Fall 2007

Published by Regimental HeadquartersThe Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

32 Canadian Brigade Group Commander’s Parade

“Eyes Right!”The Commander of 32 CanadianBrigade Group, Col Gerald C.Mann CD, takes the salute asthe Commanding Officer, LColMartin J. Delaney CD, leads TheQueen’s Own Rifles of Canadapast the saluting dais during theBrigade Commander’s Parade inMay. Col Mann, who was accom-panied by the Brigade SergeantMajor, CWO Bill Darling CD, wasoutspoken in his praise for theRegiment and its troops onparade, numbering almost 200,including the Band and Bugles.

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1) Maj Allan Champion, OC Buffs Coy receives the second barto his CD in recognition of 32 years of service in CF.2) Director of Music Capt Rita Arendz greets the inspecting party3) Col Mann presents Keith Perera with his stripes on promotionto Corporal.4) Col Mann congratulates Kathryn Stewart (Band) on herpromotion to Corporal.5) Maj Rob Zeidler OC 60th Coy accompanies Col Mann.

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Bill Bettridge was in Normandy in June with a cameracrew from the History Channel who followed his foot-steps from Juno Beach until the end of the war. Billacted as an advisor and was interviewed on camera atthe beach at Bernieres-sur-Mer,Le-Mesnil-Patry and in Belgiumand Holland.

Because I knew Bill very well andI knew the history of the QOR inWW Two they asked me to betheir guide in Normandy and Iworked a few days for the HistoryChannel. I received the picture ofhim and his comrades taken dur-ing their sniper training from oneof the producers of the documen-tary, who found it in the CanadianWW Two archives. He also gaveme the QOR War Diary from

June 1944 until May 1945 and I have downloaded it toa disc and have made some copies, including onegiven to LCol Ed Rayment and to Powder Horn EditorCapt Charles McGregor.

Bill Bettridge was a close friend of Ernest Cranfield’s,who was one of those unaccounted for after the battleat Le-Mesnil-Patry on 11 June, and who was one ofseveral other QOR Rifleman who were captured. Notmuch is known about what happened before their cap-ture. Perhaps they hid for a few days near Le-Mesnil-Patry hoping for the Canadians to advance further giv-ing them a chance to rejoin their comrades, but theydidn't have that luck and they were captured. Theywere brought to a farm in the village of Mouen andafter being interrogated (and presumably offering noinformation) were executed on June 17th.

I am hoping to receive the war crime documents andwill do some more research in the future. It would benice to put a plaque on the wall at the farm with thenames of the Riflemen who were murdered.

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From Juno Beach to Holland witha Queen’s Own Rifles sniperCpl Tjarko Pot, member QOR of Canada Re-enactors in France/Holland

(Editor’s Note: The Battle for Le Mesnil Patry on 11June 1944, which was described in the RegimentalHistory as “a modern version of the charge of theLight Brigade” caused many dead and woundedamong the Queen’s Own, Regina Rifles and the 1stHussars – as well as their opponents. Queen’s OwnRifles D Coy, 135-strong, led by Major Neil Gordon,who was wounded, was practically wiped out.Cranfield and five others – Sgt T.C. McLaughlin, Cpl.E.J. Cook, Rfn P. Bullock, Rfn J. Campbell and RfnG.N. Willett – who were missing at the end of the day,were captured by members of the 12th Panzer

Division (Hitler Jugend-Hitler Youth troops, boysaged 14 to 18.) Taken to the area Nazi HQ for inter-rogation, they were taken into a nearby wooded areawhere they were shot through the head, possibly bymembers of the Hitler Jugend. Some of the six whowere executed had been wounded in the fighting andstill had field dressings on their wounds when theirbodies were discovered by the Regimental Padre.Five other QOR soldiers who were also captured fol-lowing the action were fortunate to survive the POWcamps and returned home after VE Day.)

Rfn Bill (Boots) Bettridge with a woman who, as a young girl,lived on the property which was a Nazi HQ in WW2.

Bettridge, (left) with QOR members on sniper training in England. Next to him is Bert Shepherd andat right is Ernest Cranfield who was shot while held prisoner (see below) Can anyone ID the others?

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QOR vets gather at the McCrackens’

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Peter Szepes had his son as the number two feeding theammo as he was firing the .30 calibre machine gun.

A large group of veterans, family and friends gathered at the home of Norm and Trish McCracken inWashago for a get-together and to enjoy a full-on Mess Dinner (served at lunchtime) in the home station ofthe Huronia Branch of the QOR Regimental Association. A most enjoyable and memorable occasion.

