 Dear Dean,
You and I go all the way back to 1981, when I swore you in as a young Officer Cadet. Bright eyed and bushy tailed you were, eager to get on with training. When I was the CO, you were serving back East in the Prime Ministers office getting experience that would help you later in life. Our paths crossed a few times since then and I enjoyed following your career as a City Councellor and an aspiring MP. As you leave us far too soon, I will miss your company at the various get togethers in the Armoury. Ubique, End of Mission, Stand Easy. John LCol J.A.Jessop CD Lieutenant-Colonel Dean Drysdale CD Dec. 30, 1963 - Aug. 11, 2019 Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret'd) Dean Drysdale CD RCA, MBA, Ph.D., CGA-CPA Dean passed away at his home, surrounded by loving family and close friends. He died as he lived, courageously. Dean was a soldier, a professor, an elected official, an aspiring parliamentarian, and a successful venture capitalist. See more...    Sir,
Many memories are accrued with long service - one of the most notable for me was my first day back from tour and seeing all the new faces for a new battery. that had stood up in our absence. It made for a good homecoming and pointed to a bright future for the unit and its people. And credit where credit is due for that. It was both an honour and a pleasure to serve as your Tn NCO. ( sorry I couldn't make that long drive to Ft Lewis in that LSVW more comfortable! ) Sgt ( ret'd ) A.S. Gee CD For more info... My life is better because he was a part of it.
How incredibly unfair. I hope he finds great peace. I will miss him. Julia Cornester  I am shocked and saddened to hear of this. I will always cherish our time working and most importantly, having our ritual coffee and snacks before parade.
Dean, you will always have my respect and admiration. May god bless you, god speed my friend. George Lenis  Dean,
It was an honour and a privilege to serve under your command in 15th Field Artillery Regiment. You taught me the importance of recruiting and how to ignore the SIP! I will miss your leadership, comradeship and sense of humour. UBIQUE! Brent Abbotsford Air Show The Vancouver Artillery Association was at the Air Show alongside Ian Newby's collection. Thanks to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Don Foster, Bernard Rowe, Doug Loney, Art Gee and Andrew McRae for taking the time to display the 25 Pounder and FAT. See more photos here... Abbotsford Agrifair Doug Loney and Andrew MacRae manned the 25 pounder display at the Abbotsford Agrifair. See more photos here.  Dear Dean
I should start by thanking you for showing me there is more to running a battery than considering flash cover when placing gun markers. Along the way I appreciated those political conversations, over nights at the mess, your can-do attitude, your sense of humour and your leadership. Also how you raised a entire battery almost from scratch by hustle and thinking outside the box, and the many young Canadians you helped get their start in life by recruiting them into 15 Fd Regt. I'll always remember how your planning and training as the BC enabled us to win the National Battery Competition. Ubique, Grayson McCready  Dear Dean,
I was saddened to learn of your illness from Leon Jensen. I am also indebted to Leon for making it possible for me to convey a few words of solidarity and gratitude on behalf of your comrades across The Royal Regiment. My what an accomplished life you have led! I always appreciate a glimpse into the civil lives of the members of the reserve component of our Regiment. Typically, I am reminded of the adage, “Twice the Citizen” – as I most certainly am in your case. Outstanding academic achievement at one of the world’s most renowned business schools in what I know to be the most exacting of the business disciplines – finance - and a professional career devoted to the application of your knowledge and wisdom to the economic progress of the nation …. Exceptional service to your community as a councillor, and a candidate, twice, for Parliament and all that implies in terms of commitment of time and energy … Any finally, devotion to your Queen and Country as a Soldier and what’s more, a Gunner! I believe it was Samuel Johnson who said, “Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.” Well Dean, you have been a soldier and a very good one at that – facts of which you must be rightly proud. The comments on the Vancouver Gunners website attest to the difference you have made in the lives of so many with whom you soldiered. And to have done so as a Commanding Officer with all that that entails – this should be a source of great satisfaction. “A regiment is more than a mere organization; it is in truth a family, with its ancestors and descendants, its pride and its possessions, and through all its vicissitudes, a strong sense of community and continuity”, avowed Field Marshal Earl Wavell. I agree and offer heartfelt appreciation for all that you have done down the years to ensure that our Regiment remains worthy of that description. Remember, you will forever be one of us. UBIQUE! Jim Brigadier-General (Ret’d) | Brigadier-général (ret) J.J. Selbie, OMM, CD Colonel Commandant | Colonel commandant The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Le Régiment royal de l’Artillerie canadienne |
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October 2021
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