The Glen - The Calgary Highlanders

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The Glen
The Newsletter of the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Association
A Message from
the Association
President
Denis A. Mascardelli
This issue of the Glen
marks the end of summer, the onset of autumn, and the beginning of the Unit's 20142015 Training Year. Our series covering the
10th Battalion's major actions during the First
World War continues with that unit's trials at
the Somme. In the previous issue of the Glen
we presented a broad overview of the Battle
of the Somme, one of the deadliest in history
with over a million casualties suffered during
the summer and fall of 1916; this issue's coverage narrows the focus to the Canadian
Corps in general and more specifically, the
Tenth. For those receiving the Glen's electronic version, Dr. Barry Cooper comments on the
Ukraine crisis and there is much more, including the return of QMSI Corner.
The transition from summer's warmth to cooler fall weather is a reminder of two important
dates for the Regiment: the 70th anniversary
of the 31 October 1944 battle for the Walcheren Causeway and Remembrance Day. This
year's Walcheren commemoration will be
marked by a parade at Mewata Armoury on
Saturday, 1 November. The Pipes and Drums
will begin with a performance which is scheduled to start at 1330 hrs followed by the parade. Messes will be open at the parade's conclusion. If by some oversight you haven't received an invitation don't let that deter you
from attending. Simply RSVP by email to: thecalgaryhighlanders@gmail.com, or by regular
Volume 4 Issue 1
Fall 2014
post to: The Calgary Highlanders, Mewata Armoury, 801-11th Street SW, Calgary, AB, T2P
2C4. Remembrance Day will of course be observed on 11 November, which falls on a Tuesday this year. The Regiment will parade at the
cenotaph located in Calgary's Central Memorial
Park where wreaths will be laid on behalf of
serving and former soldiers.
Since the next edition of the Glen won't be out
for several months, it's not too early to give
advance notice of the Regiment's two premier
social events of the year: the Robbie Burns
Dinner and Grand Highland Ball. The WOs and
Sgts Association will hold their annual Robbie
Burns festivities on Friday, 30 January and the
Grand Highland Ball will take place on Saturday
14 March. Additional information for both these
events will be sent out in the future.
Finally, a reminder that to keep up-to-date with
Regimental activities go to
www.calgaryhighlanders.com where Cpl
Dorosh posts current information and photos.
Table of Contents
Message from the Command Team
2
The Tenth at the Somme
4
3 Cdn Div Reactivated
10
The Regiment in Photos
12
Canada’s Most Outstanding Cadet
15
10th Bn Victoria Cross Recipient Honoured
16
Training Year Calendar 2014-14
19
QMSI Corner
21
Geopolitics and the Ukrainian Crisis
23
Fallen comrades
25
A Message
the Team
A Message
From theFrom
Command
A Message from the CO
Team
LCol KyleCommand
Clapperton and MWO
Chris Tucker
I am humbled and honoured
to be appointed the RSM of
this fine regiment. To be
charged with the safeguard
of this Unit’s history, customs, and traditions is a
daunting task. Not only am I
held accountable for this task
by the chain of command but
also by the entire regimental
family including the Association, all those who have preceded me in this appointment, those who have
served in the past, and today's serving soldiers. I
was told a long time ago, and it is a piece of advice which I continue to pass on to those who will
listen, “if you are not happy with the direction of
your organization, get into a position to change it.”
Do not take the path of least resistance. Do not
give up! I couldn’t imagine where this regiment
would be if our forefathers decided to pursue the
easy path. Strive to be the agent of change and
make a difference for yourself and those around
you. Our history - in fact all Canadian military history - is rife with heroic deeds and self-sacrifice
but often fails to mention the everyday efforts of
those who made these glories possible. For this,
recognition comes in the perpetuation of the regiment and all those who serve in it.
I'm not sure when it became an ignominy to serve
in a line infantry regiment but I assure you, no
one fails out of their trade and comes to the infantry. We may get asked, when in DEU’s, if we play
the bagpipes but I assure you that when others
see our TOS and Balmorals they know we are infantry and conduct themselves accordingly. With
that, there is an expectation on our part. If we
are to be the kings of the battlefield
then we have to ensure we are the
masters of our domain. Dress, drill,
and deportment are how we are assessed by outsiders and our skill-atarms are how we assess ourselves.
Both are equally important and both
must be held to a high standard;
doing so is our duty at all levels of
leadership.
Succession planning and career development are the tools I use to ensure the success of this regiment, to make it grow
and keep our commitments to our forefathers and
to the people of Canada who depend on us for their
security. This is not a responsibility we can take
lightly. Personal development is at the forefront
of a reserve soldier. Physical training, situational
awareness on current events, reading, personal
hobbies, attendance on exercises, etc. are how we
as a Unit will grow stronger and prepare ourselves
for the next task.
This command team is committed to success at all
levels. The creation of the Calgary Highlander
Shooting Club is a demonstration of this commitment to personal development of the soldiers in the
Unit. If there is a soldier who sees an opportunity
for personal development the command team will
be happy to help where it can. As CWO Besse said
when he handed over the appointment, “it takes
people who are not only committed to the Unit but
it also takes True Believers.” I'm here to state
without a doubt that your command team are,
“True Believers”; are you?
Airghardt
MWO Christopher Tucker
The Glen is the newsletter of the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Association. Opinions expressed are those of the Glen staff or contributors
and should not be construed as those of the Government of Canada or the Department of National Defence, including The Calgary Highlanders.
The Glen is available free of charge in its electronic version and recipients are encouraged to forward copies to friends of the Regiment. To be
added to the subscription list, send your name and email address to calghighr.glen@gmail.com.
Photos from all eras of the unit’s history are welcome and may be sent to our email address (above) or in the case of prints, to The Calgary
Highlanders Regimental Association, Mewata Armoury, 801-11th St SW, Calgary AB, T2P 2C4. Prints will be scanned and returned upon request. Photos should be accompanied by a note explaining who or what the image captures and when and where it was taken.
Letters and articles are encouraged and, if published, may be edited for content and length.
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Remembrance Day
11 November 2014
On Remembrance Day we pause to honour those Canadians who have served our country from
the South African War to Afghanistan.
For Calgary Highlanders, it is a particularly poignant time as we reflect that the battle honours on
our colours were awarded at a terrible cost; from the Unit’s arrival in France in early July 1944 to
the end of the war we suffered a greater number of casualties (killed and wounded) than any other infantry battalion in the Canadian army in Northwest Europe—403 killed in action and 1354
wounded.
The 10th Battalion, which entered the front lines in late February 1915 and fought until the guns
were finally silenced on 11 November, 1918 paid an even greater price—1309 killed in action and
2942 wounded.
We also remember that although we haven’t fought as a battalion since the Second World War,
Calgary Highlanders have served from Bosnia to Afghanistan and give thanks that despite injuries
to soul and body, none were killed.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Metis National Council
Surrounded by well-wishers from his Metis community, Calgary Highlander and Second World War
veteran Charlie St. Germain places a wreath at a memorial on Juno Beach, Normandy on 11
November 2009.
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The 10th at The Somme
By Denis Mascardelli
The Battle of the Somme lasted from 1 July to 19 November 1916, failed to achieve the decisive
breakthrough it was intended to and, with over a million casualties to both sides, scarred a
generation. The previous edition of the Glen gave a broad overview of the battle; in this issue we
focus on the actions of the 10th Battalion.
By the end of August 1916 the Battle of the
Somme had raged for two months, and far
from achieving the planned breakthrough of
the enemy's lines that could be exploited by
the large cavalry forces held in reserve, only
about 8 square kms had been captured though
the British Army alone had suffered over
160,000 casualties. More and fresh troops
were required for what had become a battle
of attrition with the goal to keep pounding
away at the enemy until his will to fight was
broken. In early September the Canadian
Wikipedia
Map of the Somme battlefield showing the front lines on 1 July at the start of the operation, 14 Jul, 15 Sep and the final lines on 19
Nov when fighting ended because heavy rains had reduced the landscape, shattered by several million artillery rounds, into an
impassable quagmire. The Canadian Corps fought in the northernmost area of the battlefield from September onward, in the
general area between Thiepval and Courcellette. The 1st Newfoundland Regt, part of the British 29th Division, was almost
completely destroyed on 1 July during its attack on Beaumont-Hamel, located at the extreme northern end of the battlefield.
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Corps - minus the recently arrived 4th Division
- was moved from Ypres in Belgium to the
Somme battlefield in order to take part in a
renewed push planned to begin on 15 September.
On the night of 9 September the 10th*, with a
strength of 755 all ranks, moved into the front
-line trenches opposite an enemy strongpoint
at what had once been Mouquet Farm.
The day before the move had seen the Battalion lose its CO, Colonel Rattray, with his promotion to Brigadier-General and command of
a training brigade in England. Maj Alexander
Thompson assumed temporary command until
Maj. Ormand - the 10th's Adjutant during the
attack on Kitcheners Wood - arrived to take
command in late September.
The Fighting Tenth's first session in the
trenches lasted only two days but was a deadly introduction to the ferocity of the fighting at
the Somme. During this brief period the Battalion had to fight off four enemy attacks and
was frequently bombarded by his artillery, suffering 55 casualties. On the night of 22 September the 10th returned to the trenches for
24 hours after having received 93 replacements only to take an additional 39 casualties.
Unfortunately these rates of attrition were not
abnormal at the Somme; for example, during
the first seven days of September the Canadian Corps suffered 769 casualties without
mounting any attacks.
On 15 September the Canadian Second and
Third divisions, accompanied by a new secret
weapon, the tank, and supported by a massive creeping barrage (another battlefield innovation) captured what remained of the very
heavily defended village of Courcelette, one of
the few clear-cut victories during the Battle of
the Somme. This success inspired Gen. Haig
to follow it up with an attack on Thiepval
Library & Archives Canada
British Mark 1 male tank and Canadian soldiers at the Somme 25 September 1916
Tanks were first used during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 Sept 1916. The British Mk. 1 tank was designed to be bullet-proof
and with its caterpillar tracks, capable of crossing the battlefield and trenches, ploughing through barbed wire, and destroying
enemy machine guns and strong points. The Mk. 1 was 8m in length, weighed 28 tonnes, carried a crew of 8, and came in two types:
'male' with two 6 pdr guns and 3 machine guns, and 'female' with 5 machine guns. These early models were mechanically unreliable,
very slow (only capable of about 2 mph), and because their 105 hp gasoline engine was not placed in a separate compartment, their
interiors were soon filled with noxious fumes and their crews had to endure temperatures that could reach 50˚ C. Moreover,
although 'bullet-proof', rounds striking the hull frequently caused internal spalling. The small numbers of tanks available during the
Somme had little effect on the battlefield but were a sign of what was to come.
