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Topic: Introduction (Read 813 times)
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David Hopkinson
Still proud to have been a Royal
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Hey All
I was just watching a program on TV about the USMC and it made me think of my few years in the RCR. I was in 1 RCR from 82-85. It was definitely the wildest time of my life. I made a few friends and I am somewhat ashamed that I let 22 years pass without even making the effort to stay in touch.
I was in BCOY during my time in London and served with some good guys. I was released on a medical release and have since moved on to quite a few jobs and I now own a multimedia production company. I plan on going to the 125 reunion ( I was at the 100) If any of the guys I served with are there I would love to buy you a wobbly pop.
Peace
Dave Hopkinson
1 RCR 82-85
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Gerry Connors
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Welcome Dave; I was in Duke's from '82 to '87, then LOTPed to medic. 'Retired' last aug.
Again, welcome.
-gerry
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1RCR Duke's Coy '82 - '87; Cyprus '84 / '85
LOTPed medic 1988; CFH Halifax '88 - '90
119 AD Bty medic, CFB Chatham '90 - '95
2RCR medic '95 - '00; SFOR Bosnia, 2RCR Roto 4 '99;
42 Hlth Svc Gagetown '00 - '02
CFRC Gagetown / Fredericton '02 - '06; 'retired' Aug '06
HMCS Jolliet, Sept-Iles QC, medical staff / 'tiffy' (reserves)
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
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Hi David
I was in B Coy from 80 until 82. Welcome on board.
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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Cpl Fournier
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Welcome aboard Dave. also served with 1RCR from 81-87. Served in B Coy from 81-84, went to F Coy after then remustered in 87 to MSE OP. I am also looking forward to attending the reunion in 08. Pro Patria.
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Randy watts
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Hi Dave
Also an ex Royal and B Class affiliate in London 78- 83 remustered to Firefighter I will also be at the reunion in 08
Pro Patria Randy Watts
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Bill Norman
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Hi Dave.
I was in London from 76 until they closed the base and moved us to Pet. B-Coy was the only Coy that I was not in. I am also looking forward to the Reunion.
Bill.
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David Hopkinson
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Thanks for the warm reception guys.
I am encouraged that so many people are looking forward to the reunion.I am trying hard to put a face to the names and so far I can remember Cpl Fournier and Jim Hickson by name only.
Hopefully it all comes back clear as mud.
Peace
Dave
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
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Hi David
My picture in 78 to 82:
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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Tim McCully
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Hey hoppy, i remember you in my platoon in Norway, do you remember Rob Ruggles, Duke Dearing, Rob Quinton, and the rest of the guys, we used to laugh alot, i remember you were quite a moral booster buddy. good to hear from ya brother. Tim McCully B coy 82-84, BBC coy 84-85, C Coy85-86, Mortars 86-88
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1RCR (82-88) B coy 6pl, (84-85) UNFICYP- BBC coy Tpt, C coy 9pl, E coy Mortars, (88-90) CFB Halifax Base Chief's Staff, CFB Trenton Refinisher Tech.(90-92). UNFICYP,CPSM
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David Hopkinson
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Tim
I do remember you and the rest of the guys. Norway was a blast. I was trying to remember the names of some of the brothers back then. A few more came to mind...Hillier, Rosehart(sp), Rutt, Lt Poirier. I am sure more will come as the cobwebs start to clear.
Do you stay in touch with any of the guys anymore? I run into Curtis Rutt about once a year (he is with the OPP now)
Other than that I ran into Troy Mackenzie a couple of times (he was the guy who took a .50 cal round in the leg while on an AVGP course)
Take it easy
Peace
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Ghalsey
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I remember Troy
That 50 cal round cooked off in the caseing bag in the AVGP sent the unspent primer into his calf 
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Geoff Halsey
1 RCR 1981 - 1991
Fin 831 - 1991 - 1996
CD, UN Cyprus
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David Hopkinson
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That must have hurt. If I remember the scar was about a foot long. They had to get a bomb tech in the operating room to remove the cap.
Didn't he get some kind of certificate at the end of the course?
