Presented

Regimental Sergeant Major Flint Walters was presented with the official scroll for his promotion to Chief Warrant Officer.

There is a popular saying floating around the Army thanks to the Internet:

When you Commission something, you put it into service
When you Warrant something, you guarantee it will work!

Photographed
23 Nov 2005

From the Canadian Combat Camera site:

23 November 2005
Kandahar, Afghanistan

Master Corporal Mike Kotuk, from the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), mans the machine gun from the turret of a G-Wagen while providing security cover in Kandahar,

Afghanistan.Members of 3 PPCLI serving with the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) stopped at various locations in Kandahar city to fill out questionnaires presented to a variety of Afghans about various issues.

Photo By MCpl Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Master Corporal Kotuk was a long time Calgary Highlander before leaving for the Regular Force in 2005.

Reporting

The Ladies Auxiliary reports that this year's Oktoberfest event was a success and passes on the following message:

"The Ladies Auxiliary would like to thank all who attended and helped with this event.  The fundraiser was a huge success.  We plan to make this an annual event".

Photo of the Oktoberfest event courtesy of the Ladies Auxiliary. From left to right:  Margaret Stewart, Maria Emslie, Helen McCumber, Shelley Russell, Renee Griffiths, and Dana Poland.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland - 24 Nov 2005

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted Royal Assent to wide-sweeping changes in the Infantry Regiments of the British Army, including a drastic reformation of the Scottish Division.

The new Scottish Division will consist of one Regiment - The Royal Regiment of Scotland.  Changes will be complete in 2006.   The allied regiment of The Calgary Highlanders will become a one-battalion component of the new Regiment.  It is unclear at present what elements of dress and tradition will be retained (ie sporran pattern, tartan, glengarry pattern, etc.).   One single cap badge has been selected for the new Regiment, and individual battalions will be designated by coloured hackles behind the badge.

http://www.royalregimentofscotland.org.uk/

Gross, who was born to a Canadian soldier in Calgary, will portray his grandfather, Michael Dunne.  Filming will take place in Calgary and CFB Suffield.  According to posters at http://army.ca Gross has already visited the ranges at Suffield.  The total budget for the film will be $16-million and some filming will take place in Europe according to the Toronto Globe and Mail.

The movie is set to release, according to an article in the Calgary Sun, on Rememberance Day 2006.

The Tenth Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, fought around Passchendaele, but it is not known if the movie will depict the 10th or one of the three other Alberta battalions that fought in the battle.

From the published obituary:

William (Bill) Murray, beloved husband of Anna Murray, went home peacefully to his Lord and Saviour on Saturday, November 5, 2005, at the age of 89 years.  Bill was born and raised in Fort William, ON.  He served in the RCAF Military Police during World War Two and moved to Calgary in 1944 where he married Anna Campbell.  Bill was employed at the Provincial Land Titles office until his retirement.  He also enjoyed many years as Drum Major with the Calgary Highlanders Pipe Band.  Bill loved his retirement job as a Tour Director for Cardinal Bus Lines, conducting Senior's Tours throughout North America.  Bill was a long time member of Bethel Baptist Church and also attended First Baptist Church for many years.  Bill will be missed by his many family and friends. Besides his loving wife of sixty-one years, Bill will be greatly missed by his daughter Dorothy Carter; his brother Ian Murray; his sister-in-law Peggy Hauge; his nieces, Heather Andrews and Glenna Hauge; his nephews Rodney Murray, Richard Murray, Gordon Campbell and Keith Hauge.   Bill was predeceased by his mother, Wilhelmina; his father John; his sister Margaret; and his brother Murdock.

Funeral services will be held at McInnis & Holloway's, Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005, at 10:30 am with the Reverend Lorne Irwin, Presider. Graveside service to follow at Queen's Park Cemetery.  Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.  If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor's choice or to the First Baptist Church in Calgary.

