about the large power of small symbols that some people hold very dearly and never relinquished.
It's precisely to placate the grouchy 60+ year olds, exactly those who consider the last 46 years of the Canadian military to be an embarrassment and aberration, that this is being done - I thought the same thing when the RCN and RCAF got renamed, rebadged, what have you a year or two ago.
The Army just got to do this last.
Do you have to think very long about the dominant political power base of this constituency, or their voting behaviour?
Like the emigres who returned after Napoleon, they have forgotten nothing and learned nothing.

So, it's 1966 or less again - why stop there - red serge and tricorner hats, powdered wigs for Change of Command parades, or even further and return to Decuriones, Centuriones and phalerae worn on the cuirass?

I served too; wore pips on my mess kit and patrols, in fact - that part never went away.
And if I were serving today, I'd be putting up a grey square on my shoulder as well ("3rd Canadian Division" is more evocative than "Land Forces Western Area", but it doesn't give the Army any more actual divisions).
I understand military traditions, more deeply than Stephen Harper does (was he ever even in Wolf Cubs?) but I don't need to look like a photograph of my grandfather to be reminded that I am his grandson.
I recognize window-dressing when I see it, having taken part in many "dog-and-pony shows" in my time served, and this is one of those empty gestures.
The past is past, and while you may admire it or study it, frankly it's infantile and magical thinking to suppose that you can return to it (or rather, your coloured imagination of it) by adopting its trappings.

I'd sooner see the veterans of Canada's longest war taken care of properly, no matter what's on their slip-ons or whether they're addressed as "Rifleman" or not.
I understand it's not an either-or proposition, there's enough money to do both, but to see what's acted upon first betrays the priorities really in play.

Canadian Forces to go back to the future with British-style ranks

Military makeover a nod to First, Second World War triumphs, defence minister says

The Canadian Press

Posted: Jul 9, 2013 6:55 AM ET

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2013 10:07 PM ET

The Canadian Army is marching into its past.

As part of the ongoing image makeover of the military, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Monday that the army will replace the Maple Leaf rank designation on the shoulder boards of officers with the traditional "pips" and Crowns in a nod to the country's past.

The ranks of non-commissioned officers will also be returned to the original British Army and Commonwealth designations.

The decision means the rank of private, within the army, will be virtually eliminated and replaced with trooper, bombardier, fusilier, rifleman or guardsman, depending on the unit.

The designations were in place throughout the First and Second World Wars, when Canada achieved some of its greatest military triumphs, and the changes don't strip away any Canadian identity, but rather strengthen the bond with the past, MacKay said. "This takes nothing away from the Maple Leaf," he said. "There are other places which the Maple Leaf is honoured. This in no way diminishes Canadian identity, and I would suggest we are returning to the insignia that was so much a part of what the Canadian Army accomplished in Canada's name."

MacKay pointed out that the Australians have always kept their army rank and insignia closely allied with their British roots, despite a strong movement in that country to pull away from the tradition.

The army is not alone. There have been subtle changes to the uniforms of naval officers, returning a distinctive curl to the cuff rings.

The Harper government, over the last couple of years, has returned different branches of the military to their 1960s pre-amalgamation names, re-introducing the Royal designation to the air force and navy.

In addition, it changed around the placement of flags on warships, moving the naval ensign — which is closely associated with the Royal Navy — back up to the mast and flying the Canadian flag from the bow whenever a ship was in port.

MacKay also announced on Monday the elimination of the geographic designations within the domestic army command, organizing different regions of the country into their historic "divisions," replacing the somewhat bland-sounding land forces designation.

Liberal defence critic John McKay was mystified by all the attention being paid to pageantry, and described it as a distraction from some of the real and substantive issues, particularly funding concerns, that are in front of the military.

"It is an announcement that is not substantive," he said from Toronto on Monday. "And I am not unmindful they would love to expunge anything Liberal out of Canadian history."

The unification of the military branches and common ranking system were introduced by the Liberals in 1968.

McKay said he's not heard a "hue and cry" from the ranks for a return to the old system, and suggested it might even be insulting to immigrants, especially those from countries that resented British colonial rule.

