THE POWDER HORN

Monthly Newsletter
March/April 2025

COMMAND TEAM UPDATE

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada spent the month of March honing their section-level urban operations skills and abilities. Under the watchful eyes of senior non-commissioned officers, they practiced room-clearing, breaching and personal weapons handling in close quarters. The pace was fast, and the nights were long, however the learning value from such an experienced cadre was invaluable.

Former Commanding Officer, newly minted Commander 32 Canadian Brigade Group, Colonel Lamie, visited Moss Park Armoury on 26 March to observe training and meet with soldiers of the Regiment. At the conclusion of the evening, he presented the Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command Commendation to Major Lee for his achievements during Operation UNIFIER and the 4th Canadian Division Commendation to Captain Bunch for outreach and inclusion during event planning last year.

On 29 March, Maj Leibel and the Regimental Sergeant Major represented the unit at the 32 Canadian Brigade Group Battle School mass graduation ceremony, which occurred at Fort York Armoury. The event was the culmination of months of work by instructors and staff alike, where over 300 members of the Army Reserve, including future Riflemen, marked the completion of their basic military or infantry qualifications.

Between 21 and 30 March, Warrant Officer Currie and Master Corporal Balogh deployed as part of NOREX 25, the Canadian Army’s inter-divisional Arctic series in Resolute Bay, Nunvavut. They braved challenging and adverse conditions, showing admirable tenacity and dedication. Master Corporal Balogh received recognition and a coin from Commander 31 Canadian Brigade Group for her outstanding performance. Photos provided by MCpl Balogh.

The Regiment deployed approximately 80 soldiers to Regional Training Area Winona at the beginning of April during Exercise CRASH CAN. Riflemen conducted section-level urban operations amidst the sea container village, employing skills that they learned and practiced over the early spring period amidst the din created by breaching rams and reverberating close-quarter engagements. In the early morning hours of the final morning, junior officers led platoon-level attacks against fortified positions.

The main effort for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada however was force generating members for Exercise TRILLIUM VENTURE 2025. This was the capstone to the yearly Territorial Battalion Group domestic operations training cycle, which involved a mock major air disaster near Sudbury, Ontario. Riflemen conducted ground searches, practiced first aid and supported the practical validation of 32 Canadian Brigade Group’s capacity to deploy and supply sub-units into austere locations on short-notice.

At the end of the month, Honorary Colonel Major-General (Retired) Fraser, Major Henderson and the Regimental Sergeant Major represented the unit at the third annual Rifles Council. This year, the event was held in the Ottawa-area and hosted by the Brockville Rifles. Despite the rain and wind, teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec participated in stalking drills, forced marches and patrolling. The Regina Rifles emerged as the victors for this year.

As we prepare to embark upon the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands in May, the Command Team would like to acknowledge our amazing donors, the Regimental Family and the 42 Bataljon Limburgse Jagers for their contributions in making this historic commemoration possible.

In Pace Paratus

Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer

Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major

80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and VE-Day Pilgrimage

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada successfully returned to Europe in May 2025 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of V-E Day and the Liberation of the Netherlands. The Regiment sent a delegation to Europe in honour of the 34 Riflemen who lost their lives during Operation Blockbuster, during the final push to the Rhine. The itinerary retraced the steps of the QOR of C as they fought through the Netherlands, liberating the crucial channel ports. After crossing into Germany, Sergeant Aubrey Cosens was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross while capturing the tiny farming hamlet of Mooshof, Germany.

This privately-funded trip would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, the Regimental Family, and the 42 Bataljon Limburgse Jagers. More details from the trip will follow in the next issue of The Powder Horn.

The Queen's Own Rifles and their Heroic Role in the Liberation of the Netherlands

The final months of the Second World War were marked by intense fighting as Allied forces pushed to liberate occupied territories and bring the conflict to an end. Among the many brave Canadian regiments that played a crucial role in these efforts, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada stood out for their remarkable courage and sacrifice in the liberation of Holland in 1945. Their efforts not only helped free the Dutch people from years of Nazi occupation but also cemented the strong bond between Canada and the Netherlands, a relationship that continues to this day.

QOR Association Update

Welcome Spring!

2025 QOR Association Dues

New Mailing Address

QOR Association - Toronto Branch
3234 Equestrian Crescent
Mississauga, ON L5M 6S8

E-transfer: qora-tor-treasurer@rogers.com

On behalf of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association (Toronto Branch, I'd like to thank those Association members who have paid their 2025 dues.

As we prepare for upcoming events in 2025, March and April have been very quiet.

On March 22nd, one of our Association Members, WO (Ret’d) Gerald (Jerry AKA Sasquash) Senetchko received the King Charles III Coronation Medal from his MP in Scarborough—Rouge Park. I was honored to present Jerry with the medal and certificate at RCL 258 with his family in attendance.

In addition, Association member James Atcheson received the King Charles III Coronation Medal on April 5th at RCL 258, as did the President of the QOR Calgary Association Branch, Gil Chenier. Congratulations to you both!

In Pace Paratus

CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)

4th Annual D-Day Dinner

We look forward to welcoming our guests to the 4th Annual D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025. The Dinner will commemorate the Regiment's sacrifices during the campaign to liberate the Netherlands, leading to the Allied victory in Europe. A highlight of the dinner will be the presence of Sgt Aubrey Cosens' medals, on loan from the Canadian War Museum—including the original Victoria Cross posthumously awarded for his actions in Mooshof, Germany on February 26, 1945.

Canadian Infantry Association

My name is LCol (Ret’d) Doug Johnson. I commanded the Lorne Scots from 1997-2000. I write to you today as the President of the Central Ontario Branch of the Canadian Infantry Association. The Central Ontrario Branch is made up of all Infantry units in 32 Brigade.

The CIA has been around since 1912. All Infantry Regiments are members of the Association. Traditionally The Commanding Officers of each unit have been the ones representing the Regiments at meetings. Its purpose is to support and advance the Infantry profession. We belong to the Conference of Defence Association as do all the other military trade organizations such as Engineers, Intelligence, as well as the other two services. We are independent of the DND or the CAF so we can represent our members on Infantry issues.

We have recently begun to revise the organization of the organization. We have now opened the membership so that all Infanteers, regardless of rank regular force or reserve, can become members rather than just the units. There is no cost to join CIA. I write to you to solicit your help in reaching out to your members, both active and retired, to make them aware of CIA and encourage them to join. They can visit the website for more information at www.ducimus.army and complete the form under the membership category. Again, there is no cost to joining.

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)

April 26, 2025
Regimental Birthday

May 3-10, 2025
NLD+80 Trip

June 4, 2025
D-Day Dinner

September 5, 2025
18th Annual QOR Golf Tournament

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