Two articles dated 1946 and a second dated provided background material to the Kirk of St. James, Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown, PEI on the retired colours of the Prince Edward Island Regiment. The pictures have been added from a private collection then owned by Gordon Stewart. -- note by Ian Scott, 2025
REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND THE KIRK --
(Compiled from information supplied by W. R. Burnett, Gordon Stewart and Mrs. L.E. Prowse.)
The presence of the Officers and Members of the Prince
Edward Island Regiment this morning draws attention to the flags which flank
the Chancel here in the Kirk of St. James. As Mr. Burnett has expressed it,
"They are steeped in Island military history and tradition".
In 1875 two infantry battalions were established in
Charlottetown. They were known as the "Queen's County Provisional
Battalion of Infantry" and the "Charlottetown Provisional Battalion
of Infantry". In 1876 these two were amalgamated and were designated the
"82nd Queens County Battalion of Infantry". About 1907 the name was
changed to "82nd Abegweit Light Infantry".
Early in 1908 King's and Regimental Colours were purchased,
due largely to the leadership of Captain V. L. Goodwill. These were consecrated
by the Rev. T. F. Fullerton, D.D. (Minister of the Kirk of St. James and
Chaplain of the Regiment) at an impressive ceremony in Victoria Park on July 4th,
1908.
The King's Colour was presented by Mrs. MacKinnon, wife of Lieutenant Governor D.A. MacKinnon, and the Regimental Colour by Mrs. Stewart, wife of Lieutenant Colonel D. Stewart, then commanding the Regiment. Colonel Stewart, Mrs. Stewart, and Captain Goodwill, mentioned above, were active members of the Kirk.
Both flags bear the inscription "Abegweit Light
Infantry" and the Roman Numeral "LXXXII". The Regimental Colour
bears the motto, "Semper Fidelis".
On Sunday, August 6th, 1922, the 82nd Colours were borne to
the Kirk by Captain A. R. B. Duck and Major T. Edgar MacNutt, accompanied by an
Escort. Church authorities accepted the Colours for safe keeping "in honor
of the regiment, as a memorial to those who had fallen, and as an inspiration
to the living".
On the 16th July, 1925, Major MacNutt, acting on authority
from Ottawa requested the Church authorities to hand the Colours to him, so
that they could be formally handed over to the Prince Edward Island Regiment,
the successors of the 82nd Battalion. This being done with proper ceremony
outside the Church building the Colours were then returned to the Church where
they still hang.
In 1928 the "Prince Edward Island Regiment" became
officially known as "The Prince Edward Island Highlanders", and
became affiliated with the famous Scottish Regiment, "The Black
Watch". Following World World II it was known as the "17th
Reconnaissance Regiment" and now once again bears the designation
"The Prince Edward Island Regiment".
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The second document is from the Annual Report of the Kirk of St. James, 1946
Charlottetown, PEI.
THE COLOURS OF THE 82nd. REGIMENT
The following letter regarding the Regimental Colours now hanging in the Chancel of the Church, appeared in "The Charlottetown Guardian" on January 29th, 1947.
82nd. BATTALION
Sir,—In my very sketchy notes on the 82nd Regiment which appeared in your issue of, Saturday last, and which were written some years ago for another purpose, I feel that for publication a few further items should have been included, which briefly are as follows:
The Colours were purchased from Hobson & Sons, London, England, by the Regiment.
The 4th, July, 1908, was a beautiful and very hot day and large crowds were present in Victoria Park to witness the presentation of the Colours to the Regiment.
The King's Colour was presented by Mrs. MacKinnon, wife of Lieut. Governor D. A. MacKinnon, and the Regimental Colour by Mrs. Stewart, wife of Lieut. Colonel D. Stewart, then commanding the Regiment. The other Staff Officers of the Regiment were Majors George Crockett and John R. Allan and Captain V. L. Goodwill, Adjutant.
The speakers after the ceremony were the Lieut. Governor; Hon. F. L. Haszard, Premier; Colonel James Warburton; Hon. George E. Hughes; Chaplain Fullerton and Colonel Stewart. All these together with the Officers and ladies mentioned above have passed away, as has Lieutenant A.R.B. Duck, who received the King's Colour.
Colonel Stewart gave up the command of the Regiment in January, 1909 after forty-five years of untiring service in the Militia, and was succeeded by Lieut. Colonel George Crockett, and he in turn by Lieut. Colonel J. R. Allan, who was in command when war was declared August, 1914. Colonel Allan at once proceeded to meet the requirements asked of him by District Headquarters. A Company from the Regiment was quickly sent to Halifax for garrison duty there. When refused overseas service on account of age Colonel Allan took command of the Reinforcement Company until November 1915, when it was take over as the nucleus of the 105th Overseas Battalion.
The old 82nd Regiment was a fine unit, and regarded by inspecting officers as one of the very best rural regiments in Canada.
The Regiment has passed out of the picture, but its beautiful silken Colours hanging in St. James Church will serve not only as its memorial in the years to come, but also as a reminder of those who strove so hard, under great difficulties, to bring it to a high state of efficiency.
I am, Sir, etc.
T. E. MacNUTT.
-- transcribed by Ian Scott, 27 May 2026
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