The Battle Honour of the Queens Own Rifles of Canada
The Hat badge (Blazer Crest of the Queen's Own Rifles
The belt Buckle of the Queens Own Rifles Issued in the 1950's
Retired LGen RR Crabbe CMM, MSC, CD, BSc
Lieutenant - General RR Crabbe CMM, MSC, CD, BSc Click on for Chapter CAVUNP named after Gen Crabbe.
Ray Crabbe was born in Neepawa, Manitoba, and joined the Canadian Army in September 1963. After graduating from the University of Manitoba he served in a variety of command and staff appointments, including a tour of duty with the United Nations in Cyprus and NATO Forces in Germany. He served in several command and staff appointments including CO 1 PPCLI, Commander Special Service Force, Commander Canadian Contingent United Protection Forces in the Former Yugoslavia, Commander Land Force Atlantic Area, and Commander 1 Canadian Division.
In 1997, Ray was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Staff at National Defence Headquarters where he was responsible for Canadian Forces operations and intelligence worldwide. He retired from the Canadian Forces in October 1998.
Ray was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in 1996 and the Defence Medal from the Government of France for his work in the Former Yugoslavia. In 1998, he was promoted in the Order of Military Merit to the grade of Commander. Ray is a graduate of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the Canadian Forces Staff College, and the United States Armed Forces Staff College.
Ray is a member of the Board of Directors of Southport Aerospace Corp. as well as two private companies in Michigan. He is also Past President of the Board of the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba and a member of the Advisory Board of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He also served as the Chairman of the international Steering Committee for the Standby High Readiness Brigade for UN Operations. He operates a consulting business in Winnipeg
http://www.cavunp-winnipeg.com/
Retired Col Donald S Ethell, OC, OMM, OStJ, MSC, AOE, CD.Alberta Provincial Director ICROSS CANADA,
Colonel (Retired) Donald Stewart Ethell, OMM, MSC, CD
Donald Stewart Ethell was born July 1937 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Committed to the welfare of others, Colonel Ethell's humanitarian efforts and military career have had international impact and have brought distinction to the reputation of Canadian peacekeeping.
In 1955, Donald Ethell joined the Canadian Army at the young age of 17. Private Ethell immediately received his basic training as a rifleman in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada at Currie Barracks in Calgary. When the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada was removed from regular army service in 1970, all members of the battalion including Ethell changed their affiliation to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He quickly rose through the non-commissioned officer ranks to that of warrant officer until being commissioned as an officer to Her Majesty's Forces in 1972. This move was to foreshadow a distinguished career in the military service.
Colonel Ethell consistently demonstrated his natural ability for leadership. He is a veteran of 14 international peacekeeping deployments with service in Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Central America and the Balkans.
Between two tours of duty in the Middle East, for the years 1987 to 1990, Colonel Ethell served as the director of peacekeeping operations at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. This period of time encompassed a significant increase in Canada's commitment to peacekeeping and peacemakers with Canadian Forces and individual officers being deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Namibia and Central America.
In support of Canadian-sponsored efforts to bring peace to the Central America region, Colonel Ethell frequently visited Central America to brief military and political leaders on the benefits of peacekeeping missions. This led to his secondment to United Nations headquarters in New York to conduct in-theatre reconnaissance of five Central American countries associated with the Arias Peace Plan. The Ethell plan was accepted by the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping as the initial operations plan of the UN Peacekeeping troops assigned to the area. Additionally, then Secretary of State for External Affairs, Right Honourable Joe Clark, tabled the plan in the Canadian House of Commons.
Following his tenure as the director of peacekeeping operations, Colonel Ethell returned to the Middle East where he served as the chief of staff and deputy force commander of the Multinational Force and Observers during the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War.
Colonel Ethell then returned to Canada to commence retirement leave. However, within one month, he was ordered back on duty to Yugoslavia as the head of the Canadian Delegation for Canadian Forces officers assigned to the European Community Monitoring Mission in Yugoslavia. This tour, in early 1992, overlapped the commencement of yet another war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the subsequent arrival of the large United Nations protection force. In due course, he returned to Canada, and finally retired from the Canadian Forces in July 1993.
