In Peace Prepared by Charles D. McGregor

This book is NOT just a book; it is a resource, a history of our regiment covering activities of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada from 1950 to 2014. It was written by Charles D. McGregor, Director of Communications at Regimental Headquarters. This book is a hard cover with pages measuring 6” by 9” and contains 527 pages. Under CHAPTERS listed below you will get some idea of the vast content Charles has gathered from members of The Queen's Own Rifles who served in Canada, Korea, Germany, Cyprus and Afghanistan.

The book is jam-packed with pictures of people, places, things and events. It is a keeper. A reference you will look to often.

To order a copy of “In Peace Prepared” send a money order or cheque in the amount of $50 to cover the cost of the book ($30) plus $20 delivery. Cheque/money order should be made payable to The QOR of C Trust Fund. If you are sending a cheque ensure that on the memo line at the bottom left it says “History Book.” Direct your history book order request to:

Charles McGregor, 1152 Ashcroft Court, Oshawa, Ontario, L1K 2N9.

Absolutely no Credit Cards Please. Delivery will be by parcel post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents  

FOREWORD HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, GCVO, CSM.

iv

INTRODUCTION Charles D. McGregor

X

PROLOGUE The Recollections of Rifleman Ross

1

CHAPTERS

1

Troops Returning To Canada...

  30

2

D-Day Veteran Trooper/Rifleman Allan Playford...

  46

3

The UN Sustained Almost 500,000 Casualties...

  48

4

Five Years After VE-Day, NATO Beckoned..

  51

5

Ted Shuter Served In Two Wars...

  54

6

Recruiting Sergeant "Smokey" Smith, VC...

  59

7

Korea: Not Much Fun While It Lasted...

  74

8

Charlie Belzile's 35-Year Military Career...

  79

9

The Three Queen's Own Rifles Battalions...

  87

10

Col Robbie's Career Included The KRRC...

  93

11

The Crisis In The Suez...

  96

12

After Everything They Did To Get Ready...

101

13

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund...

104

14

The After-Effects Of Operation Plumbbob...

109

15

"Time Bombs" Tells The Story...

118

16

"Ex Vacuum" Soon Became " A Most Difficult...

126

17

"Ex Vacuum" Was Designed To Test Troops...

130

18

"Deuce Horn" Led The 2nd Battalion...

133

19

From The Bookshelf...

136

20

Major Ben Dunkelman, DSO...

137

21

Wounded On D-Day, Padre Jack Clough...

142

22

"Young Soldiers Draw Strength And Courage...

145

23

From Truro's Peace To Sarajevo's War...

148

24

CSM Charlie Martin, DCM, MM, CM...

152

25

Barney Danson Joined The Queen's Own...

155

26

RSM 1-tarry Fox, MBE...

158

27

Lord Haw l law Said They'd Bomb I its Ship...

161

28

From High School Cadet CO...

166

29

The Only Colonels Of The Regiment...

172

30

The New Colonel In Chief Visited...

176

31

"Monty" Renewed Acquaintances...

182

32

75 Years On...

188

33

Presentation of Queen's Own Rifles Drums...

191

34

The Ist Battalion's Bugle Band Made History...

194

35

1st Battalion Brought Home 79 Brides...

196

36

"An Organization Limited To Good Fellows"...

206

37

HRH Princess Alexandra...

211

38

A Last-Stand Battle...

215

39

The Queen's Own Rifles Museum...

222

40

For Troops Representing The United Nations...

229

41

From Queen's Own Rifles Skirmisher...

238

42

15 July, 1968: "The Last Rifleman Of The Second Rifles...

244

43

After 109 Years...

249

44

On 26 April 1970: At Midnight...

252

45

NATO's Ex Orion...

260

46

Both Were Awarded A DSO...

263

47

Upper Canada College Rifles...

268

48

The Queen's Own Rifles Cadet Corps...

274

49

Bill Atkins And The Queen's Own Rifles...

279

50

The Rifleman Journal Began Publication In 1978...

283

51

Four From The Queen's Own Rifles Marched...

286

52

Major Edward Dunlop's Bravery...

288

53

Skirmishers And Pioneers Have Led The Queen's Own...

290

54

The Queen's Own Skirmishers Rattled Windows...

294

55

Losers In The Battle Of Casa Loma...

298

56

Sgt Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial...

300

57

On D-Day+50...

305

58

"Operation Normandie Return." D-Day+50...

307

59

VE-Day+50 Parade In Appeldoorn, Holland...

311

60

Dalton Armoury Is The Suburban Toronto Home...

313

61

The Powder Horn: 2005 Reunion In Calgary...

316

62

It's Been A Full Life For Eileen Vaughan...

318

63

Ice Storm 1998 Brought New Meaning...

321

64

BGen Don Pryer, CD Played a Major Role...

324

65

Dolls from Canadian Peacekeepers...

331

66

RSM Kelly's Coin Presentation Program...

335

67

For the Fallen

339

68

3rd Toronto Regiment Dead Were Reburied...

340

69

Last Post Has Sounded...

343

70

"Why Me?" Fred Barnard Asked...

347

71

The Vimy Memorial Is Rededicated...

351

72

The Volcano In Iceland...

354

73

The Queen's Own Regimental Band...

369

74

The Princess Alexandra Bursary...

378

75

Westlake Brothers' Sacrifice Is Not Forgotten...

380

76

For The Nine Riflemen Mortally Wounded At Ridgeway...

383

77

The Colonel-In-Chief Of The Queen's Own...

389

78

The Brooches Of The Queen's Own Rifles...

397

79

A Warm Regimental Family Welcome ...

402

80

MGen Pitts Persevered...

408

81

2013 Was The 30th Anniversary...

411

82

3 Commando Played A Major Role...

417

83

Friend's Death Prompted John McCrae...

420

84

D-Day Veteran, WO Teddy O'Halloran...

424

85

Rambling Riflemen In Faraway Places...

430

86

More Than 70 Queen's Own Riflemen...

437

87

Steve Thomas Earned A Medal Of Bravery...

442

88

Adam de Bartok Earned A Sacrifice Medal...

445

89

Rick Was In Afghanistan To Do A Job...

451

90

Notes From A Queen's Own Rifleman's Diary...

456

91

Ivanka Wanted A Challenge...

459

92

The Queen's Own Rifleman's Fund..

465

93

The Road To Toronto Became The Highway Of Heroes...

468

94

Salute To A Brave And Modest Nation...

471

95

"Once In The Queen's Own, Always In The Queen's Own"

473

96

The Maple Leaf (Tree) Forever

476

97

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada's D-Day Survivors...

477

98

LCoI Danson's Tribute To "The Regiment"...

479

99

The Alliance Between The Queen's Own And The Buffs...

483

100

On A Personal Note

490

101

On A Final Note

495

MILESTONES: From 1950 To The 21st Century

499

A Brief History of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

522

Bibliography

526