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RSM Coggins’ Farewell to the Cadet Wing

Copied from THE MARKER- Vol IX – No. 13 – 13 May 1958 – (Editor 4860, Cadet A.J.G. D.  de Chastelain)

It is now close to twenty-nine years since I first entered the gates of RMC (12 August 1929) on a three year tour of duty. With those years behind me I feel that I can call RMC my home, for in my time spent at RMC there has never been an occasion when I felt I would rather have been elsewhere.

My association with the College has been very pleasant, and I will carry with me many happy memories of all you “Jump for Joys” and of all the friends I feel I have made. One pleasant experience I always have is meeting Ex-Cadets, and it makes me quite proud to say that no matter where I meet them, at the College, in England or the USA, they never fail to stop and say Hello.

This year is, I feel my graduation from the College. I shall be sorry to go, but then all good things must end sometime. Now I must learn to act as a ‘human being’ ( I have often told the recruits that when they arrive at RMC to become cadets they cease to be human beings, and that until such time as they graduate, they must concentrate on being nothing but good cadets).

To the present Recruit Class my one regret is that is that I shall not be here to see you graduate; but who knows, I may be watching you from the sidelines. Always remember that the backbone of the College is the Recruit Class. Without them there would be no College, and life would be very dull and miserable; so keep up the good work recruits, and make life livable for everyone at RMC.

Another regret is that in the years to come I will not be able to tell little stories of how awkward a certain General Officer was in his Recruit class.

To the remainder of the Cadet Wing and the Ex-Cadets may I thank you for your cooperation over the years and for making my work so pleasant.

In farewell may I say, “ ‘Oive seen worse – ‘oive seen better – but not much”. Good luck to you all.

J.E. Coggins, WO 1

RSM. RMC.

 Previous RSM Coggins article

Challenge to Ex cadets (all three military colleges)

Last edition we ran an article on Sergeant Major J.E. Coggins who served at RMC from 1929 until 1958 except of course when the college was closed from 1942 – 48. This time we highlight the late CWO (ret) Denis Fournier, CD, 1938 – 2003 who served at RMC as Drill Sergeant Major  from 1976 to 1979, and who later returned as College Sergeant Major from 1986 to 1990

We invite other Ex cadets (and current cadets – if they dare) to submit similar impressions of their RSM’s & / or drill instructors during their eras as cadets.

We have heard various names mentioned over the years i.e. McManus in the 1960’s, Slaney in the 70s, Tripp in the early 80’s and again in the early 90’s, Gino Moretti, Brent Mills, and so forth. We believe what it goes to show is, the Drill Staff really taught cadets something about real soldiering.

Leave a comment and better still – send us along your drill instructor story. (Keep in mind that this is a family friendly read newsletter, so please no exact quotes)

Farewell to a Leader

In memory of CWO (ret) Denis Fournier, CD, 1938 – 2003

Just after Thanksgiving weekend, the College bade its last farewell to a man who was both a great leader and a true friend to many cadets who passed through RMC during the late 1970’s and late 1980’s. On 14 October 2003, CWO (ret) Denis Fournier, who served as Drill Sergeant Major at RMC from 1976 to 1979, and who later returned as College Sergeant Major from 1986 to 1990, passed away in Kingston at the untimely age of 65.

Born in Sainte Camille, Quebec on 23 February 1938, CWO Fournier served with distinction for the better part of four decades in the Royal Canadian Armour Corps. His military career began on 21 November 1956, when he commenced training at the RCAC School in Borden. Graduating as the top recruit on his course, he spent the next twelve years serving with the 8th Canadian Hussars at various locations in Canada and Germany.

Fournier rebadged to the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada when the regiment was restored to the regular order of battle in the late 1960’s. In 1979, at the end of his first posting to RMC, he returned to the regiment, where he earned promotion to the rank of CWO in 1982 and subsequently served a two-year tour of duty as RSM. Posted to Wainwright in 1984, he served for two years as the base CWO, following which he returned to RMC in 1986 for a four year period as College Sergeant Major. His final posting in the CF was as Academy CWO at the CF School of Leadership and Languages, from which he retired in 1993 after 36 years of service.

I will remember the first time I saw Sergeant Major Fournier if I live to be 100. It was the first Sunday in September of 1976. By that time our recruit class had been at the College for all of two weeks, but it was already becoming clear to many of us that Rook Camp was destined to turn out to be a lot more that we had originally bargained for.

I remember on that fateful Sunday we were practicing for our first official parade. “N” Flight, of which I was a member, marched out from our quarters in Fort Champlain onto the Square and made a right wheel, heading towards the Stone Frigate. At the end of the square we made two left wheels in quick succession, which left us marching back towards Fort Lasalle directly in front of the Mackenzie Building.

Suddenly, as we wheeled away from the Frigate and headed back towards the opposite end of the Square, into our field of vision came one of the most terrifying sights I had could ever have imagined. Right by the side of the Square was a seemingly gigantic figure with handlebar moustache, standing rigidly at attention, pace stick in hand. It was my first glimpse of Sergeant Major Fournier, and an image which has remained frozen in my mind to this very day.

The most frightening moment was yet to come, however. As our flight marched past this seemingly all powerful and Godlike figure, what do I hear but a thundering voice with a French accent, booming from directly behind me, commanding “GET IN STEP, YOU !”

It was my first encounter with a man who many of us have no doubt remembered as being one of the most forceful and inspiring leaders we ever met during our time at the College. Colourful and profane, Sergeant Major Fournier was a tough and exacting taskmaster on the Square. He demanded the utmost effort from his cadets, and on more than one occasion that I can recall, when we didn’t quite manage to measure up to his standards we quickly learned what it was like to feel the full force of his wrath.

But at the same time, it didn’t take us long to figure out that beneath that seemingly harsh and exterior there lurked the heart and soul of a lion. Sure, Fournier would give you hell, but he would do it to your face, and there was nothing personal about it. And as tough as he was on the Square, there is nothing he would not have done for his boys when they needed him. I will go to my grave believing that if we had ever come into any danger he would have put himself right in front of us, and never thought twice about it.

Like young recruits of any generation, when our class first arrived at the College many of us were terrified of our Drill Instructors. But as they got to know us and we got to know them, it wasn’t long before our fear was replaced by feelings of great admiration, respect, and affection for them. Sergeant Major Fournier and men like him might not have had a lot in the way of formal education, but I will nonetheless remember them as being the best teachers I ever had, anywhere.

As a cadet I only knew Sergeant Major Fournier for a brief period of time, as regrettably at the end of my first year I was obliged to leave the College and move on to other pursuits in life. But what a year it was ! And perhaps it is only a great many years later that I have started to appreciate the full significance of what he tried to teach us.

It was perhaps an interesting twist of fate that 25 years after leaving the College, which by that time was during the last year or so of Fournier’s life, the two of us got back in touch by e-mail. Over a period of several months we had a long and very interesting conversation via the Internet, during which we talked candidly about our lives both at RMC and since then. I remember that at one point, he practically had to order me to call him by his first name ! And the more Fournier told me, the more I started to realize just what a remarkable life he had led.

As a young man in 1956, Fournier had entered the service during a period which many observers now remember as being the Canadian Army’s golden years of the postwar era. During our various transmissions he described some of his own instructors to me, such as Charlie Levesque, his first Troop Sergeant during recruit training, and a guy who Fournier recalled as being “the best man I ever had the privilege of serving under.” He also told me about how during his career he had met several of the greatest combat leaders Canada has ever produced, men like “Fighting Frank” Worthington, the father of the Armour Corps in Canada, and Jacques Dextraze, who distinguished himself in both World War II and Korea, and who years later as CDS was the reviewing officer at the parade on 2 October 1976, at which my own class was formally promoted from recruits to First Year cadets.

I will never forget Sergeant Major Fournier. In many ways, I believe that he and men like him represented the last of a very special breed. He was one of those flamboyant and irreplaceable characters who pushed us beyond the limits of what we thought was possible, and in doing so, added an extraordinary amount of richness to our lives. He was a man who had faced great adversity at certain points in his own life, but who rose above it and always conducted himself with the utmost sense of integrity and honour. He was a professional soldier in the very best sense of the word, and one who taught us by his own example what it meant to be a real man and a real leader. He was a guy who demanded a lot from his cadets, but at the same time, a guy who cared very deeply about them.

He was taken from us too soon, but his spirit will remain with us forever. And as I look back today on everything that we went though together all those years ago, all I can say is, what a great honour it was for us to have known him.

Farewell, Sergeant Major. Farewell, Denis. Farewell, comrade, and rest in peace.

Soldiers know real leadership when they see it.

TRUTH, DUTY, VALOUR.

12570 Mike Kennedy

Tidbits from Mike Kennedy

1. I noticed that Coggins was born on April 16, 1904. My son was born on April 17, 1994. He turns 19 today. They were born 90 years and one day apart.

2. My son is also exactly 75 years apart from Gilles Lamontagne (born 17 April 1919, turns 94 today) who was the MND when my class (1980) graduated.

3. Fournier joined the RCAC on 21 November 1956. I was born a year and a day later, on 22 November 1957.

4. Under English common law in the Middle Ages, if a serf fled from his master, and managed to remain at large for a year and a day, he was granted his freedom.

5. Finally, if you run the article on the coming Monday (22 April), you can report that exactly two months ago (22 Feb 2013), at 55 years of age, I was awarded my blue belt in judo. This is two levels below a black belt. My current plan is to carry on with judo for as long as I can, and hopefully earn the black belt one day.

6. In the event that I ever do get the black belt, my next goal will be to go looking for my former Rook Flight CFL !

22 Apr 51

Major Goforth preached his last sermon of the year today and was even better than his usual excellent self. He said Captains were allowed seven minutes, Majors nine, but today he was going to imagine he was a Field Marshal and preach a long sermon. But I could listen to him for an hour. Went in to McDougall’s for another superb dinner. Mrs. McDougall has quite a cast on her leg and finds it hard to get around. The waves and wind were both high today again. St. Lawrence Pier was completely awash all day and the poor old boathouse is almost ready to be blown away.

