Change Of Command Parade for the New Commandant
Scheduled for RMC Parade Square, Friday, 5 August at 1045 Hrs.
Visitors Welcome

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6523 Ambassador Terry Colfer (RMC '65) to be Guest of Honour
at the 2005 Legacy Dinner

Former Canadian Ambassador Terry Colfer has accepted the invitation to be guest of honour at the 2005 Legacy Dinner, 29 September. The theme for this popular fund-raising dinner this year is in honour of Ex Cadet "Peacekeepers and Peacemakers". In addition to Mr. Colfer the plan is to host up to 120 former peacekeeping officers and current RMC Officer Cadets with total attendance expected to exceed 300.

Legacy Dinner Tickets expected to go fast

All indications are that this Dinner will be well attended this year.  Consequently, readers planning to attend are advised to make arrangements to obtain their tickets early.  The Poster detailing the costs and timings etc, follows this article. Readers who are considering attending may also consider sponsoring an Officer Cadet.  Those of you who wish to support the Dinner but are unable to attend may wish to “sponsor” a Cadet. Contact the staff at Panet House for
ticket information.
6523 Ambassador
Terry Colfer (RMC '65)

During his military career he served in the Middle East and Canada. In 1969, while based at CFB Petawawa, Captain Colfer (a paratrooper) accepted an offer to join the Canadian Foreign Service.Born in the UK, Terry was raised in Dorval, QC. After high school he attended McGill University and Royal Military College in Kingston. He graduated in 1965 with a Commission in the Canadian Army and a BA in politics and geography.

His diplomatic service, primarily as a Trade Commissioner, included postings at embassies in Europe, Australia, the USA, Africa and the Middle East. He served more than 25 years of his diplomatic career abroad and he also held various senior management positions in Ottawa. His final two postings abroad were as Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait (with accreditation to Qatar) during peace and conflict; followed by his appointment as Canadian Ambassador to The Islamic Republic of Iran.

Catching Up With the News!

Following is a list of six Ex-Cadets and one of our Associate Life Members who received well deserved recognition and various decorations and awards over the past couple of years. Belated congratulations from the staff at Panet House.

Note: If you or someone you know also received similar honours that you feel would be appropriate for an e-Veritas acknowledgement, please let us know ASAP with a short write-up and we will be pleased to include it in a future edition.

March 26, 2004

14902 (CMR Entry Year 1980) Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart James Sharpe, M.S.M., C.D., Kingston, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

Lcol Sharpe was Commanding Officer of the Liaison and Reconnaissance Team and then Chief of Staff of the Theatre Activation Team for Operation ATHENA – the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, from April to July 2003. He played a critical role in deciphering a multitude of chaotic and complex issues that impacted on the initial set-up and deployment of the Canadian Task Force. An outstanding leader, Lcol Sharpe ensured the protection and security of personnel, equipment and operations during the early stages of Operation ATHENA. His professionalism and commitment to the mission far exceeded the normal demands of duty.

August 27, 2004

3550 (RRMC Entry Year 1952) Colonel Murray Caister Johnston, M.S.M., C.D. (retired)
Ottawa, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

Col Johnston (retired) has served with tireless dedication and selflessness as Colonel Commandant of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch of the Canadian Forces since 1991. He has researched and written two authoritative books on the history of the Branch, and developed the Branch’s Honour Roll. His visits across Canada and to soldiers deployed throughout the world, along with his participation in countless charitable and volunteer military support organizations, have been instrumental in bridging the gap between the sacrifices made by Canadian Forces veterans and today's serving soldiers.

March 26, 2004

11301 (CMR Entry Year 1972) Colonel Joseph Armand Marc Pouliot, M.S.M., C.D.
Ottawa, Ontario and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

Col Pouliot was Commander of the Theatre Activation Team for Operation ATHENA – the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, from April to August 2003.

He was responsible for commanding the advance headquarters, negotiating and setting up all logistical arrangements, planning and overseeing the contribution of a 1900-person camp in a remote area of Kabul, and organizing the reception of all equipment and personnel. Col Pouliot’s strong leadership, resourcefulness and dedication were exemplary and greatly influenced the successful outcome of the Operation.

November 12, 2003

Lieutenant-Colonel John David Mitchell, M.S.M., C.D.
Ottawa, Ontario and North Bay, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal

13498 (CMR Entry Year 1978) LCol Mitchell was the Commanding Officer of the first Canadian Long Range Patrol Detachment deployed to the Arabian Gulf region during Operation APOLLO, from January to July 2002. Under his leadership, the unit contributed significantly to operations at sea in the global campaign against terrorism. He achieved this in spite of considerable adversity, a host nation with vastly different working norms and the complexity of integrating into a United States-led coalition operation. With diplomatic adroitness and outstanding professionalism, LCol Mitchell has led his aircrews to achieve an unprecedented mission completion rate by successfully detecting and locating elusive high interest vessels. His achievements have brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.