In the photos:1)A gathering of Queen’s Own Rifles at the Huronia Branch of the QOR Association; 2) Trish McCracken withthe cake she provided for the occasion; 3); Norm and Trish – host and hostess – are at the head of the tablethey set for the veterans; 4) Smilin’ Norm McCracken was the PMC for lunch in the Huronia Vets Mess Hall ;5) WW 2 veterans (l to r) Orville Cook, Jack Martin, Bob Catlow, Fred Barnard and Bill Ives; 6) Korean War vet-erans Don Martin and Frank Sypulski; 7) The Martin Bros: Jack, Gord, Don and Ernie; 8) Fred Barnard and BobCatlow chillin’

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Regimental ShootAn excellent crowd enjoyed the final

Regimental Shoot to be held atBase Borden, under sunny skies and only

slightly windy conditions(so no excuses for missing the target!)

Clay Downes on a C7 rifle gets a few rounds down-range.

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D-Day veterans Fred Barnard of QORand Jan de Vries of 1 CanPara gottogether to compare medals whenBarnard was honoured with the pres-entation of the French Legion ofHonour medal. De Vries was similarlyhonoured on a previous occasion.Barnard and Barney Danson (alongwith QOR D-Day sniper JimMcCullough) received their medals ina ceremony on the parade square atMoss Park Armoury.

Veterans of theNormandy campaignBarney Danson andStan Biggs were pho-tographed in theOfficer’s Mess at theannual Christmas lunch-eon with a framed dis-play of photographs ofall QOR officers wholost their lives in WWTwo.

Members of Buffs Coy, based in Scarborough, whoparaded in Highland Creek during the annual festivalin June, were joined by Toronto Mayor David Miller ina photo op.

Three Amigos. Capt Chick McGregor, D-Day veteranRfn Orville Cook and CWO/RSM (Ret.) Brian Budden(in full parade square voice) join forces at the open-ing of a Military Museum in Georgina Township.

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(L. to r.) Cpl Jason Walter, Cpl Nicco Harper, MCpl Jamieson Murray and Cpl (now Sgt) Stephen Thomas

Sgt Chris Van Hamme receives his Campaign Star for Afghanistan prior to his return from Afghanistan

Queen’s Own Rifles in Afghanistan

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How many of you know that it was a young member ofThe Queen’s Own Rifles who, serving with the RCR,blew the bugle to signal the charge of British andCanadian troops against the Boers at Paardeburg,South Africa, in 1900?

Recalling the incident, Bugler Douglas F. Williams,who was still in his teens, said that “Word was carried

along the line to fix bayonets and be prepared tocharge. At 3 pm an officer yelled ‘Charge’ and I put mybugle to my lips and sounded the ‘Charge.’ Four timesI did it and the last time we were moving forward sorapidly that I was stumbling as I pumped out thenotes.” Empire troops sustained over 1200 casualtiesin the battle which ended with the surrender of theBoer troops.

His bugle, medals and photos as a young soldier, aredestined for future exhibit in The Queen’s Own’sRegimental Museum at Casa Loma. Williams wasawarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with 5clasps, WWI Trio (he went overseas in 1914 with the3rd Toronto Regt), 1935 Jubilee Medal and theColonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. Asmight be expected of a musical instrument that’s over100 years old, the bugle shows its age, but it’s allthere, including the mouthpiece and the cord and tas-sel in RCR colours. On the bell is a silver shield outlin-ing his exploit and the fact it had been lost during theaction but later returned to him.

Bugler Williams – Little Doug, at all of five feet tall –who eventually made Sergeant in the QOR, died in1962 and is buried in Toronto’s Mount PleasantCemetery, where many other QOR members also lie.

Remembering QOR Bugler Douglas Williams

Gerry Gionette, ex-1st Bn QOR, figures he’s the “only author in thecountry who bought all his own books.” Rfn G.G. Gionette, Sr.,SB182240, 85th Pl. QOR Depot Calgary, wrote his 70-page book, “AYoung Man’s Decision,” last year, had eight copies printed, whichwas all he could afford, and as he said, bought them all to give to for-mer comrades as well as to the Calgary and Victoria BranchMuseums and the Regimental Museum at Casa Loma.

Now living in Thessalon, Ontario, Rfn Gionette, who was awardedthe Special Service Medal with NATO bar for duties in West Germanywith the 1st Bn from 1960-1963, has forwarded his last copy of thebook, along with an accompanying CD-ROM, to LCol FrankMulrooney who is writing the history of The Queen’s Own, 1960-2010, to be published in conjunction with the celebrations of theRegiment’s 150th Birthday.