26 Apr 51

The Valley Forge band arrived last night and the cadets are staying on the top flats of the other two dorms. Their uniforms are a very close copy of West Point’s. I studied Calculus all day yesterday and got up early today. The paper itself was a fairly easy one and my studying paid off. But my head has been throbbing all day. We had a practice around 1700 with the band and Maj. Gen. Baker of Valley Forge took the salute. The band has very smart dress uniforms and is really a first class marching band. When they played “Precision” for the first march past, we were sold completely on them. This evening they put on a short concert for us in the Vimy drill hall, this time wearing white tunics! And if they are a good marching band, they are an even better concert band. I got talking to one of their fellows in the canteen and showed him around the College.

27 Apr 51

Today the sun was well up in the sky at Reveille and promised wonderful weather. We had a practice with the band in the morning and spent the rest of our time cleaning and polishing. The parade went off perfectly and there was a big crowd. Admiral Grant inspected us and dragged it out for about ¾ of an hour. He then inspected the band and was nearly conked by the drum major with his big baton. The dance was a wonderful one and the gym was decorated to perfection. Quite a few ex-cadets were around and as usual a great swarm of guests. We were all completely fagged out after today.

28 Apr 51

We were duty squadron so got going early—dismantled the gym in jig time and got cleared very quickly. The Brigadier paraded us and presented the army senior cadets with their certificates of qualification. Then he presented spoons for shooting and much to my surprise I got one—a lovely silver and gold one with the College crest. Maybe it’s because I’m used to it but I got away quickly and without any bother. Murray, Hercus, and Graham have already reported to RCEME and are drawing the King’s shilling as of today. Crazy guys are on a twenty week course so will get no holidays.

And so I close this little journal on a very successful and enjoyable year. It has been a lot harder than my recruit year but certainly every bit as interesting.

“ This is our sergeant Major as he is known to us: a man who has endeared himself to the hearts of all those who have had the opportunity to know him. The cadets definitely know that his name will go down in college history as one of the men who has contributed most to college spirit and morale.”

Excerpt from The 1958 Review of the Royal Military College of Canada

4519 L.A. (Larry) Ashley

Remembering Sergeant Major J.E. Coggins, MBE,CD

By: WJO

John Edward Coggins was born in London, England on 16 April, 1904. One Hundred and nine years ago. He died at his home in Kingston on February 1, 1985 after a long battle with cancer. He was 81 at the time of his death.

“Coggie”, as he was known with respectful affection by hundreds of RMC cadet who passed through the college during his 29 year reign as regimental sergeant-major, was so much a part of RMC that those of us who served on either the athletic or drill staffs even many years later after his retirement in 1958 were often compared to his work ethic and standards. Few, if any, ever did measure up.

Looking back…

RSM Coggins burst on the scene at RMC in 1929 for what was to be a three-year posting from the British Army as a physical training instructor. Five years later he transferred to the Canadian Army, retaining the appointment of company sergeant-major. He remained at the college until 1942 when it closed for the WW II years.

For the remainder of the war he received a commission as a lieutenant and was posted to Camp Borden as an officer instructor, establishing the physical training and unarmed combat courses there. Toward the end of the war he was promoted to the rank of captain.

When the college reopened in 1948, he gave up his commission and reverted to the rank of regimental sergeant-major to resume the life he loved so much at RMC.

“Coggie” made his early College reputation in the Old and New Gymnasia where his ability to get “one more for the King, laddie” out of a sweating cadet became legend.

There isn’t an Ex cadet who attended RMC during his time who will ever forget “Coggie” or his admonition to them as they entered the college for the first time: “I’ve seen better; I’ve seen worse, but not much.”

In 1952 “Coggie” was made an honouary member of the class of 1952, the new one hundred with whom he taught & coached since the reopening of RMC in 1948. The RMC Club also honoured him in 1970 with a lifetime membership giving him the number H10520.

The non commissioned members mess at RMCC is officially known as “ Coggins Club” so named in his honour.

On the news of his death in February 1985 the college flag was lowered to half mast in honour of one of its most illustrious servants. 3572 MGen (Ret) Frank Norman who was the college commandant at the time, recalled the days he served as a cadet under the watchful eye of “Coggie”.

“He was a friend and inspiration to every cadet who had served under his tutelage, and that spanned from 1929 to 1958 – two full generations of Canadians.”

A funeral service for RSM Coggins was held February 5, 1985 at Currie Hall which was filled to capacity. The eulogy was delivered by then, BGen Norman.

The XXXI college commandant (1982-85) closed the eulogy, as follows:

“ To his immediate family, I offer our deepest sympathy. I know how that cheery presence will be missed by you as it will by us. “Coggie’ filled a special place, and I would like to turn his words back on him – “I’ve seen worse, I’ve seen better, but not much!”

Compiled from various sources held in the archives at Panet House.

17 Apr 51

On Sunday there was a terrific wind blowing from the west. RMC is a windy place but never yet has it been as windy since I’ve been here. Quite a crowd was out on the ramparts watching the Wolfe Islander come across and several times it seemed as if she wouldn’t make it to the mainland. Insurance goes on for the lake boats on the 15th so two went out and (I suppose because they were so light) had to go down the river to get in the lee of the wind. The water is high but on top of that the surface water all the way from Hamilton has been blown down here. St. Lawrence pier was awash all day and the waves kept pouring over. The wind and waves were so strong that on the road around Fort Frederick, all kinds of rocks and debris were thrown up. The padre from Royal Roads spoke to us in church. So far I think I have passed all the exams although probably did not distinguish myself on any of them.

20 Apr 51

All the exams are over now except for three, three tough ones. Magnetism and Electricity might have got me this time. Yesterday, and ex-cadet and ex-colonel of the P.P.C.L.I. took the salute on a march past. Our drill is becoming good. But on the day of the Physics exam, I was really preoccupied and stunned on parade so I was banking right and left.

9 Apr 51

On Saturday we had a parade for the executives of the Ex-Cadet Club. In spite of one or two mistakes it was a very good parade. Yesterday was Copper Sunday, last church parade to town. I was on weekend leave again so missed it. We had an extra good meal as all the canteen profit went into it. Ed Dumalus and I played tennis all afternoon.

11 Apr 51

Since Monday we have been on exam routine with a drill parade for an hour or so each morning. Mr. Coggins has really got us working now and the drill is very good. Jimmy Graham got the measles and is up in K.M.H.! I have been studying over in the Mackenzie Building where there isn’t a continual stream of guys trooping in to talk to me. It seems to be a lot better for studying. Then too, I can’t lie down for a few winks like I can in my room. It’s a continual struggle to help from sleeping.

13 Apr 51

Exams finally got under way today with a physics paper in acoustics and light, I will make no comment on it. Lt. Gen. Sir Richard Gale visited RMC today and inspected us. He took a long time and questioned quite a few cadets on parade. The parade itself was quite a good one. Afterwards he spoke to us on the traditions of the British infantry and contrasted the British regimental system with the American system. However we weren’t allowed to ask questions after this lecture—Gen. Gale has openly sided with Gen. MacArthur who has just been relieved of command in Korea. So he (Gale) is a pretty controversial man these days himself. His tour of Canada and the U.S. has been cancelled and limited to RMC and the C.A. (Canadian Army) Staff College for this reason. Last issue of the “Marker” came out today and it was a good issue. I hope we do as well or better next year with it.

2 Apr 51

On Saturday night (31st) Jimmy Graham and I went in with a gang to entertain the lovely young ladies from the Toronto Skating Club. We had a good time and saw Barbara Anne Scott who was there and is one very cute looking chick. Some guys printed their own edition of Daily Orders Part I. It was very amusing we imitated the official style perfectly. Had a wonderful dinner at Fritz’s yesterday. Discipline is really tightening up now and the effect on drill is amazing. They finally gave in and made the cadence 130 per minute; this has improved the step immensely.

5 Apr 51

Last Saturday Mr. Coggins had the seniors practicing commands out on St. Lawrence Pier and they were making a terrible racket out there.

Today Coops and Cockburn were out surveying and Cockburn was rod-man out on the pier, so they were drilling him and watching everything with the transit.

Murray, Fritz, and I went in to a show tonight and it was good to relieve the strain of studying. I just don’t seem to be able to get anything done when I sit down to study now.

For Previous Diary Entries Click Here

18 Mar 51

Spring has finally arrived; the ice is breaking up in the main channel beyond Cedar Island, and yesterday I saw the Wolfe Islander smacking its way out through the rotting ice to the island. Andy Croll finally left for Toronto for good, he says. I hope when he gets better that he’ll feel differently and come back to the College. Col Sawyer announced that from now on the Engineering Materials and Engineering Drawing courses were considered optional for 2nd year cadets going into the general course. So I won’t be writing Engineering Materials, thank God! Saw some good films yesterday on the Korean campaign showing how the glorious American Army is bungling its way through Korea. Rev. Dowsley is doing fifteen days C.B. and swears he will get me up before Reveille tomorrow so I had better turn in early tonight and get some sleep.

23 Mar 51

On Wednesday the 21st, we had a brief parade for a group of visiting officers, including the CO’s of all the camps in Canada. Even Col McNoughton my C.I.G. /last summer was there. The parade was very poor; in fact I think it was one of the worst we have ever put on. Today J.J. arranged a little game of basketball and we got thoroughly tired before dinner and then tonight we got a volleyball game going in the Old gym.

24 Mar 51

The powers that be decided that since we haven’t had any parades or lectures from visiting dignitaries lately it would be a nice idea if we had a little cross-country run this morning. But we foxed them—it snowed about 3” of snow last night and the ground was deep in slush this morning. It has been blowing a real gale all day and the ice is starting to pile up on St. Lawrence Pier and the Fort Henry Point just from the pressure of the wind. We had another volleyball game after tattoo tonight—it’s a good way to work off steam when you’re studying.

25 Mar 51

Today has been a perfectly grand Easter Sunday. I went into Sydenham St. for church and was perfectly disgusted with the service but I won’t dwell on that subject. Spent the afternoon reading Grapes of Wrath. I thought the big measles scare of the last week or so was over but Moon Hall broke out tonight. He’s probably given them to me a dozen times this past few days.

26 Mar 51

Tonight the power was cut off from 2200 to sometime after midnight. It happened in the middle of defaulter’s inspection—quite an uproar ensued and a few of us went over and raised hell in 2 and 3 Squadrons.

27 Mar 51

Today it appeared that some fellows put a cannon ball on Dr. Stanley’s desk and turned Napoleon upside down. They also turned all the pictures around in most of the offices including the Brigadier’s. They owned up rather than have the whole cadet wing do rifle drill after supper. Oh yes Moon Hall got the measles so I’m playing Gabriel again at noon and evening.

30 Mar 51

The exam timetable and the exam routine have been posted so that we are just about into the exams. On Wednesday we had our last changeover parade. The seniors now have permanent appointments and already there is a noticeable difference in discipline. Williamson is C.W.C. and Loomis is our Squadron Commander. Don Loomis has started tightening up and he’s the kind that will stay that way. Lt. Slocrombe has taken over from Lt. Shaw and he is a fairly keen type. “A” flight lost two floor hockey games this week—we are all bruised and battered from it—I had my nose pushed out of line in the first game

The Empire Club of Canada Addresses (Toronto, Canada),

25 Nov 1965

AN ADDRESS BY Air Commodore L. J. Birchall, O.B.E., D.F.C., C.D., ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE

CHAIRMAN The President, Lt. Col. E. A. Royce, E.D.

COLONEL ROYCE:

Mr. Moderator, Mr. Controller, Honoured guests, gentlemen:

A proud mother once wrote to James I of England asking him to make her son a gentleman. King James was essentially a practical man and he replied, “My dear Madam, I could make your son a nobleman but God himself could not make him a gentleman.” This rather pessimistic view is not shared by R.M.C. for with complete optimism, each student on arrival becomes a gentleman cadet automatically–happily the end result usually justifies this hopeful approach.

Our speaker today is, of course, a schoolmaster and one of his colleagues in replying to the enquiries of a fond parent as to the progress and safety of her son wrote “Dear Madam, such time as your son does not devote to self-adornment is spent in the neglect of his studies.” Since both the studies and the adornment are supervised with some care at R.M.C., it seems likely some other institution was involved!

On the first of June, 1876, the Canadian Military College–it was not yet known as Royal-opened its doors to a class of eighteen cadets. The first Commandant was an engineer, Lieutenant-Colonel E. O. Ewart of the Royal Engineers, and the enabling Act of Parliament stated, “This institution is set up for the purpose of imparting a complete education in all branches of military tactics, fortification, engineering and general scientific knowledge in subjects connected with and necessary to a thorough knowledge of the military profession and for qualifying officers for command and for staff appointments.” Ten years later, Sir Charles Tupper wrote to the Minister of Militia: “I regard the Canadian Military College as one of the best of its class in the world. The training and results are in every way of a high order and the Americans themselves, I understand, say better than at West Point.” It might be well to mention that a military college was first suggested in 1816 so that a mere sixty years lapsed between the suggestion and the realization and I hope you will pardon me if I mention that, meanwhile, Royal Schools of Gunnery were established at Quebec and Kingston to antedate the Military College by five years. These batteries still exist as units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. One additional comment may be interesting in this regardwhen Sir John French as Inspector General of the Imperial Forces carried out a thorough investigation of the Canadian Militia at the request of our government in 1910, he was highly critical of almost everything. There were two exceptions–the Royal Military College and Petawawa Camp!

The Royal Military College has had its problems but apart from one isolated bad patch in the 1890′s, its record has been one of excellence and its Commandants able, dedicated men to whom Canada owes a great debt of gratitude. Those of us who learned our soldiering in the old pre-war Militia may well regard ourselves as stepchildren of the College for our minute Regular Army was officered almost entirely by a tiny band of graduates from the College. These were the men who worked with us at Royal Schools and Provisional Schools and Summer Camps and week-end exercises to give us some idea of soldiering. Without these men Canada could never have made the effort she did in 1914 and again in 1939. May I suggest that no expenditure of public funds in our history has yielded greater benefits to Canada than those devoted to the maintenance of the Royal Military College for without its graduates and their Militia proteges, we would have been entirely dependent on other countries for the training of our staff officers and commanders in two great wars.

Our speaker today requires little introduction. He is a career soldier, educated at the Royal Military College. He has represented Canada in Washington, Paris, and Japan where he was a member of the prosecution team in the Japanese war trials. The great opportunity of his service career came on that momentous day in 1942 over the Indian Ocean when he saw the Japanese fleet spread out below him -a fleet fresh from an unbroken series of victories and on its way to what it confidently believed to be the conquest of Ceylon as a first step to seizing India. Commodore Birchall passed his message of warning and was immediately shot down; it must have been weeks and months before he learned in his Japanese prison camp that his action had resulted in the first serious reversal to Japanese arms and the salvation of Ceylon. However, there is more to the story–Hemingway, that great writer, described courage as grace under pressure and there is no doubt it takes a special sort of courage to maintain not only one’s own morale but those of one’s associates and subordinates in the atmosphere of a prison camp where news is non-existent, conditions wretched and punishment severe. Our speaker had greatness thrust upon him when he saved Ceylon but he achieved another sort of greatness as a prisoner-of-war–his devotion and example earned him the O.B.E.

The motto of the Royal Military College and its sister colleges is “Truth, Duty, Valour”. I am sure no one in the long and glorious history of the College has better epitomized these qualities than our speaker today. It is my privilege to introduce Air Commodore Birchall, O.B.E., D.F.C., C.D.

AIR COMM. BIRCHALL:

Mr. Chairman, honoured guests, members of the Empire Club: It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to be here today as your guest speaker. I had the honour of speaking to your Club shortly after my return to Canada in late 1945 and at that time I tried to give a description of my experiences during 31/a years as a prisoner-of-war in Japan. Since my topic today is to describe the purpose and operation of the Canadian Services or Military Colleges, my trend in topics is in direct opposition to that of television where horror programmes are on the increase. Nevertheless, I trust that you will bear with me in my role as Dr. Jekyll rather than Mr. Hyde.

No one will deny the fact that it is essential to have, within the officer cadre, a hard core of well educated, highly trained officers from which to draw our commanders and senior staff, and the purpose of the Military Colleges is to produce junior officers for the base of this core. It is necessary, therefore, to have a look at this type of officer for a moment.

Today, not only must the junior officer be able to train and lead his men, he must also have a very intimate knowledge of government, politics, national and international affairs, economics and science if he is to give sound advice to his superiors. This is only part of the problem. The Services must compete with the professions, as well as with big business for the best brains in the country and only by offering a career of comparable challenge can the Services attract applicants of high standard. Again, to maintain a high standard of physical fitness in the Services, an officer retires at a relatively young age, and he must be adequately equipped to change to civil life at the end of his service. The final factor is that he is likely to spend much of his career in the prevention of, and preparation for war, but while he may not actually have to fight a war, he must be ready at all times to do so. During the time he is not fighting, he must play his part in the social, professional and intellectual life in his community, and must therefore have an education standard equivalent to the leaders in that community.

Much more…

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10 Mar 51

Today our lads won the swimming, volleyball and rifle shooting. The boxing was tied three points apiece, so because Royal Roads had been able to put up a lightweight and we hadn’t the event was awarded to Royal Roads. They really go in for boxing out there and all their men were boxers; so far our fellows don’t show too much enthusiasm for boxing. Midterm marks came out today; I stood 24th with 60.6%, which is quite an improvement for 58th at Christmas. However I still maintain that those marks are pretty well meaningless for I’m sure I’m down in Physics and Chemistry. Andy Croll is down this weekend from KMH—looks like hell but in good spirits. Bill Murphy and I went on blind dates for the dance and had a real fine time—my girl was only 4’11” but qu’import?

13 Mar 51

This evening Lt. Col. Baird, who headed expedition “Musk-Ox” to Baffin Island, spoke to us on that expedition. He had a wonderful black beard and a delightful sense of humour. His talk with the accompanying movies was very interesting.

For information on Expedition Muskox click here.

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8 Mar 51

Well, I’ve really fallen down on writing up events. Our hockey team lost 4-2 to USMA—they had a terrific time down there and were treated like kings. That same night our swimming team placed second with Sir Geo. William’s, RMC, McGill, and Queen’s, so we are beginning to get a footing in the swimming world. Yesterday I laid my first charges against two fellows who were late for class as I was class senior. Discipline in class has been very slack lately and it was a hard thing to do. Today the Royal Roads team arrived and we heard Maj. Gen. Macklin give a talk on communism’s threat. He stands well over six feet and is a good representative of the brawny Scottish infanteer. He is a very forceful and convincing speaker. Major Fawcett gave us a short talk on the new short commissions put into effect recently—it appears that fellows will be getting paid if commissioned in their fourth year. Everybody’s mind is on the threat of war soon—the army is certainly going full speed ahead to get up its strength.

9 Mar 51

Today I did one of the hardest things I’ve ever done; that was putting or reporting Moon Hall and Rev. Dowsley unaccounted for—ever since Christmas we have seldom had to take a roll call for each lecture—anyway today Lt. Shaw asked for a report and since both Moon and Rev. shipped out for Toronto I had to report them. Our gym team display went off fairly well before a packed gym. Willy Hough and Ted Mills were wonderful on the chairs and the parallel bars. The fellows who put on the P.T. and Indian clubs display did a very good job also—most of the credit goes to Sgt. Maj. Grindley for the fine job tonight—they had the clubs painted with phosphorescent paint so that they glowed in the dark and the effect was quite good. Our basketball team beat Royal Roads in a very rough game—if most of those guys pass we should have some good rugby players here next year. Major Brooks was back tonight—he (it has been said) was brought back from Korea and posted to Ottawa.

Philippe Rousseau, premier Canadien français tué le Jour J

Par Pierre Vennat

La petite histoire a failli oublier le nom du premier militaire canadien-français mort dans l’invasion de la Normandie le 6 juin 1944. Il s’agit du lieutenant parachutiste 2803 Philippe Rousseau, de Montmagny, membre du 1er Bataillon de parachutistes canadiens.

C’est son frère, le capitaine 2650 Maurice Rousseau, membre du même Bataillon , qui annonça le décès du jeune officier à sa famille : « À Gondeville-sur-Mer, près de Houidate, dans le département de Calvados, en Normandie, il y a une tombe où repose Philippe. Il y a aussi une croix dédiée « au premier Canadien français à mourir dans l’invasion pour la libération de la France ». La population lui a élevé cette croix et des fleurs sont déposées chaque jour par les ordres du maire. Un service lui fut chanté par le curé de l’endroit, et ceci sous l’occupation de la France par les Allemands. »

Membre d’une famille de 12 enfants, Philippe Rousseau, après avoir étudié au Collège militaire royal de Kingston était entré au Régiment de la Chaudière en 1942. C’est alors qu’il demanda son transfert dans le 1er Bataillon de parachutistes canadiens. Outre son frère Maurice, il comptait un autre frère officier, Bernard, capitaine du Régiment de Montmagny. Enfin, un autre de ses frères, Jacques Rousseau, était bien connu en tant que directeur du Jardin Botanique de Montréal.

Or, quelques semaines plus tard, en septembre, c’était au tour du lieutenant Maurice Rousseau de trouver la mort en accomplissant une mission derrière les lignes ennemies.

Ce n’est qu’en février 1945 que les autorités britanniques annoncèrent officiellement la mort au combat, plus de quatre mois plus tôt, du lieutenant Maurice Rousseau.

Descendu en Alsace, derrière les lignes allemandes, au début de septembre 1944, le lieutenant Maurice Rousseau put s’acquitter exactement de la tâche qui lui avait été confiée et que son commandant qualifia, dans un message de « Mission extremely well done ». Porté disparu un peu plus tard, puis présumé prisonnier et sans doute mort de ses blessures, il fut enterré dans un cimetière allemand à Avricourt, en Alsace.

Diplômé. Lui aussi, du Collège militaire royal de Kingston en 1940, Maurice Rousseau était entré, la même année, comme lieutenant au Régiment de la Chaudière avec lequel il traversa en Angleterre. Promu capitaine, il avait demandé son admission dans le 1er Bataillon de parachutistes canadiens quand celui-ci fut établi comme bataillon autonome en 1943. Puis en septembre 1944, peu avant son décès, on l’avait transféré dans le Special Air Service britanique. En 1943, il avait épousé une jeune Anglaise outremer.

Le premier parachutiste canadien-français : Marcel Côté

C’est en août 1942 que le premier contingent de parachutistes canadiens, au nombre de 26, partit pour Fort Benning, en Georgie, pour y subir un entraînement intensif dans un camp ultra spécialisé de parachutistes américains.

À leur retour au pays, ces 26 hommes devaient constituer les cadres et instructeurs d’un détachement de parachutistes qu’on comptait entraîner au camp de Shilo, au Manitoba.

Parmi eux se trouvait le premier parachutiste canadien-français, le lieutenant Marcel Côté, de Montréal. Ancien membre du Corps-école d’officiers canadiens (COTC) de l’Université de Montréal et du 17e Hussards. Il s’était ensuite joint aux Fusiliers Mont-Royal avant d’être accepté dans la nouvelle unité de parachutistes, au moment où il était instructeur au camp de Farnham.

Un autre francophone faisait partie du groupe, le capitaine H.-A. Fauquier, frère du commandant d’escadre Jean Fauquier, héros de l’aviation, dont les victoires aériennes ne se comptaient déjà plus.

Enfin, l’armée faisait savoir que deux frères canadiens-français, les frères Saint-Pierre de Saint-Hyacinthe, avaient failli faire partie du contingent envoyé à Fort-Benning, mais qu’on avait dû les écarter, étant donné qu’ils ne parlaient pas l’anglais couramment.

Le brigadier général E. G. Weeks, assistant-chef de l’état-major, annonça iqu’une fois revenus les premiers instructeurs formés à Fort Benning et l’installation terminée au Manitoba, le tiers de l’effectif du 1er bataillon canadien de parachutistes serait composé de Canadiens-français et que le personnel d’instructeurs et d’officiers de l’unité serait bilingue.

Source http://www.lequebecetlesguerres.org/philippe-rousseau-premier-canadien-francais-tue-le-jour-j/

27 Feb 51

The lapse in time indicates a period of considerable activity. On the 22nd I saw the play “Winterset”. The attached programme tells enough about it. It went over very well and was quite enjoyable. On the 23rd we left for Toronto in two station wagons and Maj. Fawcett’s car. The pistol match was held at Hart House on Saturday afternoon after eating dinner at H.H. We lost by a score of 1068 to 1008, which was not too bad. I attribute one loss to nervousness and the unfamiliar conditions. All of us shot much poorer than here at our own range. Saturday night, Frances and I went to the 48th Highlanders’ Pipers’ Ball at the Royal York. Jimmy Graham got us the tickets and it was quite an occasion—people dressed in tartan and kilts of all descriptions. It was a very enjoyable evening as well as a strenuous one—Jimmy and I nearly melted away in our high collared tunics. So on Sunday we started out again for Kingston and got in here at night after a wonderful weekend. The pool, which was supposed to be ready by now, is still not open although Fritz who is on the swimming team has used it several times at noon hour.

2 Mar 51

We are very busy these days and the assignments are being thrown at us from all sides. The hockey team left for West Point tonight with all the good luck wishes of the College. I got my first opportunity to swim in the new pool today and it was wonderful. The swimming hours are short and conflict with gym team practices so I won’t get as much swimming as I could hope for.

18 Feb 51

Yesterday morning after drill, the Rev and I went skating out by Cedar Island. The ice is pretty fair; there were some people out fishing and catching perch through the ice. The iceboats were out today too and two of them with a jib were having a great time. Freddy Gilbert came back from Wolfe Island in five minutes using the College boat with only a triangular sail. In the afternoon it rained and so spoiled the skating party the senior class had planned.