While in the service, Colonel Ethell also participated in many domestic and international peacekeeping symposia in Moscow, Madrid, New York, San Jose and Tegucigalpa. He continues to serve as a defence analyst to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and other media organizations.
Colonel Donald Ethell is considered to be Canada's most experienced and decorated peacekeeper. Honours and awards received include the Order of Military Merit (officer grade) in 1982 and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (serving member grade) in June 2001. In 1986, he received the Meritorious Service Cross for his action in planning and commanding operations associated with prisoners of war and body exchanges between the Israelis and Syrians in 1984, and the passage of Palestinian prisoners from Israel to Lebanon through Syria in 1985. He also received the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal in 2001, as well as various campaign medals for his service on peacekeeping missions, 100th and 125th Anniversary medals, the Special Service Medal and the Canadian Forces Decoration.
Following his military retirement, Colonel Ethell found a new focus and more time for humanitarian efforts. He became involved with CARE Canada, providing consulting services to staff responsible for five refugee camps in Eastern Kenya and Somalia. Despite being witness to many atrocities throughout his military career, this exposure to "matchstick" children and many others dying of AIDS-related illness and starvation left a haunting impression. This memory remains foremost in his mind as he currently serves as Alberta's director of the International Committee for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering, ICROSS. He continues his efforts in providing relief to the estimated 15,000 people in Africa who succumb to starvation or AIDS-related illnesses each week.
In addition to his concern for the tragedy in Africa, Colonel Ethell is active in pursuing issues regarding Canada's veterans. As a member of the Friends of Colonel Belcher committee in Calgary, he is committed to many activities associated with the move of the veterans from the existing Colonel Belcher Veteran Care Centre to a new care facility in 2002. Additionally, Colonel Ethell serves as one of four committee chairs for the recently formed Canadian Forces Advisory Council, which is responsible for investigating and reporting on all aspects associated with Canada's veterans. He also serves as national president of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.
Colonel Ethell is the president of DEthell Consulting International Inc, through which he provided experience and expertise for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Haiti, Rwanda and Angola, and with the United States Special Forces.
He also enjoys memberships in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Association and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Associations, Royal United Services Institute of Alberta, Calgary Military Museums Society and the Royal Canadian Legion. Col Ethell is also Past President of The Canadian Association of Veterans In United Nations Peacekeeping CAVUNP.
Colonel Ethell and Linda, his wife of 47 years, as of 2007 and reside in Calgary. They have two married sons - Darrell and Douglas - and two grandchildren.
One of the guest speakers at the QOR Reunion in Calgary
Honorary Parade Marshall 2007 Warriors' Day Parade
Major-General Lewis MacKenzie was born in Truro, Nova Scotia. He is a graduate of Xavier Junior College of Sydney, Cape Breton and the University of Manitoba. During his thirty-three years of military service, General MacKenzie served nine years in Germany with NATO forces including a two-year tour with the British Army of the Rhine. He also commanded ground troops in some of the world's most dangerous places: the Gaza strip, Cyprus, Vietnam, Cairo, Central America and Sarajevo.
In 1990, General MacKenzie was appointed the Commander of the United Nations Observer Mission in Central America and in 1991 he was appointed the Chief of Staff to the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia. In May of 1992, at the start of the Bosnian Civil War he created and assumed command of Sector Sarajevo and, in the midst of a brutal civil war, with a contingent of troops from 31 nations, and under fire from all sides, managed to open the Sarajevo airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid. During that period, Martin Bell of the BBC said MacKenzie was interviewed more than any other human being in the history of television over a thirty day period.
General MacKenzie retired from the Canadian Forces in March 1993. His personal account of his peacekeeping experiences "Peacekeeper, Road to Sarajevo", became a number one best seller. A two hour TV documentary. "A Soldier's Peace", based on the book, has aired in over 60 countries and won a New York Film Festival award in 1996.
