THE POWDER HORN
Monthly Newsletter
February 2026
COMMAND TEAM UPDATE
It has been several months since the last update for the Powder Horn, so it is admittedly difficult to know where to start and how to condense the breadth of activity that has been undertaken by the Regiment.
Traditionally, November is the busiest month in our calendar and 2025 was no exception. The Officer’s Mess held their annual mess dinner at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, at the onset of the Remembrance weekend. In attendance was the Command Team of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, with whom the unit has worked closely over the past several years.
The Regimental Museum hosted displays of unit history and current capability as part of Queen’s Own Rifles Day at Casa Loma. The exhibits, featuring period uniforms, modern equipment, interactive displays and antique vehicles, were accentuated by lively performances by the Band and an interactive observation post atop a tower staffed by members of Recce Platoon.
A somber snowfall blanketed the Regiment, as it undertook the annual Remembrance Parade to St. Paul’s, Bloor Street and the Cross of Sacrifice. The full strength of the Band, Skirmishers, Pioneers and Guards were accompanied by the Association and Cadets, prior to returning to Moss Park Armoury for the formal dedication of the Victora Cross Memorial on the Wall of Honour. This tribute to those who displayed outstanding gallantry and heroism in service to the nation, is now on display for future generations of Riflemen and visitors. Compliments to Regimental Sergeant Major J. Thorn and the Museum team for their diligence in seeing this project through to completion in less than a year.
Exercise QUICK RIG 3 occurred in CFB Trenton on 23 November, whereupon a platoon from Parachute Company completed a full-equipment descent onto DZ Hodgson. This contributed to the sub-unit maintaining currency and competency since our tactical insertion within Exercise STALWART GUARDIAN 25 in August.
At the end of the month, the Regiment deployed to CFB Petawawa to conduct Exercise MAROON SWORD 3 and culminate the fall training cycle. Accompanied by platoons from both The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Lorne Scots, approximately 100 soldiers participated in Level 3 live-fire training. Covered by overhead and flanking machine gun fire, Riflemen decisively and aggressively met their objectives through hasty attacks against fortified positions.
Just prior to the holiday season, the unit held FESTIVE RIFLEMAN. This traditional appreciation dinner was extremely well attended, with awards and recognition bestowed upon an outstanding group of soldiers.
By the middle of December, most personnel deployed to Operation REASSURANCE Rotation 25-02 had returned to Canada and concluded their service to the defence of NATO’s eastern flank. At the same time, those slated for Rotation 26-01 were boarding flights bound for Latvia. We bid them a fond farewell as they left the country, their Regiment and their loved ones.
As the calendar turned to 2026, the unit began to refocus on core winter warfare skills, and preparation for Exercise MAROON FROST 1. Concurrently in January, seven members deployed to Fort Wainright, Alaska with the Global Response Task Force, centred around 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. There, they will participate in division-level warfighting scenarios and bring back a host of lessons-learned for the Regiment.
Canadian Army Modernization has now begun in earnest, though a separate letter to the Regimental Family will be distributed pertaining to that matter and development. Overall, the future looks bright for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.
There are likely several events or milestones which have been bypassed, though it is certainly not intentional.
It is immensely humbling to look back at our time together and recognize what has been accomplished.
In Pace Paratus
Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major
Project McEachren Preservation
On an unknown date, a daughter of Ensign Malcolm McEachren donated the tunic he was wearing at the time of his death during the June 2nd, 1866 Battle of Ridgeway to the Fort Erie Historical Society. On the 100th anniversary of the battle in 1966, the tunic was presented to the Regiment and was subsequently placed in the care of the Regimental Museum.
Nine QOR soldiers died that day, but post-battle reports are clear that McEachren, who had only been commissioned as an officer two months previously, was the first to fall in that action. He was also the first casualty in the history of the Regiment, which had only been formed in April of 1860.
It would not be an understatement to say this is the most significant object in our museum’s collection and likely unique in any regimental museum’s collection. For that reason, we take the serious responsibility of preserving this tunic to the best of our abilities.
Unfortunately, over the past decades, it has suffered UV and insect damage and the loss of some of the braiding and buttons. Someone in the past wrote “Bullet Hole” in white china marker above the hole and stitched around its edges with white thread. We’re also not clear whether the current but not original liner is appropriate. Some damage, such as the fading from UV light exposure or insect damage, cannot be reversed, nor would we want to. What we can do is ensure that it is preserved in such a way as to minimize any future deterioration.
With that in mind, we have developed a three-step plan:
The first step was to acquire a new exhibit case that would protect it as much as possible. In 2018, we purchased a custom-made museum-quality case with frameless UV filtering glass, Abloy security locks, and an airtight exhibit compartment with a desiccant tray to ensure a constant humidity level. This was possible with donations from a number of supporters, a bequest from the estate of the late Captain Scott Patterson, and from The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund.
Step 2 involved replacing the wooden mount (or mannequin) with a museum-quality mount. Wood off-gases, and this would be more of an issue in a sealed case. The tunic was transferred to a new mount before COVID shut down our volunteer operations for a significant time.