*The 10th Bn was part of 2 Brigade, one of three brigades of 1 Cdn Division. The Canadian Corps was comprised of 1, 2, 3 and 4
Cdn Divisions.
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Ridge. The ridge had been an objective of the
disastrous first day of the Somme offensive
but was still in German hands almost three
months later.
The attack's aim was to push the Germans off
the high ground of the ridgeline from Courcelette west along a 5,500m front. The task was
assigned to the Canadian Corps and British II
Corps, each employing two divisions. On the
Canadian front, responsibility was given to the
First and Second divisions.
The Canadians pressed on and entered sections of the Hessian trench but the attack faltered at this point. The British troops on 2 Brigade's left had encountered very determined
resistance and had been unable to take their
section of the Zollern defences. As a result
the 8th Battalion found its left flank open.
At 1408 hrs the 8th's commander ordered Lt.
Geoff Burbridge and two of his platoons from
the Fighting Tenth to attack the enemy positions which threatened the Canadians’ open
flank. Lt. Burbridge
The First Division's
and 65 others set
objective was to
off but were aldrive forward and
most wiped out by
take the German pothe enemy's mursitions between
derous fire; only
Mouquet Farm and
eight men from
Courcelette. These
the two D Compapositions were made
ny platoons reup of three trench
mained by the
systems in depth:
time they reached
Zollern, Hessian and
the German
Regina, the last situtrenches. Neverated on the reverse
theless Burbridge
slope and all welland his tiny force
constructed and desomehow fought
fended.
their way through
The 10th would not
the German trench
fight as an intact
system foot by
battalion during the
Library & Archives Canada
foot, not stopping
Canadians returning from the Battle of Courcelette, one of the few clear-cut until they were
attack. Instead, C
victories during the Somme offensive.
Company was atwithin the British
tached to the 5th Battalion and D Company to
sector. Here they established a block which
the 8th. The remainder of the 10th was held
they held until being relieved the following
in reserve, to be employed as needed as the
night. In the process they captured 48 prisonbattle developed.
ers and took four machine guns.
The infantry launched their attach at 1235 hrs
As the battle for the ridge raged that afteron Tuesday 26 September after a 3-day artilnoon the remainder of the 10th was commitlery bombardment that saw over 100,000
ted piecemeal and Major Thompson soon
shells fired onto the German positions. Despite
found himself with nothing remaining to comheavy enemy fire the 5th and 8th battalions
mand. By mid-afternoon he was seconded to
fought their way into the Zollern trenches and
assist LCol Hugh Dyer, CO of the 5th Battalquickly cleared them. C Company, fighting in
ion. As night fell the Canadians may have
support of the 5th Battalion, captured seventy
hoped for some respite, but if so, it was not
enemy soldiers during this action.
to be as heavy enemy artillery and machine
gun fire continued to rain down on the newlyVolume 4 Issue 1
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taken positions.
The next day brought a German counterattack which successfully reclaimed a portion
of the Hessian trench, but a counter-counterattack returned the lost positions into Canadian hands. However, as evening fell it was
clear that the exhausted Canadians, their
numbers now greatly depleted, would not be
able to take the formidable Regina defences.
into a quagmire from heavy rains that had
begun at the end of September.
On 10 October the Fighting Tenth returned to
the front for a 24-hour shift near Courcelette
before being relieved by soldiers from the
newly-arrived Fourth Canadian Division,
whose turn at the Somme had now come.
This brief period in the trenches cost the 10th
an additional twenty-six casualties.
The brutality of the fighting at Thiepval Ridge
On 15 October the 10th returned to the frontis difficult to comprehend, far more to deline trenches, northeast of Courcelette and
scribe. Artillery fire from both sides was incesopposite an enemy position known as the
sant and the Canadians had to advance across
'Quadrilateral', a double line of trenches that
no-man's land through dense fire from wellhad withstood several previous attacks. The
placed machine guns. Those that made it
10th's mission was to attack and seize the
through the wire and into
Quadrilateral in an atthe enemy trenches then
tack set for dawn the
had to clear the positions
The brutality of the fighting next day.
in savage hand-to-hand
Maj. Ormand had
combat with rifle, grenade at Thiepval Ridge is difficult
known of the planned
and bayonet. The survito comprehend….
attack some days earvors - often under artillery
lier and had sent sevbombardment - then had
eral reconnaissance
to re-engineer the trenches in a race against
patrols forward to spy out the German positime in order to be ready to face the inevitable
tion's defences starting on 10 October. All reGerman counter-attacks which came from
turned with the same message: the Allied arwhat had been the trench's rear. At Thiepval
tillery bombardments had done very little
holding a captured trench was even more difdamage to the extensive wire the enemy had
ficult than taking it.
carefully erected in front of their positions.
The battle for the ridge cost the 10th 241 casualties over 36 hours, a very heavy price for a
battalion that had gone into the action with a
little over 700 men. Other Canadian infantry
units also suffered grievous losses; for example, the 8th Battalion, which the 10th had supported during the attack, lost 459 of the approximately 600 who'd gone forward. During
the night of 28 September the exhausted and
depleted attacking units were withdrawn and
replaced.
