Well done to everyone who carried on throughout the past 6 months on either RST, EX Stalwart Guardian, Ex Steadfast Partnership, Ceremonial Trips, Small Arms Competitions, and IBTS. The strength of our Regiment is weighted heavily on our capabilities to perform in garrison and in field which you have visibility demonstrated. Being a reserve soldier is not easy. It comes with the weight of a civilian career, a family and hobbies. It is not for everyone but for those of us that can find the balance and the heart to drive forward, it is very rewarding. I continue to be amazed at the quality of soldiering that I see across our Regiment and know that this Regiment is one of real army capabilities and quality. The winter months ahead will prove to be busy as we lead the Brigade s Territorial Battle Group for Domestic Response on top of our existing winter warfare training and range work in February. Balance your lives, be true to yourselves and where the mind goes, the body will follow. Carry On. LCol Moore Summer/Fall 2015 CO s and RSM s Comments...... 1 Hoevelaken Ceremonial Trip....... 2 Small Arms Competition Update by 2LT Magne...3 Nijmegen 2015 by Pte Fell. 4 Ceremonial Tour France and Belgium by MCpl Owen......6 EX ABLE WARRIOR, Kingston, 16-18 Oct 2015 by Cpl Scanlan...7 Upcoming Events and Snap-Shots..8 A big BZ to everyone who has supported the Regiment over the last six months, either by instructing on a course, filling a tasking, attending the past year s ceremonial duties, participated in RST and SG and going that extra mile. What can we see in our future? No decrease in our battle rhythm, we move out of our 150th year right into the 32 Brigade Battle Group lead, winter warfare, IBTS, an Op Trillium Response in Northern Ontario. It doesn t stop there in between our responsibilities to Brigade and others - we have a push on developing young leaders, the Brigade needs to generate MCPLs, if you have the time to take the courses and make the commitment, self-identify for PLQ thru your chain of command. I now that this Regiment will continue to meet and surpass in everything that is asked of us. General Norman Schwarzkopf said it best: The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. Carry On. RSM
Pipe Major Swan leads the Remembrance Day delegation to the Private Strang Monument. Hoevelaken 2015 It was the distinct pleasure for Honorary Colonel Taylor, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, the Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Webb, and Pipe Major Swan to attend a series of ceremonies and events with the community of Hoevelaken as part of The Regiment s 100th Anniversary Activities. The delegation deployed to Hoevelaken Holland to join in on the community s celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. The Regimental group met up with Theo Zuurman and the Walter Strang Society and was well hosted throughout. Some of us will remember Theo s work in determining the history of Private Walter Strang and dedicating countless hours towards creating monuments and events to Private Strang and in remembering Canada s efforts in World War 2. Activities during our short stay included a short memorial and flag laying ceremony at every Tor Scot s grave at Groesbeck Cemetery, a solemn Remembrance Day ceremony, parade and memorial at Private Strang s monument, participating in the Liberation Day parade and attending a ceremony to unveil a new peace monument to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation. For those not aware of why The Toronto Scottish are involved with Hoevelaken Holland, it is because of Walter Strang. From 1928 to 1930 Walter Strang was a reservist with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. He signed up as a volunteer for the Canadian Army on 26 September 1940 to join Canada s efforts in World War 2. Walter took the oath to His Majesty George VI and was assigned to a Machine Gun platoon of The Toronto Scottish with service number B.77074. From 11 January 1941 to 26 September 1941 Private Strang pursued various training courses in Canada, particularly in order to operate the machine gun, but he is also trained as a radio operator. In 1943 Walter was assigned to the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and fought with him until his death liberating the village of Hoevelaken. It was on April 19th that Private Strang fell as a radio operator deployed forward with D Company to eliminate or push back a large concentration of enemy troops was located in the vicinity of Hoevelaken. The couple of days that the team spent in Holland and Hoevelaken were special days of comradery with the Society, somberness and reflection with the delegation from the Loyal The Command Team Jeep which the CO and RSM road in during the Liberation Day Parade. Edmonton Regiment and celebration with the community. Many new friends were made and old friendships reaffirmed through the warm hospitality and courtesy of our friends in Hoevelaken.
