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History
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Prepared by: Capt Michael O'Leary, CD (2011, updated 2013)
The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) was authorized as a unit of Canada’s Permanent Force, now known as the Regular Force, on 21 December 1883. Created for the purpose of instructing the Canadian Militia, the Regiment was originally known as the Infantry School Corps. The Regiment’s first garrisons, each occupied by a company plus the supported Instructional Cadre, were at Fredericton, St Jean (PQ) and Toronto. A fourth Company was established in London, Ontario, in 1888.
Shortly after its formation, “C” Company of the Regiment saw action in the North-West Rebellion of 1885. In 1898, the Regiment provided men to the Yukon Field Force, which assisted with the policing of the Yukon Territory during the gold rush.
During the 1890s, the Regiment saw three changes to its title:
In November 1901, the Regiment changed its name one more time, becoming “The Royal Canadian Regiment.”
At the outbreak of the First World War, The RCR was assembled at Halifax where Regimental Headquarters and six of the Regiment’s ten companies had been located since 1905, having replaced the last British Army garrison in Canada. The RCR was brought up to wartime strength in late 1914 as it started its first task which was to serve for a year as the garrison battalion in Bermuda until August 1915. The RCR then proceeded to England and onward to France as a battalion of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
The RCR was awarded 16 battle honours for its actions during the First World War, including the Somme 1916, Vimy Ridge and the Pursuit to Mons. One member of The RCR, Lieutenant Milton Fowler Gregg, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
In 1919, the Regiment received a singular honour when King George V granted the Regiment the right to wear Queen Victoria’s cypher – “VRI” – on its buttons and badges in perpetuity in recognition of its service in the First World War. This made the RCR the only Commonwealth regiment to wear a deceased sovereign’s cypher with no requirement to change cyphers following the coronation of a new King or Queen.
The RCR sailed for England shortly after the start of the Second World War where it trained for three years as a battalion of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The Regiment entered combat when it landed on the beaches of Sicily on 10 July 1943 – a date still commemorated within the Regiment as “Pachino Day.” The RCR fought their way through Sicily and Italy over almost 18 months including participation in the battles at Ortona, the Hitler Line at Pontecorvo and the Gothic Line on the Adriatic coast.
In February, 1945, The RCR joined the final push to liberate Northwest Europe, fighting their last battle at Apeldoorn, Holland. In the closing days of the war, a second battalion of the Regiment was created in Canada, its planned employment being in the Pacific Force. With the capitulation of Japan, this requirement disappeared and, following the return and disbandment of the overseas battalion, the newly created 2nd Battalion became the single battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment in the post-war Canadian Army.
On the outbreak of the Korean War, The RCR still consisted of a single Regular Force battalion. During the three years of the war, two new battalions would be formed for the Special Force which fought in Korea, and all three battalions would serve in Korea in turn. The 2nd Battalion deployed in 1951, the 1st Battalion in 1952 and the 3rd Battalion in 1953. Following the Korean War, the 3rd Battalion was disbanded and the 2nd Battalion remained a unit of the Regular Force.
In July 1954, The Royal Canadian Regiment gained a Reserve Force battalion, formed by the amalgamation of The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun) and The Oxford Rifles. This new unit was designated the London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment).
The Oxford Rifles
The Oxford Rifles originated in Woodstock, Ontario, on 14 August 1863, when the '"Twenty-second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada" or "The Oxford Rifles"' was authorized. In its early years, the unit was called out for service on the St Clair frontier during the Fenian Raids in 1866. The unit also provided some soldiers to the Canadian Contingents for South Africa.
From 1920 until 1936, the unit briefly had a two-battalion structure, with one battalion part of the Non-Permanent Active Militia and the second battalion on the Reserve establishment (i.e, without personnel). During the Second World War, the 1st Battalion, The Oxford Rifles, CASF, was mobilized for active service in March 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role until January 1945 when it embarked for Britain where it was disbanded in England later that month.
Having undergone several changes in naming, the regiment was redesignated The Oxford Rifles on 1 June 1945. On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with 'The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun) and redesignated 'The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment)'.
The Oxford Rifles perpetuated the 71st and 168th Canadian Infantry Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and carried the honours, awards and accomplishments of those units into the regimental history of The RCR.
The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun)
The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun) originated in London, Ontario on 27 April 1866 as the 7th Battalion Infantry, "Prince Arthur's Own". During the regiment’s early years, two companies were called out on active service in April 1870 during the Fenian Raids, serving on the St. Clair frontier. The unit also mobilized in 1885, serving in the Alberta column of the North West Field Force and provided troops to the Canadian Contingents in the South African War.
Undergoing several changes of name, including a brief period as a three-battalion regiment titled the Western Ontario Regiment during the early 1920s, the unit was designated The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on 1 August 1924.21 On 15 December 1936 it was amalgamated with the 'Headquarters' and 'A Company' of the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, and redesignated The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun). During the Second World War, the regiment formed a second battalion; the 1st Battalion served as part of the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) and the 2nd Battalion remained in the Reserve establishment.
The 1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), CASF, was mobilized in 1942 and served on home defence duties as part of Pacific Command, taking part in the August 1943 expedition to Kiska, Alaska, with the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group. The unit arrived in Britain in May 1944 where it was redesignated the 2nd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Canadian Fusiliers), CASF, and remained so until being disbanded in August 1945.
Following the Second World War, the Reserve battalion of the Canadian Fusiliers regained its single-battalion designation: The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun). On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with 'The Oxford Rifles.
The Canadian Fusiliers perpetuated the 1st, 33rd and 142nd Canadian Infantry Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and carried the honours, awards and accomplishments of those units into the regimental history of The RCR.