The 10th, now under the command of Major
Ormand, rested and absorbed 284 reinforcements, while the Canadian Corps launched
fresh but unsuccessful attacks on Regina
Trench across a battlefield that had turned
Volume 4 Issue 1
Maj. Ormand knew that any attack on the
well-entrenched enemy across a battlefield
now covered in a thick layer of mud and
through "masses of uncut wire" would be suicidal. He informed BGen Loomis, 2 Brigade's
Commander, of his misgivings but was told
that the orders stood.
What followed was like something from a
work of fiction. Everyone in the battalion was
convinced that the assault would be suicidal
and nineteen out of the twenty-one officers
going into the attack secretly handed a letter
to the Chaplain to be delivered to loved ones
after the battle. Meanwhile Maj. Ormand's reconnaissance report reached First Division’s
HQ later that night and Gen. Currie, fortunately an early riser, read it and immediately
Fall 2014
7
cancelled the attack. Word of the cancellation
reached Maj Ormand at 0505 hrs, only
minutes before the battalion was scheduled to
go over the top to almost certain destruction.
October 16 proved to be the 10th's last day at
the Somme and despite enemy shelling there
were no casualties. That evening the Battalion
was relieved by men of the Fourth Division
and moved to billets in Albert.
In fact, not just the 10th but the Canadian
Corps - minus the recently arrived 4th Division
- was being withdrawn from the Somme battlefield. Since its arrival six weeks earlier its
three divisions had suffered almost 20,000
casualties. 417 of these were from the 10th
Battalion, with more than half (241) the result
of the intense 36-hour fight for Thiepval
Ridge.
The 4th remained at the Somme until operations ended on 19 November when Gen. Haig
called off all further attacks because heavy
rain had made the battlefield - blasted by millions of artillery shells - impassable. By this
point the Division had suffered 4,311 casualties, bringing the Corp's total casualties at the
Somme to 24,029, ninety per cent of whom
were in the infantry battalions.
By late 1916 the battles of Verdun and the
Somme had inflicted two million casualties on
both sides and temporarily exhausted their
armies. It was obvious to the leadership of
the Canadian Corps that the war-fighting
techniques of 1914-1916 were hopelessly inadequate to deal with the battlefields of the
industrial age, and stubbornly persisting in
doing more of the same would only yield unbearable casualties while accomplishing little.
Throughout the winter of 1916-1917, one of
the coldest in decades, they examined every
aspect of their war-fighting; their battle procedure, organization, tactics, equipment, and
communications, trying to determine what
worked and what didn't and what best practices could be borrowed from the lessons
learned by their British and French allies. This
examination was extended to the Corps' leaders with the result that 15 of the 58 battalion
commanders and two of the twelve brigade
commanders were replaced. The aftermath of
the tragedy of the Somme saw the Corps
begin to transform itself into a deadly professional force which would play a vital role in
the eventual Allied victory which still lay two
long years in the future.
Library & Archives Canada
Canadian troops leaving the trenches at the Somme. Heavy rains began at the end of September and by 19 November had
made the shell-blasted battlefield impassable, finally bringing the four and a half month Bottle of the Somme to an end.
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3 Cdn Div Reactivated
By Sgt Lowe
Sgt Lowe
Highland Regiments of 3 Cdn Div 6 Jun 2014, L to R: The Cdn Scottish Regt (Princess Mary’s) - two representatives; The Lake
Superior Scottish Regt; The Calgary Highlanders (represented by Sgt. Lowe); The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada;
and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
Almost 100 years from its original formation in
France during WWI, the 3rd Canadian Division
was reactivated, replacing what was Land
Forces Western Area.
On 6 June 2014, the 70th Anniversary of DDay, troops representing all Reserve and Regular units comprising 3rd Cdn Div travelled to
CFB Edmonton for a formal ceremony commemorating the event. There they formed a
100 man honour guard for the ceremonies,
where the new divisional flag was presented
to 3rd Cdn Div commander BGen Christian JuVolume 4 Issue 1
neau by three WWII veterans who had taken
part in the D-Day landings. At the same time,
the troops making up the honour guard were
presented with the first of the "French Grey"
shoulder patches which will be worn on the
DEU uniform of troops within the Division. The patch is actually light blue in colour,
but is an exact copy of surviving divisional
patches from WWI. The Division was originally formed in France during 1915 and the divisional patch colour was chosen to match the
French Grey paint that was very common in
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10
homes of that period.
Among the honour guard were soldiers from
the Highland units that are part of 3rd Cdn
Div, units stretching from Vancouver Island to
Lake Superior. Those Highland units are: The
Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's),
The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, The Calgary Highlanders, The Queen's Own Cameron
Highlanders of Canada, and The Lake Superior
Scottish Regiment. The kilts, sporrans, and
glengarries of the Highlanders among the sea
of berets and pants added dash and colour to
the honour guard.
During parade practices preceding the ceremony the Highlanders naturally gravitated to
one another to meet and greet. The Calgary
Highlander's representative, recognizing that
an impromptu Gathering of The Clans was
taking place, organized a photo opportunity
when the guard moved to Steel Barracks Parade Square later on. Unfortunately, the CF
photographer wandered off at that point with
more important things to do. The ubiquitous
cellphones were retrieved from sporrans and
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an infantry soldier from another unit was
pressed into service, recording the Gathering.