CFSAC and SA Team 2015 This year the Toronto Scottish Regiment was the lead unit for selecting members within 32 CBG to try out for the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration to be held at the Connaught Ranges. After the initial selection phase, 12 members from 32 CBG continued on to the 4 Div PRes selection phase. This selection phase consisted of SAT practices, live range practices and competitions at the Ontario Rifle Association. After a long and challenging process, 7 members have moved on to the 4 Div PRes CAFSAC Team to represent 4 Div nationally and internationally amongst its peers. This year's CAFSAC team consists of 18 members from within 4 Div in addition to having a team Captain, team Coach and driver/ store man. During the course of the two-week competition, the team will fire the C-7, C-9 & Browning High Power Pistol from various ranges and positions. The following members from the Toronto Scottish Regiment have made the team this year, with two members being a Tyro (New Shooter). Also on a final note, Cpl Alexander won top tyro shooter in one of the ORA matches this summer. Great performances as CFSAC included our 4 Div Team winning the following: 4 Man Night Machine Gun Cpl Alexander (Tor Scot) Cpl Fortin (GGFG) Cpl Muldoon (GGFG) Cpl Dritsas (48th) Great Job! 4 Man Pistol Team The Montreal Cup Cpl Zemancik (Tor Scot) Cpl Fortin (GGFG) Cpl Valcour (GGFG) Sgt Dallaire (GGFG) The Toronto Scottish Regiment 1915 to 2015..www.tsr100.ca
Nijmegen 2015 Day had yet to break over Camp Heumensoord, the main headquarters for the militaries of the world at Nijmegen 2015, when we are all awoken to the sound of a bugle being played in the main hallway of the Canadian building. We slowly make our way down to the mess hall to enjoy our meal of bread, bananas, Nutella, and water before heading back to begin taping our feet for the day ahead. With our 30lb packs on and our boots laced up the way we like them, the Canadian Contingent steps off together to begin another day of marching. We start out at the back of the pack because we are one of the fastest teams, but as we warm up and get back into our stride, we start passing teams. During training, our average speed was approximately 5-6.5 km/hr. Our team managed to keep this speed up throughout the entire march, causing us to very quickly outpace the rest of the Canadian teams. Our team, made up of Maj Rogers, Maj Moody of the Queens Own Rifles, MWO Stawarz, Sgt Beraldo, MCpl Beal, Cpl Viguilla, Cpl Morawski, Cpl Malushaj, Cpl Duic. D, Cpl Gitlin of 25 Field Ambulance, an d Pte Fell, were more than happy to keep this fast pace as it was far more painful to move slowly. As we marched past the Canadians, we caught up to the rest of the marchers. There are over 40,000 who participate in the four-day march, only 200 of which were Canadian. The Nijmegen march is open to anyone who wishes to attempt the gruelling 160km distance. Our group of twelve marched right into the middle of the most intense of the bunch. Marching with the rest of the crowd was a whole new experience. Because of the vast number of people, we had to slow down; there was just no room to move. We had been told early in our training that if we sang, people might move out of our way, it didn t really work. The other teams sing as they walk, we did not. We were too focused on the task at hand, and all of us, terrible singers at that. We did do a beautiful rendition of Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho though led by our very own MCpl Beal, and we participated in a singing competition hosted by a local bowling alley; we won. The crowds of marchers were not the encouragement that we had. The people of Nijmegen are massive supporters of this event, and they come out in droves to watch, cheer on, feed and water, and party with the participants. We all consumed an absurd number of spirally marshmallows and salty licorice candy, and we had funny dancing and laughing with the people of Holland. The children of Holland also proved interesting. They lined the streets with hands extended, they want two things; high fives and souvenirs. They would follow us through the streets holding their hands out saying, Souvenir! or Success! We would hand out little flag pins and bracelets to these children, and they would just lose their minds with excitement. Approximately every 10-12 km we would stop at a British/Canadian medical check point. Here, we would stop for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how we felt, and let ourselves rest. The fantastic people running the check points ensured that we were all fed, watered, and our feet were in decent shape. Half way through the day on our first day we ran into a problem, Maj Moody and Sgt Beraldo were suffering from terrible blisters, and we lost some time while they were being treated by the medics. On top of this, Cpl Viguilla pulled a hamstring and had to limp his way through the rest of the march. This did not deter us because we made back all the time we lost, and were still able to be in the top 5 teams back to camp.