“A young man’s decision”

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Major Wallace Noseworthy came home to no job after asix-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. As a reservist, hehad to choose between his work and his deployment. Hisis no isolated incident. This long-standing problem hasonly recently been widely recognized, as more ReserveForce members are being called on to train and serve. In September, 2006, I introduced a motion in the Senateurging the government to bring into force the sections ofthe Public Safety Act that give reservists job protection "inrespect of an emergency." My motion also asked the gov-ernment to strike out that phrase in the Act and to consultwith the provinces and territories as soon as possible, onhow to deal with this serious inequity. The Senate passedthe motion unanimously in November.

These people are more than weekend soldiers, and manyare called on to backstop our regular forces. They arestanding alongside regular force members, fighting, beingwounded and, sadly, dying. Three hundred Canadianreservists are serving in Afghanistan to supplement ourregular forces. These people are mechanics, bank tellersand public servants in civilian life. They are men andwomen who choose to train on weekends and during theirvacations and subsequently to serve overseas. To do this,they must request leaves of absence and rely on thegoodwill of their employers to hold their positions duringtraining and service in overseas missions.

While employers in many sectors have that goodwill, alltoo often these reservists must make a choice: Do I servemy country or do I step back and not risk my job?Unfortunately, some employers, including governmentemployers, are less than enthusiastic about requests forunpaid leaves for training or overseas service.

As far back as 1987, the Canadian Forces instituted a"total force" concept, which was reaffirmed by the 1994white paper on defence. Reservists are trained to thelevel of their regular force counterparts and serve in thesame units. This concept, while still in the implementationphase in the late 1980s and 1990s, faced its biggest chal-

lenge during Canada's UN involvement in the formerYugoslavia. Canada had earmarked 2,000 peacekeepersto fulfill our duties to our missions abroad overall, but by1993 all 2,000 were assigned exclusively to the formerYugoslavia. Reservists were deployed so that Canadamight fulfill its other commitments in the world.

Without assurances of any kind, how are our ReserveForces to recruit and train the personnel they need? Thecadet program of the Reserve Forces also counts on itsmembers to train new recruits. One deputy commandingofficer at a reserve training facility stated publicly that theshortage of training officers was due directly to their lackof job security. In one instance, the employer assured ayoung officer that there would not be a job waiting for himat the end of his unpaid leave of absence.

The issue of job protection for reservists has been dis-cussed for many years. It was supported at length in the1995 Special Commission on the Restructuring of theReserves and the 2005 Commission on the Restructuringof the Reserves. The Canadian Forces Liaison Councilattempts to support the Department of National Defence,in the absence of job protection legislation, by educatingemployers, promoting support of reservists and outliningthe advantage of hiring reservists. When necessary, thecouncil also tries to mediate employment situations toallow for job security or unpaid leave - all worthwhileefforts, and I am grateful such an organization exists,especially since current laws afford no protection.

This discussion has gone on for 20 years. How manytimes must we reach the same conclusions? Members ofCanada's Reserve Forces, who serve this country brave-ly at home and abroad, deserve meaningful job protec-tion.

(Hugh Segal is a Conservative Senator from Ontario andsenior fellow at Queen's University's School of PolicyStudies. Article published August 23, 2007, reprintedcourtesy of the Globe and Mail.)

Recognizing a “long-standing problem” By Hugh Segal

Jack Galbraith Frank McCorkell John Miedema

Capt Doug Oatway

Thomas F. OgleyCapt Ralph Ridley

John RobertsSgt Taylor

Ronald Wilson

IN MEMORIAMMorley Andrews

Orval BrayBill Fischer

MCpl Kenneth Frances Nick Fritz

I have the honour ofreporting on the activitiesof the Regiment for theyear 2006. It is alwayschallenging to recount allthe activities for an entireyear for a Regiment asactive as The Queen’sOwn Rifles of Canada.The operational tempo ofthe Unit and 32 Bde as awhole has not slacked aniota in last three years.This ongoing high tempoplaces greater and greaterdemands on the Regiment

and of her members. The ongoing operations inAfghanistan, other overseas operations and our support toCPC, just to name a few continues to demand a great dealof time and effort from everyone.

The 2006 New Year’s Levee was ushered in with great fan-fare in both the Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes. It waswonderful to be able to host our Levee in our Home Stationinstitutions once again. The outstanding renovations wereobserved and complimented by all the visitors to bothmesses. The Officers of the Regiment would like to takethis opportunity to thank the Buglers Mess for their hospi-tality shown to the members of the Officers’ Mess inabsence of a proper wet mess.

