RCEME Museum Sod Turning 3 The Carro Veloce L.3/33 4 FCWM VI Program 5 Adopt-a-book Report 5 Founding of the PPCLI 6 February 2015 Volume 25, Number 1 Enhancing Your Membership 7 Communications Changes 7 Book Review by John Anderson 8 Menin Gate at Midnight A New Book by Ed Storey 8 Supplement - WWI 1915 ‘Menin Gate at Midnight’ witnessed and that night, unable to painted by Australian artist William sleep, returned to Menin Road and Longstaff to commemorate those later claimed to have had a vision of a loved one and their own personal soldiers with no marked graves on spirits of the dead rising out of the grief, now the painting communi- the Western Front during the First soil around him. On returning to his cates the loss experienced by a World War is also known as ‘Ghosts studio in London he painted ‘Menin whole generation. The vast number of Menin Gate’. Longstaff attended Gate at Midnight’ in a single session. of those who were killed, and the a ceremony dedicating the Menin Today, ‘Menin Gate at Midnight’ immensity of the damage wrought Gate memorial to the soldiers of has achieved the status of a national during the First World War, requires the forces, just out- icon in Australia. The painting retains that those who sacrificed their lives side the town of Ypres, Belgium, its ability to provoke an emotional should not be forgotten. on 24 July 1927. The memorial was response and to communicate the Longstaff used well-known dedicated to the 350,000 men of the scale of the loss of life and the dev- motifs to trigger emotion. His scar- British and Empire forces who had astation of war. However, as people let poppies are flowers that could died in battles around Ypres, and now have a very different under- be found in the Flanders fields, but bears the names of 55,000 men standing of war, the painting serves they also carry the traditional con- with no known grave, over 6,000 of a slightly different function. Whereas notations of shed blood and remem- whom were Australians. Longstaff in the past people responded to the brance; they represent a floral was profoundly moved by what he painting as it related to the loss of continued on page 3 2 President’s Message The Friends of the I am writing this message on New Year’s Canadian War Museum Day 2015, well aware that it will not reach you for 1 Vimy Place some time. In a way, I am being true to my moth- Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 er’s guidance. You see, she believed that New Tel: 819.776-8618 Year’s was a time, not to make resolutions about Fax: 819.776-8623 things to give up or things to be done, but rather, www.friends-amis.org a time to actually do the things that are important E-mail: [email protected] in one’s life. Work was important to her, so we Patron always did some work on New Year’s Day. Friends His Excellency and family were important so we spent time with David Johnston both, and so it went. So today, since the FCWM is C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. important to me, I can think of no better time than Governor General of Canada this New Year’s Day to spend a few moments thinking about the organization, its members and where we’ve been and where we are going? President As part of where we have been, let me say a word about a great Friend, BGen (Ret’d) Linda Colwell General (Retired) Ramsey Withers, (1930-2014). General Withers joined the Vice-President Friends at its inception and, in 1998, was named an Honorary Director. He Col (Ret’d) Jarrott Holtzhauer was a mainstay of the Tuesday gathering of the War Museum’s Volunteer Inter- Secretary preter Program, and he could always be counted upon to support Friends and Cmdre (Ret’d) Robert Hamilton CWM activities. He remained an active volunteer, a vigorous Friends recruiter Treasurer (he initially recruited me and I know he recruited many other new members) David Parr and a proponent of the Friends and the CWM right up to his death on 24 December 2014. Directors Born in York Township, Gen Withers graduated from the Royal Military Col- Dr. Marvin Blauer, Mr. Larry M. Capstick, lege in 1952 and Queen’s University in 1954. As a Signals Officer, he served BGen (Ret’d) Linda Colwell, Maj. (Ret’d) in 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment during the Korean War and later with the Walter Conrad, Maj. (Ret’d) Thomas Dent, Mr. Charles Gruchy, Cmdre (Ret’d) Royal Canadian Dragoons in Canada and Germany. He served in command Robert Hamilton, Col (Ret‘d) Jarrott W. and staff positions at all levels before his appointment as Chief of the Defence Holtzhauer, M. Gilles Morin, M. Jean M. Staff in 1980. After his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983, he Morin, Maj. (Ret’d) Jim Muckle, Mr. David spent five years as Deputy Minister of Transport Canada followed by 10 years Parr, Mr. Wayne