Now that the tunic was well protected from future deterioration, the final step was some professional conservation and preservation work. We contacted an accredited textile conservator whose company, “CRC Conservation/Restoration,” is near Quebec City. After receiving a preliminary treatment proposal, the Museum Board of Governors approved this project, and we have engaged this conservator.
This past week, our Museum Director personally delivered the tunic to the Conservator in Quebec City, despite a snowstorm creating some driving challenges between Cornwall and Quebec City! We anticipate that the rather painstaking work will be completed over the next four months and the tunic will be back on display in time for the June 2nd 160th anniversary of McEachren’s death.
While we are very excited to complete this final step in protecting and preserving this very significant object, it does come with an equally significant cost. We are thankful for the support of the QOR Trust Fund and from several donors to date. If you would like to support this project you can do so online at www.1860club.ca/donate or Canada Helps and select “In Honour of McEachren Project".
National Memorial to the Fallen
On 1 November 2025, a new National Memorial to the Fallen was unveiled in Kingston, ON.
The memorial honours, in a single location, the over 120,000 Canadian service members who have died in wars and conflicts since the War of 1812, as recorded in the eight Books of Remembrance on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It also honours those who, prior to 1812, helped shape Canada through their involvement in earlier conflicts. The memorial was conceived and built by the National Wall of Remembrance Association (NWORA) in partnership with the City of Kingston.
Centred around a Canadian Flag flying high on a 25-foot flagpole and surrounded by a large compass rose base representing the far corners of the world where Canadian service personnel have fought and died for Canada, there are four large granite pillars representing four periods of conflict: Pre-First World War; the First World War; the Second World War, and Post-Second World War. Each pillar includes key images from those time frames reflecting the human face of war. Of particular significance to QOR members is imagery depicting the Fenian Raids on the panel 2 of the Pre-First World War pillar and reference to the QOR in the virtual memorial.
Complimenting this physical memorial is a virtual memorial with profiles for each of the 120,000 fallen with the aim to gather information and stories over the coming years. NWORA also supports four other programmes to help honour the fallen via their Community Memorials Programme which helps provide funding for communities to repair or build local monuments; the Education Outreach Programme to help educate Canadian youth about the sacrifices of the Fallen; a new Scholarship Programme; and finally, the Flag Programme.
For more information on the physical memorial, virtual memorial and NWORA programmes, please visit CanadianFallen.ca.
Cassandra de Bartok, MA
Board of Directors, National Wall of Remembrance Association
Colonel James Gowan Kirkpatrick Strathy PROFILE
On January 10th, 2026, Post Media's Lives Told Story featured a story about Colonel James Gowan Kirkpatrick Strathy, OBE, ED, CD, KStJ (1905 - 1978).
The feature is titled "Leadership in War and Peace: Colonel James Gowan Kirkpatrick Strathy, OBE, ED, CD, KStJ (1905 - 1978)" and can be found at the following link.
QOR Association Update
Greetings QOR Regimental Family,
The Association had a great turnout of 17 members in attendance at The Queen’s Own Rifles Soldier's Holiday Dinner on 03 Dec 25. This provided the unique opportunity to share in comradeship between Association members and the Regiment.
A special Congratulations to the following award recipients:
QORA Rifleman of The Year - 2025 - Sgt (Ret'd) Tom Fabry, CD - Recently retired after 40 Years service to to the QOR
Colonel Paul Hughes & Bev Hughes Award for Excellence - 2025 - Commanding Officer - LCol Chris Boileau , MSM, CD
Looking forward to seeing QOR Association Riflemen at this year's events:
MAY 16 – QORA – AGM – RCL BRANCH 258 – 10:00 HRS.
JULY 27 – KOREAN WALL CEREMONY - BRAMPTON
AUG 9 – PEACEKEEPER DAY – ANGUS – PEACEKEEPER PARK
AUG 22 – 105th WARRIORS DAY PARADE – CNE
On behalf of the Association, we extend to members of the Regiment, we wish you all on deployment for a successful and safe deployment.
In Pace Paratus
CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
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 1st, 2026
Change of Appointment, Moss Park Armoury
April 11th, 2026
Toronto Garrison Officers’ Ball, Liberty Grand
April 17th, 2026
Airborne Luncheon, Royal Canadian Military Institute
April 26th, 2026
Regimental Birthday
May 1st, 2026
1860 Club Founder Recognition Event, Casa Loma
May 16th, 2026
QOR Association – AGM, RCL Branch 258 (10:00)
June 3rd, 2026
D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma
September 24th, 2026
18th Annual QOR of C Golf Tournament, Cardinal Golf Club
We are welcoming sponsors for our D-Day Dinner on June 3rd and Golf Tournament on August 28th, in advance of invitations being sent. This will permit us to identify our sponsors on the invitations. Please email smoody@1860club.ca should you be interested.
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
Maroon Beret Newsletter (Sept 2025) — https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca/maroonberet
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/
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