Every day when we made it back to camp, we would kit down and a have couple of beers at our personal pool while we soaked our feet. It was here where we discovered the tape that held us together. Cpl Gitlin of 25 Field Ambulance would take time out his day to care for our broken and oozing feet, all while finding the time to take care of himself. And the worst feet he saw belong to none other than Cpl Malushaj. Cpl Maluhsaj developed an infection in his pinkie toe, but still managed to solider on despite the fact it looked like his toe was going to fall off. The last day of marching was the most interesting. The finish line felt like it was getting farther and farther away, but we eventually made it to the end. We filed in to get checked off the list of participants, then went and received our medals. We then formed up and left this area to march the last 5km as a formed body, with all of the people of Nijmegen cheering us on. Left and right we received high fives, handshakes, hugs, kisses, and flowers from the locals. The whole contingent, over 200 strong, completed the march, a feat that has not been accomplished in many years. So we marched through the crowds back to the buses that would take us back to camp. A sense of accomplishment in our hearts, and medals pinned to our chests, we took care of our feet by the side of our pool one last time before beginning our twoday adventure with the time we had off. Private Caroline Fell A Visit with Our Colonel In Chief, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles The Duke of Wales,
Ceremonial Tour France and Belgium On July 10th, 2015, 20 members of the Toronto Scottish Regiment, accompanied by friends and family, embarked on a ceremonial tour to honor the Men and Women who served during The Great War (World War 1) and World War 2. The 10-day trip would allow the group to witness and l earn about the Regimental history. The Regiment visited many sites such as Dieppe, Normandy (Juno Beach), Point 67, Benysur-Mer, Amiens, Beaucourt, Le Quesnel, Dury Ridge, Ypres, Vancouver Corner, Langemarck Cemetary, Passchendaele, the Sommes, and Vimy Ridge. At each one of these sites, unit historian, Tim Stewart, explained the events that unfolded and defined our Regimental History as well as Canada s defining moments. At each one of the sites, The Toronto Scottish Ceremonial Guard participated in a ceremonies and parades that saw local residents joining in on the act of remembrance. MCpl Glen Fraser, whose Uncle landed in Dieppe (with the Royal Regiment of Canada), at Puys Beach, was able to stand in the same area that his uncle and many others had landed on that fateful day of August 19, 1942. There is nothing that sets a story straight than being in the place that the story was told about. said MCpl Fraser. And He wasn t the only member of the unit to alo stand where their family had once been. MCpl Brandon Owen s Grandfather had served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War 2 on the HMCS Algonquin during the D-Day Invasion as a Telecommunications Operator. During our tour, we also visited London, England, where the Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, invited the group for lunch at Clarence House, outside Buckingham Palace. It was there that he celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother s Own) and its service throughout the World Wars. Master Corporal Brandon Owen
ABLE WARRIOR, KINGSTON, 16-18 Oct 2015 (by Cpl Kelly Scanlan) This year, the Toronto Scottish Regiment traveled to Kingston, Ontario, to complete the annual IBTS training. Despite cold temperatures and bouts of rain and snow, the exercise was once again a success. Sgt Franco briefing troops on range practices. Firer completing his PWT3. The first day saw members shooting the C7 assault rifle, the C9 light machine gun and the C6 general-purpose machine gun. Throughout the day, soldiers took part in their annual re-qualifications, and did this through cold, rain, snow, and a flock of suicidal seagulls that, thanks to the tireless efforts of Cpl Mike Duic, were eventually driven away. Cpl Duic chasing away obnoxious seagulls. Cpl Alexander s missing moustache. The second day after a night of festive partying in town - saw the unit participating in a variety of activities. Several members used the time to complete their annual battle fitness test and others engaged in friendly competition on the obstacle course. An honorable mention goes to Cpl Robert Alexander s mustache, which - to the great sadness of some - is no longer with us. It will be missed. Until next year, Kingston! DONATING TO CHARITY? Please consider donating to The Toronto Scottish Regiment Foundation, a registered charity that provides funding back to The Regiment. Cheques may be forwarded to the DCO for action to the Foundation.
Upcoming Events of Note We Will Remember Them. (as always, check with the Chain of Command to confirm dates and activities prior to locking them into your schedule) November 20-22 EXERCISE HARD KNOCK December 12 Soldiers Christmas Dinner December 12 Officer / Sr NCO s Grey Cup Challenge December 12 Holiday Stand Down January 7 th Stand To January 22-24 Op TR Shake Out February 13 OP TR/NOREX to James Bay During the Hoevelaken Trip, The RSM, CO, PM and HCol paid a visit to all Tor Scots buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.