cona’s Horse (R Lord Strath oyal Canadians) Regimental SocietySs Newsletter VOLUME 23, NO. 2 SUMMER/FALL 2009 Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regimental Society, PO Box 10500 Station Forces Edmonton, AB T5J 4J5 Message from during these repeated tours but also during the extensive periods of pre- Contents the Colonel of the deployment training they undergo Regiment in Wainwright, various US Army 1 Message from the bases and in Germany. Because we Colonel of the By Colonel J.E.N. Roderick have yet to fi eld any Leopard 2’s in Regiment It seems that only a short time ago Canada, all of the trades training that Kathy Batty was hounding me on that tank must be completed 2 Commanding Offi cer to send her my Newsletter article at the German “Panzerschule” in and now Munsterlager, an area many of you 2 Regimental she is on my will remember. Sergeant-Major back again. I have now As if providing consecutive 4 Regimental Association found out squadrons to Afghanistan is not Alberta Branch why she is enough, you will also read that the being so Regiment is heavily committed to 5 Okanagan Visitors pushy – Olympics 2010 as well. Those who Kathy is off were involved in the 1988 Calgary 5 Strathcona Family Golf to Australia Olympics will quickly see how the Tournament to the World bill has multiplied because of the Master’s world’s current security situation. 5 Regimental Association Games to play soccer in October Fortunately for Canada, the Edmonton Chapter and she wants to make sure the Strathcona’s, as always, will be up Newsletter is well launched before to the task. 6 Reunion 2010 Update she leaves We wish her good luck All this is to say that our Regiment at the tournament and I won’t even daily demonstrates that it is living 7 A River (Almost) Too be so crass as to mention it is a up to our motto “Perseverance”. Far tournament for “senior” ladies. Senior members of the Canadian 8 Contemporary As you read the articles covering Forces have remarked to me many Operating Environment Force Regimental life of late you will times how impressed they are that realize that there has been no letup in we have managed to be the busiest 9 Fit for a Prince the commitments. In early October, unit in Canada operationally and yet C Squadron will be replaced maintain the highest standards in 12 LCol Ian MacD Grant by B Squadron in our seventh our family support and Regimental Remembered consecutive squadron deployment heritage activities. to Afghanistan. This will be B Since my last Newsletter article, 14 Your Dispatches Squadron’s third tour although it will I’ve been fortunate enough to spend be a fi rst tour for the majority of the time with our soldiers during their squadron personnel. Nevertheless, 19 Anglo Boer War training in Edmonton, Wainwright, as successful as each squadron has 1899–1902, Suffi eld, and Shilo. These trips been in theatre, there is a heavy price are the highlights of my tour as being paid by the soldiers and their 23 Lost Trails Colonel of the Regiment as I get families because of the extended 24 Last Trumpet Call periods of separation, not only Continued On Page 3 Strathconas Newsletter Page 1 www.strathconas.ca Commanding Offi cer Regimental By Lieutenant-Colonel D.A. Macaulay Sergeant-Major As I sit to pen this article, I can hardly of Task Force Vancouver and Task By Chief Warrant Offi cer J. Ramsay believe it has been 14 months “in Force Whistler (2 PPCLI). Also, our The Regiment, having returned from the saddle.” Since I last wrote, the newly formed Composite Primary some well deserved summer leave, Regiment has become completely Reserve Company, F Company, started the second half of 2009 at a engaged on two thrust lines: from 39 Canadian Brigade Group brisk pace. Firstly, the in-house run internationally in preparing its tank (CBG) (British Columbia) under MOD’s 1 to 5 (CLC of old) with squadrons for combat as part of Joint the command team of Major over 20 soldiers from the Regiment Task Force Afghanistan (Operation Chris Quinlan (BCR) and CSM on it. We even managed to get some Athena); and domestically as Ron Silva (R West R) has stood engineers on the course. Knowing Task Force Vancouver (Operation up in Vancouver and will provide the tempo for the Regiment it was Podium) stood up (1 September a dismounted infantry company decided to run the course in-house 2009) in support of the Royal capability to Task Force Vancouver. to enable a larger number of soldiers Canadian Mounted Police to secure Coordinating these two thrust lines to receive the qualifi cation rather the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic is a newly reinvigorated RHQ (Ops than deferring the course due to games. O- Capt Dave MacIntyre and Ops operations. As it stands now, these Internationally, C Squadron, under WO- WO Darrell Peters) that is same soldier’s will be attending the the command team of Major John being augmented by a number of MOD 6 (fi eld portion) only a couple Cochrane and SSM Richard Regular Force and Primary Reserve of weeks after completing MOD’s 1 Stacey, deployed (since March soldiers in order for it to grow from to 5. 