While many infantry soldiers look on participating in parades with about as much enthusiasm
as their annual medical, it really was an honour to be part of this ceremony. Despite being
asked during the patching ceremony if I was
there to represent the RCA Band, it was a
privilege to be there for the recognition of the
connection between Canadian war efforts
spanning WWI to our most recent service in
Afghanistan. And it was an honour to have an
opportunity to talk to the WWII veterans of
the D-Day landings, in particular one who was
among those who swam ashore five hours before the actual landings to clear wire and
mines, and take out communications assets.
The French Grey wool melton patch will soon
be a part of every Calgary Highlander's DEU
uniform. And hopefully, at some time in the
future there will be an opportunity for another,
more numerous, regimental Gathering of the
Clans.
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The Regiment in Photos
The Regiment in Photos
Readers are encouraged to send in photos from all eras of the Unit’s history in order that the archive
may be expanded. Digital images can be sent to calghighr.glen@gmail.com. Prints should be mailed
to The Calgary Highlanders Regimental Association, Mewata Armoury, 801-11th St SW, Calgary, AB,
T2P 2C4. Prints will be scanned and returned upon request. When sending photos, don’t forget to
include information on who/what, when and where.
July 1945
Members of the Calgary Highlanders
anti-tank platoon parade to bid farewell
to “Betsy”, a six-pounder AT gun which
served with the Unit from July 1943 to
the end of the war. It was once
captured by the enemy but recaptured
by the Highlanders two days later. Of
the 1,500 rounds fired during its active
life, 1,200 had been directed at the
enemy. Left to right: Pte. D.L. Magrum,
Pte. C. Garrigan, Pte. E.L. Miller, Pte, J.E.
Munro, Sgt. E. Fairhurst, Pte. G.A.
Clarke, Major M. Tennant, Sgt. C.N.
Milvain, L/Sgt. S.P. Gadd, Sgt. T.S. Reed,
Pte. J.W.C. Hunt, Cpl S.T. Michiel, Cpl. R.
Dunbar and Pte. J. Gowans.
Calgary Highlanders
August 2014
Corporals Avelino (L) and Danenas at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Ottawa,
where they performed sentry duty during
the month of August. Members of the CF
perform sentry duty at the Tomb from 9
April to 10 November. The commander of
the National Sentry Program wrote the
CO saying, “your soldiers represented
your unit and the Canadian Army very
well and were a pleasure to work
with...all were impressed with their
professionalism”.
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27 August 2014
Cleaning weapons, Mewata Armoury
On the right, Pte Gibson
Below, L to R: Pte Baker, Pte McFarlane, Cpl
Hardiment, Pte Stewart
Dianne Mascardelli
Dianne Mascardelli
May 2013
41 Bde
MCpl Eric Buckley clears a cement block obstacle during an exercise in Vernon, BC.
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August 2014
Captain Andrew Pittet (Calgary Highlanders)
and Second Lieutenant Alasdair Bisset
(Royal Regiment of Scotland) at a reception
for the Young Reserve Officers Workshop
(YROW) held in Fulda, Germany from
4-9 August.
Capt Pittet
Calgary Highlanders
Calgary Highlanders
August 2014
Major Simon Cox (DCO) has been recognized by the United States Army by being admitted to the Order of
St. Maurice in recognition for outstanding service as a senior staff officer with the 72nd infantry Brigade
Combat Team HQ, Texas Army National Guard, where he served as the Chief of Plans and later Chief of
Operations from 2012 to August 2014. Major Cox presented a miniature set of Regimental Colours to the
72nd IBCT (left), and he is seen wearing the insignia of the Order of St. Maurice (right).
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Airdrie Cadet Named Canada’s
Most Outstanding Cadet
Army Cadet League of Canada
Cadet Chief Warrant Officer Teegan Kenneth Martin of the 3016 Calgary Highlanders (Airdrie) Army
Cadet Corps has been named Canada’s most outstanding Army Cadet and the recipient of the 2014
General Walsh Memorial Sword.
The General Walsh Memorial Sword is the highest national prize for any Army Cadet and is named
in honour of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Walsh, CBE, DSO, CD, who dedicated much of his time to
the Army Cadet program. Recipients of the award are chosen not only based on their performance
as Army cadets but also for their community involvement and their academic standing.
His CO, Capt Rycroft states: “It is my first year as a commanding officer and I could not have been
luckier than to have the great fortune in having C/CWO Teegan Martin as my senior cadet and Regimental Sergeant Major. RSM Martin is an exemplary cadet with great leadership and compassion.”
As the winner of the Walsh Memorial Sword, Cadet Martin will travel to Ottawa as the guest of the
Royal Canadian Legion to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial as
part of the Vice-Regal party. Following the ceremony he will have the opportunity to meet both the
Governor General and the Chief of the Defence Staff at the Luncheon for the Silver Cross Mother
hosted by the Governor General at Rideau Hall.
C/CWO Martin has elected to make the Army a career and will continue his military training during
summers as a student at the University of Calgary where he will study political science.
