Bill – I have a suggestion for a future article that ties into a couple of ex-cadets.

First link is myself, Mech Eng class of 87 college # 15998. My daughter submitted a proposed experiment to the Canadian Space Agency as part of a nationwide contest for Canadian School students. The experiment was chosen from all of the entries from across Canada and on 16 April Chris Hadfield performed the experiment on the International Space Station.

It was done on a live link with her High School in Fall River Nova Scotia. Her and her partner performed the experiment first and then Hadfield did it and then he answered several questions from the students.

Dad (me) had Kendra slip into her question how would Chris respond to the words Beer Esses Emma (his answer was good).

The event was on Nasa TV and is now on You Tube at the links below. The first is the short version with just the experiment and the second is the full one including the questions. It is also on the national news sites, I think for CBC it is in the Atlantic region archive.

Thought it might make an interesting tidbit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtXfwk7PXg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUIa685ETgo  (Check around the 11:00 mark for the “Beer Esses Emma” response and more on RMC)

Kevin Lemke

Vice President Production

IMP Aerospace

(902) 873-2250 ext 1311

(902) 441-7231 (M)

kevin.lemke@impaerospace.com

In this issue, I saw a picture of one of my course mates (pilot course 7304), 9835 Jim Reith, having a drink with two of the participants of the GNCTR in Vancouver.

I noticed from the list of participants that 25835 OCdt Burgos, according to the College number tradition, owed 160 beers to Jim. I was wandering that if the beer that Jim is holding in his hand was the first of several beers that he collected from OCdt Burgos that evening…

Cheers

9592 Claude Perras

The Reply…

Yes we did realize that night upon sharing college numbers that I did owe a large amount of beer to Jim. We cam to an agreement that those beers will be given over time and the next time I head over to Vancouver. It was a shock really, it’s rare that you find someone with the same last two!

Cheers

25835 Adrian Burgos

“The Red Sweater”

It was a great surprise and honour to share the cover of the Fall 2012 issue of Veritas with first-year officer cadets 26680 Damon Thomas and 26852 Alex Gorman. Before I saw the picture I had two e-mails from Class of 57 colleagues who said “What a great picture.”It is a great picture and Damon and Alex and I have to thank photographer Steven McQuaid for that. And thanks to the editors and staff who chose it .

Of all the photos that were taken that day what is there about this one that caught the editor’s eye? Perhaps it is the happy faces. I was excited to be there with the young cadets, as wet and mucky as they were, and Damon and Alex were no doubt happy to get the obstacle course over with.What better content than happy,excited people with the Mackenzie Building in the background.

Perhaps it is the old hand on the young, strong shoulder.The guys got a handshake and a pat on the shoulder,he girls a handshake and a hug.I tried my best to make it as warm and sincere as I could. What a marvelous bunch of kids.

My wife, Wanda, says it is the red sweater. There is a story about that red RMC sweater that you may find interesting or perhaps as touching as I do.

The sweater isn’t mine.I have bought clothing in the gift shop but I didn’t buy this sweater.It was a treasured possession of a former classmate. 3846 Dick Harding was one of us who valued everything about the Colleges—our motto,his years at RMC ,his Class of 57 classmates,his association with ex-Cadets from other years and the Club of which he was a great supporter. On one of my visits to see him he showed me a family picture hanging on the living room wall.He is wearing the red RMC sweater.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1987 and then a terminal illness in 2000.He knew that he wouldn’t make the Old Brigade and that was a big disappointment to him. After a contact by his family with the Old Brigade he was given a tie and beret. He was so proud to have them.He showed me how to wear the beret and in spite of the best instruction I have yet to master that skill. The tie and beret were with him until the end. I suspect the red sweater was close at hand.

After the funeral his wife Eleanor gave me the sweater.She said it didn’t matter to her when or where I wore it. I haven’t worn it a lot but on this past ex-Cadet weekend I brought it to wear if there was some down time to be casual.We got to Kingston mid Friday afternoon just in time to make the obstacle course and Wanda suggested that I wear the sweater. No time to get properly dressed.

As is the custom after our class Friday night dinner Al Roberts,our class secretary and now former Old Brigade Adjutant started the round of mutual greetings. In his speech he told us how much our being there for the Cadets at the coin and badging ceremonies meant to them. Al also told us what belonging to the Old Brigade and the whole family of Cadets and ex-Cadets should mean to us and in doing so used the story about how much the Old Brigade tie and beret meant to Dick.When it was my turn to speak I said what an uplifting experience it was to be part of the coin presentations and how good it felt to wear Dick’s RMC sweater.

