Regimental Museum Report Strathcona Mounted Troop Report

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Greetings from the Strathcona’s of theEast. As I was recently reminded by LCol“Spike” Hazleton, next to the Regiment,CFB Gagetown, and more specifically theArmour School, has the highest concentrationof Strathcona’s anywhere in thecountry. The school is presently well establishedwith Strathcona Officers and SnrNCOs. Its headquarters has LCol “Spike”Hazleton at the helm with CWO DougHarvey employed as the RSM role andMajor BJ Walsh is the Chief Instructor.Other Officers and NCOs employed atthe school include: Major Chris Rankin,OC TSS, Captains, John Cochrane, ScottGooch, Dan Hardy, Rob Hume, ErrolMacEachern, Chris Nolan and JasonSteeves on the officer side with CWORuss Ells, MWO Kevin Lovett and MWODave Blanchard rounding out the seniorstaff employed within the school. Having atotal number of 110 all ranks posted to theThe Cobra II story continuedThis story was well known around theRegiment. Bill West knows the story andso does Percy Buzza. In fact, Percy sayshe has recounted the incident to groupsfrom time to time to show that war is notalways hell. At the time it may have beenregarded as an interesting drinking story.Er! Well, a Piss-upBut now, I think we should be proud ofthe men who were involved. It’s part of thePerseverance idea that is instilled in ourmembers. Think of it. These men broughtin several prisoners. There were many decorationsthat were awarded to soldiers whosuccessfully captured a prisoner. Our ladsdid it without force. I think they were heroic.Let’s find out who the unknown ThirdMan was. Some may quibble the fact thatthey were drunk on duty. Nonsense! Drinkingwas an essential element for the successof their mission, which was to find away to get back to the Regiment. In addition,it must be remembered that two hadbeen wounded and were perhaps sufferingsome considerable pain and distress. Theyquite possibly needed the Vino as a paincontrol. Think about it!Jock BurtonVictoria, BCSTRATHCONA’S OF THE EASTschool and approximately 20 others beingemployed throughout the base ensure theRegiment is well represented on this coast.The School is heavily involved in theWave of Work (WOW), the re-writing ofall armour courses conducted across thecountry. There are a number of personnelparticipating in this project. It runs fromthe development of Qualification Standard(QS) through to the completion ofthe courseware. Involved in the officerDevelopmental Period 1 (DP) boardswere Major Jamie Hunter, Sgt Tom Hollandand Captain Colin Michaud beforethe process drove him to retire in December2001. CWO Russ Ells assisted in thespearheading of the DP 1 Crewman andDP 4 SSM courses. As if redesigning thesecourses were not enough to keep him busy,CWO Russ Ells has taken on a renovationproject, that of the School Strathcona classroom.True to his mentor, Bob Villa, he hasreturned the glory to this once proud classroom.Renovations are all but completewith the final addition of the Wanklynprints soon to be added.In fine Strathcona tradition, we have alarge number of social events in the worksover the next few months. Functionsinclude: the Atlantic Area Black HatMess Dinner on 23 March 02, in whichthere will be a fine re-enactment of the Battleof Moreuil Wood; our annual MoreuilWood Smoker, 28 March 02, and finallythe officers Moreuil Wood Dinner on 6April 02.Remember, if you are going to be at ornear the School, drop by and pay a visit toyour fellow Strathcona’s. Or just see our 30Leopard C2’s. We are all looking forwardto receiving the Spring edition of theNewsletter.Captain John CochraneCFB Gagetown, NBWhat’s in a Name – Which is not on a NameTag?Strathconas like to be friendly with somereservations to those who take themselvestoo seriously. Let me give you a few examplesof that camaraderie I have heard overmy years in the RCAC. Many of these affectionatenicknames were used in the Strathconasor other RCAC Units.Mud Guts Stevens – Drank copiousamounts of chocolate milk.Hose Nose Murphy – Long snout.The Anteater – Longer than Hose NoseMurphy’s long snout.Wing Nut – Big Ears.Cowboy Schultz – Couldn’t ride a horsebut wore a Stetson hat off base.Babbler Riching – Could not stop talking,but said nothing worth remembering.Shadow Redding – Too thin to cast ashadow.Pumpkin Head Carlson – Very largehead.Gobbels – Became Goatballs.Meathead Jones – In the Military Police(A.K.A.) “Meatheads”, as opposed to DoubleClutching Jones who drove a truck inthe Service Corps. It’s important to knowwhich Jones is the real Meathead as inpoint of fact both were.Patterson – This could take a wholepage, but here are a few – Black Pat – Dirtysocks Patterson – S.L. and A.K. (initials)Patterson – Paddy Patterson and on andon.Slewfoot Brant – Big feet.Mad Jack – Fat Jack – Black Jack –Smiling Jack and Flapjack.Rip Cord Bill Barnaby – Officer killedin a free fall parachute drop because he forgotsomething basic. Duh? THUMP!A chap with the name Hogalinshirtze –Became Hockey ShortsA Francophone chap with the nameRaincourt – Became RainCoat.Bulgy McArthur – Officer who thoughthe was thin and he wasn’t – his tight uniformgave him away.Chicken Major Jones as opposed toCol. Saunders – A Major who had a nightjob delivering “Chicken On the Way” (Iswear it’s true!).Fireplug Murphy – Built like one.Fighting Frank Worthington – Gener-al F.F. Worthington father of RCAC andPeter Worthington, columnist.Farting Frank Barber – Same initialsdifferent qualification and rank!Lying Ted – Guess why.Sneaky George Curundi – Was just asmart person – like a Car Salesman – onlycouldn’t be trusted at cards either.Horseshit Wallin – He was full of it anda real horse’s ass – hung out with FlimsyFlinch.Numb Nuts Allen – Really stunned.Pussar Parker – Origin UK – thoughtCanada was still a colony and the LimeJuicers are superior – talked about “havingchildren” and not KIDS.My all time Fav’ – Chief Walking Eagle– A Commanding Officer I once had – hewas so full of crap he could never get off theground. Became a General in the end, didn’tfly any better in Ottawa. I wonder if he’smore aerodynamic in heaven now?This just proves that Strathconas are afriendly bunch and this is just the tip of theiceberg.As Major “Old Cock” Stanford said,“Who’s for a shot of SRD?” (Service RumDemerara) then we’ll lift the horses tail andlook the situation right in the eye.So Perseverance and Perspiration ittakes both to get promoted.“Take care now.” You may not know whatto take care of, but take care of it NOW anyway!Galloping Geezer (Is Not My RealName, I hope you realize – Duh – Thump).Disclaimer: Most of these fine folks aredead. To avoid embarrassment or hurt toany living or relatives of the nicknamesgiven, actual names are not used.Jack DowneyCalgary, ABPage 12Strathcona’s Newsletter
LdSH(RC) Association (Ontario Branch) ReportThe Branch focus has been communicationswith all Strathconas throughoutOntario. We now have a well functioningweb site (as does the Regiment) and morethan half of the Ontario family receives routinee-mail updates on events, activities andthe moves or passing of members.We are pleased that LCol Jamie Cadehas been selected to be the next CommandingOfficer of the Regiment. Forthe past two years LCol Cade found time toserve us all as an active member of theOntario Branch Executive.For those who don’t have access to e-I’ve come to say good-byeIn memory of Gordan Waldner, killed atGrid co-ordinate 165192, Korea, 02 Oct1952. Albert McBride visited the grave atthe United Nations Memorial Cemetery inPusan, Korea on 20 April 1958.Dear John continuedsomething about it and then most importanttell the man of any progress in the settlingof the problem.A thing you should continually keep infront of you is the matter of the equal divisionof the dirty jobs in your troop. Unlessit is carefully watched you may find somepoor wretch who is always stuck for theextra duty perhaps because he is not quiteas sharp as the rest of the troop. If this ishappening make sure that you get itchanged else you will surely have a disgruntledman in your troop.Keep continually under review the matterof promotion from within your troop.When a man does well tell him so and pushhim up the ladder when the opportunitypermits. Along the same vein keep a sharpeye on the