Page17One of the most prized honours of a marching unit is the conferring upon the unit of the privilege and distinction of the Freedom of the City - the honour for all time of marching through the city with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. The Freedom of the city is granted to a military unit which has enjoyed a long and happy relationship with a city.
The ceremony of granting the Freedom of the City dates back
over three centuries when cities had walls and gates barred to friend and foe
alike. The foe for obvious reasons, to the friend until the city authorities
were assured of the troops' best behavior and the purpose of the presence of
the regiment seeking entry.
The City of Saint John conferred this honour on the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment ( The Loyal Company ) on December 31, 1968 on the occasion of the Regiment's 175th anniversary year.
This freedom was "confirmed and granted in grateful recognition of the high esteem in which all ranks are held by the citizens of Saint John and, being found by United Empire Loyalists, of the close cooperation between the Regiment and the City of Saint John which has continued since the fourth of May, 1793".
The 3rd Field Artillery Regiment ( The Loyal Company ) was the first regiment honoured by the City of Saint John with the Freedom of the City. The Regiment last exercised this honour in 1993 during its 200th Birthday celebrations.
In October 1977 during a Freedom of the City celebration, Mayor Sam Davis was made an honorary gunner. From left to right is Lt. Colonel Ron Fitzpatrick, Colonel Jim Turnbull, Mayor Sam Davis and Brigadier Philip W. Oland ( Honorary Colonel of Regiment ). In the background is Major Bob Lockhart.
4 More
All pages © Heritage Resources Saint John and New Brunswick Community College - Saint John