Today it is still mild. Fritz was off to Toronto with the swimming team so we turned on the heat in his room, which he likes to have cold as a refrigerator. He was furious on coming back to find the heat unbearable. The flu has cut down our flight a great deal—only four men on parade today for church. Of course a great number of them were on leave as well. The swimmers did fairly well; it was Toronto, McGill, RMC, and McMaster in that order—we didn’t have a full team or compete in all events either.

19 Feb 51

Today we wrote two midterm exams. Used the new lecture room 250, which is windowless, and air conditioned—very nice. Jimmy Graham was wandering around here tonight with a policeman—bat and a billy, having a great time. We went over and did some pistol shooting after tattoo. Willy Hough has two exams tomorrow so he was all for going to the show, but Don McKinnon wouldn’t sign his pass so he was all for going over Don’s head and getting Dave Winter to sign it. What a crazy guy! We are all kind of crazy around here anyway.

20 Feb 51

This has been a long day. We had P.T. and after classes gym team. Then right after supper our flight played H flight at basketball and we won 43-18. After tattoo again we did some shooting and I lost a coke to Dave Winter. We bet it on twelve rounds rapid fire. He got eight-three and I got a seventy-nine. That cursed Winter is like a fiend when there’s a stake, especially my stake. It’s not the first time he’s taken cokes off me.

21 Feb 51

This afternoon we competed against the staff who raised a pistol team to meet us. We won easily. Don McKinnon pulled off the sensational score of 102/120. Then at 1600 we ran through the whole gym display—chairs, mat work, bars, high horse. I was pretty pooped out after supper and dozed off so as a result I’m up late again.

4 Feb 51

This past week has been a poor one for the College so far as sports are concerned. The basketball team lost to Trenton by two points but the volleyball team won. The hockey team lost to Loyola 8-2 and the water polo team lost 7-2 to Sir Geo. William’s in Montreal. For Saturday drill parade there was only a token squadron turnout…the gym team was excused for the morning and we had a two-hour work-out.

6 Feb 51

Tonight most of the team was over after tattoo practicing so we broke out the 9mm Browning automatics and tried them. The faculty club was playing badminton upstairs and guess the racket we made drove them away.

7 Feb 51

We had Friday afternoon’s lectures today (Wednesday) so that Friday afternoon will be free. Squadron Leader Stuart gave us a good lecture on discipline which strayed from the subject of discipline and he gave us some of his views of the College now as seen from the eyes of an ex-cadet. I spent the evening in the draughting room again…drawing and fighting off Goldie’s verbal attacks—he wants to have a masquerade for the final dance. Our transportation for the pistol team has been cancelled but we are still trying to get something to travel in. I suppose this kind of thing gets so commonplace it doesn’t bother me too much anymore—well the army has been blundering along like this for ages now.

10 Feb 51

We did get transportation finally for our trip to Toronto but just as I was packing yesterday, Jones came in and told me the whole deal was off because U of T couldn’t field a pistol team. So I looked at him and said goodness gracious! Yesterday our hockey team beat Carleton and the basketball team lost by about seven points to Carleton. Today we lost to McGill in hockey 4-3, and to Albert College in basketball 36-35. Our teams are just not clicking. Coops was trying to get me to go to both hockey games but I was quite firm in my resolve to stay in and study, much as I would have liked to go. Quite a few guys probably resent my attitude but I want to get my year—I’ll be more credit to the College as a graduate than as a premature ex-cadet. Dowsley has put in forty-three hours studying this week whereas I have only done twenty-four. He amazes me with his capacity for work. Andy Croll was back again today after having been home because of a further injury to his back. It is still terribly cold and drill parade this morning was at fourteen below zero.

11 Feb 51

This morning I was nearly frozen in my room—the space between the window and the storm window was filled with fine snow which had been blown in…Today being the second Sunday of the month it is Garrison church parade but all the other units had their parades cancelled. But we paraded to town in a howling gale. Last night, 3 Squadron had a sleigh-ride party, which wound up with a square dance in the Old Gym. The fellows apparently had a lot of fun—our squadron will have to get some similar effort under way.

15 Feb 51

We have been working pretty hard this week with midterms coming on. Quite a bit of flu is in the area and as a result a good number of cadets are laid up. I only hope no more of the gym team gets sick. An unusual thing happened on Tuesday. Willy Hough was doing a back off the parallel bars when a bar snapped—he wasn’t hurt but was lucky—it’s a good thing it didn’t happen when we were all on the bars.

16 Feb 51

It is much milder today—Major Hetherington made some comment on the spring fever, which had struck the class—Mr. Lester B Pearson, Secretary of State for External Affairs lectured us tonight in Currie Hall. He is the best speaker we have heard in this series of lectures. He was asked whether he thought Russia would provoke open war or continue to use her more subtle economic and political war. Then Mr. Pearson illustrated his reply with the story of an Arabian chief who said, “We don’t stab our victims when we have put poison in his coffee.” The lecture was long but very interesting in all respects; he has a very quick mind and wit as well as a lively developed sense of humour. A tea was held in the mess afterwards and Principal Wallace of Queen’s unveiled the little plaque presented by Queen’s. Some jokers hid a Virgo girl picture under the flag covering the plaque but that old sly Mr. Coggins inspected the ropes etc just beforehand and discovered the prank. I wish I could have seen the Brigadier’s face if he had seen the picture hanging there on the plaque.