Today 22nd July 2002. That is the date 62 years ago that Orme and I, Johnny, and Elmer all journeyed to the town of Aneroid Saskatchewan to join active service, namely the 60th fld bty RCA. Now 62 years later, Orme and I are the only ones still surviving. That was on that trip. I was thinking of all the things that happened in the years since that day so long ago, the good, bad, and the unpleasant, and came to the conclusion to enjoy each day and those dear to you to the utmost.
Now I left the last writing to say we were to become a regiment. On the 1st of Febuary 1941, our first commanding officer arrived. His name was Lt. Col. W.C. Thackray. Along with The Colonel was Freddy Wright who would be our regimental quarter master sergeant major, title RQMS. Also the Colonel had our first regimental sergeant major with him. This was WO 1, I. A. McLeod, title RSM. The regiment on this 1st Feb 1941 became known as the 17th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery. At this point I am not sure whether we were then also a part of the 5th Canadian [armoured ] Division or after some discussions, because I had thought we were going to be the 1st Canadian Armoured Division. No matter, we did finally and for all time be known as part of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. The mighty Maroon Machine, as our shoulder patch was Maroon colored.
The day we became a regiment was quite something with everyone reading great long lists of orders designating which battery or regimental Headquarters you were placed in. The regiment consisted of the Regimental HQ 60th battery, 37th battery, and the 76th battery. I thought I was fortunate to be posted to the 76th Fld Bty and spent most of the next five years there with a short posting to Regimental HQ 17th Feb to 22nd July 44 as duty sergeant. Then on 22nd July 44, I was promoted to sergeant major and posted to Fox troop 76th Battery.
Getting ahead of my self.
At the time the regiment was formed, a lot of discontent hit some of the fellows who hated to leave old friends in the battery they joined up with. Much of this feeling was real or imagined to the behaviour of some of the officers and others before the regiment was formed. I could go into detail here about the pettiness and down right politics that went on but all those are long dead and why get old wounds opened.
As the years went by the regiment was second to none in esprite de corp, appearance, fighting expertise, gunnery, and anything that ever was asked, so from internal bitterness at the start, we soon melded into a first class fighting machine. A regiment we were all proud to have served with and, in memory we could not have had a better group of officers and men.
Bless you all that have passed through the regimental roll. It was something to belong. The regiment was family and still in our hearts , It will always be!
Gordie.
Next will be the real training and our life at Petawawa Camp in 1941 ..