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10th Battalion
Victoria Cross Recipient Honoured
On 21 July the English town of Haywards
Heath, located approximately 36 miles (58
kms) south of London, held a memorial service to mark the beginning of the First World
War. Not forgotten
were seven members
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who
lost their lives in that
war and had been born
or lived in the town.
One of these was Acting Sergeant Arthur
George Knight, a member of the 10th Battalion who was posthumously awarded the
Victoria Cross (VC) for
his actions on 2 September 1918 during
the 2nd Battle of Arras.
Battalion. The 46th was broken up soon afterward to provide reinforcements to the battalions already fighting in France and Belgium,
and Arthur was taken
on strength by the
10th in France at the
end of August, 1915.
By the beginning of
September 1918 he
was an Acting Sergeant and had been
awarded the Croix de
Guerre by the King of
Belgium only a few
months earlier.
The citation for Sgt.
Knight's VC read:
“For most conspicuous
bravery, initiative, and
devotion to duty when,
after an unsuccessful
attack, Sjt. Knight led
A few weeks after the
a bombing section formemorial service the
ward, under very
Mayor of Haywards
heavy fire of all deHeath unveiled a
scriptions, and enplaque in Sgt. Knight's
gaged the enemy at
honour, mounted on
close quarters. Seeing
the town hall's wall.
that his party continThe plaque was comued to be held up, he
Canadian Forces—DHH
missioned by Daniel King- Sgt Arthur Knight was one of two members of the 10th
dashed forward alone,
ton, Chairman of the Hay- Battalion to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
bayoneting several of
wards Heath Branch of
the enemy machinethe Royal British Legion.
gunners and trench mortar crews, and forcing
the remainder to retire in confusion. He then
Arthur Knight was born in Haywards Heath on
brought forward a Lewis gun and directed his
26 June 1886 but emigrated to Canada in
fire on the retreating enemy, inflicting many
1911. When war was declared he was living in
casualties.
Regina where he made his living as a carpenter. He immediately enlisted and returned to
In the subsequent advance of his platoon in
England in July 1915 as a member of the 46th
pursuit, Sjt. Knight saw a party of about thirty
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Royal British Legion
On 21 July the town of Haywards Heath, England held a memorial service to mark the beginning of the
First World War. Not forgotten were seven members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who had been
born or lived in the town, including Sgt. Arthur Knight, VC of the 10 Battalion. Canada was represented by
BGen Matthew Overton, Defence Advisor and Commander of the Defence Liaison Staff at the Canadian
High Commission. On the right is Capt (Ret’d) Charles Solomon, President of the Haywards Heath branch of
the British Royal Legion.
of the enemy go into a deep tunnel which led
off the trench. He again dashed forward alone,
and, having killed one officer and two
N.C.O.’s, captured twenty other ranks. Subsequently he routed, single-handed, another enemy party which was opposing the advance of
his platoon.
On each occasion he displayed the greatest
valour under fire at very close range, and by
his example of courage, gallantry, and initiative was a wonderful inspiration to all.
This very gallant N.C.O. was subsequently fatally wounded.”
court-les-Cagnicourt, a village near Arras, in
northern France. His Victoria Cross is held at
Calgary's Military Museums.
Sgt Knight's bravery on 2 September 1918
won him the Victoria Cross but also cost him
his life; he died of his wounds a day later. He
is buried in the Dominion Cemetery at HendeVolume 4 Issue 1
Royal British Legion
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Calgary Highlanders
Training Year 2014-2015
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QMSI Kit Corner:
The Sporran
By MWO GG Fedoruk
With Walcheren and other parades coming up quickly, DEU dress is on the forefront of everyone’s
agenda. Of course a proper turn out is more than a jacket and kilt which have been dry-cleaned,
although that's a good start.
We have all come home in different levels of consciousness from a parade or event where the
DEUs provided to you by the Crown receive the same treatment as your bar clothes. Although
these actions may make for a funny story, they don’t sit well with the CoC when a soldier either
fails to show up for parade due to the state of their kit or is poorly turned out due to the abuse
their kit has had to endure. To me, this is negligence on the part of the member trusted with carrying on the customs and traditions of this regiment and a slap in the face to all those who have
worn this uniform. Any sergeant worth their salt would beat to death the soldier who demonstrated this behavior on the battlefield.
Whether it is field or parade kit, we all must perform our duty to care, maintain and inspect our kit
to ensure that it, like ourselves, is always ready to go. This article will deal specifically with the
care, maintenance, and inspection of the six-point hair sporran to help ensure a proper turnout for
parade and avoid the QMSI’s office. This sporran is an essential piece of highland dress but it is
also the most expensive and most abused.
Care
Either hang your sporran on a hanger or place it flat in a box or plastic tote when storing it between parades. This will keep the black horse hair straight and flat as well as keeping the belled
shape of the six-points. Be sure when placing your sporran on a hanger that it is not being
squished by the other clothes in your closet causing the points to flatten. Do not store your sporran with DEUs in a garment bag as this will certainly flatten the points.
Maintenance
Many different types of six point sporrans have been purchased over the years. Those with cantles
made of brass must be polished before a parade or event. Anodized or chromed cantles should
never be polished because this will strip the finish, ruining the look of the sporran.
