Canadian Gunner - 1974
MESSAGE FROM THE COLONEL COMMANDANT
While I am sure that the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will not recall a time when I have been speechless, nevertheless with the presentation you made to me three days ago this is one occasion on which I find it most difficult to express adequately my deep appreciation for the generosity of your words and the handsome Eskimo carving which you gave to me from the Regiment.
As I said to you the other day, it has been a great privilege and an immense pleasure to me to finish off some fifty years in uniform by serving for six years as Colonel Commandant of our Regiment. The highlights of my tour of duty in this distinguished appointment have been my various visits to units, both regular and militia, throughout the Regiment. Whether these visits were for ceremonial purposes or to observe field training and firing practices, the pleasure that stands uppermost in my mind came from mingling off parade, in Officers’ and Sergeant’s messes and in Junior Ranks’ Clubs, with those who serve the guns, and swapping tall tales of great Regimental deeds at home and abroad, in peace and war, which have been a vital part of the fame of Canada’s Army.
The finely carved seals of this handsomely mounted piece of Eskimo art which the Regiment has generously given to me will be a constant reminder of the host of comrades and friends with whom I have had the good fortune to be associated as your Colonel Commandant. I hope there will be opportunities in the years ahead when I shall have the pleasure of meeting again with many of you and thanking you personally for the constant support and consideration given to me in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Colonel Commandant by Gunners of all ranks throughout the Regiment and for which I am ever grateful.
And now may I extend, through you, to all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery my sincere admiration for their devotion to our closely knit family of Gunners and for the high quality of their service. I should like, too, to pass a word of admiration and appreciation to our Gunner wives whose support is so essential to the well-being of our Regiment and who form such a charming part of our regimental life.
With my warmest thanks and very best wishes to you all.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 4
MESSAGE FROM THE COLONEL COMMANDANT DESIGNATE
On assuming the appointment of Colonel Commandant my first duty, and pleasure, is to express the gratitude of the Royal Regiment to my predecessor. General Sparling held this honorable office for six very long and hard years during which, to put it mildly, the fortune of the Regiment was on the ascent. Now that things are, at last, beginning to look up is the time to recognize how “Sparky” held us together and how, through determination and hard work, he laid the foundation for the re-growth and re-vitalization that it now seems likely we are about to enjoy. Without his leadership, inspiration and wise counsel we might not be in a position to rebuild solidly now the need for “gunners” is again properly recognized. This is but the last, certainly not the least, of the services Major General Sparling has given to the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery he joined so many years ago. ”Sparky” served “The Regiment” and Canada well – more than no man can do.
To Canadian Gunners everywhere, regular, militia and retired I can only say I look forward to serving the Regiment as Colonel Commandant and I look forward to the support that I know all of you will give to me. It is my hope and expectation to visit the “gunner” units throughout the land, and abroad, in the coming year. During these visits I hope to meet as many as possible of the “gunner” family to draw together in support of those thousands who served in the Guns of Canada in past wars and years.
As many of you know, 1976 is the one hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Artillery Association. This we will celebrate befittingly and this will be a success if all retired “gunners” decide to support the young gunners of today with even a small fraction of the devotion with which they supported their infantry in years gone by.
Finally, my thanks to the Editor and Staff for the opportunity of these words and for your continued perseverance in publishing the “Canadian Gunner”.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 5
FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR OF ARTILLERY
From The Canadian Gunner 1974
In the records my tenure as Director must go down as the shortest in history! Although I am very pleased to attend the Royal College of Defence Studies I do regret leaving at this time with so much to be done. Though I did meet with all the Commanding Officers in Ottawa, in December 1974, my visits schedule had just begun and much as I enjoyed being with 1 RCHA in the field at the CAS, I wish I had the opportunity to have met all of you in your “home stations”.
During the past six months much has been accomplished and we are making headway towards the primary goals of increasing the strength of the Gunners. This fall our “double-hatted” BOFFIN gunners manned the guns in Europe and some also served in Egypt and Cyprus. Our Airborne Battery has returned from Cyprus after an operational job well done and all the units have worked very hard to honour the many tasks and commitments they were called upon to do. For all these things I am most grateful for the devotion to duty shown by all ranks.
Until my successor is named, Lieutenant-Colonel Ward will fill the position of Acting Director of Artillery and will continue to work towards resolving our manning problem.
On my departure I would like to extend the gratitude of all Gunners to our Colonel Commandant, General Sparling for his distinguished service of the past six years and to welcome General Leslie as his successor in the New Year.