Thank you to former Pipe Major Jim McWilliams and Everett Andrews for passing on the sad news.  Everett Andrews played bass drum for the 19th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Pipes and Drums when Bill Murray was Drum Major there after leaving the Calgary Highlanders in the late 1950s.  Andrews recalls: 

I remember Bill leading the Calgary Highlanders in the Stampede Parades. Bill was so well known, that when the TV announcers used to announce the Band on television, they would call Bill by name, something like ... "Leading the Calgary Highlanders, Drum Major Bill Murray", and then they would remark on the way he handled the Mace. He was Fancy ... He looked like a Drum Major should, in my mind. I used to always watch for the Highlanders because they were such a class act with him out in front. But, beyond all this, he was also a very classy Gentleman, and I am pleased to have known him!

The Regiment offers its most sincere condolences to Bill Murray's family and friends.

Last Post

K71216 Acting Corporal (ret.) Bill Powell

William James Kershaw Powell joined the Canadian Army in 1941 hoping to go overseas with the artillery.  By early 1944 he was still in Canada, though he had earned the three chevrons and gun badges of a Sergeant (see photo at right).   Eager to serve his country, he decided that in order to get to the fighting, he would have to leave the artillery and join the infantry.  Whether or not the tough training in Alberta at an Infantry Training Centre ever caused him to reconsider his decision, in early September Powell joined the Calgary Highlanders in the field. Powell initially became platoon runner to Lieutenant Alex Keller who had won the Military Medal at Dieppe as a sergeant with the Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg (Keller would also be awarded a Military Cross for serving at Hoogerheide as a Calgary Highlander officer.)  Powell served with Number Twelve Platoon for several weeks, during the fighting around Dunkirk, the drive across Belgium, and the fighting around the Albert Canal. 

Keller made Powell a Section Commander with an acting rank of Corporal (which in 1944 was a rank with much more authority than it holds today in the post-Unification army).  Powell led his section through the fighting at the neck of the South Beveland peninsula, and his "B" Company were the first Highlanders to try and cross the Walcheren Causeway. 

Powell remained with the company, being Left Out of Battle (LOB) only once, for three days, in his time at the front.  Powell has left behind a memoir of his service, and his wife has graciously granted permission to the webmaster to reproduce parts of it on this site.   In his memoir, Powell recalled that

In our outfit - the Calgary Highlanders, as I have pointed out, the rifle companies suffered most of the casualties.  I have concluded that it was impossible for any soldier who landed with the Battalion, about a month after "D-Day", to survive to the end of the War without getting killed or wounded.  I discussed this with Percy DeWolf, who was wounded three times...he agreed that it was impossible.

Powell's turn came on 21 December 1944 when he was wounded, effectively putting an end to his war service.  In his memoir he confesses to the same self-doubts that haunt all soldiers about to go into action, and downplays the fact that for four months he served through some of the hardest fighting the Regiment saw during the war, not only being able to endure it but being selected for a leadership position by the Calgary Highlander officer who held the most decorations for bravery .

What isn't downplayed in the memoir is Powell's obvious pride at being a Calgary Highlander, which he carried with him the remaining 61 years of his life.  The document includes photos of recent reunions, including a shot of Powell with three other equally proud Calgary Highlander veterans at Mewata Armouries in April 2005. 

Commemorated
The Battle of Trafalgar

Under Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Royal Navy defeated the French and Spanish fleets off this cape on the southwest coast of Spain, northwest of the Strait of Gibraltar, in 1805.  The 200th Anniversary of the event was marked by the Officer's Mess of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Tecumseh, one of several reserve units in the Calgary military garrison.

At right, above, former CO Lieutenant Colonel Lee Villiger with a companion clad in what would appear to be the 19th Century equivalent of Naval Combat Dress.

At right, below, Deputy Commanding Officer, Major Mike Vernon (left) and Regimental Major, Major Kyle Dorcas, explain to the photographer why taking unflattering photos of senior officers can be detrimental to one's career.  Photos courtesy of Second Lieutenant Gavin Mills.

After the battle, the Royal Navy remained unchallenged as the world's foremost naval power for almost 100 years and the rise of Imperial Germany.

HMCS Tecumseh's dinner was just one of many Trafalgar 200 commemorations worldwide.

Joined in Holy Matrimony

Captain Kevin S. "Winnie" Winfield, CD
and Lieutenant Hope Holst
1 October 2005

Captain Kevin S. Winfield, CD, commander of the Military Police Detachment at Camp Wainwright, married Lieutenant Hope Holst at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wainwright followed by a reception at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29.  Captain Winfield was formerly an infantryman and later supply technician with The Calgary Highlanders for many years; he met the now-Mrs. Winfield in Wainwright, where she is employed as a military chaplain.