After the fall issue of Veritas came out and I exchanged e-mails with Al Roberts about the picture Al suggested that the “red sweater” was a story that had to be told.

I called Dick’s youngest daughter Kerin right away and got her on the website and to the picture.You can imagine what an emotional moment it was when I told her it was her Dad’s sweater. Kerin’s siblings Pat, Susan and Steven got to the website that evening and the email exchanges were heartfelt thanks and comments.

Steven quipped that you have to be sentimental to Google something to see an old sweater of Dad’s. Susan said the young man I am patting on the shoulder looks like a young Dick Harding. Pat suggested her Dad might have orchestrated the whole thing. I know for sure he would like to have been with the Old Brigaders and the young Cadets on the square that day. Perhaps the red sweater was there in his place, helping all of us make the connection.

On a personal note, after our years in the RCAF, Dick and I became Ontario high school teachers and for many years tried to make the connection with young, excited and exciting kids. We both learned how to love and respect them. Three that were with me are RMC graduates and I am very proud of them.18323 Don Durand, Class of 92, was at the 2012 weekend. That was a special treat. I think Dick’s red sweater and I had a good “connecting” weekend. I plan to bring the sweater in 2017 (that’s optimisim, isn’t it?) but no photographs, please.

3859 D.E. Wright

Not long now until our Class (the Class of ’62) reassembles to celebrate our 50th anniversary of graduating. Truly exciting. Every so often I find myself reflecting on those days – so many of which, for me, were spent up there on the top floor of Yeo Hall in that space where the Chapel is located preparing posters for athletic events and materials for the ball decorations. I had always sketched this and that in my notebooks through pre-RMC school days, but was in no way involved seriously in visual art until I came to the College. Flash forward and now relocated from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Stratford, Ontario, I was encouraged last spring to become involved in a project here which has only just concluded but which has been not only fun but exhilarating: the painted piano project for this year’s Stratford Summer Music Festival.

This painted piano project began ten years ago, initiated by an installation artist from England, Luke Jessam. Two cities were involved that year. The idea: to place brightly painted pianos about a community outside and invite people to stop and play in whatever style suits them. This year the program has been embraced in fourteen cities and communities around the globe, including such centres as New York, Toronto, Paris, and London (England). Over four hundred artists have been involved. Here in Stratford in this year when the Music Festival has featured and celebrated the piano and Glenn Gould as its themes, we have had eight artists contribute their work. was more than a little pleased to be one of those. Lori came up with the theme for my piano, an aquarium. Each piano had a totally different design. Rich as a collection. And each had to have the inscription, “PLay Me, I’m Yours” on it.

We’re only just back from a seven-week odyssey back to the east coast, Bill, to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Now getting ready for next month’s excitements.

I’ll be watching for you at the Reunion weekend.

Every good wish.

5472 James Colbeck

___________________________________

I was somewhat surprised at the item regarding the teaching and singing of Precision. I recall that I and all my classmates knew the words and music by Christmas 1956 and sang and marched to it on a regular basis. I was also surprised to see the word “Empire” used twice – I think the word “Country” was substituted before 1956 and was far more appropriate.

However I am pleased that the College will be using the “School Song” on suitable occasions. I have never forgotten the words.

I really enjoy Veritas so thanks and keep up the good work.

4840 Dr. Peter J Ashley

Please remove me from the mailing list.

I find this news letter to be totally irrelevant, self serving obsequious crap.

3586 Norman Kelly

________________________________________

Friends of RMC Hockey have confirmed the plan for reunion weekend:

September 28th:17h00:18h00 – Open Paladins Practice;  18h00:19h00 – Open Skate

September 29th: 14h00-16h00 – Alumni Game – 16h00-17h00 – Post Game Presentation - Evening get together to be scheduled, post peoples year dinners

September 30th: 14h00-17h00 – Ottawa Gee Gees versus RMC Paladins Exhibition Game

Adam Shell

Head Hockey Coach

Royal Military College of Canada

[W] (613) 541-6000 ext. 6377

[F] (613) 541-6186

[C] (613) 583-5861

Adam.shell@rmc.ca

I was overwhelmed by the breadth and thoroughness of the article entitled An Impressive Art Collection at RMCC by Kamille Parkinson PhD in the latest edition of eVeritas. She is able to describe the historical background of the overall collection in such an interesting way as to appeal to all readers whether they have an interest in artwork or not.