To my successor and to all Gunners I wish good luck and good fortune in the years ahead.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 6
While I am sure that the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will not recall a time when I have been speechless, nevertheless with the presentation you made to me three days ago this is one occasion on which I find it most difficult to express adequately my deep appreciation for the generosity of your words and the handsome Eskimo carving which you gave to me from the Regiment.
As I said to you the other day, it has been a great privilege and an immense pleasure to me to finish off some fifty years in uniform by serving for six years as Colonel Commandant of our Regiment. The highlights of my tour of duty in this distinguished appointment have been my various visits to units, both regular and militia, throughout the Regiment. Whether these visits were for ceremonial purposes or to observe field training and firing practices, the pleasure that stands uppermost in my mind came from mingling off parade, in Officers’ and Sergeant’s messes and in Junior Ranks’ Clubs, with those who serve the guns, and swapping tall tales of great Regimental deeds at home and abroad, in peace and war, which have been a vital part of the fame of Canada’s Army.
The finely carved seals of this handsomely mounted piece of Eskimo art which the Regiment has generously given to me will be a constant reminder of the host of comrades and friends with whom I have had the good fortune to be associated as your Colonel Commandant. I hope there will be opportunities in the years ahead when I shall have the pleasure of meeting again with many of you and thanking you personally for the constant support and consideration given to me in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Colonel Commandant by Gunners of all ranks throughout the Regiment and for which I am ever grateful.
And now may I extend, through you, to all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery my sincere admiration for their devotion to our closely knit family of Gunners and for the high quality of their service. I should like, too, to pass a word of admiration and appreciation to our Gunner wives whose support is so essential to the well-being of our Regiment and who form such a charming part of our regimental life.
With my warmest thanks and very best wishes to you all.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 4
MESSAGE FROM THE COLONEL COMMANDANT DESIGNATE
On assuming the appointment of Colonel Commandant my first duty, and pleasure, is to express the gratitude of the Royal Regiment to my predecessor. General Sparling held this honorable office for six very long and hard years during which, to put it mildly, the fortune of the Regiment was on the ascent. Now that things are, at last, beginning to look up is the time to recognize how “Sparky” held us together and how, through determination and hard work, he laid the foundation for the re-growth and re-vitalization that it now seems likely we are about to enjoy. Without his leadership, inspiration and wise counsel we might not be in a position to rebuild solidly now the need for “gunners” is again properly recognized. This is but the last, certainly not the least, of the services Major General Sparling has given to the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery he joined so many years ago. ”Sparky” served “The Regiment” and Canada well – more than no man can do.
To Canadian Gunners everywhere, regular, militia and retired I can only say I look forward to serving the Regiment as Colonel Commandant and I look forward to the support that I know all of you will give to me. It is my hope and expectation to visit the “gunner” units throughout the land, and abroad, in the coming year. During these visits I hope to meet as many as possible of the “gunner” family to draw together in support of those thousands who served in the Guns of Canada in past wars and years.
As many of you know, 1976 is the one hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Artillery Association. This we will celebrate befittingly and this will be a success if all retired “gunners” decide to support the young gunners of today with even a small fraction of the devotion with which they supported their infantry in years gone by.
Finally, my thanks to the Editor and Staff for the opportunity of these words and for your continued perseverance in publishing the “Canadian Gunner”.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 5
FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR OF ARTILLERY
From The Canadian Gunner 1974
In the records my tenure as Director must go down as the shortest in history! Although I am very pleased to attend the Royal College of Defence Studies I do regret leaving at this time with so much to be done. Though I did meet with all the Commanding Officers in Ottawa, in December 1974, my visits schedule had just begun and much as I enjoyed being with 1 RCHA in the field at the CAS, I wish I had the opportunity to have met all of you in your “home stations”.
During the past six months much has been accomplished and we are making headway towards the primary goals of increasing the strength of the Gunners. This fall our “double-hatted” BOFFIN gunners manned the guns in Europe and some also served in Egypt and Cyprus. Our Airborne Battery has returned from Cyprus after an operational job well done and all the units have worked very hard to honour the many tasks and commitments they were called upon to do. For all these things I am most grateful for the devotion to duty shown by all ranks.
Until my successor is named, Lieutenant-Colonel Ward will fill the position of Acting Director of Artillery and will continue to work towards resolving our manning problem.
On my departure I would like to extend the gratitude of all Gunners to our Colonel Commandant, General Sparling for his distinguished service of the past six years and to welcome General Leslie as his successor in the New Year.
To my successor and to all Gunners I wish good luck and good fortune in the years ahead.
The Canadian Gunner 1974, Volume 10, December 1974, page 6