It's annoying to have a Minister responsible named MacKay and an Opposition critic named McKay!
Further details for the insignia nuts among you, from the DND backgrounder:

Restoring the Canadian Army’s historical identity

BG - 13.028 - July 8, 2013

When the Government of Canada announced that it was reinstating the historical name of the Canadian Army in August 2011, it restored an important part of the Canadian Army’s heritage. The restoration of traditions related to the historical identity of the Canadian Army appropriately reflects the re-designation of the institution.

The proposed changes include the re-introduction of divisional nomenclature and patches for the current Land Force Areas; traditional rank insignia for officers; corps shoulder titles following the restoration of traditional titles to a number of Canadian Army corps in April 2013; and the Canadian Army’s secondary badge. Further, the Minister of National Defence announced the intention to restore the historical Army rank names for non-commissioned members.
Divisional Nomenclature and Patches

Land Force Areas will be renamed as divisions and Canadian Army personnel will wear appropriate division patches. Formations will be renamed as follows:

Land Force Quebec Area will be referred to as “2nd Canadian Division”;
Land Force Western Area will be referred to as “3rd Canadian Division”;
Land Force Central Area will be referred to as “4th Canadian Division”;
Land Force Atlantic Area will be referred to as “5th Canadian Division”; and
Land Force Doctrine and Training System will be referred to as “Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre”.

There will be no change to 1st Canadian Division Headquarters.

Corps Shoulder Titles

Following the restoration of the Canadian Army’s corps in April 2013, corps metal and cloth shoulder titles will be produced.

Army Rank Names

The historical rank names for non-commissioned members, which have long been used informally, are being considered for formalization, at which point they would change as follows:

Privates of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps will be referred to as “Trooper”;
Privates and corporals of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will be referred to as “Gunner” and “Bombardier” respectively;
Privates of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers will be referred to as “Sapper”;
Privates of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals will be addressed as “Signaller”;
Some Privates of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps will be referred to as “Fusilier,” “Rifleman” or “Guardsman”, depending on their type of unit; and
Privates of the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers will be referred to as “Craftsman”.

In addition, the second lieutenants and warrant officers in Guards regiments will be addressed as “Ensign” and “Colour Sergeant”, respectively.
Traditional Insignia for Officers

In line with the formalization of historical rank names for non-commissioned members, the traditional army officer rank insignia – with the stars, or “pips,” and crowns – are being restored. This ranking system is more than a hundred years old and continues to be used by armies the world over. Historically, the variations of the stars and crown were used to delineate rank so that officers could recognize each other on the battlefield. Canadian Army colonels and general officers will also wear the traditional gorget patches.

Canadian Army Secondary Badge

The new Canadian Army secondary badge is based on the historical Canadian Army badge used during and after the Second World War. It features the crossed swords, overlaid by three maple leaves conjoined on one stem. A crown is placed atop the maple leaves. The secondary badge will be displayed on the Canadian Army ensign and pocket badge.

Conclusion

The restoration of these features is a significant step in the restoration of the Canadian Army’s traditions. Symbols and traditions establish links to soldiers’ heritage, and represent meaningful reminders of military history.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The 1st Hussars in London, Ontario have always used Trooper for Private so I am not sure what has changed there.

Are they changing around the Warrant Officer ranks and bringing back Staff/Colour Sergeants?

Funny that the RCAF still uses the new ranks while the Army is switching back.

Also what is War of the Pacific, Chile vs. Perú and Bolivia, 1879-1883 by S&T like?

I was thinking of acquiring a copy.

Well, a lot of Militia regiments never dropped these traditions anyway.
I am not sure if they are scrapping Warrant Officer ranks. I am sure the Guards will have Colour Sergeants.
And the RCAF will go its own way, as it always has.
They run the military, after all - or rather, the cabal of high-ranking fighter jocks within the RCAF.
Which is why we are still even talking about the F-35, but let's not go there.

As for the new S&T - you are too late: I just traded it away to a guy for a copy of Against the Odds magazine (the one with the Burma campaigns in it).
I had no interest in the topic.
You and I should organize a big BGG trade some day.

Brian

Forward, Into The Past!