thcona’s Horse (Roya Lord Stra l Canadians) Regimental Society Newsletter FALL/W/WINTER 2013 Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regimental Society, PO Box 10500 Station Forces Edmonton, AB T5J 4J5 Colonel of the Regiment Contents By Major-General (Ret'd) Cam Ross While in Wainwright with the whose engagement drills included 1 Colonel of the Regiment recently, I was most two leisurely sips of coffee between Regiment impressed with the standard fi ring and impact. There was of training and the levels of only one major overseas tasking – 2 Commanding Offi cer competence and professionalism. I Cyprus. also noted the extent of the budget 3 “Tales From The Big cuts are severe, forty-eight plus per There was average support amongst Chair” the Canadian public for the Canadian cent cut to the Regiment’s operating 4 The Association News and maintenance budget in FY12/13 Forces. It was generally accepted with another round of cuts likely in that NATO and the Americans would 5 Kingston Chapter FY13/14. take care of the Soviets; however, it was not well known that we had 6 2013 Family Golf Returning home to Victoria, where a mechanized brigade in what was Tournament the weather was considerably still ‘West Germany’. Peacekeeping more temperate than Wainwright, was the norm. Soldiers anxiously 7 Strathcona Humour I consulted the oracles (The waited for some dustup in the world 8 Lost Trails Strathconian; 1983) to fathom so that there might be a deployment whether these cuts were comparably of a Canadian contingent. In this 8 Regimental Belt Buckle strict. pre-Balkan era, the Cougar was a ‘tank trainer’ and was not to be 9 The Arctic Nights have Thirty years is a good measure of deployed on operations (we got that seen queer sights. time. It is a third of a century and one wrong). can be considered a generational 11 The Story of a gap or two. The 1983 edition of The Was money tight then? Absolutely; Campbellford Hero - Strathconian was printed during the however, the major difference from LCol John Bell Cold War era with the Soviet Union then to now is that the Regiment is 11 How to Lose a Soldier in being the main threat. Microsoft equipped with an outstanding tank. a Non-violent Way just released the fi rst edition of MS Don’t even think of looking at your Word; McDonald's introduced the coffee after fi ring; you will miss 13 Family Connections McNugget; the Edmonton Oilers the impact. While parts and other had only been in the NHL for four supplies are very tightly controlled, 14 Your Dispatches years; and the Regimental 2IC, Maj the VOR (vehicle off the road %) is 17 Your Photos Mike Onieu, was 8 years old. more than manageable. The other difference from 30 years ago is that 18 Reunion 2015 - 11 – 14 In November 1983, the Regiment Strathcona’s are incredibly well June - “Together in History” was fi rmly established in Calgary trained and led. Not saying that they without a hint of moving elsewhere. weren’t in 1983 but the limitations 20 Your Photos Continued The CO was LCol Dave Rogers, the of the Cougar precluded us being 21 The Steele Memorial RSM Earl Cady, and the Colonel a world-class fi ghting unit in the Site of the Regiment was MGen (Ret’d) profession of arms. Lastly, there Phil Neatby. A and B Squadrons 24 Last Trumpet Call were equipped with Cougars with Continued on page 3 its infamous 76 mm ‘pumpkin gun’, Strathconas Newsletter Page 1 www.strathconas.ca Commanding Offi cer operation. The speed in which the also led a full battle group for over entire Regiment was on the road and half of the fi eld portion of a Combat By Lieutenant-Colonel P.J. Peyton the professionalism of your soldiers Team Commander's Course. The Once again, Kathy has reminded was incredible. Accolades were full Regiment was deployed and, for me that I am late on my article plenty but none so telling as a letter a day, we even had the Strathcona submission for the upcoming received from the Chief of the Air Ladies come out for a visit (some Newsletter. So far I am three for Staff reiterating the compassionate of whom now have more tank time three, which according to Kathy puts and professional behaviour of our than their Recce Squadron spouses). me on par with my predecessors, all troops when evacuating special We remained in the fi eld only one of whom I now understand had so needs children stranded in the day less than we did last fall and we much to tell that it was hard to know mountains. Our troops may be had more tanks in the fi eld than ever. where to start. hardened warriors, but they