General MacKenzie is consiered the most experienced peacekeeper in the world. He is the president of Major General MacKenzie Enterprises and comments regularly on international affairs for the National Post and numerous North American television networks. He also brings his high profile and leadership to the fundraising efforts of ICROSS (International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering), a Canadian charity whose mission is to serve the poorest of the poor in Africa, and throughout the world.
General MacKenzie is a professional speaker with The Lavin Agency and delivers numerous presentations throughout the world on leadership and global political and military issues.
Lew is active in motor racing, having won numerous national and provincial titles in sports car and open wheel racing. He currently competes in selected professional races and the Ontario Formula Ford Championship. In 2004 he won the modern standard category at the 2000 km Targa Newfoundland.
General MacKenzie was made an Honorary Chief of the Metro Toronto Police Force in 1993. He holds Honorary Doctorates from numerous Canadian Universities and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Canadian Federation of AIDS Research. He was Tourism Canada's Canadian of the Year in 1992 and he is an alumnus of the Maclean's Role of Honour. In 1992 he was invested with the Order of Ontario for his humanitarian work in Eastern Asia.
Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, General MacKenzie was appointed one of two advisors to the Government of Ontario on counter-terrorism and emergency measures.
The Warriors' Day Parade Council and The Canadian National Exhibition welcomes General MacKenzie as our distinguished Honorary Parade Marshall.
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Retired General Lew MacKenzie is happy following new career track
Story by Don Campbell, CanWest News Service
Ottawa - He's a decorated soldier who made his mark around the world, so competitors often find it difficult to believe who is really under the helmet in Car 96.
Forget his work in Sarajevo, Vietnam, Central America, Cairo, the Gaza Strip and Cyprus. Just try coming up in retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie's rear view mirror and blowing by him on a straightaway, or going high on a turn.
Put MacKenzie behind the wheel at Mosport, Shannonville, Trois-Rivieres or Montreal, on just about any given weekend from May through September, and, well it's all-out war. As a soldier, he welcomed the prospect of the enemy waving white flags. Now he lives to take checkered ones.
Which helps explain why, even at 67, the general is at the top of his game, having just clinched first spot in the Diamond class in the Ontario Ford Series with one event to go. His victory helped Ottawa's Mortimer Racing to its first sweep of both championships in the Series, with Matt White taking the Brian Stewart class.
How's this for taking no prisoners? MacKenzie raced 12 open-wheel-style races this summer, all to podium finishes. That would be five firsts, six seconds and one third.
"He's still a soldier," says Nigel Mortimer, the racing guru who heads the Mortimer Racing outfit. "If you want to pass him, you have to work for it. He's one tough competitor."
If MacKenzie is the brawn of Mortimer Racing, Mortimer is the brains. His racing team basically operates out of his garage and numbers 10 cars - and growing. He also finds time to drive his own cars, but he is the one the others seek out when things aren't going right.
Coincidentally, his day job has him overseeing the Transport Canada department in charge of vehicle recalls and putting manufacturers on the hook for repairs.
With his own cars, he's on the hook.
The relationship among the drivers has made for many memorable moments, some of which will be included in MacKenzie's much-anticipated and as-yet-untiltled book. It has just landed on his publisher's desk, some 13 years after he penned his first, the No. 1 bestseller Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo.
Yes, his book will delve into his side of a negotiated hostage release while commanding United Nations troops in Bosnia. Yes, he will weigh in on his relationship with former general, now senator, Romeo Dallaire and give his account of the events in Carol Off's critical book, The Lion, The Fox and The Eagle.
But the book's longest chapter, some 5,000 words, will focus on his racing career and his passion for speed.
It' a love of long standing. He was hooked from the moment a friend took him to a track when he was still in the first phase of infantry training at Camp Borden.
The day he decided to put aside his studies at St. Francis Xavier University and accept a direct commission into the army was a sign of what was to come. He needed the money to buy a sports car.
A few years later, he became even more serious. In his 30's and with a little discretionary income, he told his wife, Dora, that he wanted to try racing for "one summer". She reluctantly agreed.
His first race was while he was stationed in Germany.
Thirty-some one-year extensions later, he's still working on the "one summer" promise to his wife, all the while finding ways to keep his racing pursuits at least tolerable on the home front.
"You might call (racing) a passion," says MacKenzie.
Lew
By Billy Willbond
Scan the sports section's hockey - See who's got the goal?
Look at the racing car finalists - Who are the brave and bold?
There's the name of Lew MacKenzie - Once our soldier boss!
Now he 's racing and he's funding for our Canada's ICROSS!
What's that on his racing helmet? - Is that a yellow ribbon seen?
It's a suport our troops decal being sported on the racing scene!
The General's passing younger driver's in just about every race!
Lew is in fact a constant winner - He is a Canadian driving ace!
Lew has the Order of Canada and he holds two MSC's
One of the only Canadians who ever received 2 of these!
He is still a constant winner on the racing track's summer circuit
Lew has a busy schedule - I just don't know how he ever works it?
Lew just sent to us two thousand bucks for his riding with the CAV
It was an MC summer project that old veterans often have
They ride their motorcycles - to support the children of war
And this wonderful contribution will support the children in Darfor.
We are waiting for his new book to be published that's for sure
And we know t'will be successful cause the contents will be pure!
Lew is a soldier's soldier! He's a leader, and a real good guy!
He often gets in political trouble! - Cause our Lew he does not lie!
Inspired by the Times Colonist article this date!
William Willbond Canadian Soldier Poet http:iwvpa.net/willbondwha
Saanichton BC Sunday 23 Sept 2007
ICROSS CANADA - The International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (Canada)
MSC - Meritorious Service Cross - to have two of these is unknown other than Lew!
CAV - Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Club raise funds for charities including ICROSS
William H.A. (Willy) Willbond MSM, CD and His Wife Lynne
Born 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Billy joined the Canadian Army at age 17. In 1960, at the height of the Cold War, he was posted overseas and was on active service during the building of the Berlin Wall and during the Cuban Crisis. He also served with the United Nations on Cyprus in 1965.After 3 years as Operations Sergeant in Canadian Airborne Regiment, Billy studied Chinese for 3 years before being posted to the Special Service Force in 1977 as Operations Sergeant. He retired from the Army in November 1979.Billy is married and with his wife Lynn, has four children and five grand-children. He is a life member of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association, a Life Member of the British Columbian Federation of Peace Officers, a member of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Association, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and a member of the Princess Patrica's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) WO's & Senior NCO's Club (Retired). He is the Secretary of the Mark Isfeld Memorial Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP), the National Chairman of the CAVUNP Honours and Awards Committee, the National President of the International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS CANADA) and an active contributor to the International War Veterans Poetry Archives.In recognition of his selfless service to his country, Billy is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Special Service Medal with NATO Bar, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, United Nations Forces in Cyprus Medal, and the Canadian Forces Decoration.Read Billy's detailed biography and hear it in his words as recorded
on THE MEMORY PROJECT DIGITAL ARCHIVE
Billy and his family
Billy and Lynne with their 4 daughters and their 9 grandchildren – 24 July 2007
The Izzy Dolls Thanks to Willy Willbond and friends.
If you can help Billy and his group please contact him at
William Willbond, MSM, CD
CEO and National President ICROSS CANADA
The International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering
Post Office Box 3, Saanichton, B.C. V8M 2C3, Canada
Telephone 250-652-4137
Email icross@icross.ca http://iwvpa.net/willbondwha/
Jean Catellier and Gen Charles Belzile OC, CMM, CD, LLd.
Jean was one of the General's drivers and we were privileged to have the Gen as one of the guest speakers.
Retired LGen RR Crabbe CMM, MSC, CD, BSc
Do you notice he still pushes the beer away when he is having his picture taken? A great old soldier who has worked very hard over the years.
Retired Gen Herb Pitts MC , CD and his lovely wife.
Mr Pitts was awarded the Military Cross for his action in Korea
Retired Maj RB Firlotte CD and his good wife Doris
He is a 2 WW Veteran, (1st Cdn Airborne Regt) Korea Veteran and my old Commanding Officer and father image to all of his Company during my younger years in the Military. One tough son of a gun but the fairest guy on earth. He will be turning 90 years young in Aug 2007
Retired Major Robert B Firlotte and Norm Van Tassel
Maj Firlotte was Norm's Company Commander during recruit training. Norm had the privilege after completing a Infantry Signalers course to go to Korea on the advance party with Major Firlotte, which meant flying rather then the long boat trip over. Norm spent the first 6 months as the Driver Operator for Major Firlotte after that he became a section leader in the Company under Maj Firlotte. Upon returning back home Maj Firlotte left the Bn and became involved in many other things. Norm did hook up a couple more times with the Major once at the Jr NCO course in Wainwright Alberta and the Depot at Calgary. I not only had the pleasure of being promoted by him but I also was stripped by him for a short period of time. Lesson well learned. His leadership was second to none and led by example.
Maj RB Firlotte and His Wife Doris 1966
would-be bank robber Last May has brought Major
Robert Firlotte of 440 King Street, West Queen's
Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Major Firlotte received the award Friday at a
ceremony at eastern Ontario Area Headquarters.
The 49-year old Army Officer was waiting in
the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce branch
at the Kingston Shopping Centre May 31 when a
man attempted to hold up the bank, threatening to
use acid as a weapon.
A woman teller screamed, and the man fled.
Major Firlotte chased him, catching him outside the
bank and holding him for the police. James Kane 22,
was later given a two year suspended sentence on a
conviction of attempted bank robbery.
The Queen's Commendation is given for
"gallant and Distinguished service but not in
operations against tho enemy".
At the time of the incident Major Firlotte of
Campbelton, N.B. was a staff officer at area
headquarters. He has recently retired
1966. ZG 2163 Major R.B. Firlotte entered the
bank of Commerce located at the shopping centre
in Kingston, Ontario, for an appointment with
the Manager. Mr. T.H. Hein. While awaiting
admittance to the Manager's office he heard Mrs.
Joan Seguin, a teller. scream and noticed a man
detach himself from the teller window and
hurriedly walk towards the exit. In the
confusion of the next few moments he heard Mrs.
Seguin yell that a robbery had been attempted
and that the robber has threatened to use acid if she resisted.
With complete disregard for personnel
safety and unaware that the robber was only
armed with a toy weapon. Major Firlotte ran
after the fleeing man. Seized him and forced him
to return to the bank where the police shortly
after took him into custody. By his presence of
mind and quick action, Major Firlotte arrested a
felon who would otherwise have escaped.
The entire action took place in a matter
of only a few minutes. The area outside of the
bank was crowded and the robber would have been
absorbed in the crowd had Major Firlotte not
acted immediately. No other inmates of the
bank, other than the manager, made any attempt
to follow the robber or assist in his apprehension.
Major Firlotte performed a public service
which is not only a credit to his personnel
qualification, but greatly enhanced the image
of the serviceman in the city of Kingston.
It is therefore recommended that, for his
courageous actions, quick thinking and disregard
for personnel safety in apprehending this
criminal, Major Firlotte be awarded the Queen's
Commendation
Retired Maj (Salty) John Saunders CD and Ret Col Ron (Awful) Werry OMM, CD. They are at the bar buying a drink for one of their friends. They were always very kind and generous, just ask them.
Reunion of the QOR of C in Calgary
L to R Bill Brayshaw, Al Thompson & Cy Simons enjoying each others company with tales of old. I never knew it until later Cy Simons is also from Digby, NS.
QOR Reunion in Calgary
A group picture of the 2 Queen's Own Rifles of Canada 
Ken Umpherville and the Bugler from the QOR of C Unit in Toronto.
Ken was a former member of the PPCLI. He served in Korea with the 2 PPCLI in 1950 under the Command of Col Stone and was involved in the Battle of Kapyong on the 21 Apr 1950 where the Unit was awarded the USA Presidential Citation for its stand at Kapyong. Ken transferred to the QOR and obtained the rank of Sgt and became a much better soldier with the QOR of C. Click on to hear this beautiful song.
/www.army.dnd.ca/LFWA_HQ/media/RedandWhite_smaller.wma?id=667.
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