Fifty two years ago today (Give or take a day)
I was introduced to a large paved area in Camp Borden, Ontario for the first time. This area was known by many names, yet it was officially the RCASC School Parade Square. This square was indeed hallowed ground, one was taught very quickly never to walk, stroll, or cross this parade square in any manner other than Marching Arms Shoulder high. To the uninitiated this may seem odd.
However to the many many soldiers that traversed this square, left. right, left, right a 110 paces to the minute. It is a memory never forgotten. There are also many memories of Double time on this Square, either in Drill practice or on Extra work and Drill.
We were also Drilled in the traditional Slow March, a Ceremonial March for various military occasions ie: Remembrance Day and Military funerals.
The ghosts of former RSM’s are said to prowl the square late at night looking for offenders.
Now the Proud Days of the Square have come to an end. The building of an All Ranks Mess Hall is going to replace this once Hallowed Ground.
A ceremony consisting of many RCASC Veterans was held for one final March Past.
The local paper The Barrie Examiner tells the story this way:
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3284469
I have visions of the Rainmakers playing a Ghostly rendition of "Wait for the Waggons"
Along with the removal of the Square our first Soldier Apprentice, laid to rest at the Wagonners Park.
Guy Gauldreault 5Pl his ashes were spread for eternity. RIP brother Apprentice. This e Mail arrived from Bill Beagan an Apprentice of 7 Pl. Thanks Bill.Very moving indeed.
The effect of an incredible experience is in the remembering!
Thursday, September 01, 2011 will forever be engrained in the minds and hearts of all those who attended the memorial service, at RCASC Waggoners Park, for RCASC Soldier Apprentice Guy Gaudreault.
The committal of Guy Gaudreault ashes, near the RCASC Soldier Apprentice Monument, was a precedent of sorts inasmuch as Guy Gaudreault’s ashes were the first to be laid-to-rest adjacent to our beloved RCASC Soldier Apprentice Monument, of which Guy Gaudreault played an integral part in establishing. It was later comforting to hear A/BComd LCol Ken Brooks reaffirm that RCASC Waggoners Park “will remain in its current location, the consecrated ground forever being part of CFB Borden’s heritage.”
The uniquely directed Memorial Service, and Committal of Ashes for Guy Gaudreault, would not have occurred without the efforts of the Soldier Apprentices omnipresent “Ambassador-at-Large”, CWO Wade Greeley, and the personal intervention of B/Comd Colonel Louis Meloche for which our Soldier Apprentice constituency is deeply and forever grateful.
Prior to the Service, Padre (Captain) Forget visited with Mrs. Carole Gaudreault for several minutes, kindly comforting her, and apprising her of the arrangements connected with the ensuing service. The Honor Guard, led by WO MacDonald, and comprised of sixteen (16) defense force personnel, was remarkable. One could almost hear the hearts of those Soldier Apprentices in attendance thumping with pride. A most stirring incident occurred when CFSAL Comd L/Col Yves Thompson approached Mrs. Carole Gaudreault and tenderly embraced her, for what felt like several minutes as both women silently cried.
The arrangements for the interment of Guy Gaudreault’s ashes was personally engineered by BComd Colonel Louis Meloche, including the provision for and placement of memorial wreaths at the base of the Soldier Apprentice Monument by SFSAL’s L/Col Thompson, and Mrs. Carole Gaudreault. The committal of Guy Gaudreault’s ashes was an extraordinarily touching occurrence. The ground was prepared near a Royal Crimson Maple Tree in a corner of the fenced-in perimeter where a patch of sod had been removed from the ground. Mrs. Gaudreault was invited to the area by Padre Forget where she kneeled and tenderly spread her husband’s ashes.
Several Soldier Apprentices attended Guy Gaudreault’s Memorial Service and Committal of Ashes including Don Basinger; Bob Baxter; Clayton Boyd; Bob D’Avignon; Jimmy Dean; Denny Deneumousstier; Jim Fell; John Ferguson; Paul Flug (staff); Chuck Hamilton; Conrad Hof; Benny Lemarbre; Glen Numbers; Bill Rankin; Bill Raspberry and Ray Sturgeon. Several other RCASC folks were in attendance as well including but not limited to Donny Cappler; Murray Floyd; Ken Pierce, Don Walton and Jack Stringer. Bud Code, Bill Marsh, certainly not all names of those who attended.
“The effect of an incredible experience is in the remembering.” Indeed.
Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, Happy to Meet again.
Bill Beagan. RCASC ATC (1954-56)
On a more up to date note: Gadaffi is still free
How long will our Libyan mission last? ? ? ? I for one pray that it does not go on as long as the Afghan Conflict.
So folks as we move into Fall, please remember that some of our Troops will not be home for the first day of School of a child. Times that many people are able to treasure, but our Troops lose out on these firsts, as well as birthdays, graduations and anniversaries.
Please remember our Troops and their Families while you are going about your daily lives. Because of these brave men and women we can enjoy our Freedoms in Canada. In 5 days we will have the tenth anniversary of the atrocity at the World Trade Centre in New York.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
