After the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944, The Calgary Highlanders went into static positions in the Nijmegen Salient.  The annual tradition of turkey dinner provided by the Honorary Colonel was maintained even in the forward line.

Captain Bill Lyster, shown in the steel helmet at right eating Christmas dinner, was a company commander. If his face appears grim, it is no doubt because he spent time on December 25th writing to the parents of Private Austin Nichols Yeoman, one of the soldiers in his company who had been killed the day before. "I remember sitting down and writing a letter to Mr. Yeoman...I told him what a brave son he had and all this sort of stuff and I didn't even know the lad. That was our job."

Yeoman was 21 years of age when he was killed and lies in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Holland in Grave II. C. 4.

David passed away peacefully December 7, 2006 at the Foothills Hospital at the age of 86 years. David will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Elinor; daughter, Barbara; sons, David (Champ), Russell (Lucky), Jeffrey (Blackie) and Rock; 31 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; brother, Russell and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his parents; three brothers; one sister and his first wife, Olive Emily. David joined the army in 1940 and served with the Edmonton Fusiliers, First Special Service Force and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. He was wounded in Ortona, Italy. After the war ended he joined the Calgary Highlanders and was with them for 14 years. He came out as a WO1. Since then, Dave was an active supporter and was an "Elder Statesman" of the regiment up until the time of his death. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion #284. David was a salesman for all the years he worked, beginning with Great West Saddlery, Stafford Foods and finally Century Sales and Service. He excelled in numerous sports, but boxing was his first love and while in the service, he was lightweight champ of Western Command. Dave's next endeavour after he retired was swimming. He swam in the morning everyday for 21 years. On his 70th birthday he swam three miles and was still swimming into his 80's. On April 21, 2000 he won Athlete of the Week for Calgary from CFCN Television. The family would like to express a special thank you to the doctors and nurses on the 4th floor of the Special Services building at the Foothills Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations in David's Memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Remembrance Day once again saw an enormous turnout of soldiers, including 60 kilted soldiers and a slightly smaller contingent of soldiers in training; again, one of the largest turnouts in recent memory. Aside from the usual detachments for cenotaph and other duty (such as Warrant Officer Gerald Downey's duties at the Colonel Belcher veterans' hospital), the Regiment was out in full force at the Jubilee. Sergeant Paul Brandson represented the Regiment by conducting the Ceremony of Light at the Jubilee (no end of mirth being caused by his inadvertent description as a "Vietnam Veteran"), and Sergeant (retired) Floyd Rourke, DCM laid the wreath this year. Mention was made of the fact that of the men and women killed in Afghanistan in 2006, three were Calgarians. Premier The Honourable Ralph Klein also paid tribute to the Armed Forces in his own inimitable way, recounting how as a boy he admired soldiers, airmen and "naval people". He later served in the RCAF Reserve and the Regular Force where, as he related, he learned to "make my bed and shine my shoes."
 

Outside the Jubilee, Corporal Christian Poonwah (shown above right in Afghanistan)  was presented his SW Asia Service Medal by the Commanding Officer. He joins veterans of Korea and the Second World War such as Floyd Rourke in the exclusive fraternity of Calgary Highlanders combat veterans. The Regiment's pride in their achievements is adequately reflected by the increased strength reflected on regimental parades.

Assistance Rendered
Leadership Lessons From Vimy Ridge
The Work Research Foundation, supported by Veteran's Affairs Canada and the Canada Remembers Partnership, used Mewata Armouries as the backdrop for their annual "Leadership Lessons from Vimy Ridge"  performance. The main event of the evening is a 50 minute lecture by Dr. John Pellowe, who adopts the role of General Sir Arthur Currie, commander of the Canadian Corps in 1917-1918. The talk focuses on team-building and using lessons from Canada's military history to develop leadership in today's corporate world, as well as in everyday life. The event was supported by the Regimental Pipes and Drums, who provided musical support to the Remembrance service at the opening of the show (along with Corporal Michael Scott of the King's Own Calgary Regiment Band), as well as two members of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section.