2009) to conduct operations in its current manning of 50 percent. RHQ is now manned to refl ect the southern Afghanistan. B Squadron Lastly but certainly not least, is HQ needs for Task Force Vancouver. It under Major Rob Hume and SSM Squadron (Prince of Wales Sqn), has been extremely busy with the Tom Holland, have just completed under Major Chris Bradley and planning stages of the operation. In a successful “Road to War” training SSM Tony Batty, which continues the coming months, the execution program and are about to send their to provide unwavering support to begins. With all the effort put forth Squadron on some well deserved all squadrons. Moreover, they will by RHQ, the Regiment will be set predeployment leave prior to a relief take on the added responsibility of for a successful mission in support in place which will occur over the Task Force Vancouver infrastructure of the RCMP in ensuring a safe and next few months. A Squadron, under security and control with the successful Olympics. command of Major Ian McDonnell assistance of two Primary Reserve and SSM Dave Hall, had a Force Protection Platoons from 38 HQ Squadron has been yet again successful tour in Afghanistan. It CBG (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) making sure everything works no returned in April 2009, and has been and 41 CBG (Alberta). small feat considering their reduced reformed, under the command of manning levels. The maintainers, Major Rob MacKenzie and SSM So, our Regiment remains at “full who aren’t in Afghanistan, are on Dave Jones. They have initiated gallop”; however I can assure you course preparing to go. This leaves it’s “Road to War” training with the that the soldiers continue to display a very small cadre of maintainers intent of returning to Afghanistan to superb tank skills as they close with who constantly surprise us with what replace B Squadron in the spring of and destroy the Taliban, remain they accomplish. It seems transport 2010. highly motivated in the pursuit of soldiers spend more time in the security tasks for the 2010 Olympic fi eld in support of the squadrons on Domestically, Recce Squadron and Paralympic games and continue training for deployment than they do under the command team of, Major to exhibit the positive attitude which as a troop. QM troop has never let Kevin Mead and SSM Dave they have seen in those Strathconas up. Adding OP Podium to the mix Hall, has initiated it’s “Road to that have gone before them. It is my has been a challenge but one that it Podium” training and is focussed honour to serve with them every rose to with outstanding results. on deploying its surveillance and day! reconnaissance skills in support Strathconas Newsletter Page 2 www.strathconas.ca Continued from Page 2 Podium. senior NCO’s, and that is the success Regimental Sergeant-Major of the Regiment today lies in a large The Regiment has a very strong A Squadron just returned from part in the fact that those who went Mountain Man team this year training in Wainwright. The before were excellent in passing on with 18 soldiers participating in Squadron’s tanks were fi red from their skills and managed to fi ght to the competition. As busy as the static to troop night shoot battle keep training oriented on the all-arms Regiment is, they are able to conduct runs, with a mix of basic gunner battle. So, fellow “grey beards”, we very strenuous training. We wish qualifi cation shoots to boot. As the did do some things right. them well. OC mentioned it is surprising what Now as I sign off I must put in a can break on a 30 year old tank. Finally, I know that it will be a very reminder to everyone that now is the The Squadron now prepares for busy fall; however, everyone in the time to get serious about registering training in Germany and support Regiment is focused on what has to for Reunion 2010. (Bob Lett and to the Combat Team Commander’s be done. I am sure that by the time Dave Biener have threatened me course in Gagetown. As always, the the Christmas break rolls around, with serious bodily harm if I didn’t soldier’s are keen to get the training we are going to wonder where the make this plug!).