Her second last paragraph about the difficulty in properly caring for the collection is the best appeal for museum support that I have seen in the past four years that I have been trying to encourage support from class representatives and other donors.

Thank you Kamille.

5256 Gwyn Griffith

“The difficulty with properly caring for an art collection such as the one at RMCC is of course one of resources. As at many museums, operational funding at the RMCC Museum is profoundly stretched, and the amount that can be devoted to the purchase of archival-quality storage materials or to having conservation work done is frustratingly small. Typically, museum/gallery fundraising efforts and donations are directed towards high-profile projects to which donor names can be attached, not to more prosaic purposes such as staffing and supplies. The collection, including museum artifacts, can unfortunately suffer in consequence. Museum personnel everywhere tend to develop a sort of fatalistic attitude towards these circumstances, but it is a situation that really should not exist.”

_____________________________________

“The way it was” photo of the four cadets illustrating the four types of dress in 1948 when our class opened the College after the War, shown in the July 2nd issue, includes from left to right, Ted Mills, “Big John” McLaughlin, Bill Birmingham and Hugh C.W. Franklin. Ted Mills, Hugh Franklin and I, as well as my cousin Bob Jarvis and Robin Bourne all entered RMC in September 1948 from Ridley College in St. Catharines. We Ridley chaps were all attracted to RMC by the potential to further our gymnastics prowess, all having been members of Ridley’s gym team. We were eager to enjoy training under RSM Coggins, one of the three great physical training and gymnastics instructors who had come to Canada from England. The others were Capt. Igulden at Ridley and Sam Batt at Upper Canada College. Sadly the then RMC commandant, Brigadier Don Agnew, forbad gymnastics because he feared we might be “injured”. At least that is what we were told. This was a great disappointment to us all, and to others in our class who had also been anticipating becoming an RMC gymnast. Before the war RMC was known for its gymnastics. Sad story.

However, all was not lost because we received a fine education both in academics and discipline, plus camaraderie good for a lifetime …………………… and none of us was injured doing gymnastics.

2944 Reid J.D.

_____________________________________

Just a personal note to tell you I have never heard such a fantastic extemporaneous speech like the one given to us in Edmonton last Wednesday by the Commandant. It was truly one of education in basics of budgeting and working under duress – especially where the past activities were such a strong point to overcome. I have the feeling that the future of the RMCC is in good hands!

The Athletic Director really got through in a hurry to all of us as to the changes and why – the answers were enjoyable the way they were expressed.

Just my opinions

#3673 John JORY

Ottawa Branch Golf – 13 July – Still Time to Register…

RRMC Memories…The 2012 Guard of Honour at Royal Roads

The CMR Class of 1992 is celebrating its 20 year reunion this September. All graduates of CMR from 1992 or CMR entry dates of 1987 (1988 if BA) are invited to join old friends at the CMR St-Jean campus the weekend of 7-9 September 2012. Information concerning the weekend’s activities will be published on the Facebook Group page called “CMR Grad 1992″. This active page already hosts more than 70 members and has been a focal point for sharing old photos. For more information, anyone can contact the co-coordinators, Julie Low (stlouislow@gmail.com) or Christine Carignan (christine.carignan2@forces.gc.ca).

La classe de 1992 du CMR célèbre son 20ieme au mois de septembre. Tous les gradués du CMR de 1992 où ceux qui sont rentrés au collège en 1987 (1988 pour les BA) sont invités à se rejoindre au Campus St-Jean pour la fin de semaine des anciens du 7-9 septembre 2012. L’information concernant l’horaire détaillé des activités de la fin de semaine se retrouvera bientôt sur la page de Groupe Facebook “CMR Grad 1992″. Cette page compte déjà 70 membres de notre année qui en profitent pour échanger des photos de ces belles années. Pour plus d’information, vous pouvez tous contacter les co-coordonatrices, Julie Low (stlouislow@gmail.com) ou Christine Carignan (christine.carignan2@forces.gc.ca).

______________________________________

We get emails

I was just looking through your recent issue and saw the photo labelled RMC Tug of War 1959. Someone identified the cadet in a white turtleneck as, possibly, Barry Winfield. I don’t recognise this guy, but the rest of the cadets are very familiar to me. Standing on the left is indeed Ralph Sykes. The first cadet on the rope is myself, Yvon Paquette, next is George McManus, then is Mel Brown, and the anchor could be Bob Billings, who recently passed away.

I have no recollection of the event. This photo comes as a happy surprise to me. There are no recruits here, as someone suggested. The cadets shown are all of the class that graduated in 1961.