July 14, 2004

A121 Associate Life Member – RMC Club) Honorary Colonel William J. Coyle, O.Ont., M.S.M., Bolton, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

Since 1997, HCol Coyle has distinguished himself as Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering. In that capacity, he has continuously provided excellent support and guidance, devoting countless hours of time and effort in support of a myriad of activities. Throughout his tenure, he has been a dynamic volunteer in a number of eminent military affiliations, such as Vice-Chairman of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Ontario), and as a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Group on Science and Technology. Renowned internationally as an authority dedicated to global aerospace affairs, HCol Coyle has greatly contributed to the military community and heritage.

March 26, 2004

9853 (RRMC Entry Year 1969) Lieutenant Commander Richard Brian Tilley, M.S.M., C.D.
Ottawa, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

Widely recognized within the NATO Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence (NBCD) community for his expertise and negotiating skills, LCdr Tilley has distinguished himself, since 2002, through his dedication to the Prague NBCD Initiatives. He assisted the NATO Core Planning Team in defining, developing and validating these initiatives with a demanding completion date, and successfully conducted a NATO live agent training exercise as part of the activities. LCdr Tilley’s professionalism, outstanding dedication and knowledge contributed greatly to the success of this undertaking.

April 26, 2004

12560 (RMC Entry Year 1976) Major Bruce Henwood, M.S.M., C.D. (Retired), Calgary, Alberta
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)

Seriously injured during his tour of duty in Croatia, Bruce Henwood has fought relentlessly to ensure future military personnel in similar circumstances are adequately compensated. With exceptional leadership and perseverance, Mr. Henwood pursued his struggle to rectify a disparity in the benefits provided to serving and retired military members who sustained life-altering injuries in the performance of their duties. In 2003, his efforts resulted in the passing of federal legislation Bill C-44, recommending that adequate compensation be given to all military personnel injured during service, regardless of rank.

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22674 Adam Gordon (RMC ’03) was also stationed near London when subway was bombed.

By Gord Hunter Heritage Staff Lieutenant Adam Gordon had no idea when he started his education at RMC that one year after his graduation he would be working alongside the British military just outside of Basra City in Iraq. From May to October of 2004, Gordon was an ops officer at the Shaibah British logistics base for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Gordon’s chief responsibility was to ensure that the soldiers who had to leave the base to effect repairs were aware of the dangers they might face. “If an infantry unit in Basra City had a vehicle like a tank go down then our guys would leave camp and go to where ever that vehicle was, fix the vehicle and return to camp,” Gordon said.

“I looked after making sure that the guys knew what was going on outside camp.  It was my job to keep them updated on terrorist activity and let them know what precautions they should take in terms of how many people they needed, how many vehicles were required as escort and while they were out there, I monitored communications.”

Gordon added that main threat to the soldiers under his command were improvised explosive devices or IEDs.  Things like old tires or piles of dirt along the side of the roads were often used to hide explosives. As first postings go, this was certainly not a quiet, low profile assignment but Gordon explained that he was provided with some experienced back up to alleviate the additional pressure and responsibility inherent in a war zone.“As a young officer you always get a senior non-commissioned officer to look after you and show you the ropes,” he said.

“I had a Warrant Officer who could point me in the right direction.”

Although Basra City was not a hot zone during the five months that Gordon was stationed in the area, soldiers did experience limited skirmishes and two or three times, they were required to initiate larger operations in Basra City.

“As far as things went it was mostly just patrolling the cities to maintain the peace inside the city limits,” Gordon said.

“For the most part while I was there, we just kept a footprint on the ground to keep the terrorists at bay.”

Gordon explained that each country in Iraq had a specific geographic area of responsibility.  For the British it was the South East portion of Iraq and during Gordon’s time in country, most of the fighting took place in Al Amara which was 300 to 400 kilometres north of Basra City.  He did notice an increase in the level of resistance as he approached the end of his tour.  In fact, not long after Gordon left Iraq an explosion at the entrance of the Shaibah base wounded five British soldiers and several Iraqi civilians.

After his tour of duty in war-torn Iraq, Gordon moved to the relative calm and quiet of a military base in Tidworth, England southwest of London.  He was still in England when the terrorists struck the London transit system on July 7 bringing the war in Iraq a lot closer to home for British civilians.

