Fort York News

Our new President , Major George Chabrol, receives his gavel

from installing officer, Colonel Geordie Elms Newsletter of Fort Branch York Royal 165 Canadian Legion

Summer 2019 Th Page 2 Fort York News Summer 2019

Fort York Legion Branch 165 1421 Executive 2019 – 2020 P.O. Box 69009 , ON M4T 1Y7 President……………………… Maj George Chabrol

Branch Websitte 1st Vice President…..……. LCdr Donna Murakami https://fortyorkbranch165.wildapricot.org/ 2nd Vice President………. Gunner Bill Utton

Immediate Past President... Col Gil Taylor Fort York Branch Calendar 2019 Secretary……………………… Col Fred McCague Treasurer……………………… Malcolm Hamilton 98th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade Membership Secretary…. Ann Unger Deputy Membership…….. LW Joyce Lloyd Saturday 17 August 2019, 10:30 am Chaplain……………………….. Maj Gillian Federico Canadian National Exhibition Padre Emeritus…………….. Rev. Maj Ebert Hobbs

Complete details including online Complete details including online District D, Zone 5 Rep…… LCdr Donna Murakami registration available at www.thewarriorsdayparade.ca Email: wdpa- F.Y. News……………………… Terry Sleightholm [email protected] Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter registra- tion available at www.thewarriorsdayparade.ca Email: wdpa- Sergeant-at-Arms………… Malcolm Morrison Public Relations……………. Sgt Peter Moon Newsletter Staff Sunnybrook Liaison………. LCdr Donna Murakami Remembrancer……………. Col Jim Hubel Writer/Publisher…………. Terry Sleightholm Photography………………. Sgt Peter Moon Branch Services Officer….Cdr Ed Sparling Terry Sleightholm RCMI Liaison………………… Susan Cook Writers/Editors…………… Sgt Peter Moon Capt Larry Rose Special Events Chair……... Maj George Chabrol Ann Unger Members-at-Large……….. Capt Greg Bailey Maj Rakesh Bhardwaj Name Tags Kathryn Boyden Cpl Art Burford Lt(N) Paul Costello If you require a name tag, please contact LCdr Kathryn Langley Hope Donna Murakami and she will arrange to have one made for you. The cost is approximately P/O Bill Milne $5.00 . Indicate whether you prefer a magnet Tom Pam or pin closure. Douglas Purdon [email protected]

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Bob Dale, D-Day Hero took off that day that a high level intelligence meeting was convening near Portsmouth. American and Brit- By Terry Sleightholm ish meteorologists continued to report to General Ei- senhower so that a date could be set for the invasion. any of us remember Bob Dale as a bright, kind At the time of Bob’s flight, D-Day was set for June 5th M and modest individual who spent many years if conditions were good; that is, wind direction and volunteering at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Wing. He was visibility for aircraft and naval operations. Pressure also president of Fort York Branch 165 in the year was on the meteorologists and their forecasts. The 2000 and supported its dinner meetings well after his weather had been questionable since June 2nd with president’s year. low cloud coverage, low pressure cells and winds blowing across the Channel. During the flight, Bob But not everyone knows that Bob made a very signifi- recorded the various elements of the weather system. cant contribution to the success of D-Day, 6th June, 1944, as a navigator in a Mosquito, the speedy, long- “We saw the front at its maximum intensity, low cloud range twin engine, wooden bomber. and rain,” Dale recounted years later. “We marked front stems on our chart. … They wanted to know the In May, 1944 F/L Bob Dale had completed two full height of the cloud and the cloud base. So we went tours of operations which usually meant repatriation down and figured we were in solid cloud at 8,000 feet to Canada. He had also earned a DFC, the Distin- or so. Then down to the base at about 500 feet. … The guished Flying Cross. The odds of Bob’s surviving a weather was really bad.” third tour were slim. Air Vice Marshal Bennett called Bob into his office. Bob Dale and his Mosquito

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve told them you’re not available,” he said to Bob, who waited for the other shoe to drop.

