1912 - Rare (one of only 36) 1854 Pattern 1st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada Levee Sword (CGG Sword #21) - attributed to Major Robert Matthew Griffith (CGG)

Object/Artifact

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Description

A Canadian Grenadier Guards Patter 1854 Levee sword attributed to Major Robert Matthew Griffith (CGG). One of only 36 "CGG Original Officer 1912" swords known to exist. Levee sword to the 1st Regiment, Canadian Grenadier Guards of Montreal. The sword dates to the raising of the regiment (1911) and is believed to be one of only 36 swords ordered by the Regiment when it was stood up. The sword exhibits the first name of the regiment (1st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada) which was opposed by the British War Office 7 of the original Levee swords are known to still exist: 1 - Royal Montreal Regiment (R.M.R.) Officer's Mess - Named to Captain Stacie (1st Regt. GGoC) and used as the Commanding Officer's Sword 2 - Lt. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection named to Lt. Kenneth C Campbell (KIA June 6 1916) 3 - Private Collection (Clive Law GGFG Archives) 4 - Private Collection - Sold in 2019 (Ontario) 5 - Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum (Montreal) attributed to Major Robert Matthew Griffith 6 - Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum (Montreal) unattributed 7 - Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum (Donated by the Family) named to Henry Frederick King About the Officer: Major Robert Matthew was one of the original officers of The Canadian Grenadier Guards and was appointed to 1st Regt. Grenadier Guards of Canada as Lieutenant on 20th February, 1912. He was promoted Captain, 1st October, 1914. Assistant to Provost Marshal, Montreal, September 1914. During WW1, from 1914 until 1916 he was second in command of Internment Operations for Military District #4. On 22 February, he attested with the 4th Canadian Garrison Regiment (C.G.R. - a pre-curser unit the WW2 Veterans of Canada Regiment) and was seconded to the Canadian Ordinance Corps from February 1916 until 1st May 1919 when he was discharged and struck off strength from the Canadian Expeditionary force. He served CGG with his brother - Captain Edmund John who was also a subaltern with CGG prior to WW1.

Created By

Abdourahamane, Issa

Create Date

December 28, 2023

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

May 23, 2025