Major-General T. F. de Faye CMM, CD
Colonel of the Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Fellow Royal Canadians,
As many of you have probably already heard, we are embarking on an update of our
Regimental history in support of our 125th Anniversary in 2008. The volume will be entitled
“For Country"
The History of The Royal Canadian Regiment, 1883-2008” and it will focus on the
achievement of our Regiment through the filter of its greatest strength - that being its former and serving members.
The author of the volume will be our own Colonel Bernd Horn who has the military, academic and experiential credentials to undertake a project of this magnitude. However, to capture the richness of our history and ensure it encapsulates the experiences and nuances of our contribution to the Country and the Canadian Forces, he needs your help. Official documents and records tell only so much of the story. It’s the human dimension – the stories of those who actually lived the events that he needs. He will endeavour to complete, as many interviews as he can and gather as many original photographs and records as possible, but as is most often the case, time will become a major challenge, as will actually knowing whom to contact. Too often valuable time is squandered just trying to track down the necessary individuals and documents.
As such, I ask that all Royal Canadians assist with telling our history. Please contact Colonel Horn and offer your time to do an interview with him; provide him with photographs and records (i.e. original DND documents you may have, letters, diaries, journals, etc…) – or quality copies thereof. If you provide originals – he will make the necessary copies and return the originals to
you as quickly as possible. I especially ask the young serving Royals not to ignore this opportunity. Our Regimental histories are updated approximately every 40 years – please do not miss out on an opportunity to ensure this volume is as complete as possible.
Normally, after the fact we criticize or question why certain information is missing, or why a specific person or event was not included. The answer quite often is simply that no one knew. In the end, it is the responsibility of all of us to assist with the completion of the Regimental history, both through our own participation, as well as the encouragement of those with a story to
tell to come forward and share their recollections and records.
In summation, I cannot stress enough the importance of your cooperation and participation. It will make the difference between telling a regimental history or OUR regimental history. Please contact Colonel Bernd Horn to discuss your participation or for more information.
He can be reached at:
work (613) 541-6000 ext 6977
cell (613) 484-5741
home (613) 541-1607
or e-mail
horn.b@forces.gc.ca or
horn-b@rmc.ca or
horn-b@sympatico.ca PRO PATRIA//original signed by//
MGen Tom de Faye
Author
Logged
