Christmas at Royal Roads Military College

By Karen Inkster Vance, Royal Roads University Karen.Inkster@royalroads.ca

For Royal Roads cadets Christmas was synonymous with exams, the Christmas ball and leave to go home. Fitting in time to study was essential since passing (or failing) exams would decide whether or not a cadet would return to Royal Roads in January.

In addition to studying and the regular routine, cadets were responsible for planning and organizing the Christmas dinner and ball. This included decorating the quarterdeck and turning it into an elaborate winter wonderland. For many years a Christmas concert was also held in the Castle foyer, which included songs sung by the choir and selections by cadets playing the hand bells.

Cadets travelled home by train and then in later years by plane. Dave Wightman, 3334 (RRMC 1950-52, RMC 1952-54) recalls, “We went by train, those of us who lived in Eastern Canada. I had come from Toronto, and we worked a deal. Being officer cadets we were entitled to one round trip first class from Victoria to our home and back. Well we knew we were going to travel twice so we made a deal with the local CPR agent and we got two round trip coach class tickets for that, plus a few meal tickets left over. And so we’d get on this darned coach, and we’d fill the whole coach with people going home for Christmas holidays to Montreal or Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto, even farther, and we just raised hell. We had a lot of fun on those train rides and I’m sure the CPR was glad to see the end of us!”

Stan Franklin, 4906 (RRMC 1956-58, RMC 1958-60) kept a daily diary during his time as a cadet at Royal Roads. Here are his experiences coming up to Christmas in 1956 and 1957:

1956

Monday, 24 September, 1956 – “Second week of classes. Most are counting time until Christmas.”

Tuesday, 27 November, 1956 – “I didn’t find out my mid-term marks. I’ll know the Christmas ones.”

Wednesday, 28 November, 1956 – “Drill parade as usual. The weather is lovely – 2 weeks of sunshine.”

Thursday, 29 November, 1956 – “Soccer game. It’s rained for almost every one this year.”

Friday, 30 November, 1956 – “Boxing finals in the evening. Four Juniors won. Reverend Easter was there.”

Saturday, 1 December, 1956 – “Another soccer game. Montgomery led a great chemistry discussion instead of a tutorial lecture.”

Sunday, 2 December, 1956 – “Wing Parade (plenty of charges were laid). Church was held at 1100 hrs. There was a Sunday afternoon period to catch up on running circles.”

Monday, 3 December, 1956 – “I’m getting very little studying done. Well, how will the Christmas exams be?”

Tuesday, 4 December, 1956 – “Choir practice on the Quarterdeck was led by Prof. Dutton. Once again a missed study period.”

Wednesday, 5 December, 1956 – “Issued rifles, slings, belts and greatcoats. Shine, shine, and shine!”

Thursday, 6 December, 1956 – “Had a tooth pulled at Sick Bay – absolutely painless. First parade in winter uniforms.”

Friday, 7 December, 1956 – “Last day of classes. I went to Pete’s room to study Descriptive Geometry.”

Saturday, 8 December, 1956 – “Descriptive Geometry exam. I studied after running circles.”

Sunday, 9 December, 1956 – “This was the usual Sunday at Roads.”

Monday, 10 December, 1956 – “History and Military Studies.”

Tuesday, 11 December, 1956 – “English.”

Wednesday, 12 December, 1956 – “Analytical Geometry.”

Thursday, 13 December, 1956 – “Chemistry.”

Friday, 14 December, 1956 – “Physics.”

Saturday, 15 December, 1956 – “French. Did a choir recording. I have time to breathe again.”

Sunday, 16 December, 1956 – “No Wing Parade but there was Church Service. Studied Calculus and had a gab with others in Gil Mousseau’s room.” (Giles Moussea, 4947)

Monday, 17 December, 1956 – “Last exam – Calculus. In the afternoon we decorated for the dance. We had our Carol Service in the Castle in the evening.”

Tuesday, 18 December, 1956 – “Finished decorating in the morning. Took Jean xyz to the dance. She was the nicest yet! The dance was terrific.”

Wednesday, 19 December, 1956 – “This is the first day of 19 day’s leave. Left Roads a 1330 hrs. I can’t say I’m sorry!”