The winter months continued to be demanding time withwork up training for the Iron Talon series of Exercises thatbuild toward our summer camp Vigilant Guardian 06(VG06). This year and for the next three years the VGseries of exercises will focus on Full Spectrum operations.We will train as we fight taking the lessons learnt forAfghanistan to develop our soldiers for “Force Generation”support to the Rotos in Afghanistan. Again it can be statedthat our riflemen by any measure, have embraced this chal-lenge and set the standard for our brigade.

On April 22nd a major event in the life of the Regiment tookplace with the opening of the Dalton Armoury inScarborough. Despite the cruel weather, this event fromstart to finish was an absolute success. Adding to the suc-cess of the opening was the fact that we had over one hun-

dred guests including 24 WWII veterans and many rela-tives of both the late Col Charlie O. Dalton DSO and Col H.Elliot Dalton DSO, the brothers after whom the armoury isnamed.

This event took a great deal of planning and effort from agood many people. I would like to take this opportunity tothank Major Allan Champion OC Buffs for his outstandingeffort in organizing the successful event and naming of theDalton Armoury. He of course did take on this Herculeantask on his own; my full time staff must be congratulated fortheir effort. Special thanks to Major Bannerjee, Lt Stewart,Lt Lee, MWO Shannon, Sgt Parris, MCpl Shaver, and CplDe Bartok and Rifleman Lui.

The Rifle Company now parading in Dalton Armoury iscalled Buffs Company. The company is named in remem-brance of our affiliation with the British Army Regiment TheBuffs, raised initially as the Buff Howards in the 1750s. TheBuffs Company is parading a solid Platoon Plus inScarborough. We are quite proud of the fact that we arethe only Reserve Unit in Scarborough and have quicklyimmersed ourselves into the Community.

The Summer Stand-Down was marked again with our tra-ditional Regimental Challenge Weekend. We continue tochallenge ourselves in a patrolling competition, obstaclecourse, first aid competition and range work. The only dis-appointment was that the Sunday C130 Jump was aban-doned due to high winds. However, the Regimental Bandplayed on as we continued with the Commanding Officerand the HLCol Col. R. Cowling taking their turn on theRappel Tower. All activities were capped off with a Bar-B-Qat the Rod and Gun Club. The event continues to be a greatway to end the training year and start summer taskings.

In August of 2006 we had nine of our finest Riflemen deployfor Roto in Afghanistan; they are Sgt. C. Van Hamme, Sgt.E. Howard, MCpl. J.S. Murray, Cpl C. Abate, Cpl N. Harper,Cpl I.K. Kim, Cpl S. Thomas, and Rifleman M.R.J.McQuaid. By all accounts they distinguished themselveswhile seeing much action in the various combat roles whilston Roto. We hought of them all the time and theRegimental family has been most generous with packagesand letters to them in the hopes of raising their spirits. Wewere pleased they returned safe and sound.

“Greater and greater demands on the Regiment...”LCOL Martin J. Delaney CD, Commanding Officer, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

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With our Riflemen on Roto our autumn training continues totake on great meaning and relevance. The Able WarriorExercise weekends takes up most of our activities in themonths of September and October. This is followed up withthe first of a series of Section and Platoon confirmationexercise in October and November. Those exercises wereboth exciting and well attended.

In December the major Ex., was the Direct Response Unit(DRU) which is a major domestic exercise that continues toimprove every year. In 2006 32 Bde conducted the

Exercise in the Town of Shelburne. The time of the exercisewas rather fortuitous as it coincided with an actual localemergency. As the Unit deployed the Town of Shelburnewas hit by a significant Ice Strom. The soldiers of the Uniton exercise along with a large contingent from 32 Bde wereable to provide real-time emergency support to that com-munity. We were again tested and proved that we are morethan capable.

December is an active social time as well for the Regimentwith the Christmas and Holiday season with the Men’sChristmas Dinner and the Officers’ Luncheon. Both werewell attended and established an excellent start to the fes-tive season. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute theparents, wives, partners and families of the Regiment fortheir outstanding support. More is being expected from ourRiflemen here in Canada and as they deploy forAfghanistan. The unwavering support by all members ofour Regimental family is crucial to the over all success ofevery mission. I am so pleased that I can state withoutreservation that the QOR is in tremendous shape and issetting the standard in many areas in 32 Canadian BrigadeGroup, if not the entire Canadian Army reserve.