I am sending this in case it should still be useful to properly label the photo.

Regards,

4655 Yvon Paquette.

Ed: Thank you Yvon for the clarification.

To all the “old timers” out there who have made comments about cars being parked on the Parade Square these days – how do you explain this photo?

_________________________________________________

I don’t get to read all of the e-Veritas issues (but always enjoy those I do) so this may be redundant.

Reading about my classmate Len Lee in the most recent issue, I noticed the Director of the Kemptville campus is named Claude Naud, so I checked his bio on line and sure enough he is another ex-cadet. I don’t know his #/year of grad but as a young Lt/Air Navigator he served on my Argus maritime patrol crew in about ’72/’73, so he would have graduated from RMC about ’70-’72. I know he later went on to serve as Commandant of Royal Roads.

Just thought I’d let you know…if not already covered you might want to include him in a “Where are they now?” item.

5480 Gary Ferguson –  RMC ’62

__________________________________________

Please give our Home Inspector & Realtor partners a call.

Check Out Home Inspector & Realtors By Province Below the Map

AB-BC-MB-NB-NL-NS-ON-PEI-QC-SK

e-Veritas is supported by highly professional partners – Check them out by province.

A concerned stakeholder has provided the following information. If this could be taken into consideration for parade scripts and articles.

“Term “Honor Guard”. This is an American term. In Canada we have Guards of Honour!! The extract below is from the Heritage Canada site, wherein CFAO 61-8, mod 8/84 is quoted as the authority. Other subjects such as gun salutes and musical salutes are also covered.

Also note that the term Sunset Honour Guard (used at 2012 Tattoo) is incorrect. It is a Sunset Guard. Similarly there are Quarter Guards. The addition of “Honour” is quite special as stated below.

Guard of Honour

In Canada, guards of honour, mounted on occasions when full military honours are accorded, vary in strength according to the dignitaries being honoured. As a rule:

a 100 person guard is mounted for heads of state, The Queen’s representatives in Canada, governors general of Commonwealth countries, members of reigning royal families;

a 50 person guard is mounted for heads of Government (including the Vice President of the United States), ministers of National Defence, heads of Mission accredited to Canada;

16 person departure guards are also mounted for the departure from Canada of members of the Royal Family, on occasions when it is desired to involve members of a Regiment with which the Royal Visitor is associated.”

Lesley Kerckhoff

Captain/Capitaine

Staff Officer to the Commandant RMC

 ____________________________

It was a great day onboard HMCS Sackville today as Lt William (Bill) Warwick age 98 and about to turn 99 on the 8th of July was on board with LCdr Murray Knowles. He will turn 96 on the 2nd of July.

Both men were born in St John, NB. Murray joined the RCNVR in 1940 and Bill the RCNVR in 1941. His daugther, Mary Ann Bibby, from Calgary, was here with him. She drove her Dad here from his home in Grand-Valley-Westfield, NB.

Both these gentleman hadn’t seen each other since they met at the end of the war which makes it 67 years ago. It was great to see them together again.

Cheers.

8120 Bill Gard

Bill,

Re: RMC Pipe Band 1956/57

As I downsize into a condo and retire from the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band, I found this photo. The RMC Band may have it in its archives, but I thought I would send to E-Veritas in case the band did not have it. Of historical interest is that in the front row, third from the right is John Dechastelain (a first year cadet). First on the right is the pipe sergeant, Johnnie Wigmore and third from the left is the pipe major, Don Gregorie. I shall leave it to the E-Veritas staff and the historians to identify the others, although I am in the middle row, second from the right.

Regards,

4104 Murray Thom 

___________________________________

Hello Bill,

I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you again for being there to support 13 Sqn this morning and for taking the time to help me with the article and the parade arrangements. I am very glad that I was able to attend and to see you again. It was very nice to meet BGen Tremblay and hear his views on 13 Sqn and the way ahead. I truly believE that progress is the order of the day and that they are not just tossing things up to see where they land.

Also, as promised, here is the text of the recent CANFORGEN I mentioned:

CANFORGEN 088/12 RCN 019/12 031810Z MAY 12

2012 NAVY COMMAND AND SENIOR APPOINTMENTS – AMEND2

UNCLASSIFIED

1. VADM PAUL MADDISON IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING NAVY COMMAND APPOINTMENT:

2. THE FOLLOWING OFFICER IS APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER:

(1) LCDR J. BOYD – HMCS REGINA – APS 12 (ON PROMOTION)

3. VADM MADDISON, COMD RCN CONGRATULATES YOU

4. ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS WILL BE PROMULGATED SEPARATELY

Although you may not need it now, it’s good to see how well some of those close to my generation are doing (I believe he was class of 1997, my first year).

