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

REGIMENTAL MANUALINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONThe Regimental Manual is written by Strathconas for Strathconas. It represents who we are and what wedo. Although this type of knowledge may otherwise be gained through experience, without a regimentalmanual it would take time. Without a written record, some of the collective knowledge might be lost overthe years.Colonel Keith Eddy (Retired) and everyone involved in the publication of the First Edition of theRegimental Manual should be commended for achieving a very important milestone in documenting thecustoms and traditions of the Regiment. The First Edition acted as an outstanding guide for allStrathconas and provided a solid foundation on which to expand for this edition.Many Strathconas answered the call to update the Regimental Manual in 1995. Thanks must be given toall who replied and to Mrs Shelly Blackmore (Martin) who initially consolidated those comments.Colonel Des Deane-Freeman, CD (Retired) and Master Warrant Officer Bob Caughill, CD (Retired),who conducted in-depth reviews of those comments on behalf of the Regimental Society Board ofDirectors, must also be thanked for their diligent and dedicated work. Unfortunately, much research wasrequired to fully implement all the suggested alterations and to incorporate the magnitude of change thatresulted from the Regiment’s move to Edmonton in 1996.One of the main challenges in writing the Second Edition was to establish the Regimental Manual as theprimary reference for regimental customs and traditions without repeating information that could befound in other published sources. The main approach, however, was to ensure that the manual containedas much background information as possible in order to prevent unnecessary changes and to allowdeviations from the norm to be done so consciously.Most of the information in this edition can be found at the Regiment. The information can be read off thevarious plaques, paintings, artefacts and trophies or can be observed in regimental practices. Otherinformation resides solely with the soldiers and officers, or in their perceptions of past events, becausethose events have not always been well documented or passed on during handovers. A significant amountof the proof did, however, come from the Regimental Archives. Sadly, there are notable gaps becauseoriginal information and photographs have not always been recorded or preserved.Where there were gaps in information, Strathconas everywhere rose to the task. Many more people needto be given credit for details contained this manual. Serving and retired Strathconas have tracked downmemorials, taken or scanned photos, faxed and emailed information or shared recollections aboutparticular events. Each tidbit of information was extremely valuable and all assistance was mostappreciated.The information that did make it to the Archives has been priceless when conducting research for themanual. The Regimental Museum has flourished under the care and hard work of Warrant Officers DarylCrowell and Ted MacLeod, Corporal Lee Ramsden, and Master Corporal Todd Giberson. I owe eachone of them my sincere appreciate for faithfully responding to endless requests for more detailedinformation and photographs during the past few years. As the Regimental Museum Archivist, LeeRamsden has organized seemingly insignificant boxes of paper and old photo albums into a top-notcharchive of all things regimental.There remain, however, several obvious gaps in the information that is held in the Archives. Certainissues, such as the origin of the regimental blazer or the reason for specifying myrtle green as aregimental colour in the period following the First World War, for example, remain unclear. There arefew source documents dealing with the Regiment during the Korean War or rotations to Germany, Cyprusand Egypt. Equally, little seems to be available on the subjects of the reorganization of the Regiment in