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Tim McCully
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hey Guys, Troy is residing somewhere around Picton last i saw him! I remember that incedent with his leg but it never did affect his drinkin hand. Dave wasn't Hillier that pretty boy that some little Norwegian girl took home to meet the parents, they loved him so much they had him over for dinner and showers and all the luxuaries while we sat back at the tent line wishin we were him,, Ha, Ha, Remember that Davie? Rossaert, that guy was quite a little scrapper! Curtis Rutt, remember him too, know that you mention his name. Were you in the BV202 that roled Dave? I still see Terry Whalen, and some of the old guys from London quite often. I was just in London yesterday visiting with Gord Maclean, Ben Robertson, Bob Moody. We have a fishin trip coming up next couple of weeks in Northern Ontario. Talk Soon Hoppie, Tim..
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1RCR (82-88) B coy 6pl, (84-85) UNFICYP- BBC coy Tpt, C coy 9pl, E coy Mortars, (88-90) CFB Halifax Base Chief's Staff, CFB Trenton Refinisher Tech.(90-92). UNFICYP,CPSM
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Tim McCully
Veteran 200+ Member
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hey Guys, Troy is residing somewhere around Picton last i saw him! I remember that incedent with his leg but it never did affect his drinkin hand. Dave wasn't Hillier that pretty boy that some little Norwegian girl took home to meet the parents, they loved him so much they had him over for dinner and showers and all the luxuaries while we sat back at the tent line wishin we were him,, Ha, Ha, Remember that Davie? Rossaert, that guy was quite a little scrapper! Curtis Rutt, remember him too, know that you mention his name. Were you in the BV202 that roled Dave? I still see Terry Whalen, and some of the old guys from London quite often. I was just in London yesterday visiting with Gord Maclean, Ben Robertson, Bob Moody. We have a fishin trip coming up next couple of weeks in Northern Ontario. Talk Soon Hoppie, Tim..
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1RCR (82-88) B coy 6pl, (84-85) UNFICYP- BBC coy Tpt, C coy 9pl, E coy Mortars, (88-90) CFB Halifax Base Chief's Staff, CFB Trenton Refinisher Tech.(90-92). UNFICYP,CPSM
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David Hopkinson
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Hey Tim
Troys drinking hand could have been blown clear off and he would still find a way to hold a beer. Hillier was a pretty boy and yep he did have a way with the Norge Ladies. Rosehart was the first guy I met when I got to Battallion, he invited me in for a beer and that was it.
I wasnt in the BV206 that rolled. I was in the one where the Norwegian driver got us lost for 6 hours ( in his own backyard) that trip should have taken about 1 hour and the heater was on the fritz.
Remember the JarHead that tried to stop his sled from leaving the Huey...180lb Marine+300 lb sled+ Laws of physics and Gravity = 1 very quick ride to the great hereafter.
How is Whalen doing? That boy sure loved to read. He used to be careful not to break the spine on the books so he could take them back (talk about improvising and overcoming)
Man all the stuff I havent thought of in years just comes flooding back.
Thanks for the chat bro.
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Clair "WHYTIE" Whyte
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HEY DAVE, WELCOME ABOARD, GREAT TO HEAR FROM ANOTHER EX-ROYAL. I WAS WITH 1 RCR FROM 1983-87 AND 4 RCR FROM 1997-2002. STARTED OUT IN B CO. AND THEN WENT TO C CO. IN 84 FOR THE TRIP TO CYPRURS.
I CERTAINLY REMEMBER TIM MCCULLY AND TROY MCKENZIE. TROY WENT THREW BASIC WITH ME IN PET. WAS MY ROOMATE FOR SIX MONTHS. GREAT GUY, CERTAINLY KNEW HOW TO POUND THEM BACK. I ALSO REMEMBER THE 50 CAL. INCIDENT, IT CERTAINLY LEFT A BIG SCAR, BUT I GUESS IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER TO MANY OF THE GUYS FROM B CO. OTHER THAN CPL JACQUES, NICE GUY.
THE TIME I REMEMBER MOST WAST PETCON 84, MY FIRST EXERCISE WITH THE BATTALION, WE HAD A PATROL COMPETITION, AND PART OF THE COMPETITION WAS A WATER CROSSING IN ASSAULT BOATS. AT THE LAUNCH SITE, SGT GOOSENECK MCLEAN HAD THE BRIGHT IDEA THAT EVERYONE SHOULD STRIP OFF THEIR WEB GEAR AND WEAPON AND THROW THEM ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT. AS WE PADDLED ACCROSS THE RIVER, I COULD FEEL MY PANT LEGS GETTING WETTER AND WETTER, AND FOR GOOD REASON, OUR ASSAULT BOAT WAS SINKING. AS WE MADE IT TO SHORE, OUR BOAT HALF UNDER WATER, WE HAD THE PLEASANT TASK OF PULLING ALL OUR WEB GEAR AND WEAPONS OUT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS WHO OWNED WHAT. I REMEMBER FINDING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY WEB GEAR, PUTTING IT ON AND THEN FINDING A PISTOL ON THE HIP, I HAD PUT ON THE PLATOON COMMANDERS WEB BELT ON BY MISTAKE. IT WAS ALSO GREAT PICKING UP EVERYONES WEAPON AND DRAINING OUT THE WATER FROM THE BARRELS. CERTAINLY A HIGHLIGHT OF THE WHOLE EXERCISE.
CLAIR "WHYTIE" WHYTE
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« Last Edit: February 27, 2007, 10:36:33 PM by Clair "WHYTIE" Whyte »
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1 RCR 83-87, 4 RCR 98-02, UN - CYPRUS 84, Strathroy-Caradoc Police 03-Present
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David Hopkinson
Still proud to have been a Royal
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Hey Whytie
I guess we may have crossed paths at one point or another. Troy and I used to go out to the clubs quite a bit so I'm sure that we have met. Nice story about the boat...Even the best laid plans go awry.
Petawawa was a great place to be if you didnt want to be anywhere. I loved live fire excersises there as well as the jr ranks club.
Of course digging out on the Matawa plains was a memorable event.
Take it easy
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Paul Anderson
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Hey Dave..
I served with the Royals from 85-89 then remustered to radop...got out of the army in 1999. Anyways I was with BCOY in 85 with Mayor Tabernor as our Company Commander. Man could that guy run, I remember running downtown London first thing in the morning with the Company and dodging all those poles that come about nut height....sometimes people ahead forgot to yell pole before the next guy could dodge it... oops!
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Clair "WHYTIE" Whyte
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HEY DAVE, WHYTIE HERE AGAIN, JUST THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU CHECK OUT THE PHOTO CHALLENGE SECTION, ON THE SECOND PAGE YOU WILL FIND A PICTURE OF OUR BASIC TRAINING GROUP I SHARED A ROOM WITH UNDER BASIC GRADUATION 1984, YOU WILL SEE MCKENZIE AT REAR LEFT, ALSO THERE IS MIKE NOONAN, JOE BURNS, MIKE BELANGER, MYSELF FRONT LEFT AND ROB HALL. UNDER OLD FACES YOU WILL SEE MYSELF AND MIKE NOONAN AND UNDER PETAWAWA 1983 YOU WILL SEE OUR BASIC TRAINING PLATOON ON DAY ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ALL LOOK MISERABLE. I GUESS IN OUR MINDS WE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
WHYTIE
PICTURE OF MYSELF, AFTER RETURNING FROM CYPRUS.
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« Last Edit: February 28, 2007, 02:08:10 AM by Clair "WHYTIE" Whyte »
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1 RCR 83-87, 4 RCR 98-02, UN - CYPRUS 84, Strathroy-Caradoc Police 03-Present
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
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Hi Whytie
What yr was that?? Looking sharp!!!
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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Clair "WHYTIE" Whyte
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HEY JIM, THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT. THE YEAR WAS 1985, AND PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT MY PARENTS HOUSE. NOTE THE LOVELY WOOD PANNELING AND SHAG CARPETS.
WHYTIE
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1 RCR 83-87, 4 RCR 98-02, UN - CYPRUS 84, Strathroy-Caradoc Police 03-Present
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