None of Gordon’s friends or colleagues was directly affected by the bombings.  Although his unit was not required to go to London to assist in the clean up, he was impressed at the cooperation displayed by all parites in the immediate aftermath.

“The Brits were amazing in how calmly and efficiently they handled that situation,” said Gordon.

“All the normal social and emergency services help did most of the clean up.  I think the only military involvement they had was from the ATO – Ammunition Technical Officers.  Those are the same guys that handle the explosives in Iraq.”

Gordon also noted how unobtrusive the added security was in the days following the bombings.

“They upped security but it was unnoticeable to most people in England,” he said.

“Whereas in the States you’d be lining up at the airport for an extra three hours or crossing the border from Canada into the States would require more documentation and long lineups – they were just much more efficient about things in England.”

Gordon will head back to Tidworth after he finishes his summer holiday here in Canada.  In January of 2006, he will report to the British Army Training Unit in Suffield, Alberta and will receive his new orders by February.

Back in December of 2003, this fresh-faced RMC graduate had finished his training at CFB Borden north of Toronto and asked for a posting with the British forces.  Now that he’s been to Iraq and back he says he has no regrets about asking for what turned out to be a very dangerous first assignment.

“I knew six months before it happened that I’d be going to Iraq and many of my friends and classmates ended up in Iraq or Afghanistan.  If I was making the decision today, I would still ask to work with the British Forces.”

Gord Diamond, director of OC Transpo, said the pamphlets were rushed out, even before being translated into French, as a way to help prepare drivers in the wake of the bombings.

"We increased our vigilance," said Diamond.

He said drivers are already looking out for suspicious activity and other problems. The pamphlets will help remind them of what to look for.

"This is a reminder and an enhancement for people to include these things in their regular checks," Diamond said.

He said there have already been two incidents where some passengers were cleared off a bus because of an unattended bag. Neither incident proved to be a problem.

A COMMON SIGHT

OC Transpo already has cameras on some buses, park-and-ride areas, transitway stations and O-Train stations. Diamond said he believes increased security measures will become more and more common on transit systems. The new brochures explain what kind of activity and intelligence gathering terrorists may conduct before an attack and how to watch for suspicious activity.

"Before an act, terrorists may use a variety of activities to find out more about their target, to test its security procedures and to plan their attack," it states.

The reader is urged to watch for people who are seen multiple times at transit locations, loitering as buses pass by or carrying on long phone conversations and not moving from areas. It also urges the reader to be aware of people who show an interest in transit personnel, operational rules and location of control centres.

Especially interesting are people who take notes or create maps, pace off measurements, record arrival and departures of vehicles and employees. It also provides a six-step process to assessing and reporting suspicious activity. It urges personnel to approach people they feel are suspicious and ask them questions in a friendly and non-threatening manner.

"Keep in mind, you are not interrogating or even formally interviewing the person," the pamphlet states. "You're simply trying to get basic information.

Who Is It?

1.    Class of 1986 (RMC) Bachelor of Electrical Engineering;

2.    He spent sea time in HMCS Saguenay;

3.    He was subsequently posted to the Canadian Forces Fleet School (Halifax) (now the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School);

4.   He left he Canadian Forces in 1994; and

5.    He is now xwave’s primary business development manager for Defence and Aerospace in Atlantic Canada.

      Who Is It?   Click HERE to find out more.

 More News!

(click on picture for larger view)

12731 Richard Wagner completed the Yukon River Quest, this past Canada Dayweekend in Whitehorse.  With his 25-year reunion (Class of 1980) fast approaching Richard was feeling younger than he really is and participating in the Longest Canoe Race in the world sounded like a great challenge. 

So he teamed up with his brother and completed the course in just under 58 hours, including three nights paddling into the midnight sun.  The sun never really sets on the river.  Considering that 25% of racers never finish, Richard made a respectable result coming in 24th overall.  Looking for a great challenge in retirement?  Check it out http://www.yukonriverquest.com

21516 Lt Rae-Lynn Richard (RMC 2005) was recently married at RMC in Currie Hall to Paul Hacker originally from Kingston, ON. Reception was held at the cadet mess. Bride and groom had a short honeymoon but will be living a part for a little while. Paul is working in Victoria while Rae-Lynn is in Winnipeg doing Air Nav Training. Final destination plans will be determined at the end of the training.

Recognizing Our Roots

H.D. Crerar
Served as XIV Commandant of RMC 1938 – 39.

