The corvettes of the Second World War were tough little vessels, but their trappings were primitive. Fresh food typically ran out after a few days, leaving crews to dine on things like red lead (canned tomatoes) and bacon.
Officers in the RCN share with the RN the privilege of drinking the loyal toast to the sovereign while seated. Those in other services must stand. It’s said the naval dispensation from standing dates to the days of King William IV. He was apparently dining aboard ship as a cadet and banged his head on an overhead beam when rising for the toast. He promptly exempted naval officers from standing. The tradition continues to this day.
Peter Cannon of Paisley, Ont., has a story about a 1983 summer exercise with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, which was staged at a farm owned by one of the regiment’s senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The unit
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Maclaren of the British army thought he had hit it big. When he retired in 2001, Maclaren received a letter from the Ministry
Kathy Beaupre of Geraldton, Ont., sent along a copy of an article published, probably in the 1960s, in the Fort William Daily Times Journal (long ago
On approaching the dais at a Royal Military College of Canada parade, the officer at the head of a troop lowered his sword in salute.
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