Primeau, Mr. Douglas working in the private sector. Canada and the Friends have lost a respected Rowland, Col. Nigel Shaw, Maj. (Ret’d) soldier and a true gentleman. William H. Smith, WO (Ret‘d) Edward As part of where we are and where we are going, we recently put the Storey, Marie-Josée Tremblay, Ms. final signature on our Memorandum of Understanding with the CWM. Having Katharine Trim, LCol (Ret‘d) Brad White. the updated document duly signed ensures a clearer understanding of our long-time relationship with the Museum. On the practical side, I trust that by The Torch (ISSN 1207-7690) now you are aware that the Le Breton Gallery Catalogue has been published. Funded from our 2013-14 funding, we believe this CWM publication is worth Editor/Layout: Ruth Kirkpatrick the wait. Assitant Editor: Mike Braham As part of where we are going, the Board and its various committees are Photographers: Bob Fowler deep in our strategic planning process and working to get the 2015-16 budget Mailing Team: Pamela Brunt, and project plan in place. The Medals Stories Project is moving slowly for- Tina Creber, Huguette Thériault ward. We expect to see the results of the initial research and restorative work if not on the Museum website at the end of 2015 on the site by early 2016. Printed by: Lomor Printer Ltd., Other Friends’ projects will include: funding for the Gunter Award (to encour- 888 Lady Ellen Pl., age young people to take on various military history projects), raising funds for Ottawa, ON, K1Z 5L5 the Adopt-a-Book Campaign and support for various restoration projects that are ongoing within the Museum “Tank Shop”. Ce Bulletin est aussi disponible If you have not renewed your membership, I would encourage you to do en Francais so early in the year. As well as renewing your own membership, why not make the first quarter of 2015 your time to recruit new Friends. February 2015 3 blanket covering the bloodied bod- rising from the cornfields extends soldiers; and the helmeted bayonets ies of unknown soldiers. At the same the range of visual emblems used by raised in cheer and victory. time, like the paper poppies worn on Longstaff - the plentiful harvest; the Remembrance Day, they are a tribute harvest of men; the steel-helmeted “Menin Gate at Midnight” is from the living to the dead. The por- crosses covering the graves of many currently on loan to the Canadian trayal of the steel-helmeted soldiers War Museum and on display.

History in the Making: RCEME Museum Sod Turning By Colonel (Ret’d) Andrew Nellestyn

RCEME personnel stationed at CFB Kingston and sur- rounding units. The ceremony also celebrated the expansion of the MC&E Museum with which the RCEME Museum Phase I will share space. The sod was turned jointly by BGen (Retd) Pep Fraser representing the MC&E Museum and Colonel (Retd) Andrew Nellestyn representing the RCEME Museum. Congratulatory speeches were made by both of these gentlemen as well as the Colonel Com- mandant BGen (Retd) Peter Holt, the Corps Director Colonel Sebastien Bouchard, the Corps SM CWO René Gilbert, Colonel Francois Chagnon CFB Kingston Base Commander and the MC&E Museum Director Maj (Retd) Mike DeNoble. Erl Kish and Larry Aubrey were present on behalf of RCEMEA and Tom Temple on behalf of EMEA. On a bright sunny day in June 2014, the sky cobalt Tex Leugner sent a congratulatory message on behalf of blue, RCEME and CELE flags fluttering in a gentle RCEMEA Western Canada. breeze, eighty plus RCEME personnel and guests gath- All attested to the historical significance of the occa- ered at CFB Kingston to witness history in the making sion and the outstanding cooperation and team effort by as the sod was turned to start the construction of the the Corps of RCEME and the CELE Branch which made RCEME Museum Phase I which will open to the public this project possible. in the fall of 2015. The museum marks the return of the Maj (Retd) Don Chisholm, the Corps Padre, blessed Corps of RCEME to its founding home at Camp Barrief- the event and offered prayers for its success and in ield now known as CFB Kingston. The museum will be remembrance of all RCEME personnel who gave their a notable and complimentary companion edifice to the lives in the preservation of peace. nearby RCEME Memorial Gates. The event was capped off by a well-attended and fine Phase I, a shared expansion to the Military Com- reception in the conference room of the MC&E Museum: munications and Electronics Museum (MC&E Museum), a fitting gathering to mark the start of a most historic and constitutes the first step in the creation of a military promising beginning. technology museum anchored by a stand-alone RCEME Museum (Phase II) and the MC&E Museum antici- Colonel Nellestyn is Co-Chair pated to open on the Corps’ 75th Anniversary in 2019 or RCEME Heritage Committee shortly thereafter. Phase I will also include the construction of a pad in front of the existing MC&E Museum on which will placed equipment, yet to be selected, typically supported by The Navy It is upon the navy under the Providence of God the Corps. that the safety, honour, and welfare of this realm do The sod turning ceremony was preceded by a chiefly attend. town hall meeting held by the Corps of RCEME’s Direc- King Charles II tor Colonel Sebastien Bouchard which was attended by 4 The Carro Veloce L.3/33 (CV 33) Series II Tankette by Maj. (Ret’d) Don Allen