Lieutenant Holst was given away by Albert Huffman.  Several serving and former Calgary Highlanders were at the ceremony; in addition to those photographed below, Wallace McNish, formerly a corporal with the Regiment, served as an Usher.

The Calgary Highlanders kicked off a new training year on September 7th with an AAG that went smoothly; many newly qualified soldiers were on the ground and ready to begin the year's training program.  The Calgary Highlanders, in concert with the Army as a whole, is returning to fundamentals and will concentrate on individual training this year.  The Regiment has returned to a one-subunit structure to facilitate this.  Individual soldier skills, leadership and other qualification courses will be run throughout the year.

The Army is restructuring from a highly mechanized force training to fight the Soviet Union on the North German Plain to a more flexible organization based on the concept of task forces - mission specific groupings of subunits.  The goal is to have company, battery or squadron sized units of various combat and support arms able to deploy to trouble spots and fight the "three-block war", or that is to say, face challenges across the spectrum of armed conflict, including high-intensity (warfighting) operations, counter-insurgency or irregular warfare, and of course humanitarian aid and peace enforcement.

The Reserve Force is being called upon increasingly to assist the Regular Force with its tasks around the world; Reserve units are stepping into the breach more and more and looking forward to a day when they can deploy as formed units.

Corporal Steve Welsh, glad to be back to work; writing memos to his wife all summer just wasn't the same.  Corporal Welsh participated in a battlefield tour of Ortona, Italy, and will be sharing his photos soon.
Photo by Lt Gavin Mills 

Archie Mac Laine photos; image at right is thumbnailed, click to enlarge.

Dedicated
The Queen Elizabeth II Atrium

While the 50 man contingent of the Guard of Honour, with the Pipes and Drums, paraded at the civic ceremony at the Saddledome, the Officers, Warrant Officers, and Senior NCOs of the Regiment congregated at the Museum of the Regiment, where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sat for photos, toured the PPCLI Gallery, and officially dedicated the atrium as the "Queen Elizabeth II Atrium".   Her Majesty had officially opened the Museum in 1990.

Photo at right shows the dedication plaque; several officers of the Regiment are visible, including Captain Meades, Captain Clapperton, Major Dorcas, and Captain Owens.

CBC Photo

Full details of Old Betsy's colourful history can be found by clicking here.

Photo by Corporal Michael Dorosh

The webmaster is unable to verify for certain that this gun even is "Old Betsy".  It is known that Old Betsy is on inventory at the Canadian War Museum.  Why she is not on display with suitable photographs documenting the many interesting stories associated with her is a mystery.  The new Canadian War Museum, opened in May 2005, was immediately the subject of some controversy; a Korean War exhibit details the number of cases of venereal disease among Canadian soldiers, while another art exhibit focusses on a war crime commited by a Canadian soldier in Somalia.  It is unknown why a true Calgary Highlander like "Old Betsy" is left to sit and rust in anonymity.

The Canadian War Museum can be contacted at webmaster@warmuseum.ca

Recognized

As is the custom, the various messes of the Calgary Highlanders presented outgoing CO Lieutenant Colonel Villiger with tokens of esteem, which were reciprocated by the CO; photos and details will follow shortly.

Lieutenant Colonel Villiger also generously recognized the contributions of several members of the Regimental Family with handsome plaques.

Warrant Officer Bob Besse - a long serving WO and instructor in the Regiment who has done yeoman work in molding new soldiers, both with Militia Training Detachment Calgary, and recently as Company Sergeant Major of "B" Company, the training subunit of the Regiment.

Edana Venker - a former Master Corporal with the Regiment, "Eddie" Venker has been instrumental in running the Regimental Kit Shop as well as providing ongoing support to the Regimental Secretary.

