Articles
WW II sailor remembered
Courtesy of the Post-Gazette July 15, 98
Memoriam: Master Gunnery Sgt. Charles Minnis and Pte. Oclair of the U.S. Marines display the wreath laid in memory of Canadian sailor Beverley Johnstone, uncle of Minnis, who was lost at sea during the Second World War.
In a solemn ceremony held aboard the USS Naussa outside Halifax Harbour last month, members of 2RCR and the U.S. Marine Corps remembered Electrician Beverly B. Johnston, of HMCS Otter who was lost at sea on 21 March 1941.
As the 2RCR Pipes and Drums played Amazing Grace Johnston's nephew, Master Gunnery Sergeant Charles W. Minnis, USMC laid a wreath on the fog shrouded Atlantic Ocean at the last reported position of HMCS Otter.
The Otter, a Canadian Patrol Boat, was guarding the sea lanes approaching Halifax Harbour against German submarines in the darkest days of the war in the Atlantic when she was torpedoed and sunk. Electrician Johnston and a few others reportedly escaped in a life raft, however the raft subsequently sank.
This memorial ceremony marked the first time his family had been able to formally remember their fallen relative.
The Guard of Honour was formed from 2RCR and the members of the USMC accompanied by the 2RCR Pipes and Drums. Chaplain Henry W. Hensley, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force and Padre Paul Gaudet, 2RCR officiated at the memorial service.
P&D Platoon, OPFOR for MARCOT 98
By Cpl. Piers Pappin 12/07/98
Exercise MARCOT '98 Unified Spirit, was the largest military endeavour held on Canadian soil since WW II. The objective of the ex was to coordinate combined NATO sea, land and air elements in support of a United Nations operation, a situation which is becoming more and more probable in today's world.
The Province of Newfoundland was chosen as the battleground. Eight NATO member nations contributed 47 warships, over 100 aircraft and more than 15,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen. 2RCR's Kilo and Lima Companies including P&D Platoon were tasked as the enemy force, or OPFOR (opposing force) our job would be to make it as difficult as possible for the "Blue" force to take our territory.
For Pipes and Drums Platoon the ex started on 07 June with a bus trip to North Sidney, NS to catch a ferry to Port O' Bas Nfld. As with anyplace the Platoon visits with an available bar, the boat ride proved memorable. We arrived none the worse for wear in Nfld. and were met by members of the Nordican (fictional name of the OPFOR) transport Company who would take us to "Camp Krusty" located at the northern end of Lake George, the Nordican Expeditionary Forces(NEF) main HQ.
The Platoon donned their Garrison jackets the signature of "Red" forces for the ex. It was peculiar that by endex we came to like the things.... We received op orders and were deployed as a demolition guard on Black Duck Bridge, the rest of the NEF were deployed around the Stephenville area with various missions.
We settled into our position on the
bridge quickly. Our Advanced Pioneer attachment expertly rigged
the bridge with ample C4. The next four days manning the bridge
were great. There wasn't much to do if you weren't on duty or
preparing defensive positions.The weather was outstandingly warm
for Newfoundland, so the boys decided on a badly needed wash and
swim in the river. The water was a little cold but once you were
in for awhile you were numb so it hardly mattered. Being the
scavengers that we are we hardly ate any IMP's thanks in part to
the generosity of the locals. They brought us moose meat that was
cooked expertly by the Nufies in the platoon. The river was also
full of trout......few questions were asked when we requisitioned
flour and butter. A special thanks to Cpl. Dave Clarke's mom for
keeping us supplied with Tim Horton's donuts. It was the roughest
demolition guard that I've ever done.
2RCR
P&D would also like to thank the Pike family who operate Dhoon Lodge,
they were very generous in letting us access the porcelain god as
well as lending us a huge stew pot for our moose meat stew, which
the Drum Major cooked up. I hope we didn't scare off any patrons
as we were walking about the place dressed for war. The lodge is
located right beside Black Duck Bridge with its own golf course,
what a setting for a training exercise! MCpl. Donnelly even
managed to get in a few holes.
So far MARCOT had been a tough go for the platoon, then things started heating up when the enemy decided to show up. First we were probed by manless drones, then some Recce elements. I don't think that the S.E.A.L.S. will be so eager to take on the platoon in the future.("By the way you've just been captured by the band!")
An overwhelming force attacked our bridge and forced us to take to the hills, what hurt more than our pride was the fact that they took our swimming hole. From then on it was hard routine, patrolling and ambushing the NATO forces. In one particular patrol MCpl. Plaunt's section tasked with harassing enemy positions engaged in no less than four firefights in as many hours, the last being the catalyst that started a forest fire.
With endex being called on the 19th we boarded the USS Naussa for the voyage to Halifax. The general consensus within the platoon was "I'm glad that I joined the army!!!"
The Pipes & Drums re-appear at the Virginia International Tattoo
By M/Cpl. Mike Plaunt & Cpl. Piers Pappin 21/05/98
For the second consecutive year, 2RCR Pipes and Drums were invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival in Norfolk Virginia. The Pipes & Drums along with the 8 Wing Trenton Pipes and Drums from C.F.B Trenton, Ont. and the Fraser Holmes Memorial Ladies Pipes and Drums from Pictou County, Nova Scotia formed the massed pipes and drums for the Festivals signature event, The Virginia International Tattoo.
The International Arts Festival held annually in Norfolk Virginia USA, salutes the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation whose only North American headquarters is situated in Norfolk Virginia. The Festival includes music, dance, theatre a multicultural festival and The Virginia International Tattoo.
Guest performers for the 1998 Tattoo included, The Royal Danish Naval Band, The flying Danish Superkids, Woods Brass Band from Ontario, Amethyst Scottish Dancers of Nova Scotia and a number of military bands from the US and Canada.
For 2RCR Pipes and Drums the engagement began on the 19 of April with a 22 hour road move to Norfolk Naval Base. Despite Cpl. Stu MacDonald attempting to provoke an international incident at the border, we managed to arrive intact and ready to work. After two days of intense rehearsals the band performed a Tattoo promotional show at Nauticus, The National Maritime Centre located on the waterfront in Norfolk. Following the performance 2RCR Pipes & Drums marched through Town Point Park to The Waterside Festival Marketplace. The promotional show concluded with a refreshment and photos with the Hooters Girls. The Tattoo débuted on the 24th with a matinee for local school children followed by two evening performances on the 24th and 25th at the Scope Centre. The Tattoo was received extremely well by a enthusiastic audience and was considered a resounding success. On the 26th the band departed Virginia for the long journey back to Gagetown.
2RCR P&D with 8 Wing Trenton P&D at the Nauticus Center.
2RCR Pipes and Drums are scheduled to return to Virginia in September 98 for the Sprit of Victory Tattoo.
Pro Patria
OPERATION: RECOUPERATION
By Cpl. Piers Pappin 21/03/98
With a few days remaining of a well earned Christmas leave, members of the platoon received a phone call. The Drum Major informed us that we should be on stand by to be "bugged out" (rapid deployment). An hour later he called back......"bug out"
With that phone call the Battalion deployed as part of the largest Canadian operation since Korea. The platoon was tasked for the most part to assist transport platoon, by augmenting their drivers. The road move to St. Jean sur Richeliou was long and arduous. The Battalion travelled roads that were closed to civilian traffic because of poor road conditions due to the weather. As we neared what was known as the "dark triangle", the townships on the southern shore of the St. Lawrence, we noticed that it was as if everybody had just left in the middle of supper, it was very errie. The sight of huge hydro towers crumpled like paper mache gave us an idea of the destruction that the ice had caused. P&D platoon arrived at C.F.B. St. Jean, and promptly moved into the gym in what is known as the "Mega-Plex"
It took a few days for the platoon to shake out and get its orders, then things began to get busy. From driving through the various towns it was a surprising revelation at the similarities between towns in Bosnia and those right here in Canada. It doesn't take long for society to breakdown when what we consider essential resources are no longer available. For the next two weeks the members of the Pipes and Drums were tasked to assist various companies. We were even tasked to support other units who had deployed without support vehicles. The platoon assisted in providing such things as extra transport capabilities, dispatch drivers, re-supply, security teams and section level leadership for Militia attachments.
Platoon members were welcomed by the local population wherever we went. Although we only spent two weeks in Quebec members of the platoon felt that they had made a contribution to Canadians who were in need.
"click on a link to view other articles by title"
2RCR P&D Christmas Party (Jan 98)
2RCR P&D Returns to it's roots
2RCR Pipes and Drums returns to Virginia (Sept 97)
2RCR Pipes & Drums: Island-Hoppers (May 97)
2RCR Pipes & Drums steal the show in Virginia (Apr 97)
Any submissions, comments? we would like to hear them.piobaireach@yahoo.com
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