Badge of Les Voltigeurs de Québec

Blazon

The arms of Salaberry (Per pale dexter per fess in chief Or a lion rampant Gules, in base Or two cows passant in pale Gules armed collared and belled Azure, sinister Gules a cross bottony Or, a bordure Azure charged with eight saltires couped Or) within an annulus Vert fimbriated and inscribed VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC in letters Argent, all surmounting the cross of the Order of St. Louis Argent, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and above a scroll Argent inscribed with the Motto in letters Gules;

Symbolism

The Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The Voltigeurs Canadiens (1812-1815), who were organized as a temporary British Army regular unit and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry for service during the War of 1812, had the reputation of repeatedly repulsing superior American forces. His son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles René-Léonidas de Salaberry, was the first commanding officer of the regiment when it was formed in 1862. The badge, incorporating the arms and motto “FORCE À SUPERBE MERCY À FOIBLE” of the family of d’Irumberry de Salaberry, was adopted in 1892 in recognition of this family’s services to the military of Canada and the regiment. The Order of St. Louis, instituted by King Louis XIV of France in 1693, was a notable honour in New France. “VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC” is a form of the regimental title.