Canadian Army Officer (Ex Cadet) Who Was Our Country's Leading Field Commander in World War II

749 Officer Cadet, Henry Duncan Crerar graduated from the Royal Military College in 1910 and received a commission as an artillery officer. He soon quit the military for a better-paying civilian work but rejoined in 1914 to fight in France, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, once again in the artillery. He remained in the army after World War I, holding various staff posts of increasing importance which included the position of Commandant, RMC 1938-39.

In 1940, after Canada had entered World War II, Crerar was promoted to major general and became chief of the Canadian army's General Staff. In this post he worked to train and transport Canadian troops to Britain. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1941 but then accepted a demotion in order to obtain a field command. He became commander of the 1st Canadian Corps, comprising three divisions, which fought in Sicily (July 1943) and Italy (from September 1943). He was recalled to England in early 1944 to take command of the 1st Canadian Army, units of which landed on Juno Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944) during the Normandy Invasion.

Operating temporarily under Miles Dempsey's British 2nd Army, Canadian units took part in bitter fighting for the city of Caen (June-July) and then helped to close the northern arm of the Falaise-Argentan gap (August), in which large numbers of Germans were encircled and annihilated. By that time Crerar's army was directly under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery as part of the 21st Army Group.

Operating on the extreme left flank of the Allied drive across France, the 1st Canadian Army took the French Channel ports of Le Havre and Dieppe and then cleared the Scheldt River estuary and captured Antwerp in Belgium. From there, they drove into The Netherlands and then breached the northern end of the Siegfried Line (Germany's fortified western frontier). Crerar had been promoted to general in November 1944, and he retired in 1946.

Graham Crerar was born April 28, 1888, Hamilton, ON and passed away April 1,1965, in Ottawa. 

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Captain Omar Van Rooyen, Skipper of Slo Dancin

7447 Omar Van Rooyen, (RR Entry Year 1963), currently lives in St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he owns and operates a sailboat day charter company called Interlinesail. Omar learned to sail as a boy on the many lakes in Ontario.  He sailed at Roads and RMC and spent many hours sailing Lake Ontario in the college's keelboat. 

With postings around the world, he found a way to sail in most places, although sailing in Goose Bay, Labrador was a challenge.  An avid curler as well as sailor, he has had the best of both worlds - curling and furling. In 1993, Lt Col Van Rooyen was posted to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, and discovered the pleasure of sailing extensively in the Chesapeake Bay. 

He purchased his yacht, Slo Dancin, and sailed the bay and also took occasional sailing trips to the Bahamas and Out Islands.  Upon his military retirement in 1999, Omar and his wife, Jan, set sail for the US Virgin Islands where they founded Interlinesail. 

Omar and Jan have sailed extensively in both the US and British Virgin Islands, and down island as far as Grenada and Trinidad, where they spend the months of August, September and October, hopefully out of the “Hurricane Belt”.

Click HERE for more

Who Is It?

1.    He entered RRMC in 1988 and graduated from RMC in 1992 with a B. Eng;

2.    He went on to serve as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer;

3.    He spent six months at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth, England;

4.   Was posted to HMCS Regina;

5.   In 1995, he commenced part-time graduate studies at the University of Victoria and left the military in 1998 to begin studies towards a PhD in

mechanical engineering.

      Who Is It?   Click HERE to find out more.

  We get e-mails . . .

We received a fair bit of mail over the past couple of months.  It is not our intent to print all or even most of them with this e-Veritas.  We have passed most of them over to the Executive Director, who will make every effort to address all the serious concerns submitted.   

We made a random draw from the many emails we received.  

I always read with interest e-Veritas. From the perspective of a graduated RETP, I don't have the military connections that many of my classmates do.  I also don't appreciate parts of College life either, although I do realize that the Club has little say in those affairs. But that doesn't stop me from being a Life Member.  And it doesn't stop me from continuing my support of my College and my friends.

The email that you published at the end of your recent letter has a ring of truth to it.  I also believe that the College has changed its raison d'etre and therefore so should the Club.  If that means scaling back our role, then so be it.

But I do not understand how incredibly cheap some of my compatriots are.  What is the harm of a yearly donation or attending one or two events?  But given the gap in ages that attend the Toronto functions, it is clear that many see no value in RMC at all, civies as well as lifers.  Do four years at RMC (five in my case!!)  and the friendships mean nothing following graduation?  Apparently not. That is a sad fact of life.  But I would not give up on these people.  It is up to us all to at least "prod" the odd person.  We're not asking them to re-enlist for God's sake! 

Keep up the good work, both of you.  At least some of us see the benefit.

10950 Dave Hall (RMC Entry Year ’72)