ued to be riveted/bolted throughout the war with welding used sparingly even when most nations had switched to fully welded construction methods. The tankettes first saw combat in the mid-1930s in Italian East Africa and then in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 with the Italian armoured division supporting the Fascists. It was used extensively in the Second War most notably in the North African Campaign and in Italy until the Italian capitulation in late 1943. In September 1943 the Germans captured about 150 CV 33s and used them as tractors, security and airfield defence vehicles until the end of hostilities. Despite its drawbacks it was a reasonably effec- tive vehicle if used in the reconnaissance or security role. Of the approximately 2,800 built (all variants) over 1,200 were exported to nations that included China, Austria, Brazil and Afghanistan. The vehicle appeared In the late 1920s Italy had a requirement for a small in several variants including two flamethrower versions, light tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicle and sub- a light bridge version - the Passerella, a radio command sequently the Mark VI tankette was built in small numbers vehicle and several light mobile anti-tank gun versions. in Italy under license from British Vickers Carden-Loyd. The War Museum’s CV 33 Series II is in reason- The Canadian War Museum’s smallest tracked armoured ably good condition and displays the markings for the fighting vehicle is descended from the tiny Vickers Mark Ariete Armoured Division. The vehicle was obtained in VI tankette or small tank. In 1933 Fiat and the Ansaldo North Africa by Britain and given to Canada after the Steel company developed a replacement for the Mark war although the specific provenance is unknown. One VI, the Carro Veloce or “fast tank” CV 3/33 tankette quickly notices that there are neither seats nor ammu- series retaining the Mark VI suspension. Series I was nition racks and that is because the furniture and the armed with a single machine gun (MG) and the Series II shelving in most Italian vehicles was constructed of increased the firepower with a dual mounted 8 mm Fiat wood and have long since disappeared. Model 14/35 MGs. The CV 33 was designed for internal security and Don Allen is a retired Armoured Corps officer reconnaissance duties but because of a lack of other who spent 35 years in the . more suitably equipped vehicles it was often thrust He is now a Volunteer interpreter into the role of a direct fire support vehicle usually with in the LeBreton Gallery of the CWM. disastrous results. This was a small fully enclosed, dual hatched vehicle weighing 3.2 tons with a top speed of 42 kph. The crew consisted of a driver and a com- mander/gunner. The vehicle was cramped and the driver’s back rest was the 45 litre gasoline tank which further restricted movement. The CV 33’s 13 mm of armour could withstand small arms fire but would not have been proof against anything heavier. The vehicle was constructed around a heavy steel frame on which armour plates were bolted. This was a common inter- national construction method up to the beginning of the Second War. The frame, however, adds extra weight where thicker armour could have been employed had it been simply welded together. Italian vehicles contin- February 2015 5

FCWM Volunteer Interpreter Program (Part 1) by Gordon Foster The Friends of the Cana- mal flavour. It also allowed visitors for the Field Instructor in Gunnery dian War Museum have provided to see some of the vehicle resto- Course for the Royal Canadian a variety of support and services ration projects in progress. After Artillery School. Unfortunately, this to the Museum. The current Vol- the initial visits, Vimy House staff occurred just after Vimy House unteer Interpreter Programme had repositioned the vehicles to make was closed for the move to our new its roots in activities at the former them more accessible to viewers. location. However, the project was Museum site. Volunteers acted as This programme was so success- carried out with reference to artil- guides at the War Museum’s Sus- ful that the Museum decided to pro- lery pieces in the Museum building sex Drive location. Although almost vide staff and open Vimy House to which closed at