2nd Machine Gun Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps (CMGC)
The 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, of the Canadian Militia originated when the 2nd Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC was authorized on 1 June 1919. The battalion was disbanded on 14 December 1936 with its HQ and companies amalgamating with a number of Militia units.
The 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, of the Canadian Militia perpetuated the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and carried the honours, awards and accomplishments of this unit into the regimental history of The RCR.
CEF Perpetuations
Through the amalgamations with The Canadian Fusiliers and The Oxford Rifles, the following units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914-1919) are perpetuated by The Royal Canadian Regiment:
One of the most significant effects these perpetuations had on The RCR was to increase the list of battle honours carried by the Regiment for the First World War. The combined awards of First World War battle honours for The Royal Canadian Regiment, the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, CMGC, represent 49 separate unit battlefield actions and are represented by the 25 battle honour names carried today by The RCR for the Great War. (Additionally, The Oxford Rifles were awarded eight Great War battle honours in 1930. These, however, are not related directly to the perpetuated CEF battalions and likely based on the total number of soldiers from the perpetuated units who were known to be at these battles, though possibly dispersed between a number of units.)
One member of the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell, was awarded the Victoria Cross. Although chronologically earlier than Milton Gregg’s award, it was through the amalgamation of Regiments in 1954 that this became the second such award to be commemorated with the history of The RCR. In addition to the recognition of Campbell’s VC by The RCR, the Regiment maintains an equal responsibility to recognize all other honours and awards received by members of the perpetuated units.
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers) was established in 1954 with garrisons in London and Woodstock. A third location in Stratford was established in 1965, followed five years later with the close of the Woodstock garrison in 1970. In 1970, with a major reorganization of the Army, the Reserve battalion was re-designated as the 4th Battalion, The RCR, when a new 3rd Battalion was created in the Regular Force establishment. Since 1970, the Reserve Battalion has maintained its garrisons in London and Stratford, Ontario.
Throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and into the 1990s, the Regular Force battalions of The Royal Canadian Regiment served in Canada, Germany and on 13 separate unit rotations in Cyprus. Between 1977 and 1995, the 3rd Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment was also a regimental unit of The RCR. As well, a regimental Battle School which trained new infantry soldiers for the Regular Force battalions existed as a separate CF unit between 1978 and 1997.
In 1983, the Regiment marked its centenary with events in all battalions and a major reunion gathering in London, Ontario. In July of that year the Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, reviewed and addressed the Regiment on parade in London during a trooping of the colours from all four battalions and the affiliated 3 (Airborne) Commando.
The Royal Canadian Regiment has served Canada at home and abroad; including domestic operations ranging from assistance to civil authority during the FLQ Crisis (1970), Akwesasne (1990) and Oka (1990) to emergency response at the Manitoba Floods (1997), the Ice Storm (1998), and Hurricane Juan in Halifax (2003). It was for Op RECUPERATION, the response to the Ice Storm in 1998, that formed elements of all four battalions of the Regiment were deployed simultaneously on a single operation.
Since the 1990s, the Regular Force battalions of The RCR have provided formed units and sub-units to Canada’s missions in the first Gulf War, the Former Yugoslavia, Africa and Afghanistan. All four battalions and the Regiment’s extra-regimentally employed (ERE) personnel have provided individual augmentation to many of Canada’s UN and NATO missions. The Afghanistan mission has included the deployment of formed battle groups based on each of the three Regular Force battalions, and the 4th Battalion has seen the deployment of up to 30 of its officers, NCOs and soldiers at a time depending on available tasks in each operational cycle.
The Royal Canadian Regiment is Canada’s senior Regular Force infantry regiment. Through its amalgamated regiments, the regimental lineage of The RCR dates from 14 August 1863; although 21 December 1883, the creation of the Infantry School Corps, is celebrated as the regimental birthday by regimental tradition.
In 2012, the Canadian Government decided to create battle honours for the War of 1812 and award perpetuations of the recipient War of 1812 units to current units of the Canadian Army. Federal Government announcements identifying awards and the units receiving the perpetuations were made in August and September 2012. As a result of these ammouncements, The Royal canadian Regiment added the Battle Honours “Detroit” and Niagara”, as well as the Honorary Disticntion “Fefence of Canada 181-1815” to its list of honours. These honours represent the perpetuations of the following units of that conflict:
The four battalions of The Royal Canadian Regiment continue to serve Canada, with regimental garrisons at ASU London (Home Station and 4RCR), CFB Petawawa (Regimental HQ, 1RCR and 3RCR) and CFB Gagetown (2RCR). Extra-Regimentally Employed Royal Canadians serve in units, training establishments and headquarters across the Canadian Forces, both in Canada and abroad.
Pro Patria
Prepared by: Capt Michael O’Leary, CD (2011, updated 2013)
"An eight-pointed diamond cut star; upon the star a raised circle surmounted by the crown; within the raised circle, the block letters "VRI", the Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria."
Regimental Affiliation:
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| Wars and Operations | Battle Honour | Date |
| War of 1812 |
Detroit Niagara Defence of Canada – 1812-1815 Défense de Canada |
15 Aug 1812 19 Dec 1813 to Sept 1814 |
| North-West Rebellion |
Saskatchewan North West Canada 1885 | |
| South African War |
Paardeberg South Africa 1899-1900 | |
| First World War | ||
| Summer Operations, 1915. (March-October) |
Ypres, 1915 Gravenstafel Ridge St Julien Festubert, 1915 |
22 April – 25 May 1915 22-23 April 1915 24 April – 4 May 1915 15-25 May 1915 |
| Local Operations, 1916. (Previous to the Allied Offensive) |
Mount Sorrel |
2-13 June 1916 |
| Operations on the Somme. (1 July – 18 November, 1916) |
Somme, 1916 Pozieres Ridge Flers-Courcelette Ancre Heights |
1 July – 18 November 1916 23 July – 3 September 1916 15-22 September 1916 1 October – 11 November 1916 |
| The Arras Offensive (9 April – 15 May, 1917 |
Arras, 1917 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917 Hill 70 |
9 April – 4 May 1917 9-14 April 1917 28-29 April 1917 3-4 May 1917 15-25 August 1917 |
| The Flanders Offensive (7 June – 10 November, 1917) |
Ypres, 1917 Passchendaele |
31 July – 10 Nov. 1917 12 October 1917 and/or 26 October – 10 November 1917 |
| The Advance in Picardy (8 August – 3 September, 1918) |
Amiens Arras, 1918 Scarpe, 1918 |
8-11 August 1918 26 August – 3 September 1918 26-30 August 1918 |
| The Breaking of the Hindenburg Line (26 August – 12 October, 1918) |
Drocourt-Quéant Line Hindenburg Line, Battles of Canal du Nord Cambrai, 1918 |
2-3 September 1918 12 September – 9 October 1918 27 September – 2 October 1918 8-9 October 1918 | Picardy (17 October – 11 November). | Pursuit to Mons | 11 November 1918 | FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1914-18 | FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1914-18 |
| Second World War | ||
| LANDING IN SICILY | LANDING IN SICILY | 9-12 Jul 43 |
| Agira | 24-28 Jul 43 | |
| ADRANO |
ADRANO Regalbuto |
29 Jul – 7 Aug 43 29 Jul - 3 Aug 43 |
| SICILY 1943 |
SICILY 1943 Landing at Reggio Motta Montecorvino Campobasso Torella San Leonardo The Gully Ortona |
9 Jul 43 – 17 Aug 43 3 Sep 43 1-3 Oct 43 11-14 Oct 43 24-27 Oct 43 8-9 Dec 43 10-19 Dec 43 20-28 Dec 43 |
| CASSINO II | CASSINO II Gustav Line |
11-18 May 44 11-18 May 44 |
| LIRI VALLEY |
LIRI VALLEY Hitler Line |
18-30 May 44 18-24 May 44 |
| GOTHIC LINE |
GOTHIC LINE Misano Ridge |
25 Aug-22 Sep 44 3-5 Sep 44 |
| RIMINI LINE |
RIMINI LINE San Martino – San Lorenzo Pisciatello |
14-21 Sep 44 14-18 Sep 44 16-19 Sep 44 |
| LAMONE CROSSING |
LAMONE CROSSING Fosso Vecchio |
2-13 Dec 44 16-18 Dec 44 |
| ITALY 1943-45 | ITALY 1943-45 Apeldoorn | 3 Sep 43 – 22 Apr 45 11-17 Apr 45 |
| NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1945 | ||
| Korean War | ||
| United Nations Operations - Korea, 1950-1953 | KOREA, 1951-1953 | |
| Afghanistan War | Pashmul, - 2006 |
Why Does Canada Celebrate Victoria Day?By Gwyn Evans - May 22, 2022 / 4:00 am | Story: 369589 (Gwyn Evans is the research and communications co-ordinator with the Museum and Archives of Vernon.)The Victoria Day Long Weekend is long-standing tribute to Queen Victoria and has been celebrated in Vernon for decades LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
Although many of us now think of the May Long Weekend as the beginning of camping season in B.C., the history of Victoria Day is a bit more complicated. In 1845, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada decided to officially recognize the birthday of Queen Victoria on May 24 with public celebrations. But it wasn’t until 1901, following the Queen’s death, that May 24 became officially known as “Victoria Day” in her memory. At the turn of the 20th century, the settler population in Vernon eagerly celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday, as well as her reign in general. On June 22, 1897, Vernon celebrated the Diamond Jubilee with a series of sporting events, including baseball, lacrosse, trap shootings and tug-of-war. Other outlying communities, including Enderby, came to compete in the day’s activities, and it is noted that Vernon won all events except the tug-of-war. May Long Weekends in Vernon were also marked with sporting events and special activities in celebration of the queen’s birthday. On May 24, 1895, a cricket match was held between Kelowna and Vernon, with the SS Fairview offering special trips between the two cities for individuals who wished to attend. In 1900, Enderby hosted Vernon and other nearby communities for a series of foot, horse and canoe races. A football match was also held between the community of Lumby and employees of the Coldstream Ranch, followed by a grand ball in Morand’s Hall. Queen Victoria’s passing in 1901 was announced in large font on the front page of the January 24th edition of the Vernon News, as the City mourned the loss of its “Most Respected Sovereign.” Later that year, Vernon officially celebrated “Victoria Day” for the first time, with — you guessed it — sporting events, including three-legged and ladies races.Queen Victoria: The woman who redefined Britain’s monarchyA headstrong head of stateQueen Victoria restored the reputation of a monarchy tarnished by the extravagance of her royal uncles. She also shaped a new role for the Royal Family, reconnecting it with the public through civic duties. At just 4ft 11in tall, Victoria was a towering presence as a symbol of her Empire. She and her husband Albert and their nine children came to symbolise a new, confident age. Read more |
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4RCR COUNCIL
Terms of Reference
Overview
Prior to 2014 it was known as the 4 RCR Board of Governors.
Role |
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4RCR COUNCIL
Membership List | |||||
| Last Name | First Name | Rank | Phone | Posn | |
| Anderson | Martin | LCol | martin_anderson@rogers.com | Member | |
| Bassarab | Rusty | LCol | rbassarab@cogeco.ca | Member | |
| Bell | Dave | Capt | davidbell@tcc.on.ca | Webmaster | |
| Boon | Art | CWO | 190 Queen St, Stratford, ON,N5A 4N7 | Member | |
| Burke | Jeff | CWO | burkeja54@outlook.com | Member | |
| Campbell | Mark | BGen | mcamp@rogers.com | Member | |
| Cook | John | Lcol | John_cook_9@yahoo.ca | 519-668-7595 | Member |
| Denne | Don | Col | djdenne@msn.com | Assn Rep | |
| Ellyatt | David | CWO | dellyatt@police.london.ca | Member | |
| Graham | Barry | Lcol | barrygraham533@hotmail.com | Member | |
| Griffin | Declan | Lcol | dgriffin@wightman.ca | Member | |
| Hutton | Geoff | Maj | geoff.hutton@sympatico.ca | Member | |
| Klausnitzer | Henry | CWO | hklaosni@london.ca | Member | |
| Lucas | Curtis | MWO | curtis_is@rogers.com | Member | |
| Mombourquette | John | Capt | fj3@rogers.com | Secretary | |
| O'Brien | Gary | Bgen | gary.obrien@hotmail.com | Chairperson | |
| O'Leary | Mike | Capt | m.m.oleary@gmail.com | Museum rep | |
| Olglesby | John | Lcol | Member | ||
| O'Quinn | John | Maj | johnandglad@rogers.com | Cadet rep | |
| Prince | Matt | Maj | matt.a.prince@gmail.com | Member | |
| Rennie | Bob | CWO | bobandninaare@gmail.com | Member | |
| Reintjes | Pete | LCol | peter.reintjes@forces.gc.ca | CO | |
| Robinson | Joseph | Lcol | jwrobins2@gmail.com | Member | |
| St. George | Gary | CWO | 519-453-5321 | Member | |
| Stapleton | Mike | MWO | mstaple362@rogers.com | Member | |
| Talach | Rob | CWO | rtalach@ledroitbeckett.com | Member | |
| Weldon | Doug | Lcol | doug.weldon@yahoo.ca | Member | |
| Willaert | Gary | Lcol | rcrgary@yahoo.ca | Member |
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Former Serving Members
"Once a Royal Canadian, always a Royal Canadian!" |
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4RCR is currently updating its former members database to provide former serving members with social events, re-unions, mailings and to provide a means for former members to keep in contact with each other.
NEW MEMBERS:
All former members who have served with The London and Oxford Fusiliers, 3RCR(M) or 4RCR are invited to submit their particulars to the WEBMASTER for publication in the Former Members List. CURRENT MEMBERS:
NOTE: If you are a member and updating your current information, note same.
Only your Name, Rank and E-mail Address and phone number (if submitted) will be published on our Former Members List.
You will be sent a password to enter the Former Members List once your application has been approved.
Former Members List
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4RCR Council Report
NTR |
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4RCR CO's Report
NTR |
Monthly Social Events Calendar
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| Date | Time | Event | Dress | Locn | Remarks |
| Sun 10 Jul 2022 | 1130 for 1200 | Pachino Lunch(2) | Casual | Victory Branch RCL | Stapleton/Graham | Fri 09 Sep 2022 | 1330 for 1400 | Pashmul(2) | TBA | (TBA)Victory Branch RCL | Stapleton/Graham | Sun 23 Oct 2022 | 1130 for 1200 | Kowang San Lunch(2) | TBA | (TBA)Victory Branch RCL | Stapleton/Graham | Wed 21 Dec 2022 | 1130 for 1200 | Regimental Birthday(2) | TBA | (TBA)Victory Branch RCL | Stapleton/Graham |
| NOTES: (1) Denotes meal preceded by AGM. (2) Denotes meal served (3) Locations are as yet "To Be Confirmed" as the Legion venue may not be dsesired by membership based on prices for meals, however Victory Branch has been tentatively booked. |
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The RCR Regimental Museum
RCRM DIGITAL We are very happy to welcome everyone from everywhere to our community! We continue to remain active online while observing the restrictions recently enforced by the Province of Ontario. Our website offers interactive activities, online or printable games, as well as lessons for elementary and secondary levels. The online guided tours and drop-in Wednesday live streaming will resume once the Province of Ontario rescinds the current stay-at-home order. Until then, educational videos are available through the museum's Youtube channel. Stay connected and become a Subscriber. The museum is not charging membership fees, but financial donations are appreciated (payments by cheque preferred, credit cards also accepted). COLLECTIONS Stories from the Collection highlight artifacts in our holdings, as well as the fascinating stories they bring to light. This month's story features The Royals of CFB Baden-Soellingen. It was 3RCR's hockey team, and they competed in the Canadian Forces Europe Hockey League (CFEHL) from 1977 to 1984. The team won the CFEHL championship in 1980 and 1981. Were you or someone you know involved in this league? We would love to hear your story, just email us! EVENTS Season 2 of the RCRM Speakers Series was launched on 21 Jan, with Professor Gord Heath and his reflections on The Trauma of War and the Rise of Religious Pacifism in the Interwar Years, 1919-1939. This season will explore various aspects of loss in the context of military conflict. Complex facets of the dynamic between mourning and commemoration, deprivation and rejection or disposal of war by-products surface. PODCAST All 10 episodes of the RCRM Speakers Series Season 1 are now available via Simplecast, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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The RCR Association
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Your Association's July 2022 NewsletterFrom: Alexander (Sandy) Mc Quarrie2022-06-27 You are receiving this newsletter early! My rationale is that I will be on holiday in Nova Scotia from 29 June to 7 August. What that means is that I will not be responding to any emails during that time. If it is critical and you really need an answer, I suggest that you text me on my mobile (613 291-4020). THE REUNION I have been hearing some rumors about this event and I wanted to refute them here. Planning for this event is in the early stages with more detailed plans to be developed later this year/early next year. At the moment, both Peter Devlin and I are the key planners, but the faculty and students on some of the appropriate courses at Fanshawe College are involved. Peter, the faculty and the students are enjoying the opportunity to plan an actual event. So far, the feedback I have received from the college has been great. I am confident that they will help us conduct a memorable event! We have already advertised that the reunion will be built around these three themes:
If you hear any more rumors, call out the source and correct it. THE 2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING As previously published, this year's AGM will take place on Saturday, 9 July at the Duke of York Pub beginning at 1500 hours. The address is 39 Prince Arthur Ave. The supporting document (including the presentation to be used) are all available on the website at https://thercr.ca/the-association/2022-agm-documents/. The meeting will be a hybrid one - either in person or via Zoom. The call will be opened at 1445, and again, you can find the link on the same website. For those of you who can't attend in person, your vote is still needed. For previous AGMs, we sent out a proxy form to be filled in and mailed back. We are not doing that this year! On 30 June, you will be able to access a survey that allows you to vote on the expected resolutions. You will get a reminder by email providing access or you can open your portal and see it on one of the badges there. Most of the answers are "Yes" or "No." Please take a moment to provide your input. TWO NEW INITIATIVES For the remainder of this year, we are focused on two initiatives - the Milton F Gregg documentary and the publication of CWO (Ret'd) John Barnes' book. The Great Canadian War Society is the lead for the documentary and they have agreed that the premiere will take place at the reunion next year. Your Association has agreed to raise funds to assist in the production. If you can, make a donation HERE. John's book, "White School, Black Memories" is nearing the final stages with publication anticipated in mid August. A publishing firm in Toronto, called Double Dagger Publications is working with John to realize his desire to have the book published. You will be notified when it is available and how to get one. NEW LIFE MEMBER The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Bob McBride has been appointed as our newest Life Member. Bob, single-handedly managed the Association during a darker period. His efforts were instrumental in setting the groundwork for what we have now. A presentation of a suitable memento will be made at an appropriate time. BZ, Bob! A FINAL POINT I have been involved with The RCR Association for many years. During my time, we updated many aspects of your Association. For instance, the breadth of the organization was expanded to include all of Canada with establishment of a new, Not-For-Profit organization with a comprehensive set of new By-Laws, Member 365 was introduced to bring our dealing with members into the 21st Century, and a new website was published. I have decided that it is time for some younger folks to get involved. (I will be 79 at the reunion and will submit my resignation at the 2023 AGM.) This means that we are seeking a replacement as Chair. If you are interested in taking on this great task, let me know.
Pro Patria, |
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From: Alexander (Sandy) Mc Quarrie 2022-06-22
Most of you will be aware that last year in December, the Regiment decided to dedicate this new memorial on the occasion of the Regimental Birthday gathering. Regrettably, it did not occur due to Covid restrictions. The REC and the Senate were both concerned that the dedication of this major initiative was delayed and sought a way of achieving it. It was decided that the initial dedication would occur in 2RCR on 6 July. Both the CoTR and other senior members of the Regiment will be in attendance. It was also decided that the memorial would travel to the other battalions for them to introduce it to their soldiers in a suitable manner. As Chair of the Association, I also recommended that the memorial be made available to each of the Branches for a similar event. 2RCR has issued an invitation to attend the dedication and I strongly recommend that those of you who can, accept it.
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Pachino LuncheonFrom: Mike StapletonDear Fellow Royal Canadians, This is a reminder to the membership that the Home Station London and District Branch of The RCR Association will meet to remember and celebrate the 79th Anniversary of the Landing at Pachino which occurred on 10 July 1943 in Sicily. Luncheon Location: Royal Canadian Legion - VICTORY BRANCH #317 located at 311 Oakland Ave. London, Ontario N5W 4J5, phone: 519-455-2331. Luncheon Date/time: Sunday, 10 July 2022, at 13:30hrs for 1400hrs Luncheon Cost: $10.00 per person RSVP: Please RSVP to myself as soon as possible either via email to mstaple362@rogers.com or text/phone message to 519-281-5292. We need responses no later than 01 July 2022 so the kitchen staff can be informed of our numbers. Dress: Relaxed dress/shirt sleeve order Pro Patria,
Mike Stapleton
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From: Alexander (Sandy) Mc Quarrie 2022-06-03 THE ASSOCIATION'S 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING As previously noted, this year's AGM is being hosted by the Toronto Branch on Saturday, 9 July in the Duke of York Pub at 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto . The agenda and all of the necessary supporting documentation will be added to The RCR website shortly. Look for a sub-menu called AGM 2022 under the Association tab For this event, we are going to try something different! The meeting will be conducted as a "hybrid" one. What this means that you can attend in person or via Zoom meeting. Again, the link for the Zoom meeting will be posted to the website. To help us plan for the meeting, if you intend to attend in person, please go HERE to add your name. If you plan to atend in person, Raymond Joseph (from the Toronto Branch) has negotiated a reduced rate at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at 475 Yonge St. To access this reduced rate, we need to know how many nights you will stay there by Monday. Send me a quick email (thercrassociation@gmail.com). MILTON F GREGG DOCUMENTARY FUNDRAISER The Canadian Great War Society has finalized their plan and shooting schedule for this important part of our regimental history. You can view the brochure HERE. If every member donated $25, we would come close to reaching our target of $35K. if you donate $100 or more, you will receive a tax credit. To make a donation, go HERE. LAPSED MEMBERSHIPS As of early June, our Member365 app indicated that we have 298 'Lapsed Members.' You become listed as a Lapsed Member if you neglect to review your contact details on an annual basis. The app auitomatically emails you a reminder on a number of occasions to log in and confirm your information. Getting you to do this once a year is our way of ensuring that we don't loose contact with you! May I suggest that those individuals who have not done this annual task, get on with it? If you have difficulty doing this, contact our Membership Secretary, Rick Reid at reidcamp@rogers.com
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Recent Passings
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A Soldier Died Todayby A. Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise, © 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
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In Memorium
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Member Submissions
We Are Canadian
The following link takes you to the song We Are Canadian recently composed by Ellis Craig, an 83-year-old resident of a retirement home in Perth, Ontario. Note From Webmaster:
This is YOUR page to keep informed on members health, welfare and happenings. |
"The Soldier"
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Military to look at cutting capabilities, using public servants to handle more jobsPublished by: David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen2022-06-27 Submitted by:Barry Graham/Brian Colgate 2022-06-30
The Canadian Forces will get rid of some capabilities as well as examine having public servants and contractors take on roles now handled by military personnel, according to a new defence directive obtained by this newspaper.
The 49-page directive from Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and National Defence deputy minister Bill Matthews outlines the plan
designed to prepare the military for the future as well as “overcome deficiencies that are hampering the composition and readiness of the
Canadian Armed Forces.” |
Putin’s newest instrument of war: FoodRussia is a cause of Africa’s grain shortage, even though Putin portrays himself as a savior.Published by: NBC News.comSubmitted by: David Bell 2022-06-29
By David A. Andelman, author of "A Red Line in the Sand: Diplomacy, Strategy and the History of Wars That Might Still Happen" Update (June 28, 10:50 a.m. ET): This piece has been updated throughout to reflect the G-7's pledge of $4.5 billion in aid to address the global food crisis. A frustrated Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding Ukrainian agriculture hostage. He’s blockading Black Sea routes, bombing silos and infrastructure and otherwise manipulating Ukraine’s consumption and sale of wheat and other staples. It’s clear that, in his desperation, he is prepared to employ a new instrument of war that could devastate civilian populations: food.
Russia is attempting to remove a major source of Ukrainian trade and raise the cost of grain, while stepping in to provide purloined supplies to portions of the world
desperate for wheat from whatever source. Thankfully at the G-7 summit on Tuesday, the U.S and Europe began to challenge Putin directly in his efforts to weaponize food. |
Russia-Ukraine conflict: The threat of nuclear war looms largeBy CanIndia News Online Editor-Sabrina -June 24, 20222Submitted by David Bell 2022-06-24
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in Europe has resulted in huge loss of life and property as well as disrupted exports of vital commodities like wheat, oil, and natural gas from these countries to other parts of the world. The repercussions are felt in Canada too because a large number of Ukrainians live here. The Russia-Ukraine war Russian expectations of a three-to-seven-day affair to rout Ukraine have gone haywire and dark clouds of nuclear warfare now hover over the world. Russian president Vladimir Putin is upset because NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a US-backed military pact also known as the Washington Treaty) is spreading tentacles around his country. It may be recalled that NATO was formed as a counterweight to Soviet armies in Europe after World War II. Since then, NATO has been considered a formidable opponent in Russia. In this context Putin has warned Ukraine and other border countries not to allow posting of any NATO troops on their soil as it threatens Russia’s security.
After international media reported that Ukraine had sought NATO membership, Putin invaded it. Perhaps he wanted to kill two proverbial birds with one stone. First, he thought that the
defeat of Ukraine would restrain it as well as Finland and Sweden from joining NATO. Secondly, he thought that the message about the might of Russia’s army under his leadership would
spread all over the world. But as the war progressed, Putin’s hypothesis proved wrong. |
The Freedom of Russia Legion: a growing source of concern for PutinA new group helping Ukraine in the fight against PutinBy: The Daily Digest.info/spain Submitted by: David Bell 2022-06-23
A new, unlikely group of fighters has formed in Ukraine to assist the Ukrainian military in its fight against Putin: The Freedom of Russia Legion.
Russian and Belarusian volunteers |
Why Russia Keeps Turning to Mass FirepowerRussian artillery is an old trradition with brutal uses
By:Lucian Staiano-Daniels
Submitted by: Brian Colgate/Barry Graham
Russia did not intend to fight a war like this. After their initial dash toward Kyiv failed, Russian forces have resorted to grinding sieges, encircling Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine’s east. With it has come a return to a familiar practice in Russian doctrine for centuries: the use of massed heavy artillery. In contrast to U.S. doctrine, which emphasizes the relatively precise use of high explosives, Russian doctrine emphasizes massed firepower—and has for generations.
Russian artillery has been technologically inventive and intellectually interesting since the early 18th century, when Russian Field Marshal Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov
developed several experimental forms of cannons. During the wars of the 18th century, Russian artillery was consistently better than that of powers such as Prussia.
Russia was already interested in amassing big guns: Regulations adopted during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna in the 1750s recommended concentrating them in combinations
of 16 or 24. The Imperial Russian Army maintained its focus on technological and theoretical excellence during the first half of the 19th century. Although Russian artillery
was not modernized as much as it should have been during the latter half of that century, it remained creative: For instance, the Russian army was supposedly the first to make
use of indirect fire in combat, during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. |
Editors Note: The following is a lengthy but well documented and thorough examination of 'Operation Husky', the Pachino experience, produced by 2017 Remembrance Films Ltd
and submitted by Brian Colgate
A Bond of StrangersThe Operation Husky Digital ExperiencePachino, Italy 1943 © 2017 Remembrance Films Ltd. Submitted by: Brian Colgate 2022-06-18
1939-1943 In January, 1943 Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff met at Anfa Camp near Casablanca in French Morocco. The purpose of the Casablanca Conference was to decide the next offensive action of the western Allies after the Germans were defeated in North Africa. Reluctantly the Americans accepted that the inevitable cross-channel invasion of France was not possible in the forthcoming year. But everyone agreed 1943 could not pass without the western Allies fighting somewhere. If for no other reason, to appease Soviet Union demands for a major operation to draw German forces away from the Eastern Front.
The British had come to Casablanca with a clear plan. They wanted to invade Sicily. Doing so would provide a springboard from which to invade mainland Italy. Once the Allies
were solidly established on the Italian boot, it was probable that Mussolini’s already teetering government would collapse and the country might well surrender. Churchill
described this tactic as exploiting the “soft underbelly” of Europe’s Mediterranean coast. |
'No regrets': A Canadian volunteer wounded in Ukraine is coming home JT is an Ottawa-area veteran who took part in reconnaissance missions with the Ukrainian military before being wounded in mid-May. (Jean Delisle/Radio-Canada) Article by Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Jun 15, 2022 4:00 AM ET
Submitted by David Bell Maybe it's luck, or some kind of divine providence. According to the capricious nature of life in a war zone, JT should not be alive. Yet there he is — a Canadian military volunteer in Ukraine who beat the odds. The former military combat engineer fought through the bloodied grape fields of Kandahar during Canada's war in Afghanistan. He first came within a whisker of death in 2006, when he and his fellow soldiers were strafed accidentally by an American A-10 ground attack jet. He unwittingly stepped out of the way at the last minute. One of the shells from the jet's cannon smashed into a fuel can behind him.
Just a few weeks ago, JT cheated death a second time. |
Rob Huebert: Denmark's gunboat diplomacy over Hans Island a warning for future Arctic conflicts A Danish navy ship sails through the waters of Greenland's west coast in 2005. © Provided by National Post Article and photo by National Post
Submitted by David Bell The resolution of the Danish-Canadian Hans Island dispute is being recognized as an important step forward in resolving one of our enduring Arctic sovereignty disputes. But many of the media accounts of the dispute omit an important part of the story. A Danish navy ship sails through the waters of Greenland's west coast in 2005. © Provided by National Post A Danish navy ship sails through the waters of Greenland's west coast in 2005. There is a narrative that is now being developed about the history of the disagreement over Hans Island. The first part of this narrative is that the dispute was characterized only by an ongoing, good-natured exchanged of flags and alcohol. While this makes for good stories, it leaves out a very important and troubling part of the history. In 2002, the good-natured exchanged of booze and flags that had characterized the dispute was completely upended when the Danes used an ice-capable frigate, the HDMS Vaedderen, to land troops on the island. Despite Canadian pleas not to repeat these escalatory actions, they did it again in 2003 with her sister ship, the Triton.
In 2005, then-minister of national defence Bill Graham landed with Canadian Forces personnel on the island. As he makes clear in his memoirs, it was very challenging to get there because the Canadian Navy lacked ships capable of transiting the ice. But the effort was worthwhile, because it was only at this point that the Danes stopped deploying military forces to the disputed island.
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Moscow’s Demands Bring Surprising NATO ResultsFrom: The Military Institute of WindsorSubmitted by Barry Graham 2022-06-06
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Reflections following the Arbour ReportBy: Jen Causey
Submitted by: Brian Colgate/Barry Graham From the blog of Jen Causey … *Editor's note: It should be noted that these comments are unsolicited comments provided by serving or former serving members of the CAF and do not represent the official stand taken by the Canadian Armed Forces or the Government of Canada. I find myself once again in uncomfortable territory, grappling with how a former Supreme Court Justice's report on the culture challenge facing the CAF has made me feel. In this case, I wasn't angry with what the Arbour Report said, rather, I'm sad by what is being said or done about it on various social media platforms. It's tough in a few characters to articulate that feeling. I share this article instead.
