THE POWDER HORN
Quarterly Newsletter
Spring 2022
COMMANDING OFFICER’s UPDATE
In March 2022, the QOR conducted Exercise Crash Can at the Winona training area. This was an Urban Operations training exercise that allowed platoons to practice the fundamentals of forced entry and room clearing. Thanks to the incredible instruction of our Urban Operations Instructors MWO Burns, WO Murray, WO Winnicki and MCpl Fransen-Tingey, it was an excellent exercise.
At the conclusion of the latest Rifle Section Commander Course (RSCC), we were proud to hear that MCpl Skrinjar was Top Candidate and MCpl Gunn was runner-up.
Also in March, Captain Filatow, Sgt Doria, MCpl Divito and 5 Riflemen returned from JRTC in Fort Polk, Louisiana with 3 RCR, having done did an outstanding job.
We would like to thank our 1860 Club donors for their generous contribution to the Trust Fund. If you wish to support our fundraising efforts, we encourage you to consider making a reoccurring donation through the 1860 Club website.
Finally, we look forward to seeing everyone at the D-Day Dinner on at Casa Loma for a memorable evening.
In Pace Paratus
LCol Scott Moody, CD
Commanding Officer
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
Pictured: A rifleman of the Royal American Regiment (Artist: R.J. Marrion)
The Origin and Evolution of Rifle Regiments (1/4)
Editors note: The Powder Horn is beginning a series of short historical pieces and commentaries associated with military history and figures of importance to the Regiment. The following short article by Lt Anthony Simokovic is the first in a set of four articles on the origin and evolution of Rifle Regiments.
The Infantry is hardly a corps that is lacking in bravery and renown. The storied regiments that have come and gone and those that remain are a testament of the indomitable spirit shared by footsloggers throughout the millennia, whether they marched with Caesar in Gaul or fought out of sangars in Afghanistan. Along the way, varied environmental conditions, evolutions (and revolutions) of technology, and encounters with new and strange combatants provoked innovations in tactics, dress, and equipment in infantry regiments. This is the case with rifle regiments in the British and Commonwealth tradition. From units such as the 60th Regiment of Foot (The Royal American Regiment) and the 95th Regiment of Foot, rifle regiments such as The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, can find their heritage – born out of necessity and, as is often the case for Riflemen, ingenuity and initiative.
The Seven Years War, known as the French and Indian War in North America, was a bitter test of British military organization and tactics in North America. In 1755, Major-General Braddock, leading a 2000-strong British force to capture the French position at Fort Duquensne, saw his Army destroyed. There, the British learned that the cumbersome accoutrement and fighting style of a traditional European force could not successfully operate in the dense woodland of what would become Canada and the United States. The French and their Indigenous allies had every advantage, striking from positions unseen and melting away into the bush to harass the British another day. In response, the British government at the time enlisted the aid of a Swiss officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Bouquet, to raise a force that would be able to fight in North America effectively. That force would be known as “The Royal American Regiment.” Swiftly recruiting officers, NCOs and soldiers of German, British and American stock, this force tailored their uniforms to their environment, shortening their redcoats, utilizing carbines and tomahawks as weapons, and taking the fight to the enemy on their own ground. This would be the proving ground for the out of box thinking, initiative, and distinctive techniques such as the use of light equipment, single drill, rapid movement, open formation, and inconspicuous uniforms that became hallmarks of riflemen and rifle regiments. For the remainder of the war Bouquet’s column was conspicuously successful.
In 1799 a Colonel by the name of Coote Manningham, an exponent of light troops such as the Royal Americans, was able to stand up a force entirely comprised of rifle-armed soldiers, or Riflemen, in a unit initially known as “The Experimental Corps of Riflemen” and subsequently the most famous 95th Regiment of Foot (Riflemen) a year later. The 60th (Royal Americans) too were equipped with rifles piecemeal, which both regiments would use to great effect during the battles to come in Portugal and Spain against Napoleon’s forces where they were employed as sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers.
It is in these early years that much of our own heritage was born. Referring to bayonets as swords, for example, comes from the fact that the issued bayonets, being of substantial length compared to the Baker rifle and ending with a sword point, were known as “swords” regardless of pattern or size thereafter. Our green uniform, historically attributed to rifle regiments, was initially adopted as a form of camouflage that stood as a stark contrast to the infantry of the line in their red coats. Though the effectiveness of the green cloth was suspect, it signified a difference between the quick thinking, resourceful and driven Rifleman versus the traditional, conservative Redcoat.