1957

Sunday, 1 December, 1957 – “It was a usual morning. Reviewed the Circle Book. I prepared invitations to the Carol Service. Lastly, I did some homework.”

Monday, 2 December, 1956 – “No circle chits to enter. Had a good night of homework. Of course, everyone is looking forward to Christmas.”

Tuesday, 3 December, 1957 – “I phoned Mary Lou and ordered a large picture. I also bought her a bracelet. Is this proper?”

Wednesday, 4 Dec ember, 1957 – “Not a minute to spare. I thought I was busy last year!”

Thursday, 5 December, 1957 – “There were no rounds so I studied. Very few circles are being given.”

Friday, 6 December, 1957 – “We had an Army demonstration in the gym and then refreshments in the Wardroom. I then studied Chemistry.”

Saturday, 7 December, 1957 – “Chemistry exam in the morning. I studied in the afternoon and watched Perry Como in the evening.”

Sunday, 8 December, 1957 – “It was our usual Sunday morning. What a lovely day, 60 F. What will the weather be like a year from now in Kingston?”

Monday, 9 December, 1957 – “Wrote Calculus and French. Who knows? Larry MacHale and Bob Bryden came to my cabin for coffee.” (Larry MacHale, 4937 and Bob Bryden, 4876)

Tuesday, 10 December, 1957 – “Wrote English and the other Calculus. Both were OK.”

Wednesday, 11December, 1957 – “Descriptive Geometry was my worst exam so far. I taught Walt Cotie History in the evening.” (Walter Cotie, 4891)

Thursday, 12 December, 1957 – “I wrote History. I did fairly well, I think.”

Friday, 13 December, 1957 – “I wrote Economics and Mechanics. No problems.”

Saturday, 14 December, 1957 – “Only 1 more exam to go!”

Sunday, 15 December, 1957 – “Christmas Service.”

Monday, 16 December, 1957 – “We wrote our last exam. The Carol Service was held in the Castle in the evening.”

Tuesday, 17 December, 1957 – “Mary Lou and I exchanged gifts and had a wonderful time at the Christmas Ball. Next term I’ll be CWS/L.”

Wednesday, 18 December, 1957 – “We left for Christmas Leave! Via Nanaimo and Vancouver to ‘The Canadian.’ Ken Sinclair, Pete Robson and I are in a compartment.” (Ken Sinclair, 4963 and Peter Robson, 4954)

Wednesday, 12 March, 1958 – “I found out the silly mistakes that I made in Descriptive Geometry at Christmas. They will not be repeated.” (I remember failing this exam. I was up until 0300 hrs doing a seating plan for our Christmas dinner and during the exam the next morning, I was so tired that I could not reason.)

What are your memories of Royal Roads coming up to Christmas?

Naval Bandsmen Coronation Day 1953

I’ve got to start this vignette by recalling a story that I studied, in French, in my first year at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria B.C. in 1952. It was entitled “La conversation avec le soldat Brome.” Briefly it was about a slack French soldier who wanted to stay in bed on Sunday mornings by saying that he was no longer a ‘believer’ and should not be obliged to attend Mass. His CO enthusiastically agreed and set him scrubbing corridors, in lieu of church, while many of his fellow soldiers dozed in church.

The same sort of thing happened to me during my first summer (between 1st and 2nd year) in the navy at Royal Roads while we were studying navigation as executive officers under RCN instruction. A classmate convince me to join the Naval Cadet Band which he suggested would give us a lot of time off because we would be excused from many of our usual orderly type duties. Capital idea! I agreed. The only problem was I couldn’t play any instruments.

My pal and classmate was a great drummer and quickly instructed me how to beat and “twirl” the sticks of a base drum. My friend and classmate was Peter Simpson (photo left) and he had learned his drumming skills as a student at St Andrews College in Aurora Ontario. It was surprisingly easy to get to a basic level of proficiency and initially our selfish plan started to pay dividends. We were excused a few duties…at least for a while!

Then the axe fell. We were advised that the cadet band would become a major element in the 1953 Coronation Day Parade for our new Queen Elizabeth II and we would parade through Victoria, British Columbia in front of thousands of spectators and the Admiral wanted us to be “the best in the show” as it were!

To reach this “best in the show” status we were drilled long hours playing our few march tunes as we paraded around the college grounds for hours and hours, long after our classmates had been turned loose to go ashore. I was sort of “le Soldat Brome” all over again. Good lesson, but as I look back it was really a lot of fun and I’m forced to recall and admit that I actually enjoyed it. Unfortunately, we didn’t discover any young lady groupies who were interested in “bandsmen.” I guess groupies didn’t hit the scene for another forty or fifty years.

Pictured above is how the entire Cadet Band, Royal Canadian Navy presented itself on the day that Canada welcomed Queen Elizabeth II as our Sovereign.

Poor lady, little did she know about the Base Drummer.

Incidentally, the tall Band Leader (with the Mace) is 3560 Jeremy Brown also a member of our ’54 Royal Roads Class. He is also retired and lives in Gananoque. Incidentally and unfortunately, our class has lost contact with Peter Simpson. If anyone knows where he is call me, please.  don.dene@hotmail.com

A reminiscence by 3667 MGen (ret) Don Gray.

A post note from Don Gray…

You might wonder about an ex-naval person using the rank of Major-General vice Rear Admiral. I was in the RCN from my RMC graduation in 1956 until I retired in 1987, I was sailing merrily thru the RCN ranks up to 1969 or so to Lieutenant-Commander RCN when integration came into force and as one of about six navy civil engineers we were unceremoniously un-coupled from the RCN and became military engineers in the CF (then mostly RCE and Tech CE RCAF).

My environment remains S (Sea) to this day so I suppose I could (in a pinch, use RAdm) but in those distant days it would have looked very odd to be a sailor commanding an RCE Field Squadron (which I did in 1969-71) so I started using the CF rank instead of my old navy rank. A mistake? Who knows. One way or the other I was lucky as can be.

 3667 Don

Royal Roads University Archives Digitizes Cadet Yearbooks 1943-95

College classes, obstacle courses and marching as well as team sports and practical jokes were all part of the challenging life of a military cadet at Royal Roads Military College. Now, due to a digitization project, the yearbooks can be viewed online.

Royal Roads University has digitized yearbooks from Royal Roads Military College and its antecedents that tell the story of cadets from arrival as recruits to graduation as officers. The project, called Cadet Life at Royal Roads Military College: The Log yearbooks from 1943 to 1995, offers a glimpse of training by digitally preserving the originals and making them freely available online.

The annual yearbook, known as The Log, can be seen on the RRU Library website at

http://library.royalroads.ca/archives/log-yearbooks-royal-roads-military-college-1943-1995

The four-month RRU Archives project, completed in September, will be of interest to military researchers and the public since this material is rarely available online. It also provides an opportunity for former cadets – who called themselves “Roadents” – to relive their introduction to Canadian military service. Royal Roads Military College, a Canadian military and training facility for 55 years, was located in Colwood on the present site of Royal Roads University. More than 6,000 cadets received training at the college.

“Royal Roads University is proud of our military heritage as it evolved from Royal Canadian Naval College (originally called HMCS Royal Roads), later the Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) and now as Royal Roads University,” said Allan Cahoon, president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads University. “This digitalization will allow us to acknowledge and celebrate the many contributions our ex-cadets have made.”

After the 7000 pages of the yearbooks were scanned, the pages were compiled by year in flipbook format. The project was led by Royal Roads University Archivist Caroline Posynick.

The project, costing close to $9,000, was partially financed by a BC History Digitization Program grant from the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Matching funds came from the Friends of Hatley Park Society and RRU’s Military Heritage Fund, which are partner organizations in Royal Roads University’s heritage initiatives. Approval and support of the project was also provided by the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum as well as the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club.

“The photos and essays in the yearbooks offer excellent insight into the story of the Royal Roads Military College cadets,” said Royal Roads University Librarian Rosie Croft. “The digitization of these items allows people to explore this rich history virtually.”

Military colleges at Royal Roads operated from 1940-1995 on the present site of Royal Roads University. The college began as a naval training centre and later expanded to train cadets from all three parts of the military. The College delivered short-term training for naval cadets from 1940-42. After 1942, cadets studied at Royal Roads for two years. Beginning in 1977, RRMC offered a four-year degree program. The first women were admitted to the college in 1983.

Royal Roads University was established by the Province of British Columbia in 1995 specifically to deliver quality applied and professional programs to advance professionals in the workplace. The university blends online and on-campus learning with current, real-world relevance for doctorate, graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates, diplomas, executive and custom education.

www.royalroads.ca

CAPTION FOR 1970 – 72 CLASS PHOTO:

Front Row L-R Henry Philips, Bob Tease, Frank Lindenbach, Lynn Row, Bob Deane, Padre Don Hatfield, Ross Stewart, Ernie Chance, Don Lovell

Middle Row L-R Joe Artibise, Stewart Robertson, John Stothers, Dan Woods, Larry Kozuback, Duncan Watt, Dan Dempsey

Back Row L-r Jon Conquist, Ken Tanner, Paul Crober, Jim Turnbull,

Chris Scofield, Larry Price, Biran Akitt, Darryl Hansen.

Missing from photo: Lorne Facey, Simon Bekkering, Bill Brekelmans, Ray Schell, John Cutbill,Paul Filippi, and John Mackay

ROYAL ROADS HOSTS 12th HOMECOMING WEEKEND

Perfect West Coast weather, a full agenda of Homecoming activities and wonderful memories inspired those attending not only to plan for their next return but to consider how they might continue to contribute to  this National Historic Site institution of higher learning. The Homecoming commenced Friday September 14th with a RRU President’s reception on the Grant Block Quarterdeck. Saturday’s schedule included; a cross-country run, scenic campus tour, pasta lunch and guest speaker Gwynne Dyer presenting on the subject of his recent book “Climate Wars”. The day was capped off by a gourmet dinner and dance.

The Mast Ceremony on Sunday morning, conducted by Chaplain Don  Hatfield, provided a time for thoughtful reflection. A parting toast at Hatley Castle concluded with a Memory Circle led by retired Vice Admiral Nigel Brodeur with the Sooke Pipes and Drums keeping all in step. Key announcements during the weekend included an invitation to attend the 2013 Homecoming Weekend as well as to participate in the planning of the 75th Anniversary Weekend to be held in 2015.

Sept 4, 2012. Volume 57, Number 36 of Lookout Newspaper from CFB Esquimault, Victoria, BC.

The 2012 Guard of Honour at Royal Roads

588 commemorative paverstones were laid last summer in the Memorial Plaza at Royal Roads near the former Vice Commandants’ Residence.

The attached photos show the current plaza and the stones which have been installed. The beautifully restored mast is the centerpiece of the plaza.

There are approximately 100 new stones ready to be installed in August 2012 in time for Homecoming 2012 in September. If you want to order a stone for the 2012 installation, now is the time to do it. Any stones ordered by 31 July 2012 will be installed in August. Every effort will be made to install new stones this year with the class groups already installed. As you will appreciate, keeping class groups together will involve moving some stones already in place and this process will become more difficult, if not impossible, as the years pass. Please follow the ordering instructions exactly and please order as soon as possible.

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Click, click for better viewing

Ex-cadet’s life comes full circle

By: Amy Dove

Photo Credit: Dan Anthon/Royal Roads University

While  5554 Les East travelled the world, a piece of him was always close to home.

Or more specifically, three life-sized cardboard cut outs always were. A graduate of Royal Roads Military College*, East posed for a series of photos in school uniform during his second year in 1959. It wasn’t until he attended the PNE in Vancouver later that year that he saw himself, life-sized and on cardboard, as promotional material for a recruiting booth.

His mother saw them too and requested they be sent to her home in Vernon when the college was done with them. The cutouts ended up in the family home for years, East says.

“Anyone who would look in the window would see this nasty looking fellow in a scarlet tunic,” he recalls with a laugh.

East himself didn’t stay still anywhere for long. After time in Alberta, he was stationed at Patricia Bay on Vancouver Island for the summer of 1963. It was there that he met his future wife, Betty, before moving east to further his training. The opportunity to fly a Sea King helicopter caught his interest, but Betty had captured his heart.

“I was hooked. There were a lot of letters back and forth,” he says.

The Sea Kings never materialized, however, as the Vietnam War caused a delay in the aircraft arriving in Canada. With no helicopters to fly, East was redirected to the United States to work for the U.S. Coast Guard, an experience that proved to be very rewarding.

“In the military you are trained for combat, in the navy a little less so,” East said. “With the Coast Guard, their whole mission in life was saving people.” A memorable instance of this for East was flying a helicopter used to drop food down to a Boy Scout troop marooned on a mountainside.

In 1964 East married Betty and they eventually returned to Canada, this time to the East Coast. By that time the Sea King helicopters had arrived. East was stationed on three different destroyers over three years, and eventually saw himself in Germany.

“I was one of the first to fly Sea Kings off destroyers,” he notes.

As for the cardboard cut outs, as his parents aged and moved to a new home, the cutouts went east too. East had them moved to his home in Ottawa, where they were joined one Christmas with matching cutouts of his two sons – a surprise Christmas gift to him.

East’s career took him to postings as the head of flight safety for the Canadian Forces and eventually, outside of the navy, as manager of flight tests for what is now Eurocopter in Fort Erie, Ont. He retired in 1995, bought a motor home with Betty and spent 14 months travelling North America.

Not one to sit still, East is active on the track through Masters Athletics in events such as high jump, long jump and discus throwing. He competes in track meets throughout the U.S.A. and B.C., and has won nearly 100 medals in seven years. The honours come from events such as BC Seniors Games and the Canadian Masters.

“I got the bug,” he jokes.

Home base is now Victoria. The cardboard versions of himself beat him there, as East gifted the well-travelled pieces back to Royal Roads University nearly a decade ago. They have recently been put back on display at the Hatley Park Museum.

(amy.dove@royalroads.ca)

*From 1940 until 1995 the grounds of Royal Roads served as a military officer’s training institution. Originally opened to train naval reserve officers for service in World War II, it was soon expanded to provide a military and academic education for all three military services. Learn more here.

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Ex-Cadet Heritage Pass

Heritage Pass

All naval and military college ex-cadets as well as former commandants, vice-commandants, principals and faculty of HMCS Royal Roads, RCNC, RCN-RCAF, CSC and RRMC are entitled to receive a lifetime heritage card that allows the following benefits:

Free admission to the property for you and immediate family when you show your Heritage Pass

20 per cent reduction for ID cardholder and family members for tours and special program fees

More

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Cadets using navigation tools

Browse the Royal Roads archives at:

http://archivesdatabase.royalroads.ca

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Where is He Now?

Dr. James Boutilier is the Special Advisor (Policy) at Canada’s Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters in Esquimalt, British Columbia. He is responsible for advising the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific on matters of defence and foreign policy and maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to his appointment at MARPAC, Dr. Boutilier spent 24 years on staff at the Royal Roads Military College in Victoria as Head of the History Department and then as Dean of Arts. He is also an adjunct professor of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria and the President of the Maritime Awards Society of Canada.

RRMC Memories – “…a colonial outpost of RMC in Kingston…” previous e-Veritas article -

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Did you know that  Hatley Castle and Park each have their own song? Yes, in the RRU Archives they have an LP  of the Royal Roads Military College Band, recorded in 1983-84.

The band at the time consisted of 15 pipers and drummers and 30 brass-and-reed musicians, all of whom were officer cadets who volunteered their spare time to participate in the band. They played in concert band style and during parades on campus as well as special occasions in the community.

Want a listen? The Archives has digital copies for you to enjoy. Click (http://myrru.royalroads.ca/files-myrru/01%20Track%201.wma) for Hatley Park, which was the official quick march for Royal Roads Military College. And (http://myrru.royalroads.ca/files-myrru/07%20Track%207.wma)HYPERLINK “/files-myrru/07 Track 7.wma” <http://myrru.royalroads.ca/files-myrru/07%20Track%207.wma)HYPERLINK> Dunsmuir Castle, written for the Royal Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to RRMC in 1983. Both pieces were composed by Petty Officer First Class Gabby R. Bruner, who was a professional musician and the RRMC bandmaster from 1979 – 1985.

If you would like to know more about the RRMC Band, or about what they have in the RRU Archives, please don’t hesitate to email Caroline Posynick: RRUArchives@RoyalRoads.ca

Source

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Short Trivia by E3161 Victoria Edwards:

1. OCdt D.V. Ferguson composed a march in honour of the departure of which Commandant at Royal Roads? Performed by the Royal Roads band, the march appears on their album.

A) 3912 Colonel George L. Logan, CD (RRMC/RMC ’57)

B) 2253 Major General Cameron Bethel Ware, CD (RMC 1931)

C) 2576 Captain William Prine Hayes CD, (RMC 1936)

D) RRA18 Colonel Kenneth E. Lewis CMM, CD (RRMC ’47)

E) 6440 Captain (N) A.J. (‘Tony’) Goode CD (Royal Military College Saint-Jean/RMC 1965)

2. To march on the colours at RRMC parades, the band performed___

A) `Maple Leaf Forever.`

B) `Precision`

C) ‘La Gaillarde’

C) `Scotland the Brave’

3. For the Precision drill display during the annual Sunset Ceremony at RRMC, the band performed ____

A)`Pathfinders`

B) `Hatley Park’

C) ‘Going Home.’

D) ‘Officer of the day’

Read the rest of this entry »

The CSC Royal Roads Class of 1961 Reunion was held in conjunction with Royal Roads University’s Homecoming 2011 programme over the weekend 8-11 September.

Twenty two (22) of the original 65 Graduates participated over the weekend and were treated to 5 days of delightful sunshine and balmy Victoria temperatures.

The Saturday Ball on the Quarterdeck brought back memories of the dances hosted at CSC Royal Roads during our two years at the College.

Reunion events culminated at the Legacy Gardens where Class of 1961 donations to the Royal Roads University Foundation’s Military Heritage Fund enabled 70 granite pavers to be laid commemorating the 65 graduates plus 5 classmates of the original ROTP entry to CSC Royal Roads in the Fall of 1959.

An informal Meet & Greet kicked-off the events where classmates and their ladies gathered at the Gorge Vale Golf Club.

Excerpts from the address by Class of 1961, 5868 Lt Gen (ret) Scott Clements, the Vice Chair of the Foundation Advisory Council of RRU

Distinguished Guests, Ex cadets of the Royal Canadian Naval College, the Canadian Services College Royal Roads, the Royal Roads Military College, Alumni and Staff of the Royal Roads University, and all friends of this magic place that we all love so much.

As a cadet of the Class of 61, this is a special year for me, and my colleagues, It was not so long ago that I shared this podium with Royal Roads University President Cahoon and others in the commemoration of this symbolic and indeed, iconic, rededication of the Naval Mast at Royal Roads.

It was a very special day indeed – and here we are gathered again with the clear evidence that this project, envisioned by the Royal Naval College Class of 47, has been implemented and further improved so successfully. Among those that have contributed are the valuable and continued voluntary work from the local Naval Dockyard and the very generous financial contributions from the Royal Naval College Class of 43 to 45.

As the Vice Chair of Royal Roads University’s Foundation Advisory Council I would like to talk about some of the work that the Council has been doing for some years……… Our vision is very simple. We exist to Honour the Heritage, Maintain the Magic, and Facilitate the Future of Royal Roads….. Simple but powerful words that have guided every action of the foundation since we adopted them a few years ago.

My own Class of 61 is, of course at the milestone year of 50 years since graduation and as you can see we have raised enough funds to have 70 stones placed at the Mast honouring the 65 who graduated, plus five of hopefully many more that will be added over time.

So here we are today at the third annual event in the Legacy Garden, with the Naval Mast as its centre of gravity. Each year we see wonderful improvements. Quite simply I can think of no other more symbolic and visible heritage restoration than the naval mast to indicate to the 6000 ex cadets of the military era that the Royal Roads University is very serious about honouring its heritage.

What we have in front of us today is clearly a marriage of the past with the future. In addition to the Mast, the Legacy Garden has behind us the former Vice Commandant’s house that could well become a museum for Royal Roads history, and beside us these historic walls, which could well become, similar to a project just implemented at the Royal Military College, a place to honour those who have been associated with Royal Roads that have gone on to distinguish themselves as outstanding citizens of the world This whole area is therefore taking on a growing new significance for the property, blending history in a very appropriate manner with the new mission of the University.

What a marvellous Homecoming weekend this is. Thanks to all for contributing to make it so, and in particular thanks to all those who brought this magnificent mast back to a place of honour at Royal Roads and those who continue to develop this Legacy Garden.

9318 Dave Bindernagal and 3237 John Mothersill display the mace used in convocation for Royal Roads Military College. The mace will be on display at Royal Roads University to pay tribute to the campus’ history.  Full article

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Tracing a series of Memory BC archives for references to the Military Colleges

Researched by E3161 Victoria Edwards

In 1941, HMCS Royal Roads was commissioned for the training of volunteer reserve naval officers. In 1942 it became the Royal Canadian Naval College.

Edward A.E. Nixon was the Commanding Officer for the Royal Canadian Naval College in Kingston and Esquimalt, 1917-1922.

The Nixon family fonds at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia includes photographs of sports activities at the Royal Naval College of Canada. The CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum archives includes 14 photographs of graduating officers of the Royal Naval College of Canada (1913-1922) and HMCS Stone Frigate (1940).

Commander W.B.L. Holms’s fonds at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum consists of photographs documenting officer training at HMCS Stone Frigate, Kingston, Ontario, and collected historical photographs.

Bent Gestur Sivertz’s fonds at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum consists of 45 photographs of graduating classes and memorabilitia relating to the officer training school HMCS Stone Frigate (1940-). Silvertz attended the officer training school at HMCS Stone Frigate in Kingston, Ontario, and was appointed as assistant instructor of navigation at the school in 1940.

In 1968, Royal Canadian Naval College was renamed Royal Roads Military College.

In 1994 the Federal Government announced the impending closure of Royal Roads Military College. In Jan.1995, Dan Miller, B.C. Minister of Skills, Training and Labour, established an advisory panel on Royal Roads to assess proposals for its future.

David Strong appointed Trevor Matthews as Special Advisor to the President to oversee the production of the “Proposal from the University of Victoria to the Advisory Panel on the Future of Royal Roads.” After the rejection of the UVic proposal, Matthews continued as coordinator for The Royal Roads Implementation Group in the transition to Royal Roads University.

The University of Victoria Archives documents the transition of Royal Roads Military College into Royal Roads University and the input of UVic in this process with memos, correspondence, clippings, press releases and reports.

http://memorybc.ca/royal-roads-military-college-collection

RRMC Mace

Caroline Posynick, the RRU archivist and e-veritas contributor has been working with the RRU Foundation to prepare for the Homecoming event in September, This year’s homecoming reception on Friday Aug 19th recognized the donation of a historically significant item from Royal Roads’ illustrious past – the RRMC Mace.

Caroline provided the images of the RRMC mace procession, a presentation of a RRMC degree in 1984 and a photo of the RRMC mace in 1978. The RRMC mace is on ‘permanent loan’ to RRU from the Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.

On 9 September, during homewoming weekend the repatriation ceremony for the RRMC Mace will be held at 19:30 hrs at the rear of Quarterdeck. The mace symbolizes the authority of the College, as granted in the name of the Sovereign (currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). When carried into the ceremony and placed on stage, the mace signals the opening of the convocation. The design incorporates elements of the historical significance of Hatley Castle, history, academic direction and vision of Royal Roads Military College.

History of Royal Roads Archives

Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) originally established the archives to preserve the institutional archives of RRMC and its predecessors, HMCS Royal Roads, Royal Canadian Naval College, Royal Canadian Navy –Royal Canadian Air Force College, Canadian Services College Royal Roads; 1940 – 1994) and the family of James Dunsmuir at Hatley Park (1907 – 1937.) The Archives works in partnership with local First Nations people to document their use of the Hatley Park area dating back to 8 000 BCE.

With the closure of RRMC in 1995, the majority of institutional archives were transferred to Royal Military College in Kingston or the Library and Archives Canada Pacific Regional Service Centre, Burnaby, B.C. Records considered useful in interpreting the military and naval era to visitors was retained including photographs, annuals, maps and films.

