Regimental Society Newsletter S s - Lord Strathcona's Horse

Continued from Page 1Colonel of the RegimentChief of Land Staff in the PolishForces. LGen Skrzyczak was soimpressed with his visit that onhis return to Poland he wrote toLGen Andrew Leslie, our CLS,proposing an affiliation between“my best unit,” 10th ArmouredCavalry Brigade (10 BrygadyKawalerii Pancernej), and theStrathcona’s. Things moved quicklyand on 29 November a contingentof us arrived in Warsaw to begin aweek of familiarization, socializing,touring, and determining the wayahead for this new affiliation – onefor which I have high hopes. Thisis not only because of my previousservice in Poland but because I seegreat potential for mutual supportand strong friendships between twoallied armies. The Poles, especially,have not forgotten their close ties tothe Canadian Army in WW II. Thedetails on this visit are well coveredon our Regimental web site.A second major event was therepatriation of Sir Sam Steele’spersonal archives and artefacts toCanada. Through the foresight andperseverance of the University ofAlberta, these archives were rescuedfrom public auction in Englandand the eighty-five or so boxes arenow being archived and will go ondisplay in 2010 at the University inEdmonton and the Glenbow Museumin Calgary. In thanks for our supportto the handover of the documents atthe Canadian High Commission inLondon and the ceremony to receivethem in Edmonton, we have beenpromised full access to these and theloan of items for our own displaypurposes. My only concern is thataccess to Sir Sam’s personal lettersand diaries may mean that we willhave to do a major “book burning”in the Kit Shop and commission anew and ‘accurate’ history.Just to end the year on a high note,the CO, RSM, and I were invited toLondon to meet with our Colonelin-Chiefand finally present the printwe commissioned to mark the 30thanniversary of His Royal Highness’appointment. We met with himprivately at Clarence House and lefttotally impressed with his interestin and awareness of our Regiment’sactivities, especially in Afghanistan.There is no doubt that he keepsinformed and has a very specialinterest in the physical and mentalcasualties coming out of theatre. Incase you are not aware, the Colonelin-Chiefstays involved by sendingpersonal letters to the families ofour war dead, the seriously injured,and all who receive decorations andcommendations in theatre. He alsosends letters to each Sqn Comd onrotation to Afghanistan and a specialChristmas parcel to each squadronin theatre at Christmas time. On thepersonal side, the CO, RSM, and Ithoroughly enjoyed the frank andcandid conversation we were able tohave with him. Of course, the RSMand I, being young boys from smalltowns in Northern Ontario, werealready over-awed by the time weentered Clarence House.See you all at Moreuil Wood 2009,I hope, or at least at the 2010Reunion!Summer 2009 EditionThe deadline for submissions for theSummer/Fall 2009 Strathcona Newsletter is4 September 2009.Submissions should be forwarded tonewsletter@strathconas.caor mailed to:Lord Strathcona’s Horse(Royal Canadians)PO Box 10500 Station ForcesEdmonton, AB T5J 4J5Attention: Kathy BattyStrathcona’sAwarded CF UnitCommendationIn recognition of the tremendousefforts of all ranks of LordStrathcona’s Horse (RoyalCanadians) the Chief of the DefenseStaff, General Walter Natynczyk,and the Chief of the Land Staff,Lieutenant-General AndrewLeslie, presented the Regimentwith a Canadian Forces UnitCommendation on 4 December,2008. The honour was officiallyannounced 29 August, 2008 in aVCDS CANFORGEN.The Commendation was presentedby the CDS to formally acknowledgethe efforts of LdSH(RC) with regardsto the short notice deployment oftank support to Joint Task ForceAfghanistan in September 2006.Acting in a manner befitting theRegimental motto of “Perseverance”the Regiment as a wholedemonstrated an outstanding levelof commitment. This ensured thatthe soldiers of the CF in Afghanistanhave access to the most powerfulelements of the Canadian Army insupport of the mission there.Although dated for a specificincident, all members of the Unitcan be proud of the effort thatthey have put forth and continueto put forth. The CommandingOfficer, Lieutenant-Colonel DerekMacaulay, reinforced the fact thatStrathcona’s remain the busiestregiment in the CF and that allmembers of LdSH(RC) share inthis highly respected honour as theycontinue to persevere in this periodof demanding operational tempo.Strathconas NewsletterPage 3www.strathconas.ca