This brief foray into the beginnings of Rifle regiments is the first of four parts; the next issue will explore how the rifle regiments performed on campaign against Napoleon’s forces and how their experience in the Iberian Peninsula and subsequently at Waterloo, shaped the Green Jacket way of war.
Bibliography
Fosten, B. (1982). Wellington’s Infantry (Vol. 22). Osprey Publishing.
Goodhart, P. (2005). The Royal Americans. Wilton Publishing.
Haythornthwaite, P. (2016). British Light Infantry & Rifle Tactics of the Napoleonic Wars (Vol. 215).
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Haythornthwaite, P. J. (2002). British Rifleman 1797-1815 (Vol. 47). Osprey Publishing.
Hughes, P. F. (2006). A Brief History of The Buffs and The King’s Royal Rifles Corps. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.
Summers, J., L., & Chartrand, R. (n.d.). History and Uniform of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot, 1755-1760. The Seven Years War Website. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.militaryheritage.com/60thregt.htm
MGen Herbert Chelsey Pitts, MC, CD Nomination
for Recognition on the Wall of Honour
The Royal Military College of Canada
Former CO of 1Bn, The QOR of C and former Honorary Colonel of the Regiment Major-General Herbert Chelsey Pitts, MC, CD will be recognized on the Wall of Honour at the Royal Military College of Canada. The induction ceremony will be held at RMC on 12 September.
Throughout his life Herb Pitts served Canadians from coast-to-coast and from all walks of life. He was an outstanding Army Officer in war and peace; and after retirement continued to support the four Regiments with whom he served, mentoring the next generation through his personal example. In civilian life over 30 years he was a tireless volunteer in a broad array of public service activities.
Herb Pitts was born in 1929 and raised in Nelson, BC. In 1948 he enrolled into Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, BC, was commissioned into the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in 1951, and immediately sent to the Korean war where he served with distinction as a rifle platoon commander with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). He was awarded the Military Cross for heroic combat leadership in Korea in 1953. On return to Canada, he was assigned to The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (QOR of C). He progressed rapidly through the ranks in command and staff appointments which included command of the First Battalion in Victoria from 1967 to 69, and later the command of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) in Edmonton from 1971 to 73. He was posted to Canadian Forces Headquarters in Ottawa, to serve in senior operational appointments, culminating in his promotion to Major General in 1976. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1978, with an impeccable record of service in war and peace and an outstanding reputation. He was revered - especially by his subordinates; as exemplified by his four Regimental Honourary appointments after his retirement.
When he retired from the Army, Herb Pitts chose to dedicate his life to voluntary public service in senior national, provincial and community leadership appointments. For over 30 years he organized like-minded people and resources to promote worthy causes that contributed to national development and enriched the lives of countless Canadians from coast-to-coast. His legacy of accomplishments reflects the highest standards of leadership and voluntary public service in the areas of developing Canadian Youth; commemorating Canadian national heritage; supporting Canadian military and veterans’ organizations; and serving his community.
Herb died on 27 September 2018. Several hundred of his friends and admirers attended his funeral in Victoria, where tributes to his extraordinary life were recalled in solemn remembrance. Throughout his life Herb Pitts accumulated a magnificent record that includes gallantry in war, and public service in peace - all without fanfare or self-aggrandizement. The installation of his name and story on the RMC Wall of Honour would be inspirational and applauded by all, not least by members, veterans and friends of The Queens Own Rifles of Canada.
Lieutenant John Kavanagh Commemoration
On Apr 5th, a wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the grave of QOR Lt John Kavanagh by Vice-President Gerrit Bruggink of the Royal Canadian Legion (Liberation of the Netherlands Branch 005). Lt Kavanagh was killed in action on April 5, 1945, and was buried as a an unknown soldier in Steenderen General Cemetery in 1947. His remains were positively identified in 2020, which allowed him to receive the dignity of a proper burial. We would like to extend our gratitude to our representative in the Netherlands for their respectful commemoration of our Fallen.
Support Access to the Juno Beach Centre
We would like to direct your attention to the following petition, which was brought to our attention by Quincy Ross (granddaughter of QOR D-Day veteran Bill Ross):
14,000 Canadians landed on D-Day on June 6th, 1944. There were 1,096 Canadian casualties that day, including 381 killed;
Foncim is building a 70-unit condominium just east of the Juno Beach Center (JBC) between the museum and Seulles River;
The JBC was not consulted on the project by the previous mayor who granted the development permit or the developer;
Foncim’s Dunes property is encircled, and the developer was legally granted access to their build site through the sole road to the JBC;
The JBC paid for the construction of this road on land leased to them for 99 years by the town of Courseulles-sur-Mer for the sole purpose of providing visitors with access to the JBC;
A bailiff could arrive any day to request access to the road. An estimated 850 construction vehicles will access the road over the 22 months of the project. The road was not built for the excess weight of construction vehicles; and
This construction project will create accessibility restraints for the museum and disrupt the museum’s abilities to run day-to-day activities and annual international ceremonies; and
Above all, building luxury seaside condos undermines the duty of memory we owe to those soldiers, and it insults their sacrifice.
