THE WAY IT WAS
Rallying To The Colours, Standing On Guard Since 1936 By Andrea Grimes
T
he year was 1936. The first Safety Patrol in Canada was established at St. Alphonsus School in Windsor Ontario, and a memorial service for King George V was held at the Windsor Armouries January 28, 1936. Popular hit tunes such as “A Fine Romance” and “When Did You Leave Heaven?” helped to lessen the uncertainty of life as the Depression uprooted thousands of Canadians from their homes in search of work. In the wake of fascism, Hitler’s aggression violated the security and peace of cities, towns and villages throughout Central and Eastern, Europe and Third Reich terrorism showed the real reason for World War II. Still rebounding from the devastation of The Great War, world leaders were preparing for the inevitable, on all fronts. As Canada’s newest Armoured Regiment, The Essex Regiment (Tank) (view their website by logging on to: Essex-ArmouredS old iers-Mu seu m.c a /t he-w i nd sorregiment-rcac-through-the-1960s-and1970s) was formed in December 1936. It was stationed in Windsor, Ontario due primarily to its link to the automotive industry and its shared quarters with the Essex Scottish Regiment at the Windsor Armouries, 37 London Street East. When WWII was officially declared in September 1939, the Essex Regiment (Tank) was mobilized. On May 27, 1940, the Regiment stationed a company of soldiers to protect the St. Luke’s Road Barracks, thereby changing hands from the Essex Scottish (C.A.S.F.) to the Essex Regiment (Tank). This task was “stood down” in September
Responsibility for guarding the St. Luke Road Barracks changed hands June 1, 1940 from the Essex Scottish Regiment (C.A.S.F.) to the Essex Regiment (Tank). Private Gerry Kemley of the Scottish (2nd left) is shown presenting keys to the property to Private W. Carroll of the ER(T). Photo courtesy of The Windsor Regiment Association.
1940 when a large number of soldiers (who had volunteered with the active company) served with Brigadier F.F. Worthington. A large contingent went on to the Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre in 1940 and then joined LCol Masson in the Ontario Regiment, earning Battle Honours seeing active duty in Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe. When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong and the Aleutian Islands, the Canadian government wasted no time in raising the 6th, 7th and 8th Divisions. On December 2, 1942, the Regiment was informed that it would be assigned to an unspecified task with the 2nd Canadian Division. On July 18, 1943, the Regiment boarded the HMS Queen Elizabeth and landed in Greenock, Scotland July 27, 1943. While stationed here, the Regiment realized there were hundreds of military vehicles that needed to be assembled. It was during
B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6
this “tour of duty” that the Regiment became known as the Number 1 Canadian Armoured Corp Company Canadian Equipment Assembly Unit. The active unit was stood down April 6, 1944 and the soldiers became reinforcements for other regiments throughout the European Theatre. In 1949 the Essex Regiment (Tank) became The Windsor Regiment (22nd Reconnaissance Regiment) providing many volunteers for active service during the Korean conflict. In 1954, The Windsor Regiment returned to “tanks,” re-assuming the armoured role of the Canadian Armed Forces. According to Colonel (Ret’d) John Celestino, former Commander of the 31 Canadian Brigade Group, “The Essex Regiment (Tank) has long been recognized as the only tank battalion formed from scratch. Many prominent Windsor citizens served in the reserve during the war years. Paul Martin Sr. served as a Trooper from 1942-47 and as Honourary Colonel of The Windsor Regiment from December 1964 to December 1980.” (On “Facebook” see the Windsor Regiment-RCAC Association page) Celestino, (Chair of the Windsor Regiment Association 80th anniversary committee) adds, “On October 22, 2016, our community will once again be introduced to the proud history of The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) during the official Freedom of the City ceremony and memorial service dedication to our fallen, taking place in City Hall Square.” (see page 16 for details) In celebrating The Windsor Regiment’s 80 year history of service in theatres of conflict and peacekeeping missions, we share in no small measure honouring a legacy of duty. In recognizing courage, and sacrifice, each generation is reminded of those loyalties, which stand to defend our principles of democracy.
45