Thanks again for everything and I look forward to my next visit.

21736 D. Adam Bruce

Captain

Student-at-law

 ___________________________________

Greetings,

I came across this presentation (to USAFA cadets) on-line today and thought it was one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s from November of last year and may have been featured earlier in eVeritas; if so I missed it at the time. If not, it’s something you might consider linking to – highly instructional and inspirational – for cadets, ex-cadets and serving officers alike. The link is from National Review Online.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/299797/weekend-inspiration-lessons-leadership-general-mark-welsh-usaf-michael-auslin

Regards

8666 Ted Fitch

Bilingual Investment Analyst, Technologies / Analyste investissement, Technologies

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Montreal

Junior Process Engineer / Ingénieur(e) junior – Procédé

Ultragen, Boucherville

Airframe Structural Design Engineer / Ingénieur en conception de structure d’aéronefs

Infotech Enterprises Ltd, Mirabel

Airframe Structural Analysis / Analyse de structure d’aéronefs

Infotech Enterprises Ltd, Mirabel

Senior Engineer in Product Development /Ingénieur senior en développement de produits

Belden, Montreal

A tip of the hat to the following members who just recently updated their Club membership status: Chapeau aux membres suivants qui ont tout récemment mis à jour leur adhésion au Club:

4630 Norman A Sande; 2862 Hugh Franklin; 3126 Thorold Goodfellow; 5998 Robert Reid; 3697 Donald AL Lefroy; 3728 Jean-Henri Bastien; 7743 James R Gale; G0827 Justin Schmidt-Clever; 9731 Garth Walker; 3461 George Jackson; 3156 Morman Morris; 7988 Gordon B Hamilton; 17169 Stéphane Labelle; 8707 Laurent L’Écuyer; 6601 Ernest S.C. Cable Life Membership; 14595 Stephen Miller Life Membership; 3619 Michael N Grunwell.

I recently had the pleasure of doing business with TD Insurance Meloche Monnex for my car insurance. Not only did they provide a very competitive rate and discounts for ex-cadets, they were also very professional and accommodating to the special needs of military members. I thoroughly recommend this service.

Lt Ross Gouseinov, Class of 2010, 24614.

____________________________________

Bill,

Apropos our comments on your April Fool’s joke and Gary Ernst’s letter to you about the pillbox hat, I’m attaching a historic photo.

This is the very first post-war appearance of the traditional cadet scarlet tunic and pillbox hat on parade. It occurred in early spring 1954 and the occasion was a visit from the Minister of National Defence, the Hon. Brooke Claxton, and the US Ambassador to Canada whose name I’ve forgotten. Ed: (The name of the U.S. Ambassador to Canada in 1954 appearing in this photo was R. Douglas Stuart – thanks to France Pellicano for providing the info…)

We fell in for the parade and were surprised to find 3235 Deputy Cadet Wing Commander, Ron Mann, in command. As we marched past the saluting base and smartly eyed right, there, resplendent in the new (old) uniform, stood 3300 Cadet Wing Commander James Alick Marshall. Quite a surprise to all of us, even the senior cadet officers, who knew nothing about this beforehand. Tragically, a few months later, Alick Marshall died in a T33 accident at RCAF Station Portage La Prairie. Thanks to Ron Mann for the photo.

3334 Dave Wightman

2944 J.D. Reid – “The New One Hundred and Scarlets”

Perhaps the following will be of interest since the subject of the College’s uniform ( the Pillbox April Fools joke) is current.

When I entered the College in September of 1948 as one of what was eventually named, “The New One Hundred” (yes, our class number was exactly 100), I was assigned a room which was on the main floor of LaSalle dormitory. The room just happened to be located directly above the QM Stores room in the basement below where the red serge material had been stored, intended for the eventual manufacture of our red tunics.

Somewhat to the dismay of our class members we never were issued red tunics during our term at the College. You see, the cadet whose room was located directly above the tunic material storage area went on breakfast parade one extremely cold February morning having left his room window wide open all night, as was his habit. By the time breakfast parade and breakfast were finished and he returned to his room he found the room radiator discharging a veritable shower of water onto the floor and down into the QM Stores room below, where rested the red serge material. The radiator had frozen and cracked.