are, Between November and December equally, among the most kind- members of our Regiment will visit I will begin by saying that your hearted and responsive Canadian 4/3 Cavalry in Texas to participate Regiment continues to perform citizens. in the challenging Spur Ride, and exceptionally well. As we have a composite troop from A and B now had several opportunities to As the days fi nally grew warmer in Squadrons will travel to Chile to work as part of the combined arms Edmonton, the Regiment focussed participate in a fi eld exercise. Post team on domestic operations and on Spruce Meadows activities, Christmas we will conduct our exercises, I am more convinced team building opportunities, regular combat function courses, than ever that Strathcona soldiers and a spectacular Freedom of a gun camp, and winter warfare are a step above the rest. Although Strathcona County Parade. We training. Finding calendar space for it will not be a surprise to any of routinely impress the public with a GOC's inspection and maintenance you, it is important to reiterate that our professionalism and pageantry; is a challenge. our Regiment's success results not however, a 44-kilometre road only from the exceptional soldiers move between Edmonton and The message is that we will fi nd a we have at the unit and elsewhere, Sherwood Park (Strathcona County) way to ensure our troops receive but equally from the strength of commands an unfamiliar dimension the training they need to maintain our extended Regimental family, of respect. As our RCMP escort their skill and the opportunities to outstanding friends of the Regiment, commented, "you probably could maintain their interest. Are there and, of course, our Association. To have done this without me." Apart challenges? Absolutely. As I read all of you, I again express the sincere from MWO Mark Riley deciding of Danny McLeod's incredible thanks of all serving Strathconas. to conduct a surprise guidon escort exploits in the book Always a You are our example and our ferret breakdown and evacuation Leader by Ted Nurse (which by inspiration. drill in front of the reviewing stand the way I highly recommend be the event was fl awless. placed on your Christmas wish list), My last Newsletter update spoke of it is not lost on me that we are in a how A and Recce Squadrons were in Despite the constant buzz normal post-confl ict cycle. Budgets the midst of high readiness training surrounding budget reductions, reduce to meet other government and how we were looking forward September saw the Regiment head priorities and it falls on us to fi nd to a little down time before summer back to Wainwright for fi eld training. solutions, often in the same manner leave. As military fortune would have Perhaps this is a good opportunity to many of you did following WW2, it, that was not to be. Very shortly explain the impact of reductions on Korea, and the Cold War. We trim after we returned from Wainwright, your soldiers. We train differently the fat, live a little more austere the Regiment was quickly deployed but we still train. Between than we have in the recent past, and to Kananaskis and Medicine Hat to September and November, the rely solely on our equipment vice a provide fl ood relief. Tasks included Regiment conducted our annual Fall rental option. In all of this there is everything from fi lling sandbags gun camp, troop live and dry training, value. It creates soldier resiliency, to evacuation operations in the Regimental force-on-force training is a forcing function for equipment Kananaskis corridor. I have never using weapons effects simulators, serviceability, and affords even more been more proud of our Regiment and an out of the manoeuvre area opportunities for training. I have no than I was during this particular exercise for Recce Squadron. We Strathconas Newsletter Page 2 www.strathconas.ca doubt there will be more cuts and I “Tales From The Big unexplored expensive side of the have no doubt that when they come menu. As I was deciding on which we will fi nd solutions. Chair” piece of meat would go best with By Chief Warrant Offi cer Tony Batty my beer, the CO’s phone rang; and I will cite a small anecdote to sum Although I have read many articles just like that we were told to get up. One of the most obvious impacts ready as Calgary was fl ooding and, of reductions has been the minimal in our fi ne newsletter, I must admit that this is the fi rst I have written. I potentially, we would be called in to amount of time we now spend in help as the Vanguard of the IRU.