a later date. all of our guides had military expe- visitors during the summer months. rience, a few did not. If our mem- One of our volunteers attended bers were available, we would be regularly on Sundays to act as a This is the first of a three part asked to conduct tours. Otherwise, guide for visitors. article on the Volunteer Inter- staff guides were assigned. We One of the volunteers provided preter Program. Gordon Foster were booked for tours of the first an additional project. He gave a his- is the long-time FCWM Coordi- and second floors of the building. torical review of artillery in Canada nator of the Program. Because of the popularity of the programme, we had to later include the third floor so that there would be room enough for the number of vis- itors participating. Museum office Adopt-a-Book 2014 – Final Report staff booked the tours. Additionally, some of us were asked to be pres- by Bill Smith ent in the galleries once or twice a week to answer visitors’ questions. The 2014 Campaign was again a crowning success and This also provided a presence in achieved a total of all sixty-two titles being adopted this year. the Museum for the Friends on a Friends, you have done it again, and once more you have earned regular basis. During this period, a Bravo Zulu for your wonderful effort. Well Done Friends. because of the workload in the All sixty-two (62) were adopted by thirty-one (31) Friends. Museum office, a member of the They are: volunteer guide staff took over the booking of tours led by volunteers. Pat Barnhouse Charles Gruchy Michael Parry In addition to activities at the Michael Bowen Robert Hamilton Herbert Pitts Museum site, volunteers also acted Pamela Brunt Jarrott Holtzhauer Jetty Poelstra as guides at Vimy House where the Larry Capstick Donald Hook Patrick Rafferty vehicle collection was stored. Usu- Mai-yu Chan Marilyn Joseph William Reed ally, the building was closed to the public for all but a couple of days John Clarry P.B. Kilby William Smith a year. The Friends came up with Walter Conrad Michael Koch Richard Thorman an initiative to open the collection René Danis Doug Knight Sylvain Trudel to the public on Saturdays during Thomas Dent Liliane Lafleur Kenneth Tucker the winter months. A Commission- John Grainger Michael Lambert Rollande Vézina. aire was in attendance for security reasons and each Saturday several Terence Moore volunteers were present to inform visitors about the equipment and to Bill Smith is the FCWM Coordinator talk about their own experiences. of the Adopt-a-Book Program The whole project had an infor- 6 The Founding of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – August 1914 by Maj. (Ret’d) Larry Diebel

On the third of August 1914, regiment should be named after in the face of the near certainty her as “The Princess Patricia’s of war with Germany, a success- Canadian Light Infantry”. The ful, well-connected business man, Governor General’s Military Sec- Andrew Hamilton Gault met with retary, Lieutenant-Colonel Fran- the Canadian Minister of , cis Farquhar, DSO, a personal . Hamilton Gault, a friend of Hamilton Gault, who charismatic, imposing figure (he had assisted him in planning was six foot two) was an officer the regiment was designated of the militia in . He had to be commanding officer with Hamilton Gault served with the Second Mounted Gault as second-in-command. Rifles in the Canadian Contingent in the South African In accordance with his offer, Ham- War and returned from an experienced offi- ilton Gault was to meet the cost of “…the raising, cer deeply committed to both the Empire and the military. clothing, equipping, pay, transportation, feeding At his meeting with the minister, Gault proposed that and maintenance…” of the regiment to a maximum of he be authorized to raise a Canadian regiment to go to $100,000. All additional costs would be met by the Gov- the aid of Great Britain. To achieve operational readiness ernment of Canada. In the event, Gault’s financial con- quickly, he planned to recruit former soldiers of either the tribution to the founding of the regiment was $99,000, Canadian or , thereby reducing or eliminat- slightly more than two million in 2014 dollars. (This was ing the need for training. Further, he offered to personally apparently the last occasion in the long history of the meet the cost of raising the unit! Not surprisingly, the min- Empire when an individual totally met the cost of raising ister and government hard pressed for military resources a regiment for Imperial service.) were quick to accept Hamilton Gault’s offer. The following With initial planning completed, on 11 August day, the fourth of August, Great Britain declared war on 1914, regimental recruiting posters went up in Montreal, Germany and Canada too was at war. Toronto, , Calgary and Edmonton. The response In an astonishingly short number of days, plan- was immediate -volunteers came forward from across the ning and arrangements for the new regiment were com- Dominion; they were “…prospectors, trappers, guides, pleted. Although Gault had wanted to raise a cavalry farm-hands, cow-punchers, prize-fighters, profes- unit, he acceded to the gov- sional and business men…” but, above all, old sol- ernment’s insistence that diers. In total more than 3,000 men volunteered. Patricia infantry units were required. history paints legendary accounts of the robust enthusi- He insisted only that the asm of these men in their determination to reach Ottawa regiment should be des- for enlistment. In the most famous incident an east bound ignated as “light Infantry”, train was “train napped” (reportedly at gun point) to pro- presumably, to distinguish ceed to Ottawa collecting would be recruits as it moved it from the “poor bloody across the country. At Lansdowne Park in Ottawa 1100 of infantry” of the line. With these men were accepted for service. the agreement of the Gov- The recruits were medically inspected, documented, ernor General, the Duke of kitted out in uniforms (fitted by nine tailors paid for by Connaught, his very attrac- Hamilton Gault), issued equipment, organized into a tive and charming daugh- battalion of platoons and companies and given refresher ter, Princess Patricia, a training. As part of their recruitment every man was granddaughter of Queen personally interviewed by his new commanding officer, Princess Patricia Victoria, accepted that the Francis Farquhar. February 2015 7

On the 23rd of August the new battalion assembled was inspected by the Prime Minister and the Minister of for its first church parade and at its conclusion Prin- Militia. With the inspection over, the regiment entrained cess Patricia presented “her” regiment a “Camp Colour”, and departed for Montreal where it boarded the ocean the pennant or flag used to mark the regiment’s head- liner Megantic, bound for the UK. It had been 17 days quarters when deployed in the field. Of her own design since the recruiting posters had gone up. and embroidery, this pennant became and remains a trea- sured regimental symbol known as the “Ric-A-Dam-Doo”. Larry Diebel is a Volunteer Interpreter with the FCWM. On the 28th of August, the regiment marched from its He served for 33 years in the Canadian Army, most of camp in Lansdowne to the Ottawa train station. There it them with the PPCLI.

Enhancing FCWM: Changes Your Membership in Communications by Mike Braham Mike Braham, who has chaired the Com- The ability of the Friends of the Canadian War munications Committee and edited the Torch Museum to fulfil its mission of support to the Canadian for the past three years, is stepping down from War Museum rests entirely upon the contribution of the both posts. In his words, “Both of these activi- membership – their annual dues; donations; and volun- ties are now well established. It is now time teer activities such as Committee members, selling books to inject some professional communications through the used military book store, as volunteer inter- and marketing expertise to better tap their preters in the Galleries, as researchers, and as vehicle potential for information dissemination and restoration technicians. as recruiting tools.” All of us contribute through our annual membership Taking over as Chair of the Communica- dues and all are able to donate if we wish, but not all are tions Committee is Katharine Trim. Katharine is able to participate in the various volunteer activities for a currently a member of the FCWM Board of Direc- variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that tors and has a considerable background of com- not all of us live in the National Capital Region. munications and marketing expertise in both the That said, I would like to suggest two ways in which private and public sectors. all of us could contribute, regardless of our geographic The new Editor of the Torch is Ruth Kirkpat- location - ways that are not very onerous, but which rick who brings her long experience and proven would lend to improving the overall image of the Friends, expertise with graphic design and publication not only internally, but also to other prospective members. production to the task. My first plea is for feedback. At present we receive Mike will remain as a member of the Com- virtually no indication from the Membership of its degree munications Committee and as an assistant of satisfaction with the organisation and its various com- Editor to assist these two ladies as they tackle munications products. What do you think of the Torch; their new challenges. the Web Site; and, the Face Book site? Your constructive comments, both positive and negative would serve as an important basis for improvement. Changes to the Torch Contextual input is my second request. We are by Ruth Kirkpatrick always in need for new material for the Torch, the Web You will note a number of layout changes with this Site and our Face Book site. Do you have any militaria edition of the Torch. It is my hope that they repre- Personal Treasures that you can share with us for the sent some presentational improvements. However, Web Site? Have you “liked” the Face Book site? Are there I would be pleased to receive any comments and/ any relevant personal or family stories that might interest or suggestions that you might have with respect to other members if published in theTorch? those changes. If you have some input, please send Your consideration of these two requests will be it to [email protected] attention: Torch Editor much appreciated. 8 The First World War by Hew Strachan Reviewed by John Anderson This is a totally fascinating book. a global war. Canadians tend to In only 340 pages, the author man- focus on the Western Front because ages to capture the entire world-wide the events in this sector were the extent of the First World War: West- making of Canada as a nation. But ern Front (with which we are most battles on other fronts were perhaps familiar), Eastern Front, Italian Front, even more apocalyptic. Middle East, Africa and the Far East; But while focusing on the stra- the land battles, the naval battles; tegic aspects, developments on and the politics. the battlefield are not completely The author, Hew Strachan neglected. For example, with respect (now Sir Hew Strachan), is Chichele to the western front, Strachan notes Professor of the History of War at that, particularly in the early years, Oxford University; he is particularly command and control difficulties well known for his work on the his- contributed in large measure to the tory of the First World War. It takes a inability of either side to exploit tacti- very good academic to boil all of that cal successes. And in the latter part detail down to only the salient points, of the war the effectiveness of artil- and then a very good writer to con- lery improved tremendously and was are the same as those of the ten vey only the essentials without mak- used in far greater concentrations in chapters in the book, and one can ing the book unreadable for ordinary attempts to minimize casualties. see parallels between the content of mortals. The style is of necessity And behind all of the battlefield each chapter and its corresponding almost telegraphic, but it stills reads drama was the political drama. The episode in the TV series, but the exi- very well. book shows, for example, that the gencies of the video medium require Likewise of necessity, the book end of the war was precipitated by that the focus/emphasis be quite tends to be thematic rather than Germany’s internal political collapse, different. (Apologies to those read- chronological. Each of its ten chap- in turn aided by, among other things, ers who do not have access to TV ters discusses a particular aspect of the allied naval blockade. Ontario!) the war. The chapters are arranged This book was written about ten A remarkable book; highly rec- in roughly chronological order, but years ago, but it came to my attention ommended, especially for those read- the content of each chapter over- only this past summer when a ten- ers who want a better idea of how all laps with the content of other chap- part television mini-series, prepared of the war’s aspects fitted together. ters because specific events can be in parallel with the book, was re- looked at in different ways. broadcast on TV Ontario. The titles John Anderson is a Volunteer Readers looking for an over- of the ten episodes in the TV series Interpreter with the FCWM. view of the war through Canadian eyes will be disappointed; Stra- chan’s viewpoint is indeed global. A New Book by Ed Storey And readers who want to focus on Warrant Officer Ed Storey is a long-time the battlefield drama will also be and active member of the Friends. Recently, his disappointed. Specific battles are second book, ‘Assault Vests’ was published by mentioned, but only in the context of Service Publications. policy being executed or in terms of From the publisher’s website, “The scarce their influence on policy. Vimy Ridge, Second World War Assault Vests are examined for example, which is quite rightly big in full detail, including the original British design, in Canadian eyes, is mentioned but the Canadian improvements, the Canadian ‘Air- is not distinguished from other simi- borne’ variant and more. Includes a look at post- lar victories. war and modern US and Canadian equivalents.” This book is valuable because ISBN 978-1894581-99-8, $29.95. it illustrates that the war was indeed The picture is of the dust cover to the book.