THE POWDER HORN
Monthly Newsletter
October 2024
COMMAND TEAM UPDATE
The Regiment has taken great strides to grow and strengthen our parachuting capability. In October, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada proudly welcomed our third Jumpmaster from within the past year. Master Corporal Do joined the Air Cell, while another nine members completed their Basic Parachutist qualification at the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre.
Throughout the month, Riflemen were taken through progressive and dynamic training to prepare them for Exercise MAROON SWORD 2. Under the keen eyes of our non-commissioned officers, soldiers practiced techniques for clearing trenches and performing section-level attacks. After deploying to Petawawa at the end of October, approximately 100 personnel were involved in live-fire trench-clearing.
Amidst acrid smoke, exploding pyrotechnics and the incessant din of gunfire, the unit moved through a complex environment. The event challenged our young leaders, while exposing them to the realities of contemporary warfare. Several participants were veterans of Operation UNIFIER and had undertaken or supervised within similar ranges with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It was a pleasure to be joined on exercise by Honorary Colonel Major-General (Retired) Fraser and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Minhas. The cold could not dampen their spirits, as the camaraderie and excitement of the weekend was remarkable.
As we head into the month of Remembrance, it is important to acknowledge how much has been accomplished. The foundation of our success however, is due to spirit of this great Regiment and the sacrifices of those who have served and Fallen. We look forward to seeing the Regimental Family at the multitude of events and ceremonies that will be taking place across the city in the coming weeks.
Finally, we look forward to sharing our plans for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.
In Pace Paratus
Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major
IN ACTION: MASTER CORPORAL BALOGH
Cold Weather Operation Leader (Shilo) & Arctic Operations Advisor (Resolute Bay and Cambridge Bay)
From 15 Jan to 25 Mar 2024, I was a candidate on Cold Weather Operation Leader (CWOL) and Arctic Operations Advisor (AOA). CWOL began with 12 days in the field in Shilo where we practiced skiing, navigation practice and patrolling. Although the terrain was tough and the distance travelled was long, each section began to form as cohesive elements. Training unique to temperate winter environments was conducted including ice reconnaissance, cold water immersion, austere airstrips and an avalanche rescue familiarization. Concluding CWOL we conducted a solo survival exercise to confirm our bushcraft and survival skills.
After CWOL finished, the course flew to Resolute Bay for Arctic Operations Advisor (AOA). We began with a week-long survival exercise where we learned from the Canadian Rangers about various air-to-ground signals, how to build and live in different shelters (including igloos and snow caves), and generally how to operate as a section in an austere Arctic environment. Following that, we spent time becoming proficient in section movement on LOSVs, and navigating in the Arctic.
The final task was to plan and conduct a patrol to a community. My section was assigned the community of Cambridge Bay. While there we conducted a couple community engagement events: one with the Army Cadets (3004 Nanook) and one at the local elementary school. We then patrolled the land with Rangers Jimmy, David, and Kale. They were instrumental in the success of the patrol due to their intimate knowledge of the land, weather patterns, and environmental resources. It was clear to me that any operations conducted in the Arctic are reliant on cooperation with the Rangers. Overall, CWOL and AOA were very interesting courses that gave me a new and more detailed perspective on winter and Arctic operations, and I’m looking forward to applying these lessons in further training.
Caroline Balogh
Master Corporal
2025 Nijmegen March
The 2025 4Days Marches will be held from Tuesday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. This is the world’s largest walking achievement event with over 45,000 participants (around 6,000 military and 39,000 civilian) from 70 different countries. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada have a deep connection with the event, by sending teams and participants since the 1950’s. The Canadian Armed Forces no longer send an official contingent, however there are still many Canadians—both military and civilian—that participate in the event. In 2025, a small group of veterans from the QOR will be participating. If you would like to participate, please contact smoody@1860club.ca no later than December 15th, 2024.
NEW BOOK: THE ENGLISH TRIP OF 1910
"As a retired Regimental Sergeant Major of the Queen's Own and the current Curator of the Regiment's museum at Casa Loma Toronto, I'm very happy to see that this story is finally being told. Most books and articles about the Queen's Own rightly focus on the battles and wars its soldiers have fought in. However, this is a story about the soldiers of the Regiment training for war on the other side of the Atlantic and how one of its most famous Commanding Officers, Major General Sir Henry Pellatt, was instrumental in achieving that aim." —CWO Shaun Kelly, CD (Ret'd), Curator at The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Museum and Archive at Casa Loma
You can find more information – as well as a Volunteer application form – on our museum website. Please visit our YouTube and Flickr page for the latest content.
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.
QOR Association Update
Good Day Fellow QOR Members,
On October 25th, Sir George Beardshaw was honoured at the Ontario Legislature in Queen's Park. George is the last surviving QOR WWII Veteran, and he turned 101 in September. Furthermore, he is also the last surviving WWII veteran from the British Home Children.
Well done, Sir George Beardshaw! A video of the ceremony may be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1120906702791831
To support Home Children Canada, please consider ordering a charity calendar from Canadian Bombshell Beauties.
In addition to George's recent birthday celebration, we also celebrated RWR WWII Veteran Jim Park's 100th birthday in Uxbridge.
Regarding this year's Golf Tournament, we would like to express our appreciation for the kind donation of the Golf Trophies by former Padre of the Association John Howie.
“Once In The Queen’s Own Always In The Queen’s Own"
In Pace Paratus
CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
MAROON BERET NEWSLETTER
The current issue of the Maroon Beret Newsletter for 2024 can be found at the link below:
https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca/maroonberet
The next edition is planned for late March 2025. Please feel free to send any articles and photos to me by March 1st, 2025.
If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please let me know.
We are on Facebook and Instagram @canadianairborneforces, as well as LinkedIn.
Scott Moody
Communications Director
Canadian Airborne Forces Association
https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca
QOR of C Kit Shop
If you are interested in purchasing QOR of C merchandise, you may do so via our online Kit Shop. We now have the ability to issue invoices and accept payment online. We have several new items in stock, including merchandise from the Airborne Reunion.
Please visit the QOR Kit Shop here.
Watch and Shoot (Upcoming Events)
November 10th, 2024
Remembrance Parade
November 11th, 2024
Remembrance Day
November 30th, 2024
Senate and Trust Fund Meeting/Officers' Mess Holiday Luncheon
December 1st, 2024
QOR Family Holiday Party
December 4th, 2024
Soldiers' Holiday Dinner
For more events, please consult the calendar of events.
Trust Fund and Fundraising Update
Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $500,000 to support The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund and various Regimental initiatives. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generosity and support. The full list of Founders can be viewed here.
For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here. For any additional questions, please do not hesitate to 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 Rifleman Magazine (Annual Journal of the QOR of C)
https://fliphtml5.com/insrc/ryzm
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum
https://qormuseum.org/
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Website
https://www.queensownrifles.com/
Kit Shop
https://sites.google.com/view/qorkitshop/
Submissions
To submit comments or content to the The Rifles Report or The Powder Horn, please contact Brian Whittaker, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca