The Regimental Manual Second Edition.pdf - Lord Strathcona's Horse

GENERAL CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONSREGIMENTAL MANUALStrathcona Exchange Officers (Captains)Lancer Exchange Officers (Captains)H.E. White (1977-1978) H.C.R. Downes (1977-1978)G.G. Hug (1978-1980) A.D.T. Barkas (1979-1981)S.M. Kierstead (1918-1983) R.J.D. Goldsmith (1981-1983)D.C. Hilton (1983-1984) A. Woodbridge (1983-1984)J.R. Forestell (1984-86) R.N. Wertheim (1984-1986)C.M. Hazleton (1986-1988) T.J. Garforth-Bles (1986-1988)W.J. Ellis (1988-1990)V.J. Fagnan (Lieutenant) (Long-term Visit 1990)M.A.C. Harding-Rolls (1988-1991)C.R. Rankin (1990-1992) W.V. Bostock (1991-1993)A.D. Payne (1992-1994) P. Barlow (1993-1995)R.T. Steward (1994-1997) R.C. Gaussen (1995-1996)ARTICLE 2401 - THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT (THE WESTIES)1. The Regiment’s association with The Royal Westminster Regiment is not an official one. Therelationship is largely unnoticed in this day and age; it is, however, noteworthy and deserves recognition.2. The Regiment’s first encounter with theWesties took place in Camp Borden when units of the1 st Canadian Armoured Brigade concentrated for thefirst time in 1941. The association was the start ofmany groupings with each other, most being on thebattlefield in the upcoming campaigns. The mostfamous but by no means the only action involving theunits was the crossing of the Melfa River on 24 May1943. In this action, Lieutenant Perkins and his smallReconnaissance Troop clung to a bridgehead untileventually reinforced by a company of the Westies,then under command of the Regiment. Such was thevalue of the position and the ferocity of the fightingthat Lieutenant Perkins won a Distinguished ServiceOrder, Sergeant C.N. Macey won the DistinguishedConduct Medal and Trooper J.K. Funk a MilitaryMedal. Major J.K. Mahony of the Westies wasawarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the battle.Figure 12 – Regimental Badge of The WestminsterRegiment3. Actions such as the crossing of the Melfa River, which are reported in A Record of Achievementby Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. McAvity, created an exceptional bond between both units that could not beduplicated or shared with any other unit with whom they fought. In his book, Lieutenant-ColonelMcAvity proposed a toast (also see Table 6 – Mess Dinner Toasts):“As my last order in the capacity of Commanding Officer of the 2 nd Canadian ArmouredRegiment, I would say to all Strathconas: let not time nor space sever this chain; wherever you2-10