When cleaning your six point hair sporran remember not to submerge it in water. This causes the
leather to shrink, weakens the glue, and when it dries the leather will separate from the brass or
chrome cantle. Use a mild soap and warm water to clean the hair on your sporran and hang to
dry. Comb the hair on the sporran straight but care must be taken not to pull the hair from the
sporran itself. The bottoms of the points are belled between 6 – 8cm. Do not use hairspray on
any part of the sporran. Most of the sporrans are not real horse hair but are made from nylon.
The use of hairspray will turn the white points yellow and make the fibers brittle and difficult to
comb through. All this will result in damage to the sporran.
Inspection
Ensure your points are aligned properly. The bottom point should be in line with the bottom of the
black hair and the bottom left and right points positioned between the two centre ones. A
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clean/polished, combed sporran with points properly positioned will get you through an inspection
with flying colours.
Our highland dress is specific to our regiment and unique in the CAF. First, it denotes that the solder wearing it is an infanteer, putting that individual in a class all their own within the CAF; take
pride in that. Secondly, an infanteer who is properly turned out for a parade or event is demonstrating their pride in the history of the regiment and pride in themselves. Lastly, we are communicating to everyone that we are the kings of the battlefield and all other trades are there to support
us in our mission. We not only need to play the part but we need to look the part as well.
This photo shows the correct horizontal alignment of
points and cantles on the six-point hair sporran.
A&SH of Canada Clothing Manual
The centre cantles and points of
the sporran must be aligned
with the kilt’s centre panel, as
shown. Examples of well
prepared and positioned sixpoint hair sporrans may be seen
on our soldiers standing guard
at the tomb of the Unknown
soldier, page 12 of this issue of
the Glen.
A&SH of Canada Clothing Manual
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Geopolitics and the
Ukrainian Crisis
By Barry Cooper
Barry Cooper, FRSC, is a Professor of Political Science and Fellow, Centre for Military and Strategic
Studies, University of Calgary. This article appears courtesy of the Canadian Defence and Foreign
Affairs Institute (www.cdfai.org) where he is a Research Fellow.
CNN
Ukrainian soldiers ride a tank outside Marispol 5 Sep 2014.
The World: A General Geography, by L. Dudley Stamp, was assigned in BC high schools
during my youth. My teacher, Mr. Jenkins, had
'read' geography at Oxford and taught us the
geopolitics of Sir Halford J. Mackinder. His
basic premise was Machiavellian: necessity is
more important than desire. A geopolitical
perspective on Russian behaviour regarding
Ukraine provides some useful insights.
Like all land powers, Russia has always been
anxious about invasion. Geographic insecurity
is more fundamental than the regime, whether Czarist, Bolshevik, or Putin's postVolume 4 Issue 1
totalitarian autocracy, because for the most
part Russia is unprotected by mountains,
swamps, rivers, or oceans.
In particular, along the North European Plain,
from the Pyrenees to St. Petersburg, there are
hardly any natural barriers. Consequently Russia has always required defensive depth from
the Baltic to the Black Sea and the Caucasus.
This is one reason why the western political
frontiers of Russia's borderlands have varied
so much over the centuries.
Since 1945 Russia pushed its western front to
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central Germany. The end of the Cold War
moved it 1000 miles east. At the centre of this
reduction in strategic depth was Ukraine. The
Orange Revolution during the winter of 20045 and its failure was therefore a major Russian victory. Had Ukraine increased its ties to
the West, the disintegration of Russia would
have been entirely possible. Certainly with the
Baltic countries and Ukraine as part of NATO,
Russia would have been indefensible.
Ukraine.
The Russians know perfectly well that the
West does not have interests in Ukraine sufficient to risk war. The Americans may well have
provided Ukrainian forces with new and sophisticated equipment for what they both call
anti-terrorism operations, but they are hardly
"running the show", as Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said. For their part, the Russians are certainly not prepared to fight the
West either.
Not that NATO in 2005 could have done Russia harm, but perhaps someday. Indeed, the
In fact, a successful long-term Russian strateRussians today believe the Kiev uprising was
gy need not ininspired, financed, and
volve phase-three
encouraged by Western
...hurling moralizing thunderbolts at military intervenintelligence services, abRussia and its president, as both the tion. All they need
sent which, following a
to do is raise the
Canadian Prime Minister and his
few riots, things would
price of natural
have settled down and
Foreign Affairs Minister have done is gas and wait until
Viktor Yanukovitch would absurd when the West lacks the
memories of the
still enjoy power.
glorious revolution
capability and the political will to
The first insight provided
act.
by geopolitics, then, is
that Russian interests today are not focused on extending an ideological empire into the West, as arguably they
were during the Cold War, but on restoring
control over the former Soviet periphery. For
the Russians, defensive geopolitical necessities require that Ukraine be neutralized, which
means: not a member of the EU or NATO.
Perhaps a Ukrainian federation would do the
trick.
Going back to Soviet times, the Russians developed a three-phase strategy to reacquire
its tenuous or endangered borderlands. First,
organize local Russian populations and engage
in classic Leninist agitation. Second, provide
support for unofficial armed groups and then
third, when the security situation grows precarious, follow up with a military operation.
The procedure worked in Moldova (1989-91),
in Lithuania (1990-91), in Georgia (1989-93
and 2008), and in Crimea. So far the first two
phases have had useful effects in eastern
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fade, fractious and
corrupt Ukrainian
politics reappear,
and the IMF loan to relieve their sovereign
debt causes great economic pain.
A second geopolitical insight is this: hurling
moralizing thunderbolts at Russia and its president, as both the Canadian Prime Minister and
his Foreign Affairs Minister have done is absurd when the West lacks the capability and
the political will to act. If Canadian political
leaders understood that Canada has a national
interest they would understand that others do
too.
Understanding the interest of your adversaries
makes political compromise possible but selfrighteousness is always de-stabilizing. Thus,
understanding the geopolitics of the Ukrainian
confrontation provided a golden opportunity
for [the government] to keep quiet. Perhaps
they could have sent some UkrainianCanadians to Kiev to discuss the benefits of
federalism.
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Fallen Comrades
Since the last issue of the Glen the Regimental family has lost six members.
Charlie St. Germain
Charlie St. Germain, a Second World War Metis veteran and Calgary Highlander, died on
10 June while attending D-Day commemorations in Normandy. Charlie was born on 8
July 1924 in Clear hills, Alberta and joined the Calgary Highlanders during the summer of
1942, arriving in England in the autumn of that year. He landed in Normandy with the
Regiment in July 1944 and took part in the bitter campaign to liberate France and
Holland. Charlie travelled to Normandy to participate in the commemorations to mark the
70th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of France and while there was presented
with the Legion of Honour, France's highest award, only a few days before his death.
Stanley Melville Anderson
Stanley, a Calgary Highlander veteran of the Second World War, died on Sunday, 13 July
in Simcoe, Ontario. He was in his 97th year. Stanley landed in Normandy with the Unit
on 6 July 1944 but was wounded just two weeks later on 22 July during the Highlanders’
three-day battle to capture and hold Hill 67 and liberate the nearby town of Etavaux.
This operation cost the Battalion 21 killed and 107 wounded, ten of whom later died of
their wounds. Although predeceased by his wife and seven siblings, Stanley is survived
by a sister, grand-daughter, step children and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces
and nephews.
A. G. (Jerry) Richards
Dr. Jerry Richards, a Second World War veteran and member of both the Calgary
Highlanders and the PPCLI, passed away in Victoria on 13 October 2013 though his
memorial service wasn’t held until 17 August of this year. Jerry, a native Calgarian, was
born on 17 December 1921. At the outbreak of war in September 1939 he enlisted in the
Highlanders, lying about his age so that he could go overseas with the 1st Battalion in
August 1940. He rose to the rank of Sgt in the Highlanders before being sent back to
Canada for officer-training. Jerry, now a lieutenant, returned to England in April 1943
and was posted to the PPCLI. He was wounded twice during that regiment’s campaign in
Italy, and was repatriated to Canada in December 1943 after being seriously wounded at
the Moro River, near Ortona. The doctors who saved Jerry’s life inspired him to study
medicine and he graduated from the University of Alberta Medical School in 1950, and
then embarked on a long and distinguished career in that field until his retirement in
1990. Jerry’s memorial service was held in Victoria. The two regiments he served with
were represented by Maj Steve Sawyer of the PPCLI and Capt Tim Walshaw, now of the
PPCLI but a former Calgary Highlander.
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The Calgary Highlanders Regimental Association
Dues, Gifts and Membership
BOX A: DUES/GIFTS
If you are an existing member of the Association, either Ordinary or Associate, all you have to do to renew your
membership for 2015 is to send us your annual dues of $15.00 (Box A)
If you are not an existing member and wish to become one, please complete the application form (Box B) and attach
the 2015 annual dues of $15.00.
All serving solders are automatically Ordinary Members upon receipt of the annual dues and need not apply for
membership.
If you are unsure of your status, complete Box B.
2015dues are $15.00 and, of course donations
are much appreciated.
A tax receipt will be issued for donations of more
than $10.00; annual dues are not tax-deductible.
Cheques should be made out to ‘The Calgary
Highlanders Regimental Association’ and mailed
to:
The Calgary Highlanders Regt Assn
Mewata Armoury
801-11th Street SW
Calgary AB T2P 2C4
Enclosed are my annual dues of $15.00 (2015)
Enclosed is my donation of $________
NAME: ________________________________________
ADDRESS: ______________________________________
______________________________________
EMAIL: ________________________________________
Please complete if this information is not on your cheque or
has changed.
BOX B: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
I am a former Calgary Highlander (applying as an Ordinary Member)
I am NOT a former Calgary Highlander (applying as an Associate Member)
PLEASE PRINT:
Mr/Mrs/Ms/Rank (indicate ‘Ret’d’ when applicable if providing rank ) ________________________________
Given Name(s) _____________________________________________________________________________
Surname ___________________________________________________________________________________
Decorations/Post Nominals ___________________________________________________________________
Military Service (if applicable)
Unit ___________________________________ Dates Served _________________________________
Unit ___________________________________ Dates Served _________________________________
Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________________Province _____________ Postal Code _________________
EMAIL: _____________________________________________________________________________________
OR
I do not have an email address
Former Calgary Highlanders become Ordinary Members upon receipt of the annual dues ($15.00). The Board of
Directors may grant conditional memberships to any applicant for Associate Membership, but such memberships must be confirmed at the Association's Annual General Meeting.
Mail to:
The Calgary Highlanders Regt Assn
Mewata Armoury
801-11th Street SW
Calgary AB T2P 2C4
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