“You know as well as I do that big things are about to happen,” the Air Vice Marshal explained.

Flight Lieutenant Dale admitted to Bennett that he knew something major was up and he wouldn’t want to miss it. The two agreed that the repatriation re- quest would be turned down. After flying across Holland and France for three Although plans for an invasion of Europe by the Allies hours, Bicknell touched down at Ford air station near were top secret, there was a feeling in England that the Channel, rather than wait until they reached Wy- something substantial was going to happen sooner ton. Bob immediately was engaged in a debriefing via than later. a telephone conference call. The weather over the next 24 hours did not look good: Strong southwesterly winds were blowing across the Channel, cloud and Bob and his pilot, P/O Nigel Bicknell, stayed on for a rain lay low along the coast of western Europe. Eisen- third tour because their flying and navigational skills hower confirmed that the invasion would be post- were needed for a crucial operation. On 4 June, the poned. two men were given a briefing in the operations room at RAF Wyton, a station in Huntingdonshire, on the After returning to Wyton, Bob noticed, "They were day’s mission: Fly a 1,000-mile weather-reconnaissance starting to paint black and white stripes on the wings solo op east over the North Sea, then inland over Holland, and fuselages of all the aircraft, " and he knew these south and west across the northern coastal region of zebra stripes were a definite signal. "This was it.” France, south as far as Brest on the Atlantic coast, then back across the English Channel...at top speed.

Due to secrecy, Bob and Nigel had no idea as they Page 4 Col Gil Taylor, Mrs. Oliphant, Marion Dick and Dr. Andy Smith, CEO of Sunnybrook, were among the The Canadian navigator’s third tour of operations guests. would cast him and his Mosquito aircraft pilot part- ner, Nigel Bicknell, in one of the most critical air op- erations of their war. A 1,ooo mile, three-hour flight that put Bob and his pilot into the history books about D-Day. □ From an article in the National Post, June 6, 2015 by author, Ted Barris ______Sunnybrook Veterans Chapel

In April, a special service was held in the Sunnybrook Veterans Chapel to dedicate the new pipe organ that replaced a somewhat worn-out model. Planned by Col Jim Hubel, Rev. Veronica Roynon and Rev. Mary-Jo MacDonald, several guests attend- ed, as well as the veterans from Sunnybrook.

Page 5 Fort York News Summer 2019

Page 6 Fort York News Summer 2019

DARING SECOND WORLD WAR ATTACK base when the British opened the defence screen to RECALLED let in a flotilla of destroyers. By Captain Larry D. Rose Aboard Torpedo 221 Lieutenant Luigi Durand de la Penne and crewman Emilio Bianchi encountered un- isitors arrive in Venice by their thousands to see expected problems. The torpedo’s engine quit and the V historic St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace pair had to push it manually. Then Bianchi was and watch iconic gondolas bobbing along the Grand forced to surface due to faulty oxygen equipment. De Canal. Ah, the romance of it all. But only a couple of la Penne had to wrangle the Maiale alone for the final cobbled alleyways away from St. Mark’s is a little no- run to his target, the 3,400-ton battleship ticed attraction that tourists might also enjoy. The HMS Valiant. Venice Naval History Museum has four floors jammed with everything nautical: artifacts, maps, paintings, uniforms and models. During a recent visit, while enjoying the many im- pressive displays, something very unusual caught my eye. In the entrance hall was a twenty-two foot manned torpedo, a type used during one of the most audacious and remarkable attacks of the Second World War. The operation severely damaged two British battle- ships, a destroyer and a tanker in Alexandria harbour in December 1941. That success prompted the Allies to organize similar operations and among those in- volved in them were two young Canadians. More about what happened to them later but it was the Ital- Here was an extraordinary duel: a great warship ians who could trumpet the first big success. armed with its mighty 15-inch guns and with a crew of The torpedoes used in the Alexandria attack, like about 1,200 against two men and a torpedo. the one on display in Venice, appeared deceptively De la Penne pushed his Pig under Valiant and left it primitive. They were designed and built before the on the harbour bottom. The two frogmen were sup- Second World War at a shipyard south of Genoa on posed to find their way back to the Scire but instead the Italian west coast. they were captured. Dubbed “Pigs” because they were difficult to steer, They were interrogated by Captain Charles Morgan the weapons carried a two-man crew who rode them but they told him nothing. Fifteen minutes before like a horse. They were also submarines in miniature. detonation, when it was too late to find and de- Each Pig was equipped with ballast tanks and diving activate the explosive, de la Penne informed Morgan planes while it carried 220 kilograms (485 pounds) of of what was about to happen. The two frogmen were explosives. Each had a battery-powered electric mo- returned to a locked compartment just above where tor making it capable of travelling for several hours at the torpedo would detonate. A massive explosion fol- a maximum depth of about one hundred feet although lowed which blew a big hole in the hull and disabled its speed was less than three knots. the ship. De la Penne and Bianchi were injured but The 1941 attack began when the Italian submarine not seriously. Scire left La Spezia naval base carrying three torpe- Meantime, crewmen Antonio Marceglia and Sparta- does in special containers on its deck . The sub arrived co Schergat had better luck, attaching Torpedo 223 off Alexandra harbour on December 19 and in the right to the hull of the battleship Queen Elizabeth. darkness released the torpedoes and their crews about The torpedo (also referred to as a limpet mine) ex- two kilometers from shore. After their approach all ploded causing even more serious damage than that attackers were able to enter the naval sustained by Valiant. The two frogmen escaped from Page 7 Fort York News Summer 2019

French sailors, but were captured by police two days ship Tirpitz. As told in the book, Through a Canadi- later. Aboard Torpedo 222 Vincenzo Martello- an Periscope, the two underwent months of exhaus- ta and Mario Marino searched in vain for an aircraft tive and bone-chilling training. Neither of them took carrier they had expected to find. Instead, they decid- part in the Tirpitz raid but both were later involved in ed to attack a nearby tanker, the 7,500-ton Sagona attacks in the Mediterranean and Bonnell was lost on with Marino fixing the mine under the tanker's stern. one of them. He was aboard the British submarine The blast erupted and in the resulting confusion both P311 which was operating off Sicily. Prior to launch- men managed to escape although they were eventual- ing its Chariots, it apparently hit a mine and sank ly arrested at an Egyptian police checkpoint. with all hands although wreckage of the boat was nev- er found. The damage to the three ships was severe. Eight Moreton was involved in Chariot training but did not members of Queen Elizabeth's crew were killed and take part in operations. He survived the war. the ship was put out of action for nine months only returning to operations in June, 1943. Valiant re- Meantime, one of the Italian divers had a remarka- mained on an even keel with its decks above water, ble history in subsequent years. Luigi Durand de la clear of the harbour bottom. Although immobilized it Penne was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Val- looked like it was still battle ready. The Royal Navy our, Italy’s highest military decoration. After the Ital- allowed pictures to be taken which then appeared in ian Armistice in September, 1943 he volunteered to the British press in an attempt to conceal the damage. take part in operations against German targets. He However, Valiant had to undergo temporary repairs participated in a joint British-Italian operation in until April 1942 when it was sailed to Durban, South June, 1944 which attacked two cruisers under Ger- Africa for more extensive rebuilding. The tank- man control in the port of La Spezia. The cruisers er Sagona and a nearby destroyer were damaged but both were repaired in Alexandria. For the next six were sunk before they could be used to block the har- months the Italian fleet temporarily wrested naval bour entrance. supremacy in the east-central Mediterranean from the Royal Navy. After the war de la Penne stayed in the re-formed Italian navy, eventually retiring as a vice-admiral. He The attack had one unintended consequence: it in- later became a deputy in the Italian parliament. spired the British to build their own manned torpedo, In whatever navy, the human torpedo operations dubbed the “Chariot.” Among those who trained for involved enormous risks and required exceptional Chariot operations were two Canadian members of courage and daring. Many of the volunteers lost their the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve, Lieuten- lives both in training and on operations before the ant Alan Moreton and Lieutenant Chuck Bonnell, war’s end. □ both from Toronto. Earlier in the war Bon- nell had won a DSC as a commander of a motor torpedo boat. It was used in several attacks including an unsuccessful attempt in October 1942 to sink the German battle- Page 8 Fort York News Summer 2019 Day Dodgers Luncheon

June 17th, 2019 By Terry Sleightholm

n June 17th the D-Day Dodgers O Luncheon took place in RCMI’s main dining room. Several Fort York 165 members attended this annual event, which for many years was organized by the late Brigadier-General Ted Brown. The luncheon meeting was presided over by Brigadier General Garry Thomson whose opening remarks were followed by a very tasty lunch. Of course it would not be a D-Day Dodger meal without the traditional slice of Spam adorning the salad.

BGen Garry Thomson makes his opening remarks.

Speaker Honorary Colonel(ret’d) Geordie Beal

Colonel Geordie Elms introduced the speaker, Honor- ary Colonel (ret’d) Geordie Beal, whose topic was enti- tled, Voices of Christmas ̶ Ortona 1943. Everyone participated in singing the D-Day Dodger song, accompanied by Major (ret’d) Gino Falconi on his accordi- on. The luncheon concluded following General Thom- son’s recognition of the various Canadian units who fought in Italy and those who represented them. □ Colonel Elms introduces the speaker. Page 9 Fort York News Summer 2019

D-Day Dodgers Song

We're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy Always on the vino, always on the spree. Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks We live in Rome – among the Yanks. We are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay, Jerry brought the band down to cheer us on our way Showed us the sights and gave us tea, We all sang songs, the beer was free. We are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.

The Volturno and Cassino were taken in our stride. We didn't have to fight there. We just went for the ride. Anzio and Sangro were all forlorn. We did not do a thing from dusk to dawn. For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

On our way to Florence we had a lovely time. We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line. On to Bologna we did go. Then we went bathing in the Po. For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy. Major (Ret’d) Gino Falconi leads the luncheon audience in singing The D-Day Dodgers song Once we had a blue light that we were going home Back to dear old Blighty, never more to roam. Then somebody said in France you'll fight. We said never mind, we'll just sit tight, The windy D-Day Dodgers, out in Sunny Italy.

Now Lady Astor, get a load of this. Don't stand up on a platform and talk a load of piss. You're the nation's sweetheart, the nation's pride We think your mouth's too bloody wide. We are the D-Day Dodgers, in Sunny Italy.

When you look 'round the mountains, through the mud and rain You'll find the crosses, some which bear no name. Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone The boys beneath them slumber on They were the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy.

On the same day as the event inside, the Rap- So listen all you people, over land and foam tors parade is about to turn the corner from Even though we've parted, our hearts are close to home. University onto Armoury Road, as viewed from When we return we hope you'll say the RCMI balcony. "You did your little bit, though far away All of the D-Day Dodgers, way out there in Italy." Page 10 Fort York News Summer 2019

CANADIAN RANGERS A GROWING COMMUNITY and rescue operations. In 2015 they conducted 18 RESOURCE IN NORTHERN ONTARIO searches and rescued 23 people. By Peter Moon “The Rangers do a great job, they really do,” he told The Canadian Rangers have created an impressive his audience, which gave him an ovation after his record of service to the First Nations of the Far North presentation. of Ontario, according to their commanding officer. He told them that in July and August, 2018, Rangers “The Rangers are a success story in Northern Ontar- from several communities flew to Wapekeka and io,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Richardson at Nibinamik when the two Oji-Cree communities faced the Royal Canadian Military Institute’s annual confer- youth suicide crises. They remained for a total of 51 ence on defence and security studies in Toronto. days and conducted around-the-clock patrols to pre- vent deaths. They also organized activities to keep There are 640 Rangers, who are part-time army re- youth occupied. They provided similar organized ac- tivities in 2017 when Attawapiskat faced a youth sui- cide crisis.

Last December Rangers travelled by snowmobile from nearby communities to assist in the delivery by a mili- tary helicopter of a replacement generator for Wa- wakepiwan when the small First Nation’s generator broke down during a period of bitter cold. The Rangers went door to door ensuring people had food and heat. They also assisted when Muskrat Dam’s generator had issues during the same cold snap. Colonel Matthew Richardson In the last five years, he said, Rangers played key roles in the evacuations of a number of First Nations be- servists, in 27 First Nations across the top half of On- cause of flooding and forest fires. tario. Every year, he said, they go to the rescue of hunters, trappers, fishermen, and others who get into Last November many Rangers responded as trained trouble in a vast and challenging area bigger than the volunteers to a call for help from the Cree community size of France. They assist in evacuations and help, of Waskaganish in Quebec when four hunters went when necessary, to deliver emergency equipment. missing. The Canadian Army recognized the value of Almost half the Rangers are female. their contributions in the search by placing them on duty retroactively and paying them for their service. Colonel Richardson said the army is adding new Ranger patrols in two additional First Nations in The Rangers also manage the Junior Canadian Ranger Northern Ontario this year and two more next year. program for youth aged 12 to 18. There are now more than 1,000 Junior Rangers and the program is being The Rangers are commanded by the 3rd Canadian slowly introduced into schools in Thunder Bay, Tim- Ranger Patrol Group, with its headquarters at Canadi- mins, and Pelican Falls. “It is a very successful pro- an Forces Base Borden. It is the largest army reserve gram,” he said. unit in Ontario. (Sergeant Peter Moon, a member of Fort York In 2018 they rescued 13 people in 16 search and res- branch, is the public affairs ranger for the 3rd Cana- cue missions. They rescued 22 people in 20 missions dian Ranger Patrol Group at CFB Borden.) in 2017. In 2016 they rescued 32 people in 25 search

Page 11 Fort York News Summer 2019

Sunnybrook Veterans Care Currently, there is a wait list for this group of Veter- ans. We are pleased to announce that Veterans Affairs From Dr. Andy Smith Canada has authorized an additional 30 bed alloca- tion to the pilot project at our facility for a total of 80 Dear Colleagues, beds within our existing bed complement. Sunny- brook and Veterans Affairs Canada are proud to be Sunnybrook, in partnership with Veterans Affairs able to provide greater access for this group of Veter- Canada, has been proudly serving the needs of Cana- ans who need our care. dian Veterans since 1948. Today, the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre remains the largest Veterans care facility in Canada and a recognized leader in the care While we will have greater capacity for new eligibility of 475 Veterans of the Second World War and the Ko- Veterans who are awaiting access to a bed, we still rean War. Please share the following information with have a significant challenge related to our occupancy your senior leaders and health care teams, so they are and need to implement additional strategies. Over the aware of our capacity to further serve our veterans. last year we have experienced a steady decline in the All applications for admission into the Veterans Cen- number of traditional eligible applications to our fa- tre are processed by calling Veterans Affairs Canada cility. This decline has also been evident at other Vet- at 1-866-522- 2122. As many frail seniors and their erans’ care facilities across Canada. families are faced with long wait lists for long-term care, I wanted to highlight and increase awareness As a result, Sunnybrook has made the difficult deci- that our Veterans Centre is here to serve Veterans in sion to consolidate remaining empty beds and close their greatest time of need. The Centre includes the K3C by the early fall of 2019. K3C is one of 15 Veter- Dorothy Macham Home opened as the first facility in ans’ care units in the Veterans Centre, and the closure Canada to meet the special needs of veterans suffer- will involve the relocation of 21 Veteran residents to ing from responsive behaviours due to dementia. This other beds within the facility. These moves will not home has been highly successful at reducing challeng- have an impact on the quality of care and services that ing, behavioural symptoms and improving the quality our residents receive from the Veterans Centre. of life for our Veteran residents and their families. Sunnybrook was established as an institution of heal- At this time, we are evaluating each K3C resident’s ing for Veterans. Although the hospital has undergone individual care needs to determine the most appropri- many changes over the years, Veterans care has al- ate new location within the Veterans Centre. As al- ways and will continue to be at the heart of what we ways, we will be here for our Veteran residents to en- do. sure they have compassionate, resident-focused care as they face the challenges of aging. Andy Andy Smith, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS President & CEO Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Phone: We expect the moves will take place in the late sum- 416-480-4112 Fax: 416-480-6033 email: mer and into early fall 2019. We will do everything [email protected] possible to make the changes as seamless as possible for our residents, their families and our staff. ______Thank you for your ongoing support of the Veterans Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Centre. Please contact us if you have any questions. April 29, 2019 Yours truly, To whom it may concern: Sylvia Brachvogel, Operations Director: 416-480- 6100 x7813 In 2016, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) initiated a Dr. Jocelyn Charles, Medical Director: 416-480-6100 pilot project that expanded the eligibility criteria for x2629 up to 50 beds at Sunnybrook to include a new catego- ry of Veterans. This included certain Allied Forces Dr. Dan Cass, Operations Executive V.P. & Chief and Canadian Service Veterans who previously did Medical Executive not qualify for Sunnybrook.