Do you have something that you think belongs in the RRU Archives? The Royal Roads University Archives is grateful to receive any information suggesting possible sources of records to complement existing collections.

Please contact the new Archivist, Caroline Posynick. RRUArchives@royalroads.ca

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History of Royal Roads University and Canadian Forces

Royal Roads University is proud of its long history with Canadian Forces

by Shelley Langille, Director, Military Relations

Read the entire article here

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We are in the process of receiving The Way It Was photos from the new Archivist, Caroline Posynick.  We hope to have some of these photos in the very near future.  In the meantime, we dug some up from previous e-Veritas articles.

ROYAL ROADS REUNION 2011

ROYAL ROADS PAVERSTONE CAMPAIGN

The cutoff date for ordering paverstones for installation this year is rapidly approaching. There will be over 500 stones in place for the grand unveiling on 10 September 2011 at the Mast. Orders received after 31 July 2011 will be held for installation in 2012. The campaign will continue into future years but naturally we would like to have a good representation of all classes and civilian and military staff for the dedication this September.

The paverstones can be ordered for anyone who served at RR from 1940 to 1995, either as a cadet or as a staff member. Many classes are ordering stones for deceased classmates as well. There are 76 stones in place now and when 500 plus are down in September it will be a spectacular sight to see.

Please do not procrastinate. Follow the ordering instructions below and be part of this military heritage project at Royal Roads University this year.

Sponsored and managed by the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club.

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CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum has an extensive collection of official Canadian naval ship, naval establishments and naval air unit badges 1910-1948. Lieutenant-Commander (Ret’d) David J. Freeman heads the Badge Project and is in the process of completing a book on this subject. A detailed project is underway to capture photographic or digital images of all the badges worn by HMC ships before 1948.

The Museum has a list of black and white images already collected by The Badge Project for which they are now seeking colour images. These include a black and white badge for ROYAL ROADS – crown plus anchor, open book & spray of three maple leaves.

The museum collection includes two colour badges for military colleges:

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVAL COLLEGE – maple leaf, sword, book, anchor

ROYAL ROADS – a. name on a shield

A number of ships and establishments have no known pre-1948 insignia. Occasionally, badges or images of badges come into the possession of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum that are a total mystery.

For badges prior to 1948 the following information is required: To your knowledge, was there or wasn’t there a badge or insignia for the ship?; Who designed the badge, or had a hand in its creation? Who painted the badge? When was the badge first designed? What is the significance of the design? Who organized having the badge made into another version, such as a jacket patch? Where on/in the ship was the badge displayed? Any other information.

Although the actual badges themselves are not being collected for the project, if you hold a badge or insignia – or a photograph in which the badge or insignia appears – arrangements can be made to copy it. If you can provide any answers about the origins of any of the mystery badges, and the groups/organizations they represent, or can provide details of these or other badges from the list please contact the Badge Project at: Webmaster@NavalandMilitaryMuseum.org Images for many of the badges from this collection can viewed through this site. http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/resource_pages/badge/badgegallery.html

Royal Canadian Naval College Memories

Royal Naval College of Canada rugby team with mascot circa 1921 Photo Catalogue No. VR992.146.2 and Royal Canadian Naval collection RCN B17003

The late 1828 Brigadier (Ret’d) Thomas Geoffrey Beament documented daily life of Royal Canadian Naval College through photographs with captions identifying the people he trained with, the ships, the campus, and places he photographed. His son 3191 Commander (Ret’d) Gerald Beament donated one of his father’s albums to the Royal Roads’ archives in 1985. The Royal Roads University gave the album to the Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum in March 2011 where the images are being digitized and wrapped in protective coating. The album has been stored in the museum’s archives, but can be pulled out for people interested in seeing it. Some of the photos have been posted on the museum’s website. www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org.

From left, Paul Longtin, senior officer for the Royal Roads University Foundation, Debbie Towell, curator of Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, and Dave Bindernagle, the last commandant of Royal Roads Military College in 1995, look through a book of 90 year old photographs taken by a cadet at the Royal Canadian Naval College

e-Veritas readers may recall an e-veritas article on the Naval Museum’s Christening Bell project Jan 2010 ?p=31694

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/117157773.html

Compliments of E3161 Victoria Edwards