For me, the answer to that question initially posed on Twitter is, “It’s complicated.” On the heels of the Deschamps Report, I started to write. I had felt silenced and marginalized in a manner I hadn’t been before. And though I tried very hard to speak about it in a way that was not dismissive of the very real problems and awful personal experiences the report highlighted, I am not certain I succeeded. I am very reluctant to make that same mistake again, but I find myself having similar feelings. Hindsight has shown me, unequivocally, that I was blind to certain problems. I can also say unequivocally that I do not believe that anyone would make up or exaggerate the awfulness of their lived experiences. When people are brave enough to report harmful or criminal behaviour, they deserve our support and belief. I also want a CAF that is inclusive and diverse and welcoming, and recognize that there needs to be significant, broad changes for that to happen. We will have to be prepared to let go of things that are most sacred to us for that to occur. To stress the importance of my last statement, I say again: We will have to be prepared to let go of things that are most sacred to us if we are to succeed with the level of culture change required. That isn’t where I struggle, letting go of things we value greatly. I struggle with rationalizing my own personal feelings, and figuring out how to allow the space for dialogue of those differing view points, or differing perspectives on very similar experiences. I want it to not be so binary as “dinosaur, part of the problem, blind, arrogant, hanging onto the past,” or being the opposite of those things. I feel we ought to be able to allow people the chance to express themselves without branding them the moment they speak. Do we not need that if we are to get as many allies as we can to move this change forward? I don’t think we will get to where we want to be if everything is framed in such an antagonistic fashion. In one of my more personal articles, I speak about my commitment to the grey zone, how I do tend to avoid seeing things as black and white. It was partly spurred on by reading Kate Armstrong’s book, The Stone Frigate, The Royal Military College’s First Female Cadet Speaks Out. I had some eerily similar experiences at RMC as Armstrong, but my outlook upon them is very different. How can that be? How can two people have such a different perspective? To be clear, I am talking about the more low level incidents and b.s, and not criminal or predatory behaviour. Some of what Armstrong faced is downright appalling, and I am fortunate I did not have to contend with that extreme. Nevertheless, the issues I faced I attributed to one of three things:
Some of the things I went through have changed at RMC. Some more hasn’t, and needs to. In the past, I wondered if I didn’t have the resiliency to deal with and address some of the things I did at RMC, would I have had the resiliency required to deal with more serious issues later in my career? That may have been a fair question to pose then, but now I find myself asking if there are better ways to teach resiliency. Nevertheless, I still can see the value, the lessons, I took away from my time there in dealing with the good and the bad. This is the sort of personal turmoil and reflecting that many of us graduates are grappling with, while still wanting to see the College continue in some manner. RMC needs to change, but so does the CAF. I think we would be remiss to focus too closely on any one portion of the institution, which is why I was pleased to see the Arbour Report highlight that. The CAF needs a holistic look, but in news reports, and on social media, what seems to have garnered the most attention, created a divide already, and raised doubt as to leadership’s motives or willingness to change, is RMC. That makes me sad. To me it seems to overshadow the depth and breadth of the problem. It’s creating churn which is distracting to what we ought to be focused on – forward movement. There have been a lot of really hard days in uniform for the past few years. It is exhausting and emotionally taxing to experience the range of emotions that the successes of my soldiers and unit bring me, to the high profile failures in leadership we have seen. Despite those days when it is a struggle to find the same sense of pride I once had, when our failures are punching us in the face, if I take a moment and pull myself out of that headspace, I can still say that I am proud of my service overall. I am still proud of the CAF, and the many fine people that serve in it. I think when you see people changing their profile pictures to their RMC pictures, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything other than pride in their service, for all the good, the bad, and the ugly. It need not equate to anything else than a belief that the institution can change, a desire to see the College perpetuate, even if in an altogether different manner than it has been all along. |
Canadian expert: Ukraine war could end Russian power, influenceJune 7, 2022by Stephen J. Thorne, LEGION Magazine
Submitted by Brian Colgate/Barry Graham
A Canadian adviser in Ukraine says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade the former Soviet republic could spell the end of Russia as the world knows it. “If Russia loses the war, there’s very little chance that it will survive in its current form.” Donald Bowser, an independent anti-corruption specialist who has worked in Ukraine for 30 years, says the Feb. 24 invasion and subsequent offensive has confirmed what insiders already knew—that the Russian army is a hollow shell of its former self. “If Russia loses the war, there’s very little chance that it will survive in its current form,” said Bowser, a political scientist whose masters and PhD theses both focused on corruption in the Russian military. “The threat that Russia posed over the last 30 years is going to be largely negated.” Read more... |
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4RCR Recruiting
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 Wolseley Barracks, London |
 Stratford Armoury, Stratford |
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Join Our Team
Looking for full-time or part-time work? We are hiring and provide excellent career opportunities. Please do not hesitate to call or email our recruiter who will be pleased to answer any questions you may have and provide direction on how to apply to our Regiment. Our Team Recruiter
Name: London Reserve Recruiting Garrison Or contact
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Infantry Soldier Equipment Weapons: Browning 9-mm Pistol C6 7.62-mm Medium Machine Gun C7A2 5.56-mm Automatic Rifle C9A2 Light Machine Gun Carl Gustav 84mm Short Range Anti-armour Weapon (Medium) Grenade Vehicles:
Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS)
Militarized Commercial Off-The-Shelf (MilCOTS)
Light Support Vehicle Wheel (LSVW)
See a list of Canadian Army weapons and vehicles.
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Who We Are 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (4 RCR) is a Primary Reserve Infantry unit based in London and Stratford, ON. The RCR was founded on 21 December 1883 as Canada's first truly-professional regiment of infantry and has fought gallantly in every conflict Canada has been involved in. 4 RCR, specifically, has drawn its soldiers from the London, Woodstock and Stratford area for more than 150 years. Today, 4 RCR is a proud and active unit that strives to set the example in all matters of leadership and soldiering. 4 RCR’s role is to rigourously train its soldiers and officers, as part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, to be ready for operations both domestically and around the world. The unit, in the past, committed more than 20% of its strength to Canadian operations in Afghanistan and nowadays actively augments operations domestically and in Europe. The role of the infantry is to close-with and destroy the enemy: often under challenging conditions. While the job of an infantryman is a demanding one, it is also a highly rewarding, exciting and fun career and the battalion offers a highly supportive and close-knit family network to all its members. Benefits of Joining When you join our unit, you will receive competitive pay for your part time or full time work as well as be eligible for on the job training that could benefit you in civilian life. Also, there are medical, dental and educational benefits available to Army Reservists. Here are all the details:
London
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
Telephone: 519-660-5275, Ext. 5259 Stratford
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
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4RCR Contacts London
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
Telephone: 519-660-5275, Ext. 5259 Stratford
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment |
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Contact 4RCR Council
BGen (ret'd) O'Brien, GJP, Chairperson,
Capt (Ret'd) Mombourquette, JV, Secretary,
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The RCR Regimental Site
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