trades qualification of the menof your troop. Find out what the man wantsand see that he gets the necessary course.Now if you are certain of yourself take asharp look at your NCO’s. Are they; availableto the troops and are they fair and justin their dealings. If not, then you shouldtake action and at once. By the same tokenbe sure that you keep the matter of NCOqualifications and training in a proper perspective.It is a big job you have my boy and if youand your NCO’s are doing it faithfully andwell the number of men taking their dischargewill be held to a minimum. A big joband a fascinating one that has no limit noend and allow no letdown.Lord, lord I envy you.As ever,Dadmail we have decided to send a newsletterthree months out of phase from the SocietyNewsletter. This will give each membermore news over a broader period.Our new web site has been developed byour webmaster, Capt Eric Chamberland,Montreal We are very grateful that he hasdevoted so much of his time, talent andeffort to this project. The editor is our President,Greg Hug, in Ottawa.PerseveranceBill JacobsOttawa, ONI’VE COME TO SAY GOOD-BYEI’m here by your grave, at last my friend.I hear the angels cry.I see your smile. I hear your voice.I come to say good-bye.Memories come of that long time ago.I watch you as you die.I hear you cry. I feel your painI come to say good-bye.You’re not alone in this foreign field.Your friends are here, close by.The birds still sing, the flowers still bloom.I come to say good-bye.I slowly kneel by your grave in prayer.You speak and I reply.I touch your stone and shed my tears.It’s time to say good-bye.So rest in peace, my boy-hood friend,As angels sing on high.My prayers and thoughts are here with you.I’ve said my last good-bye.I thought of these words, as I watchedmy husband, Albert, kneel at the gravesideof his friend.Isabelle McBrideSt Albert, ABThe RSM’s cornerIt would seem that a common theme ofmine is tell you how busy we have been!That’s because it’s true!! In fact as LColEllis mentioned in an “O” Group, just theother day, he had never seen the Regimentthis busy before (not that he has a lot oftime here!).Out of all the events that have gone downrange this past year, the most memorablewere, the Strong Contender, Cambrianpatrol team winning a Silver Medal, theRegimental ski trip, adventure training,Gun camp in Suffield (our first time in thefield for quite some time!) I even managedto squeeze in Exercise “Ironsides bonspeil”(My first in 29 years!)Much has changed in the past couple ofyears in both the Cdn Forces and the Army.The day-to-day pace has picked up considerably,Squadron level rotations continue togrow, the calendar is full and multi taskinghas become the order of the day. Long pastare the days of focusing on one task at onetime. The demands on personnel, vehiclesand resources, has become a huge jugglingact that all are involved in.While all this is going on, the Regimentalsystem continues to be under attack fromall flanks. From the medical system to, thelegal system, the training system, digitization,and continual Army restructure. I’mconvinced that there is a cell in Ottawathat has a mandate to look for changes toanything that has lasted more than a year!In the midst of this constant bombardmentfrom outside and the hectic scheduleinside, there is one group that does notalways get the recognition they deserve.These are the soldiers. I’m talking aboutcrewman, supply techs, maintainers,technicians, medics, cooks, signalers,military police, (I know I’ve missed someone!).They put up with all the changes atthe lowest level they are the ones who haveto make it happen and to date they continueto do an outstanding job. Well done to allof you! Keep up the great work!PerseveranceCWO (RSM) D.M. Biener, CDStrathcona’s Newsletter Page 13
Page 4 and 5: Letters Letters continuedCongrats o
Page 8 and 9: Once Upon A Time There Was A Subalt
Page 10 and 11: PERAMBULATIONS OF THE PERIPATETIC P
Page 14 and 15: Message from the Colonel of the Reg
Page 16: NOTES FROMTHE EDITORIn addition to

Regimental Museum Report Strathcona Mounted Troop Report

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