THE RIFLES REPORT

Monthly Update
April 2021

Serving Regiment Update

After three months of virtual training the Regiment has commenced in-person training again in March.  The focus is on Individual training and ensuring that all of our members are refreshed and proficient in their war fighting skills.  Additionally, we are focused on running multiple Basic and Infantry courses to support our continued growth, and to clear the backlog caused by COVID-19 force protection measures and the increase of new recruits.

The Virtual Challenge March is going strong.  Overall, the Band Team 1 and DFS Team are the top performers from the serving Regiment.  However, Team “Fossils” (made up of retired and association members) has been leading by example and producing impressive triple digit numbers this month.  The team’s top marchers include HCol MGen Holmes (Ret’d), WO Ten Kortenaar (Ret’d), CWO Shannon (Ret’d), CWO O’Connor (Ret’d), and CWO Kelly (Ret’d). 

Between May 1st to 9th, 2021, I encourage you to sign up for the Virtual Victory March (Registration Code: 1860). This event is raising money for Boomers Legacy.  There are various categories of challenge, however the main challenge is two days of back-to-back marches of up to 20 km each day with a 10 kg pack.

Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Moody, CD
Commanding Officer

Operations

MCpl Jessome and Capt Toohey-Faughnan have returned from Operation IMPACT in the Middle East, where they were part of the Female Engagement Team (FET), Mobile Training Team (MTT). MWO Leader and WO Currie have also returned after serving as CQMS Mentors on Op IMPACT, as did Sgt Frounze (where he was employed as a Mountain Operations Instructor).  Three members of the QOR of C are currently on Op IMPACT in the Middle East.  On the domestic front, we continue to support Op VECTOR through the contributions of six of our members.

Promotions and Achievements

The Regiment is steadily developing leaders to support balanced growth within the Regiment.  This month, MCpl Catenacci, MCpl Kusi-Appiah, and MCpl Strack graduated from the Rifle Section Commanders Course – Congratulations!  We also currently have Sgt Hood and Sgt Thomas on the Platoon 2IC course (3B).  More impressive has been our ability to also provide instructors for these courses.  Congratulations also go to Lt Welch, Lt Simokovic, and Sgt Mejury on their recent promotions, and to RSM Johnston and CSM Thorn for receiving the second bar on their CDs.

50th Anniversary of 2881 QOR Army Cadet Corps

Congratulations to 2881 Queen’s Own Rifles (QOR) Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps on their 50th Anniversary on 30 March. The CO and RSM attended a virtual celebration of this important date.

Cpl Frederick (Fred) George Topham, VC and Operation Varsity

As a unit with a Parachute Tasking, we remember the contributions and sacrifices of Canadian Paratroopers.  On 24 March 1945 Cpl Fred Topham of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped IVO Wesel during Operation VARSITY.  Running to assist a wounded man under fire after two other medical orderlies were killed, he was shot in the face.  He carried on for two hours to treat and clear the wounded.  When finally treated for his own wounds and ordered evacuated, Topham insisted on returning to his post, where he evacuated three more soldiers, under fire, from a burning Bren Carrier with its load of mortar bombs exploding. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions.  Fred Topham survived the war, passing away in 1974.  We will remember him.

IN MEMORIAM

We mourn the passing of two members of the Regimental Family,  Sgt Ralph Schoenig (Retired) and Major Bill Mountain (Retired).

We will remember them.

Upcoming Events

26 April 2021 — We will recognize the 161st Birthday of the Regiment this year.  Although we will be celebrating this event virtually again, we have planned an engaging online presentation.  The link will be provided to all 1860 Club Members prior to the event.

The Powder Horn — The quarterly Regimental Newsletter will be relaunched for the Regimental Birthday on April 26th.  In the upcoming issue, look for the report of the meeting of Hon Col Holmes and LCol Moody with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Although Casa Loma and the Regimental Museum remain closed at this time, our volunteers have continued to work from home with impressive results.

Did you or a family member serve with The Queen's Own Rifles in Germany during the cold war? We're looking for photographs, documents, memories, and objects related to the rotations of the 1st and 2nd Battalions in Germany.

If you have potential items for our Museum and Archive collection, please read this page and complete the online form, or contact us at museum@qormuseum.org.

Trust Fund and Fundraising Update 

The Regimental Trust was created in 1959 with the aim of "establishing a fund to promote the efficiency, welfare and wellbeing of the Regiment and of its members and to appoint trustees to raise, hold and administer such funds”.  An example of a recent Trust Fund-supported project is the World War I Memorial Wall and Battle Honours at Moss Park Armoury.  The Memorial Wall cost $51,355, with the cost covered by donations and a Department of Veterans Affairs Grant.  The Battle Honours cost $9,600, and was supported by a single donation from Hon LCol Lionel Goffart.

Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $60,000 to support The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generosity, and recognize the following members:

Normandy 1944 Donors
Over $186,000 in lifetime contributions 

HLCol Lionel Goffart, OStJ, CD 
Col Paul F Hughes, CD (Ret’d)

Vimy 1917 Donors
Over $18,600 in lifetime contributions

Capt Bernie Aaron (Ret’d) 
HLCol Brendan Caldwell 
Lt J. Chris Donald 
Mr. Bryan Gransden 
Capt Adam Hermant, OStJ, CD (Ret’d) 
HCol Larry Stevenson, CD 
LCol John Strathy, CD (Ret’d) 
WO Philip ten Kortenaar, CD (Ret’d) 
True Patriot Love Foundation

1860 Club Founders 

Col William Ball - US Army (Ret’d) 
LCol William Barnard, CD (Ret’d) 
Hon Col Bryan Brulotte, KJ, CD 
Cpl Brian Buchan 
2Lt Martin Bunch 
HLCol Brendan Caldwell 
Ms. Linda Di Felice 
Lt J. Chris Donald 
HLCol Lionel Goffart, OStJ, CD 
MCpl Robert Grieve 
Cpl Lee Harrison, CD 
WO David Hodgson, CD 
MGen Walter Holmes, MStJ, MSM, CD, MBE (Ret’d) 
Col Paul F Hughes CD (Ret’d) 
CWO Jeff Johnson, CD 
LCol Frank Lamie, CD 
MWO Darnel Leader, CD
Maj Samuel Leibel, CD 
Capt Ben-Jaemin Lee, CD 
Mr. James Lutz 
LCol Scott Moody, CD 
Mr. Carmine Nigro 
CWO Mark Shannon, MMM, CD 
MGen John Sharpe, CMM, CD (Ret’d) 
Maj John Stephens, CD (Ret’d) 
Mr. Tristan Strathy 
WO Philip ten Kortenaar, CD (Ret’d) 
Dr. Lynn Tomkins 
Capt Usman (Uzi) Valiante

Please click here to find out how to become a Founder. For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here.

For any additional questions, please contact us.

Online Links

The QOR of C Regimental Association 
More information about The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Association Branches can be found at:

Toronto Branch
https://www.facebook.com/qortorontoassociation 
East Coast Branch
https://www.qor-east.com
Calgary Branch
https://www.qorcalgary.com 
Vancouver Island Branch
https://www.qorvi.com

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum
https://qormuseum.org/
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Website
https://www.queensownrifles.com/

Victory March
https://raceroster.com/events/2021/38945/victory-march-la-marche-de-la-victoire
(Registration Code: 1860)

Submissions

To submit comments or content to the Rifles Report or The Powder Horn, please contact Martin Bunch, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca

Correction — The list of members returning from Op IMPACT has been updated.