Drum Major Jim Stewart

Pipe Major Chris Penney

Drum Sergeant Brian Woodward

European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal

Captain Fiona McLean, CD, ADC

Captain Fiona McLean has returned to Canada as of March 2005; photo at right shows the award presentation in February at which Lieutenant Colonel T.M. Datchko, Royal Canadian Dragoons and at that time Commander of Task Force Balkans (comprising Operation Bronze and Operation Boreas), invested Captain McLean with the ESDP Medal.  The ceremony took place at Springfield Hall, Banja Luka Metal Factory, Bosnia.

More information on this medal can be found under Honours and Awards on this website, on the page regarding NATO missions (soldiers on Operation Boreas also qualified for the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal).

The Calgary Highlanders looked south with anxiety in April 2004 when the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, a National Guard unit from Washington State, deployed to Iraq for combat operations.   The Regiment has had a relationship with the 161st since the 1950s.

Specialist Gerrit Kobes was presented the Silver Star by the commander of the First United States Cavalry Division at Forward Operating Base Honor in Baghdad, Iraq.  The 23 year old medic (who in civilian life worked for a wood-stove company) was assigned temporarily to a California unit attached to the First Cav's Task Force Steel Dragon in Baghdad.  On 3 November 2004, two platoons of Company B, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment were assigned to ferry Iraqi soldiers and equiment to Fallujah.  Kobes was acting as a medical specialist in the force, when they came under enemy fire.  Kobes exposed himself to this enemy fire in order to treat wounded soldiers.

In July 2004, Kobes had previously been decorated for bravery under fire, when he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with V for Valor device representing a combat award.

The Silver Star was instituted on 9 Jul 1918 by the Congress of the United States, and is awarded for each Citation received by US Army personnel for gallantry in action, not sufficient to warrant the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross.  On 8 August 1932 the decoration was revised by Congress and awarded for "Gallantry in Action Against an Opposing Armed Force."

More information on the Regiment's relationship with the 1/161 can be found by clicking here.  Specialist Gerrit Kobes carries on a tradition of bravery among the regiment's medical personnel dating back to 1945 when Technician Fourth Grade Laverne Parrish was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously during the fighting on Luzon, the Phillipines.

Last Post

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) DK Robertson, CD

As a Major, DK Robertson served with the Intelligence staff of General Montgomery's 21st Army Group in June 1944,and during the Northwest Europe campaign he served in command appointments and staff assignments with various formations. On 18 May 1946 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the Calgary Highlanders until 1948. He left the Regiment for the Regular Force, where he served for 28 years, including service with the Queen's Own Rifles.  He passed away in February 2005, more details will be made available shortly.

Issued

Tactical Vest (TV)

With little fanfare, the Calgary Highlanders lined up excitedly for the initial issue of the new Tactical Vest (TV for short) that is replacing the 1982 Pattern web gear throughout the Canadian Army.  The new vest is part of the ongoing Clothe the Soldier project that is revitalizing and modernizing the clothing and personal equipment of the Canadian soldier, from socks and underwear to load bearing equipment and everything in between.

The new TV is designed to carry everything the infantryman needs to fight and survive on the battlefield, with special pouches to accommodate Mag-Lite flashlights, smoke grenades, maps, rations, rifle and machinegun ammunition, fragmentation grenades, and of course, the very symbol of the Infantry trade - the Bayonet.

The vest is issued in the same camouflage (Canadian Disrupt Pattern (Temperate Woodland), or CADPAT (TW)) as the issue combat uniform that the Regiment has worn as a unit for the last year.

The TV has received mixed reviews throughout the Army, but is universally hailed as a vast improvement over the 1982 Pattern gear.  Canadian soldiers have been notoriously harsh critics of their equipment, and new patterns have been developed at regular intervals; Calgary Highlanders through their history have worn 1908, 1914, 1937, 1951 and 1964 Pattern equipment before the adoption of the 1982 equipment.  All previous designs had been "web gear" style, with a waistbelt and braces - the new vest is very much like a hunter's vest, and is modelled after similar TVs in use by armies around the world, as well as tactical police units and other military/paramilitary organizations.

Under the watchful eye of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Dudgeon, a full issue was made to "A" Company, "B" Company and Regimental Headquarters personnel.

The Clothe the Soldier project continues to evolve, and the Regiment will be seeing more new kit as it becomes available.   For more info see http://www.dnd.ca/cts