Have you visited www.qor.com lately? If not, you don’tknow what you’re missing. The Regimental website hasundergone a major upgrade and it’s well worth your timeto take a look at it to see how it looks.

There are sections devoted to Organization,Associations, History, Community and Social activities,with sub-sections in each which provide information of amore specific and detailed nature.

Of particular interest is the online look at The Queen’sOwn Rifles Museum in Casa Loma, with the link to reachit to be found under the “Social” heading. A series ofclose to 20 colour photographs provide views of some ofthe artefacts and military memorabilia to be seen in the

display cases within the museum, as well as a few viewsof Casa Loma interiors.

A site map provides a wide variety of links to varioussites which will be of keen interest to anyone who hasany relationship with The Queen’s Own, past or present.

Visitors to the website are encouraged to contact thewebmaster and to offer comment or suggestions on top-ics they’d like to see covered or expanded on the site. There’s also a calendar of events which QOR associa-tions are invited to use to provide information of eventstaking place within their regions.

Take a look. You’ll be greatly impressed.

Regimental website has been updated

Help WantedCan anyone help Joseph Morrison, a former member ofThe QOR’s 1st Bn, in his search for a copy of the 1959Powder Horn? Joseph was in the 79th Platoon and theirpicture was in that issue. He’d be interested in other

copies of the publication as well, but is particularly inter-ested in the 1959 issue. He can be reached by mail atGeneral Delivery, Smith Rd. Longbow Lake, Ontario,P0X 1H0.

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Queen’s Own Rifles D-Day veteran Capt. StanBiggs QC, LSM, has justcompleted his memoirs –“As Luck Would Have It inWar and Peace. Memoirs1913 -2007” – and hopesto get his book onto themarket in time to markand celebrate his 94thbirthday on 6 December.

During WW2, on DDay-minus Two, then-Lt Biggswas tasked by the CO,LCol Jock Spragge, tochoose a small group ofmen who, once safely

ashore, would accompany Biggs and a Sherman tankfrom the Fort Garry Horse in an effort to capture andoccupy an enemy observation post over six miles infrom Juno Beach in Normandy. The OP, over 250 feetabove sea level, afforded a clear view in all directions,and posed a serious threat to ground troops makingtheir way inland. By nightfall, despite enemy opposi-tion, it was “Mission Accomplished” with no loss of life.

Lt Biggs’ introduction to the battle for NorthwestEurope that day was followed by the bloody, day-by-day fighting in enemy-occupied territory which endedfor him almost three months later. On August 30, hetook a bullet through his upper right leg in action atElbeuf in France. “Luckiest day of mylife,” he recalls. “I could have beenkilled.” Many of the Riflemen with whomhe had trained in Britain had alreadymet that fate or been seriously wound-ed. By war’s end, 16 of his fellow QORofficers had been killed as well as 11members of his Bren gun platoon.

While his wound was a “through andthrough,” the bullet missing nerve,artery and bone on its way in and out(so no souvenir), it was serious enoughthat Stan’s fighting war was over. Aftertreatment in the Canadian military hos-pital at the centuries old French town ofBayeux, he was transferred to a Britishhospital.

Before returning to Canada however, as a member ofthe legal profession, he was pressed into service bythe Canadian Army, and by the British justice system,through his friendship with a High Court judge whosefamily had hosted him at their home during his conva-lescence. For over a year he provided what hedescribes as “Legal services in Uniform.” In 1945, thewar in Europe now over, he was honoured by being“attached to Chambers” in the case of the trials fortreason of “Lord Haw-Haw” and being responsible fordoing extensive research for the prosecution. Haw-Haw was the nickname of William Joyce, who broad-cast from occupied Europe and Germany during WW2, mocking the efforts of the Allies to defeat the Nazisand belittling their victories as minor setbacks of noconsequence to the Germans. He was convicted oftreason and hanged in England in 1946. “I was sittingabout five feet from Joyce in the dock. I was right therewhen he was found guilty of treason by the jury … andsentenced by the judge to be hanged until dead,”Biggs remembers.

His lively description of how they succeeded in theirdangerous D-Day mission and how he survived thefighting that followed is typical of the style of his book,which not only covers his three months in France, butalso provides many details of his pre-war and post-warlife as a lawyer in Canada. It makes extremely inter-esting reading and is well worth purchasing once it’spublished and on sale through Trafford Publishing inVictoria: toll free 1 888 232 4444. (Price TBA.)

D-Day Veteran’s life story is interesting reading

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Lt Stan Biggs with his Bren gun and flamethrower crews in Normandyfollowing D-Day. Four of these men were later killed in action.