Pro Patria 2010 Regimental Journal of The Royal Canadian Regiment The PRO PATRIA Sept. 2011, Issue 92 Editor Capt R. A. Appleton Technical Assistant: Cpl P.A. Vincent Layout & Design: Lisa Twomey, Creative Spark Design [email protected] For information about receiving PRO PATRIA, joining The RCR Association, or to request a change of address, please direct correspondence to: Regimental Adjutant, RHQ, The RCR Victoria Barracks PO Box 9999, Stn Main Petawawa, ON, K8H 2X3 Phone: (613) 687-5511, ext 5086 Facsimile: (613) 588-5932 PRO PATRIA 2010 Issue 92 Front cover: Pte Clipper Miano of 8 Pl, O Coy, 1 RCR BG, on patrol in Afghanistan, 2010. THE EDITOR’S DESK Editing Pro Patria 2010 has given me the opportunity to vicariously experience a year in the life of a great institution, The Royal Canadian Regiment. It was a wonderful adventure and, I would have to say, a daunting challenge. Any success I have enjoyed in this endeavour is in large measure attributable to a handful of very gifted and dedicated people. First and foremost among these is my predecessor as Regimental Adjutant, Captain Tim Robinson. Every facet of this Regimental appointment has been stamped with the imprint of his huge energy, incredible work ethic and dynamic character. This is cer- tainly the case with the Pro Patria magazine. This publication is very much the ongoing product of his innovative vision and dedication to our Regiment. A previous Regimental Adjutant and editor of Pro Patria, Captain Mike O’Leary, has also been a tremendous source of advice, help and inspiration. His knowledge of Regimental history and traditions is mythic. Mike is certainly the single most prolific contributor of highly entertaining and educational articles to the magazine. Pro Patria’s exceptionally talented Graphic Artist, Ms. Lisa Twomey, has made reality of the editor’s ideas and hopes for the Regimental magazine. Without her expertise and creativity, Pro Patria would be a much poorer product. Likewise, Corporal Phil Vincent, of RHQ, has been invaluable in sourcing photographs and pictures, while providing first-rate technical and computer assistance. Many of his suggestions have been ingenious. I must pay tribute to the leadership at Regimental Headquarters, in particular the Regimental Major, Major Jim MacInnis. He has been unfailingly patient, supportive and encouraging over the past year. I would also mention in gratitude the many selfless contributors whose enlightening articles and marvellous anecdotes have cast light on aspects of our Regimental history that might otherwise be soon forgotten. The Regimental magazine, then known as The Connecting File, began life as a monthly mimeo- graphed sheet shortly after the end of the First World War. Produced at Regimental Headquarters in London, Ontario, by 1925 it had emerged as a quality quarterly magazine with the structure and style it has largely retained to this day. The purpose of the magazine, then and now, was to provide a bridge between the two great elements of the Regiment: the serving members, whether they are in one of our four great Battalions or extra-regimentally employed; and those now retired from active military service. It is this very union that makes any regiment a living, dynamic entity that embraces past, present and future. To list just some of the names of the Regimental giants who have served as editor of The Connecting File/Pro Patria, is both an inspiring and fearsome experience. This is especially so if one is attempting to follow in their footsteps as editor. The list includes the likes of Lieutenant-Colonel RJS Langford, Brigadier TG Gibson, General Charles Foulkes, Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Crowe, Major-General Daniel Charles Spry and Colonel Omer Lavoie, to name but a few. To uphold the legacy passed on by such as these and to fulfil the Regimental magazine’s time-honoured mission, can be an overwhelming task. With the tremendous help of those already mentioned and of the many individual contributors, we will endeavour to maintain the very high standards of the past. Pro Patria Captain RA Appleton, Regimental Adjutant 3 PRO PATRIA 2010 CONTENTS Colonel of the Regiment ..................................................... 5 HRH Prince Phillip .............................................................7 The Regimental Council .....................................................10 Regimental Mentors ..........................................................12 1 RCR ...........................................................................13 2 RCR ...........................................................................36 3 RCR ...........................................................................50 4 RCR ...........................................................................64 Individual Submission ........................................................73 ERE .............................................................................77 CSOR ............................................................................90 Individual Submission ........................................................92 The RCR Association .........................................................97 Individual Submission ......................................................110 The RCR Museum ........................................................... 112 Individual Submission ......................................................123 Cadets ....................................................................... 131 Individual Submission ......................................................142 Departed Comrades and In Memoriam ..................................147 Individual Submission ......................................................167 Individual Submission ......................................................174 Forms ........................................................................ 179 Individual Submission ......................................................186 The Last Word ............................................................... 192 4 PRO PATRIA 2010 COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT This will be my last contribution to Pro Patria as your Colonel of The Regiment. I have enjoyed the opportunity that Pro Patria has provided me to communicate with the regimental family writ large. This past year has, without doubt, been a year of tremendous achievement and accomplishment for The Royal Canadian Regiment. You will find in the pages of this Pro Patria the detail of the many activities and successes of our great Regiment with my goal here being to simply sum up some of the significant milestones and events. MGen W.M. Holmes, MBE, CD The serving units of The Regiment have been actively involved in deployed domestic and expeditionary operations throughout the past 12 months. Elements of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group deployed on Olympic security duties to Chilliwack early in the year, the 1 RCR Battle Group deployed to Afghanistan in the Spring, which was followed closely by the 3rd Battalion’s deployment to Huntsville for security duties related to the G8 Summit. The 4th Battalion did their share by contributing soldiers to operations in both Afghanistan and Huntsville. The Regiment has also enjoyed success in major competitions including the 2 CMBG Iron Man Competition, and the CF Small Arms Competition where 3 RCR walked off with most of the prizes, including Private Tim Hiscock, of the 1st Battalion, who won the Queen’s Medal as a Tyro. On all fronts, the units and individuals of The Regiment have demonstrated professionalism, determination, skill and pride in all that they have done. Initiatives in other areas of regimental business have enjoyed equal success. The Museum expansion and renovation project is well underway thanks to our many generous donors, the Museum staff led by Director, Claus Breede, the Museum Board of Directors under the leadership of BGen (Ret’d) Phil Spencer and to the host of volunteers who strive behind the scenes to make our Museum a world class facility. The Regimental Association has experienced a spurt in dormant Branches being reactivated and the establishment of a new branch in Alberta, named for RSM Bobby Girouard. The plans for the transition and move of Association Headquarters from London to the Eastern Ontario Area in 2011 are nearing completion thanks to a lot of hard work by many people in both locations. The future of the Association is bright and I encourage all Royal Canadians to become involved with your local Branch, or as a member at large. Look to the regimental website for details. One of the most significant regimental initiatives to gain traction over the past year has been the establishment of the Regimental Veterans Care (RVC) program. The program, which is run out of the Regimental Headquarters in Petawawa, is a major step toward insuring that the long term interests of the families of our fallen, our wounded and their 5 PRO PATRIA 2010 COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT CLS, LGen Devlin, presents MGen Holmes with the MGen and Mrs. Holmes marking the Paardeburg 0HULWRULRXV6HUYLFH0HGDO 060 DÀWWLQJFDSWR Anniversary with the Regimental family. his tenure as Colonel of the Regiment. families and anyone else seeking assistance are tended to with the respect, diligence and discretion that is required and deserved. The RVC program demonstrates a clear and lasting commitment to our soldiers and their families and is a true expression of our “once a Royal Canadian, always a Royal Canadian” philosophy. For almost five