Page 12 Fort York News Summer 2019 The D-Day Copper Cross

Submitted by Capt Greg Bailey n 22 February 2019, the Royal Army Chaplains' O Department will celebrate 100 years from the time King George V bestowed the prefix 'Royal' to their name in recognition of its outstanding service and sacrifice during the First World War. His grand- daughter, Her Majesty The Queen, will attend a spe- cial service of commemoration with the entire Army chaplaincy community, to mark this auspicious anni- versary. During the service, a new Book of Remembrance and Roll of Honour detailing the 315 Army chaplains who have died in the service of others will be blessed. The Book will subsequently be laid up in the Royal Reverend Sandy Reynolds Memorial Chapel Sandhurst where its pages will be regularly turned. In keeping with recognizing the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the processional cross used in the service will be the one used by Rev- modeled on one they found in a local destroyed erend Sandy Reynolds, Chaplain to the 120th Anti- church. The Reverend Reynolds continued to use the Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery during the Second cross through France, Belgium, Holland and Germa- World War. ny and took it home with him to England. After the war, Reynolds continued to serve in the Territorial

Army. At some point in his career, he donated the cross to the parish of Brown Candover in Hampshire. The Royal British Legion used the cross on both the

40th and 50th Festivals of Remembrance of D-Day and has been kindly lent for the centenary service with the permission of the Reverend Reynold’s daughter Georgina Spencer. □

Just For Laughs...

Chapel and altar built by 3rd Cdn Div Engineers

Reynolds landed on D + 1 on Gold Beach and be- gan services as soon as he could in a makeshift chapel built by Royal Canadian Engineers of the 3rd Canadi- an Infantry Division. The Canadian Sappers also fash- ioned a processional cross from German Copper Page 13 Fort York News Summer 2019 AGM/Change of Command Toronto Hunt

Page 14 Fort York News Summer 2019

HISTORY OF THE TORONTO -igation Unit. Noted scientists and Wilbur R. Franks were employed there, and it was at HUNT CLUB the CIU that Franks invented the anti gravity g-suit. ort York branch has held its annual general The club was also home to RCAF No. 1 Initial Train- meetings at the Toronto Hunt Club for several ing School, a unit of the British Commonwealth Air F years, sponsored by one of our members, John Training Plan. After the war it became the RCAF Staff Newman, who is the honorary lieutenant-colonel of School, and remained an officer training facility of the the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. Canadian Forces until closed in 1994.

This is a brief history of the club, according to Wik- By 1995 the Government of Canada transferred the ipedia. property to the Metropolitan Separate School Board, which was then renamed to the Toronto Catholic Dis- The Toronto Hunt Club was established by British trict School Board to replace De La Salle College Sec- Army officers of the Toronto garrison (Fort York) in ondary School, which was re-privatized in 1994 and 1843. It held gymkhana equestrian events at various Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School was sites around the city. built there in 1998.[The area surrounding the old Eglinton Hunt Club is now an established residential In 1895 it acquired its first permanent home in a rural neighbourhood of Forest Hill. area east of the city between and the waterfront. In 1898 the streetcar was extended east- The original Hunt Club site in Scarborough was ward to the site, and soon the area became a cottage turned into a nine-hole golf course in the 1930s, and district and then streetcar suburb of Toronto. This it remains an exclusive private golfing club today. □ forced the equestrian activities to move further afield. In 1907 the horses were thus moved to a site in Thornhill (Steeles' Corner at Steeles Avenue and Yonge Street).

Our Inductees

John Newman (left) and George Chabrol in con- versation. John was our sponsor for the Toronto In 1919 the club moved to a location closer to town at Hunt event. and . Known as the Toronto Hunt Eglinton Hunt Club, a polo arena, clubhouses and other facilities were erected.

The 1930s saw the club run into financial difficulties, however. In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, the large site was purchased by the feder- al government and turned into a secret Royal Canadi- an Air Force research facility, the No. 1 Clinical Invest Page 15 Fort York News Summer 2019 Page 16 Fort York News Summer 2019

AGM and Change of Command Page 17 Fort York News Summer 2019 Toronto Hunt, June 2019 Page 18 Fort York News Summer 2019

Toronto Hunt 1877

Past president Colonel Geordie Elms, left, salutes with Brigadier-General Jocelyn Paul, commander of 4th Canadian Division, during a 75th anniversary of D-Day ceremony at Queen's Park on June 6. Colonel Elms represented the veterans of Ontario. Ted Arnott, speaker of the Ontario Legislature, is at right. Page 19 Fort York News Summer 2019 Our First President Robert fell on hard times after the stock market ajor General Robert Rennie, CB, CMG, crash of 1929 and embarked on a new career as an DSO, MVO, VD was born on December 15, occasional stamp dealer (Hayter, 1988). A long time M 1863 in York Co, Ontario. He died on De- expert philatelist, he slowly sold off a massive accu- cember 17, 1949 in Toronto. In civilian life he was a mulation of envelopes that had contained corre- “seed merchant” – he had risen to become President spondence received by Rennie Seeds primarily from of the firm started by his father: The William Rennie the era 1895-1905. These envelopes are widely held Seed Company. in collections of Canadian postal history and are ac- tively bought and sold. Rennie joined the militia in July 1880 as a Rifleman and in his early years he was a well In 1891 Rennie had married Marian A. Ross and known marksman, representing Canada on the Bis- they had one son Gordon Cameron Rennie who also ley Team on three occasions and receiving several served late in the First World War and is also buried medals and prizes for his marksmanship. He be- at Mt Pleasant Cemetery. came a 2nd Lieutenant (Provisional) April 7, 1887; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant August 13, 1887; Lieuten- ant November 16, 1888; Captain April 22, 1892; Brevet Major 24 Oct 1904; Major 10 Apr 1906; Lieu- tenant Colonel 11 April 1911.

As a Major in 1910 he participated in the trip to England and during a visit to Balmoral, was award- ed the Royal Victorian Order, 4th Class by King George V.

By 1914 he was a Lieutenant Colonel. He was the original commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion CEF and led them at the Second Battle of Ypres, Festubert and Givenchy.

