THE FORTYNINER - Alberta Genealogy Research "The Recents"

The Forty-Niner
By Hans Brink (L Col Ret’d CD)
Editorial
I can’t believe this is my third attempt at putting
together the Regiment’s Annual Forty-Niner.
It doesn’t seem to get any easier with practice,
especially if one gets busier in other things. I did
get some feed back from a couple of people about
the last edition.
Ken Froland writes, “Hans, I want to tell you
how much I enjoyed the new 49er ! There were
some good stories and I believe you achieved your
approach of making it interesting to everyone,
from the veteran to the new cadet. The funeral of
Pte Lawson, Christmas dinner in Yellowknife, Mr.
Bietler’s account of the day Walter Strang was killed,
and a super special account of Bill Teleske’s funeral
all made for some interesting reading. Makes you
proud to be a member of such an organization .
Kia Tam wrote, “Best 49er ever!.” Thanks to both of
you and I hope many others agree.
It has been a good year. Canada is out of
Afghanistan-sort of- as I know some friends of
mine are still over there. Several members of the
Regiment has served overseas in the past year or so
and all have made it back safely.
Where I spend a good deal of time, the museum,
it too has had a very good year. We seem to be
getting busier with more and more schools making
the trip to the Prince of Wales Hertitage Centre
and the LER Museum. Maurice White and I have
even made trips out of town and brought a piece of
history to the schools. For the 3rd year the Soldier
Through Time Summer Camp at the museum has
occupied a couple of weeks in July. The camp
wouldn’t have happened were it not for the support
of Kathleen, Ted, Jim and Darby. I am especially
thank-ful for their support. This is good PR for the
Regiment and the Military.
Valour Place will be completed by the time this
5
magazine reaches your mail box and playing a part
in bringing it to fruition has been most rewarding.
I think the Regiment should be very proud that
our Honorary Colonel Dennis Erker took on this
initiative and built Valour Place. This house will
be a model for more right across Canada. The
full story of Valour Place will be the subject of a
longer article in the next edition. However, you can
read all about Valour Place on its Web Site, www.
valourplace.com.
Sometime over the past year the Regiment
appointed a new RSM. CWO Brougham Deegan is
now the new top NCM and I am very sure he will do
an outstanding job. CWO Kieth Jacquard is going
to take his commission and move onto other work
within the regiment or brigade. Unfortunately I do
not have a full stroy or pictures to show you in this
edition.
One issue that many of you might not be aware
of deals with a small town in Hoevelaken Holland
the monument of Walter Strang. Pte Strang, an
LER, was killed during the liberation of the town, a
story of the liberation was in the last edition. Ken
Froland wrote me to say how upset he was that the
LER, as a Regiment, did not want to participate in
any of the annual events held by the towns people
every May to honour the Regiment and Walter
Strang. He is most upset that the Toronto Scottish
Regiment has stepped up to take much of the glory
and honour earned by the LER for themselves.
Walter Strang was a TSR at the start of the war and
joined the LER just before Ortona. Ken and Walter
became good friends.
In September the TSR will honour Theo Zuurman,
he flew here for Bill Teleske’s funeral, with a Mess
Dinner for all the work he has done with the Walter
Strang Foundation. What are we, as a Regiment,
going to do to honour all those who died while
serving in Holland and Northwest Europe?
My editorial rant is finished and so is the space.