We, the undersigned, Canadians, call upon the Government of Canada to oppose the proposed condo development at the Juno Beach D-Day site and intervene in the development with French property developer Foncim by contacting the French government on a diplomatic level.
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-3935
D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma (June 6th, 2022)
Tickets are now available to the gala dinner at Casa Loma on June 6th, 2022. This exclusive event will serve several purposes: commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Regiment's landing in Normandy, recognizing our incoming Honorary Colonels, and bringing together members of the Regimental family. Over 60% of seats have been sold; please visit https://1860club.ca/dinner to purchase your ticket.
To purchase a sponsor table, please contact us at info@1860club.ca
Ridgeway and Normandy Challenge 2022
This June marks two important battles in the history of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. June 2nd, 2022 will mark the 156th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway, the Regiment’s first combat action. On June 6th, the 78th Anniversary of D-Day takes place.
Members of the QOR Regimental Family will have the opportunity to participate in the Challenge March between June 1st and 8th in order to commemorate the Battle of Ridgeway and D-Day invasion.
The challenge will consist of the following options:
Those under 50 years of age: 2 x 20 km back-to-back marches (2 days in a row), with a 15 kg pack, between June 1-8, 2022.
Those over 50 years of age: A total of 40 km in marches, with no pack, between June 1-8, 2022.
For more updates, please follow us on social media (@1860club) and join our Strava group.
Upon completion you will receive a certificate from The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, and the Normandy / Ridgeway Challenge Coin. This will be mailed to you or presented at MPA.
Book Recommendation
As part of the The Rifles Report, the Commanding Officer will be recommending a book every month, that may be of interest to members of the Regimental family. As April 9th is the 105th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, this month's recommended reading is:
Vimy: The Battle and the Legend
by Tim Cook
The QOR Association
On behalf of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association (Toronto Branch) Executive we extend thanks to all members of the Regimental family and their families for keeping connected to your Association (Toronto Branch). Let’s hope things improve and we can get-together soon, and we can plan events. It has been a long 2 years. The Association looks forward to doing our usual events this coming year.
Our “Keep Connected” group has increased over the last month or so and we presently have 68 members. I have set up ZOOM Get-together for the Association and our next ZOOM will be on Saturday April 9th at 14:00 hours. This gives us the opportunity to see each other in person, virtually.
Thank you to all for renewing your membership for 2022. It is our goal to make sure our Association remains one of the most active military Associations in Canada. Any questions or concerns can be directed to our Membership Chairperson, Ann Ward, at qora.membership@gmail.com. For Association members: I encourage you to join the 1860 Club. It’s free, and comes with access to the monthly newsletter and much more.
Health & Welfare Report—QORA (Toronto Branch)
We lost 2 members of the Association this past month:
Ernie Martin (91 Years old) – brother of QOR D-Day Veteran Jack Martin, and
Harry Thornton (95 Years old)
Members at Sunnybrook Health & Sciences Centre
Major (Ret'd) David Vine - "L" Wing 2nd Floor - Room L2 - 40 LSSE
Sergeant (Ret'd) Andy MacNaughton - "L" Wing - 3rd Floor LTSE L341
At a LTC – The Golden Plough – Cobourg
WWII D-Day Veteran - Alex Adair (98 years old) 99 in August - Cobourg, Ontario. Alex is the oldest QOR Veteran.
In Veteran’s Wing at Parkwood – London, Ontario
WWII Veteran - George Beardshaw (98 years old) 99 in September - London, Ontario.
At Home
Ron Craig - President – QOR National
Major (Ret’d) John Stephens – Curator QOR Museum
Brian Budden
President
Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
In Pace Paratus
Rifleman Strong!
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 Stainless Steel Coffee Cups and Water Bottles from canuckcanada.ca.
Please visit the QOR Kit Shop here.
The museum is open again, and regular volunteer nights have resumed. Please visit our website at qormuseum.org for more information, as well as our YouTube channel!
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.