Needless to say, I was not applauded for my habit of sleeping with a wide open window in winter. Today, being under the command of a wife for over 56 years I have learned improved sleeping habits.

2944 Reid, J.D.

Brockville, Ontario

____________________________________________

The Sinai Surgeon

I would like to inform and introduce you to a newly published book, a military medical nonfiction historical narrative, “Sinai Surgeon” by R Mervyn Letts MSc MD FRCSC (F/L Ret), published by International Orthopaedic Consultants Inc, ISBN 978-0-9867490-0.

The author is an Orthopaedic Surgeon, and was the former Head of Surgery at both the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and the Ottawa Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He has written an historical documentary of his service as a medical officer in the RCAF secunded to the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Egypt in the year prior to the Six Day War.

The book documents the little known history of the 115th Air Transport Unit, the air support wing of the UNEF and the Canadian role in the 10 year success story of the UNEF in Peacekeeping as well as the trials and tribulations of an RCAF Medical Officer striving to maintain the health of a Canadian fighting force in a hostile desert environment. Numerous public health issues in the field are addressed as well as most of the diseases encountered by armies in a difficult environment. Thousands of Canada’s military served in UNEF in the Sinai over its 10 year tenure and in other Middle Eastern theatres. It focuses particularly on the roles played by the Caribou and Otter aircraft in the desert operations.

The book is of the highest quality construction with perfect sewn binding, soft laminated cover, 585 fine paper 80gm pages, profusely illustrated in color. The royalties from book sales are being donated by the author to the Rotary’s “Eradication of Polio in the World Program”. The book highlights the public health issues related to managing the health of a large military encampment under austere conditions.

Please review the book’s web site www.sinaisurgeon.com for further information and purchase. We would greatly appreciate your consideration to include an announcement of the publication of Sinai Surgeon in your journal eVeritas. The book may be purchased for $28.50 on the book’s website.

We appreciate your consideration of this publication as the book has particular appeal to , medical and military historian buffs, veterans, peacekeepers, travellers and anyone interested in Middle East politics or geography.

Sincerely,

Brett Brooking

Rotary Club West Ottawa

____________________________________________

“A Certain ERA – The Life and Times of Engineer Rear-Admiral George Leslie Stephens (1889-1979)”

Mr. Bob Stephens has finally published the memoir on the life and times of his father, entitled “A Certain ERA – The Life and Times of Engineer Rear-Admiral George Leslie Stephens (1889-1979)”. It is a superb read, much more than an in-family engineering story, but rather one of the most informative personal perspectives on the first half-century of the RCN in general.

Mr. Stephens has asked myself [Richard Gimblett], along with Mike Macdonald and Gord Smith to assist with the distribution. If you are interested in receiving a copy, and have not yet been approached by either of those other gents, please let me know [richard.gimblett@forces.gc.ca] so I can get a copy off in the mail to you ASAP. They are not “for sale” per se, but Bob asks that a donation be made to his Foundation to offset the costs (min of $20/copy). If you are interested, please send me your surface post address. A note with fuller details will be included with the book.

Many thanks, yours aye,

12173 Rich Gimblett

Dr. Richard H. Gimblett, CD RCN (ret’d)

Acting Director – Navy History and Heritage / Directeur suppléant – Histoire et Patrimoine de la Marine

Royal Canadian Navy Heritage Team | Équipe du Patrimoine de la Marine royale canadienne

National Defence | Défense nationale

Ottawa, CANADA K1A 0K2

Richard.Gimblett@forces.gc.ca

Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

Do you recognize this photo of an Ex Cadet from the 1930s?

Your name was given to me by Christine Hamelin, an RMC employee, who I met recently in Mexico while on vacation. I told her the story I am about to tell you and she thought you just might be able to help.

I was the executrix of my Uncle’s estate. He was Ex cadet, James Ralph Hilborn Kirkpatrick, 1934-38, (2397) who commanded Motor Torpedo Boat’s in WWII in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and later returned to practice law, and subsequently was a Magistrate in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. In his possessions, I found a studio portrait of an RMC cadet (not him) - (photo left -  click on photo for better viewing). I am trying to trace who it is, because it is a signed Karsh photo and I thought maybe his family would be interested in having it.

I have talked to the Karsh curators who can not help me.  I know it’s a slim chance, given the age of the individual,but I also know that RMC has a tradition of generations of families as students.

Please let me know if this is a possibility and I can arrange to get you a better copy of the picture.

Kind regards,

Linda Knowles

Contact Bill Oliver if you think you recognize this gentleman cadet. william.oliver@rmc.ca

Stratford WINTERFEST

Hi, Bill,

No. 5472 of the Class of ’62 here … to share some fun I’ve been having this last while:

a) For the past three years, since moving from Yarmouth to Stratford, I’ve designed the Stratford WINTERFEST poster. Such involvement came about purely by accident from my winning a logo competition for the local Active Adults Association, but what a door-opener for both me and Loricoming into this community. Great fun! And once again, I give RMC the nod because it was there, as I believe I’ve shared before, that I received my first serious encouragement to do what has been since a lifelong joy for me. For this year’s festival, I was asked to create a new logo … which appears in the upper right corner of the following photo.

My daughter Pa took this pic for me yesterday at the park where the fun took place. Our youngest grandsons, 8 and 6, were over once again from London to take part.

b) But that’s not all. Another totally unexpected delight arrived via e-mail back in September: an invitation to join a choir that was scheduled to travel to London, England at the end of the year to sing at two churches there, one being St. Paul’s Cathedral. The choir, The Cathedral Singers of Ontario, a 45 mixed voice group made up of singers from central and southern Ontario, many of whom are veterans of this choir which assembles twice yearly for such trips to the UK. After three intense Saturday practices here in Stratford (one each of October, November, and December) we flew to England December 29th, returning January 9th, the choir having sung a choral eucharist service at the charming and intimate church, St. John Hyde Park on New Years Day followed by four evensong services at St. Paul’s the following four days.

Having begun my choir involvement as a boy chorister at seven years of age at both a large Toronto church and at Upper Canada College, to be followed by those delightful years in the RMC Glee Club under Colonel Gelley, and now being involved regularly in three choirs here (the Stratford Men’s Choir, the St. James’ Anglican Church choir, and the Stratford Concert Choir) after twenty-five years with the Yarmouth Shantymen (under the direction of RMC alumnus Eric Ruff of the Class of ’68), this UK adventure was such a high.

My dear Lori took this pic of Cathedral Singers of Ontario founder and choir director Ian Sadler after our final service at St. Paul’s, Bill. Ian is a celebrated organist, much in demand across this continent and in the UK. He himself was trained as a boy chorister at St. Paul’s, becoming a preeminent concert performer subsequently. Among other honours, he is a member of the Order of Ontario. He played the organ for our St. Paul’s services while a local colleague directed us. Lots to learn each step of the way.

Lori and I are now settling in for the next excitement, the arrival at the end of March or early April of our sixth grandchild, our fifth grandson in Toronto. In two weeks we are to be in Toronto so that we can paint the nursery and Grampi can create a monkey mural the parents have asked him to do.

Trusting this New Year has started well for you. Joy and blessings in abundance.

Sincerely, and with a smile in the heart,

James E .(as I was known to many in my Class of ’62)

(519) 271-1142  proffoss@wightman.ca

__________________________________________

… the picture of Tom Gelley along with his short bio brought back an interesting memory. My dad (2428 Jim Houghton) knew Mr. Gelley from his 5 years at RMC (1934-39), spoke highly of him with great respect, and warned me to be very polite as Mr. Gelley was to be on my selection Board for CMR. Good advice as Mr. Gelley grilled me without any sign of mercy on my absence of a second language through high school. As far as I was concerned there would definitely be no CMR or RMC in my future. To this day, still not sure why I was accepted, but just maybe Mr. Gelley saw something…………………………….. I will be eternally grateful to him.

Best regards, 6475 Michael J. Houghton (photo)

__________________________________________

Thank you for including the blurb on our christening. My dad has received some emails about it from ex-cadets he knows so he was tickled pink.

Thank you again!

 Sandra Price

__________________________________________

A Major induction

Danny

I was reviewing the most recent RMC newsletter & saw the article in the Medicine Hat News re your induction into the Sports Wall of Fame

Your photo suggests that you are still rolling out of bed & pumping off a few hundred push-ups each morning

Your vigour and enthusiasm is a continuing inspiration to all of us who have tried, unsuccessfully I might say, to keep up with your pace.

Continued regards & admiration

Ken MacAuley

RMC #7675

RMC Redmen: 1965 – 1968

My wife and I just came home from viewing the new movie ‘Warhorse’.

I heartily recommend it to our members and your readers.

My interest came about from my involvement in the London, Ont., Branch of the RMC Ex-cadet Club from 1963 until about 1967.  At the time there was an RCAF station at Centralia, another at Clinton and of course the RCR were in garrison at ‘Westminster’ in London.

The older members of the Branch included #229 Captain Pousette from the Sarnia area.  I believe he had served in South Africa.  Eventually, years later, I saw him take the salute at RMC as the ‘oldest excadet’, still trim and active. (He had amazing staying power at a party)

Another prominent member was Jake Moore,then president of Labatts Canada.  He was a past president of the Branch and the RMC excadet club and the first donor to the RMC Foundation.  He made a then magnificent donation of $1,000 which was to be anonymous.  His cover was blown by the Club and I revealed this information in a newsletter to the London members.  At the next Branch meeting, I was berated by Col Moore as “that young pup”.  Eventually I did get an apology of sorts.

The reason I wanted to see this movie was because of Col Ibbotson Leonard,#532.  Ib Leonard was a shrunken 5’8″, a bit bent over and he came to one meeting with his two-handed cavalry sabre.  He served in London Hussars reserve regiment for a long time, then the Canadian Light Horse during WWI.  With my known skill for getting myself in trouble, I asked him if had ever lead a horse cavalry charge in action.  He said yes and then I asked if he knew if this rather large sword actually worked.  He said that the sword did it’s job all too well.  Ibbotson then recounted that, when the horses were taken away and the troopers were placed in the trenches with the infantry, one subaltern demanded to see him.  This impetuous young man declared that he had joined the army to fight war like a gentleman and if he could not fight from horseback, he wished to be transferred to fly aircraft.  Col. Ibbotson Leonard then approved the transfer of Billy Bishop.   The University of Western Ontario has a substantial file on Ib Leonard,including apparently, some letters from him while at RMC.  His brother also attended RMC and died as a Lt Col in the Artillery.

When I think of it, I suppose I am still involved with the Toronto Branch of the Ex-Cadet Club because I had the privilege to meet these Ex-Cadets and others  I met in the Toronto Branch later.

Maybe one of your young assistants might want to research Col Leonard.

Maybe some of our younger ex-cadets might find participation in their Branch and Club to be more rewarding than they think.

TVD

Murray (Skip) Schelter, #5517
Class of 62

Praise is due for the new look of e-Veritas. Gone is the uninspiring photo of a building at RMC seemingly erected as temporary, war-time accommodation (Panet House), replaced by an attractive vista of Canada’s three national military colleges (as they then were). That the picture of Royal Roads Military College occupies a right-of-line position is an added bonus.

Faithfully yours,

16142 J.J. Smith, RR88

 ____________________________________

 The new masthead on eVeritas is very well done. I like the the use of the photos and the college crests. Very eye-catching.

11732 John Wenek

 ____________________________________

Thanks for another great edition of e-Veritas Bill and Rolande.

I wish you both a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Many thanks for keeping the Club on an even keel these past few months. It has been a lot of work for sure, but very much appreciated by the thousands of ex-cadets and graduates of the RMCs.

Have a great holiday

All the best

8833 John Leggat

 ____________________________________

Excellent edition to cap off an excellent year of e-Veritas. Once again – great job!

Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and all good things in 2012 to you & Rolande & all the family.

M0472 Barbara & 10966 Michel Maisonneuve

 ____________________________________

A quick year-end thank you for your ongoing efforts in producing the everitas newsletter. I can assure you that work is much appreciated. Best wishes for a happy Christmas season and continued success in the new year. Cheers,

 7743 Jim Gale

 ____________________________________

Just a short note to congratulate you, Rolande and all those in support for the outstanding results of your efforts with eVeritas over the years. Have just finished reviewing Issue 48 and it is a blockbuster! The new masthead is a real winner. The large photo of the grad class saluting the remainder of the Cadet Wing at the College gate is breathtaking. To round it off, I was happy to see the article on putting the “M” back in RMC via the training for the Sandhurst competition. Need to keep this sort of thing in focus post-Afghanistan. Shadows from the “Decade of Darkness” are still out there. Finally, was sad to read of the passing of Steve Werry. He was a pretty exceptional individual, as the obituary points out. Visitors to his room had to squeeze by the airplane wings and other bits and pieces for the automobile he was also building — in a garage in Kingston. Tam London and I accepted a ride to Syracuse NY in that vehicle and it was a sight to behold. A sports car built ot plywood and mostly unpainted at that stage. I was afraid of the results if we were involved in a collision — would still be picking out the splinters to this day.

Merry Xmas and Happy NY to you and Rolande.

 4270 Sean Henry