U.N. Peacekeepers Monument located in Worthington Park – Borden, OntarioWorthington Park BordenThe Peacekeeper Monument in Worthington park, unveiled in 2002.Names of Royal Canadian Armoured Corp personnel who died on peacekeeping operations.Photos courtesy of John GilmartinPage 8<strong>Strath</strong>cona’s Newsletter
PERAMBULATIONS OF THE PERIPATETIC PADREHaving just returned from Edmonton andthe 86th Anniversary of the Battle ofMoreuil Wood, my wife Marion and I arestill glowing after one of the best <strong>Strath</strong>conaevents in recent memory. The mixedMess Dinner complete with six courseswas a Gastronomic Gormandize of GrandGluttony!! Three days later we are stillrecovering. One of the highlights of the dinnerwas the honouring of Colonel MikeSnell, a true <strong>Strath</strong>cona, retiring after 40years in Her Majesty’s Service. A goodlygathering of Calgary <strong>Strath</strong>s in attendanceincluded amongst others LieutenantColonel Rick Williams, Association(Alberta Branch) President DonCrossman, Roy & Inez Jardine, Padre& Marion Greene. Roy, who only a yearago was confined to using a walker, is nowable to walk without the walker. Good showRoy!It was also good to meet once again TheColonel of the Regiment, Mark Egener.The Regimental Parade on Saturday onceagain showed the <strong>Strath</strong>s in top performanceand a fitting tribute to the Commandingofficer, Jamie Cade. For me thiswas a sad note, for Jamie soon to be postedis the third generation <strong>Strath</strong> in the samefamily. Jamie’s father Jack served with usin the 2nd World War. His grandfatherFred and his grandmother Florence wereparishioners of mine in Winnipeg in the1970’s. Fred was a World War I <strong>Strath</strong>cona.What a pity that the army changesthe CO’s and RSM’s every two years.One of the things that struck me at theOver the years, <strong>Lord</strong> <strong>Strath</strong>cona’s<strong>Horse</strong> (Royal Canadians) has establisheddeep roots in the province of Albertaand has earned a reputation for excellencein the service and outstandingcommitment to the people of Canada. Forover a hundred years we represented Canada,with great distinction, in all major wars,parade was the number of CanadianForces Decorations (CD) awarded, andeven Bar(s) to the CD, which means l2 or22 years of Good conduct. Or, as we in thelines used to say, l2 years of undetectedcrime. In wartime I can never recall a CDbeing awarded. Now this could mean thatthe Provost Corps in wartime were muchmore astute in catching defaulters than theProvosts of today, or was it that we werejust naughty fellows?In late December we visited Len Katzwho was just home from hospital andreceiving tender loving care from Lee. InJanuary we were in Barbados and onceagain touched base with Michael Clarke,brother of George L.A.Clarke, killed atthe Melfa. The Clarke’s took us for a lovelydrive and a delicious lunch on the EastCoast.Back in Calgary we make regular callsand take the Sacrament to Molly May ina seniors’ home. Husband Billy is mostfaithful, visiting Molly every day. I am inphone contact with my old crew commanderand Squadron Commander WilliamMilroy who hopes to be in Edmonton forthe Melfa celebration in May. A phone callto Jock Burton in Victoria brought us thenews that Harold Boettcher had suffereda stroke and is now in Mount St.Mary’sNursing Home in Victoria. His wife Helenwill be shortly moving to a new apartmenttwo blocks away from Harold.At Christmas a quite unexpected letterarrived from Stan Rule in LondonOntario. Stan and I had grown up in theFreedom of the City – Fort SaskatchewanVISIT OUR WEB SITEwww.strathconas.caconflicts, and nearly all peacekeeping missions.In 2003, the City of Fort Saskatchewanwas affiliated with the Regiment,which included the raising of the RegimentalFlag at City Hall. This flag hasbeen moved and is permanently flying inLegacy Park to show the strong affiliationbetween this community and this Regiment.To recognize this special relationship, theCity of Fort Saskatchewan intends to grant<strong>Lord</strong> <strong>Strath</strong>cona’s <strong>Horse</strong> (Royal Canadians),Freedom of the City. A special ceremony,followed by the reception, is scheduledto take place at approximately 1000hours on Sunday, 15 May 2004, at the FortSaskatchewan City Hall. This is planned asa full day event and will include a RegimentalParade with dismounted personnel,vehicle displays and a musical ride performanceby the <strong>Strath</strong>cona MountedTroop.<strong>Lord</strong> <strong>Strath</strong>cona’s <strong>Horse</strong> (Royal Canadians)has been granted Freedom of the Cityin other cities across Canada and a city inGermany.same area in Toronto back in the 30’s andit was great to hear from a long lost brother.Sad news in Winnipeg came to me viaBud McLean here in Calgary, it was thedeath of Harvey Wait, one of the RECCEdrivers at the Melfa Harvey was a veryactive member of our Winnipeg Branchwhen I was there in the 70’s. OJ “Jack”Gallant, the last survivors of the 4 Gallantbrothers from Virden Manitoba, allof whom served with the <strong>Strath</strong>s, is living inextended care in Vulcan Alberta, where Iam the Vicar (hence VICAR of VULCAN).OJ at 90 was quite surprised to hear thatBilly May is still living at 83.In February I spent an afternoon chasingdown the coach of the St. Louis Blues,one Joel Quenneville who hails fromWindsor Ontario. Joel is the spittingimage of one Blackie Quenneville whoserved with us in Italy and Holland. Withthe Quennevilles being in great numbers inWindsor, it is probable that Blackie is acousin or maybe an uncle of the Blues formerCoach, now appointed coach of TeamCanada. Has anyone any knowledge ofwhere Blackie might be?Other lost trails include ‘Wilf’ Laffertywho I last saw in Montreal in 1973, JoelKrueger, my gunner in Holland, last seenin Winnipeg in the 1950’s. In the November11th week I had the privilege of speakingto different groups at Schools,Seniors Homes and Girl Guides.Speaking to one group of girls’ agebetween 5 & 8, I was attempting to describeto them what it was like to be a member ofa tank crew. I then asked a sweet little 5year old what a tank was, and she replied,“Father, it is something in which you keepyour gold fish”, which I had to admit was aright answer, but not the one I was lookingfor.Val Rimer was very active aroundNovember 11th, leading the ArmisticeService in his local synagogue whose largeattendance included several <strong>Strath</strong>conas.Soon after arriving back from our summertrip to the east news came of Frank Clifford’sdeath at the age of 90. GeorgeWattsford spoke of Frank as the model<strong>Strath</strong>cona. Since my last report in theNewsletter it was my sad privilege to takethe funeral of Alex Ozirny in the chapel ofthe Colonel Belcher Hospital here inCalgary. My dear wife Marion keeps closecontact with a number of <strong>Strath</strong>cona widowsincluding Alice Budner, MillieMcCreary, Jean Ozirny, Della Spilde,Irene Kennedy Rae MacDiarmid, MargSpencer and Jessie Spencer, And lastly, afinal thank you to ‘Mucker’ Langan for hispatience in waiting for this overdue report.<strong>Strath</strong>conas PUSH ON!Padre R.S.H.GreeneLance Corporal (retired)<strong>Strath</strong>cona’s Newsletter Page 9
Change language