He was promoted to Brigadier November 17, 1915 and given command of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Canadi- an Division. In 1917 he was at Vimy Ridge. On Sep- Major General Robert Rennie was the first tember 25, 1917 Rennie, when proceeding to the for- president of the Businessmen's Branch of the ward area, was accidentally thrown from his horse, British Empire Service League in 1930. This suffering a broken collar-bone. He resumed com- organization later became Fort York Branch mand on January 28, 1918 and was with the Bri- gade at the Battle of Amiens. Rennie was awarded 165 of the Royal Canadian Legion. the CB in the June 1918 Birthday List. An appeal for unity led to the formation of the Dominion Veterans Alliance and, in Winnipeg He was promoted to Major General on September in 1925, the Legion was founded as “The Cana- 16, 1921. After retirement from Rennie Seeds in dian Legion of the British Empire Service 1925, Robert and his brother John Rennie were committed golfers and curlers and re- League.” It was incorporated by a special Act of mained connected to the civic life of Toronto. Rob- Parliament and the Charter was issued in July ert continued to be involved in military activities 1926. and was a prominent advocate of veterans’ interests. He was Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Queens Sources: Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada ar- Own Rifles from December 1936 to March 1939, and chives; Who We Are” by Col Jim Hubel from then to his death he was Honorary Colonel. Page 20 Fort York News Summer 2019

New Veteran’s Service Card to and Vancouver.

he new Veteran's Service Card will be available If booking, make sure you join the free affinity pro- T this coming summer to anyone who served in gram called "Via Preference". the Canadian Forces and was released before 2016. But beyond these nice benefits of convenience and Unlike the old NDI 75 photo ID card issued years ago "frippery", there are some very important and seri- to Members who left the CF with at least 10 years of ous benefits, as we all get older. Imagine that at service, the new requirements are very much easier. some (hopefully) ripe old age it is decided you need to go to a proper government licensed Nursing Home, where waiting lists are typically from 5 to Completed basic training and were honourably dis- 13 months in the GTA and Southern Ontario. If charged from the CF? You qualify for the new Veter- there are no Veteran applicants when a bed opens up, it an Service Card! (So almost 99% of us should qualify goes to another applicant. for this new photo VSC card! - Example: I recently With a Veterans Service Card in your wallet your met a now 69 year-old man, who was a recruit in the 6 loved ones can immediately establish your Veteran's -week summer Student Militia Program I helped to right to such a reserved bed. The Nursing Home will run in 1967. He passed basic training, but quit the Mi- usually wait no longer than 24 to 48 hours, before decid- litia by the end of 1967. Legally, he is a Veteran and ing who gets the newly available bed. That is usually qualifies for the Card! not enough time to hunt up your by then decades old paper records of military service. So apply for your

Veteran Service Card in 2019, and let loved ones Google "Veteran Service Card" and presently the lat- know what it can do for you, and where you keep est info is of April 2019. You can also call Veterans' it. Better yet have your loved ones make a photo copy or Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122. two, so proof will be handy when it is eventually need- At present it has not yet updated to Vets with service ed, hopefully, many years in the future. before 2016, but it is the same 2-page printable appli- Lastly, for deceased Veterans with very little or no cation form that is available on line. Veterans with pre money, there is the Last Post Fund administered by -2016 service cessation can apply as of the summer of Veterans' Affairs Canada. This Fund pays for a 2019 on. simple but decent funeral for a Veteran with little Fill it in, add a passport quality photo, plus a photo- or no money. And family or friends can claim for funeral expenses that they had paid, for up to a year copy of a government issued ID, like a driver's licence. after the Veteran's death. For further information Send it in...... and "hurry up and wait." The Veteran on the Last Post Fund call 1-800-465-711. Service Card should eventually arrive in the mail.

The Veteran's Service Card is valuable for several rea- sons in establishing that you have served, or are serv- ing in the CF. There are many discounts and more hidden perks: These include 25% off any VIA Rail fares, 3 or 4 piec- es of luggage checked for free on Air Canada and West Jet and numerous 10 to 20% discounts at hotels, res- taurants, car rentals etc.

Incidentally, VIA Rail is currently running a special 40% off (instead of 25% off) this summer (till Sept. 2019) for CF personnel, Veterans and accompanying family on the 4-day sleeping car trips between Toron-