Born
Lochlan William Penney

Lochlan William Penney was born to former Pipe Major Chris Penney and his wife Kerry Penney  on August 10, 2006 at 12:19 pm, weighing in at 8lbs 4oz and 21 1/2 inches long. Kerry has been a long time Highland Dancer with the Pipes and Drums and Chris continues to practice with the band as a civilian volunteer.

Congratulations also to Jocelynn Benner, a former trained soldier in the Calgary Highlanders, who played tenor drum and who transferred to 14 Medical Company when the Pipes and Drums stood down.  Her delivery of Parker, shown below, predated Lochlan. Jocelynn had also been a member of 2137 Calgary Highlanders Cadet Corps before joining the Militia; she is no longer active with the military.

Both babies, mothers and fathers are all reportedly doing well.

Donated
10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section

The 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section - a small group devoted to promoting understanding of regimental history and heritage through the collection and display of significant uniforms with 10th Battalion insignia, were received by Associate Museums, equipment and artifacts - donated several uniforms used in the Alberta Tattoo to the Regimental Museum. Five full sets of Service Dress, including trousers, 1915 pattern tunics, and caps, were donated complete to Curator Denny Russell (illustrated on the left of the picture opposite) on 24 Aug 2006, in addition to other historical uniform components. All the uniforms donated were custom made replicas for the tattoo; Northlands graciously provided the funds for the uniforms and the Regimental Museum has agreed to take over custodial duties. The uniforms will be made available to future regimental functions and military pageants as requested and as available, to promote the history and heritage of The Calgary Highlanders.

At left, a dapper looking Sergeant Desilets contemplates using his stick on the webmaster. At centre, the equally dapper Floyd Rourke still serving the Regiment 61 years after earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Germany. At right, Warrant Officer Martin Woods coyly avoids the camera, which nonetheless captures an impressive set of medals marking service in Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. All photos courtesy of Warrant Officer Gerald Downey.

Thank you to Perry Andress for the photo at right (click to enlarge) of pipe band members who attended the Alberta Tattoo in July. From left to right:

Final Farewell to a Fallen Comrade

Corporal Steve Welsh passes on this photo and caption from the official Army "Combat Camera" website. Calgary Highlander Matthew Russell is second from the left.

AR2006-B058-0005A
7 Aug 2006
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

Ramp Ceremony for Master Corporal Raymond Arndt, a reservist with The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4 PPCLI), who was killed in an accident, in which a supply truck collided with a civilian vehicle about 35 kilometres southeast of Kandahar city.

The Past Recreated
10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section at the Alberta Tattoo

This year's Alberta Tattoo in Edmonton (the 2nd Annual) included include five pipers and drummers from The Calgary Highlanders, as well as a section of 10th Battalion re-enactors organized by Captain Kevin S. Winfield, CD (former Calgary Highlander and now MP officer) as well as Corporal Dorosh. The Tattoo ran for four performances at Rexall Place between Thursday 20 July, and Saturday 22 July 2006. The Tattoo format was enhanced by the use of traditional military pageantry to tell the story of a single character, in this case an Alberta veteran of the First World War.

At right, Cpl Dorosh with Corporal Mike Stephenson of 18 Maintenance Troop, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, wearing the blue shoulder straps of the First Contingent of 1915. The re-enactment section was suitably clad in 10th Battalion badges, including C-over-10 collar badges as seen here, and the large red "battle patches" on the sleeves of the Service Dress.

Thanks to Corporal Christian Poonwah's friend, Josée, for passing on the following photos from Afghanistan. Christian and Josh Morris both appear to be in fine spirits - more photos at this link.

"The Operation is going well for the Highlanders in (our) Company.  There is 30 more days to go and we are keeping our spirits up.   We've had a very engaging tour.  Our platoon has seen Kandahar province and Helmund Province in southern Afghanistan.  We've lived out of FOBs and in the field for the months of April, May and June...  We've participated in tasks ranging from site security, recces, dismounted patrols, cordon & searches, combat operations/advance to contact, vehicle check points and multinational operations to name a few.  Currently our platoon is involved with an airmobile tasking that will take us to the end of our deployment.  We are all excited about our decompression leave (to take place in Cyprus over three days), and obviously to come home and see our loved ones.   A big hello to the regiment and to all our friends and family near and far, whom we love so much."