Watch and Shoot (Upcoming Events)
32nd Annual Airborne Luncheon
Friday, April 22nd at RCMI
Tickets may be purchased for $60. RSVP to susan.cook@rcmi.org
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Birthday
Tuesday, April 26th
Norm McCracken Memorial
Saturday, April 30th
Eight to ten members of the QOR of C Association will be attending a Memorial Service for one of our Past Presidents, Norm McCracken, at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.
Colonel (Ret’d) Paul Hughes, CD Celebration of Life
Sunday, June 5th at the QOR of C Officers Mess from 2-4 PM
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to info@1860club.ca
D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma
Monday, June 6th at Casa Loma at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased for $150 each at http://1860club.ca/dinner
Brigadier General (Ret’d) Don Pryer, CD Event
Saturday, June 25th at RCMI from 2-4 PM.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to info@1860club.ca
Trust Fund and Fundraising Update
Please note that the Trust Fund has recently changed its mailing address:
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund
3-2375 Brimley Road, Suite 837
Toronto, ON M1S 3L6
Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $150,000 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 (Ret’d) Bernie Aaron
HLCol (Ret'd) Brendan Caldwell
Lt J. Chris Donald
Mr. Bryan Gransden
Capt (Ret'd) Adam Hermant, OStJ, CD
Hermant Family Foundation
HCol Larry Stevenson, CD
LCol (Ret’d) John Strathy, CD
WO (Ret’d) Philip ten Kortenaar, CD
True Patriot Love Foundation
1860 Club Founders
Col (Ret’d) William Ball—US Army
LCol (Ret’d) William Barnard, CD
LCol Sandi Banerjee, CD
Mr. Hans G. Bathija
Bruce Beauchamp Memorial Fund and Mr. Terry Beauchamp
Hon Col Bryan Brulotte, KJ, CD
Cpl Brian Buchan
2Lt Martin Bunch
LCol (Ret’d) Greg Burton, CD
HLCol (Ret'd) Brendan Caldwell
Maj (Ret’d) Allan Champion, CD
Mr. Leo Chan
Capt (Ret’d) Robert Chan, CD and Ms. Annie Li
Mr. Michael Chisholm
Lt Ricardo Chiu, CD
MWO Adam de Bartok, MMM, CD
Ms. Linda Di Felice
Lt J. Chris Donald
WO (Ret’d) Bob Dunk, CD
Lt Brandon Filatow
LCol (Ret’d) John Fotheringham, CD
2Lt Juron Grant-Kinnear
Mr. Bryan Gransden
MCpl Robert Grieve
Cpl Lee Harrison, CD
Capt (Ret'd) Adam Hermant, OStJ, CD
Hermant Family Foundation
WO David Hodgson, CD
MGen (Ret’d) Walter Holmes, MStJ, MSM, CD, MBE
Ms. Lana Holmes
Col (Ret’d) Paul F Hughes CD
Jackman Foundation
CWO Jeff Johnson, CD
CWO (Ret’d) Shaun Kelly, CD
2Lt Matthew Kocal
LCol Frank Lamie, CD
MWO Darnel Leader, CD
Maj Samuel Leibel, CD
Capt Ben-Jaemin Lee, CD
Capt Roland Llewellyn-Thomas, CD
LNG Group CIBC Wood Gundy
Mr. James Lutz
Capt (Ret'd) Brian MacDonald
Maj Henry McCabe, MMM, CD (Ret’d)
Ms. Michele McCarthy
Ms. Jenna Zuschlag Misener
Lt David Merrithew
Mr. Nick Migliore
LCol Scott Moody, CD
CWO (Ret’d) John O’Connor, CD
Mr. Carmine Nigro
Mr. Jansen Ng
Capt David Pampe, CD
2Lt Weng Pan
Dr. Dylan Pannell, CD
Mr. Keith Perera
Lt Marco Petta
Cpl Sharl Robinson
Maj (Ret’d) Adam Saunders, CD
Maj (Ret’d) Anthony Schultz, CD
CWO Mark Shannon, MMM, CD
MGen (Ret’d) John Sharpe, CMM, CD
Capt Kevin Sheedy, CD
LCol Peter St. Denis, MSC, CD
Maj (Ret’d) John Stephens, CD
Mr. Tristan Strathy
WO (Ret’d) Philip ten Kortenaar, CD
Dr. Lynn Tomkins
Capt (Ret'd) Usman (Uzi) Valiante
Mr. Jeffrey Wallace
LCol (Ret'd) Tony Welsh, CD
LCol (Ret'd) Rob Zeidler, MStJ, CD
For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here, or 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/jjni
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 Martin Bunch, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca