VIDEO: Royal Regina Rifles battle flags return to Sask. legislature

The Royal Regina Rifles battlefield flags have returned to the Legislative Building, nearly 110 years after they were first hung.

The Regimental Colours accompanied soldiers on the battlefield during the Great War in Europe.

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The flags were hung in the Legislative Building at the end of World War I, but were moved to St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in 1977.

Eight flags representing four battalions hang is the Legislative Building. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

The Colours were taken down for renovations in 2024, but were hung permanently in the Legislative Building’s rotunda on Wednesday.

Rifleman John Watson stood at a salute while the national anthem played.

The Swift Current veteran is the last living member of the Royal Regina Rifles Regiment from World War II.

Private John Watson is the last living member of the Royal Regina Rifles Regiment from World War II. (Lisa Schick/ 980 CJME)

“It’s a real honour to be here and to see the colours back where they were,” he said. “It’s a great thing. I’d like to thank all the people that did so much work to get them back here.”

Watson said there are a lot of veterans he thinks about when he looks at the flags.

The flags represented four of the Rifles battalions: the 28th Northwest Battalion, 68th Battalion, 195th Battalion and 249th Battalion.

The 28th Battalion had more than 6,000 casualties of 10,000 veterans, with 922 veterans killed in action.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Barry, Royal Regina Rifles Commanding Officer, said these flags were the most treasured possessions of the soldiers and their regiments.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Barry, Commanding Officer of the Royal Regina Rifles, said it’s humbling to see the flags return to the Legislative Building. (Lisa Schick/ 980 CJME)

“I’m humbled to be able to speak with so many great people from this province who are so supportive and love their freedom so much that they recognize what their military has done for them throughout the years to bring them the freedom that we all enjoy today,” he said.

Barry said the flags serve as a reminder of the cost of freedom.

Blaine McLeod, the provincial military liaison, said the flags would remain on display in the rotunda for as long as possible.

All flags are the same age, but some are more ragged than others.

McLeod said this is because Saskatchewan soldiers fought underneath them.

Blaine McLeod, the provincial govenment’s military liaison, speaks to reporters on Oct. 21. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

“I’m chilled to the bone to know that these flags were on European soil, where Canadian soldiers fought and died for our country,” he said.

McLeod said the flags were protected by an honour guard on the battlefield to prevent anyone from taking them.

He said they will serve as a reminder to everyone who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“It’s interesting that we’re having this conversation right when we’ve had such horrific loss in the military,” McLeod said. “And I trust that these flags, as well as part of that story, reminds people of the cost of freedom, and that we can never take it for granted.”