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Topic: Bob Brown. Royal Canadian. (Read 277 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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It appears to me that Bob served at the same time as many who frequent this board did. Anybody remeber/know him?
World War II as a paratrooper
Posted By Sylvia Hennessy
Posted 5 days ago
Bob Brown was born in White River, Ontario in 1936. The population of White River at that time was 400, and half of these were Cree. The Department of Lands and Forest came in with float planes. There were no roads or stores, just trails between cabins and the Hudson Bay Company that traded mainly in furs.
"I went to school there. I used to trap rabbits when I was a boy. I had 150 snares out all winter long. I trapped snow shoe hares and sold them to the Hudson Bay Co. for five cents a piece. They had to be pure white or they wouldn't take them. The family moved to Toronto in 1952. I was 15 and there were still only 400 people in White River," says Brown.
In 1955 he enlisted in the military, and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, not knowing it was an airborne regiment. Brown took his basic training in London, his jump training for a paratrooper in Rivers and Shiloh Manitoba. After jump training he was posted to Soest, Germany for about 13 months, then came back to Canada. Overseas postings since WWII are followed by a rotation to Canada. It provides a chance for necessary time with family, more training, and a defence for our own country, plus a psychological break.
On Jan. 2, 1957 he was sent to the Middle East on the HMCS Magnificent, one of Canada's only two aircraft carriers. The 1956 war between Egypt an Israel was barely over. Brown along with necessary support troops landed at Port Said, Egypt and proceeded to Gaza (the Golan Heights), a thin strip of contentious land on Egypts border. United Nations forces took control of the area on March 8, 1957.
"I served six months in Gaza, followed by another six months in Cypress in 1958."
Brown spent a total of six years in the paratroops. He completed 78 jumps, all in Canada. "On my final jump, my parachute failed to open. I pulled the reserve chute right away." Bob hit hard. "I'd do it all again except for the concussion, if they'd let me."
Brown is a familiar sight around the Legion, and a Past President with many friends in the area. Thank you Bob.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Rick Rankine
Rick Rankine
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Pro Patria
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I dont recall a Bob Brown, but interestingly enough I was on the Magnificent in 56..57, while still in the Navy. During the Suez troubles first we loaded the Queens Own Rifles with all their equipment on the flight deck, watched them drill and do all the good Army stuff, and then it was decided that an infantry unit wasnt required. We then unloaded the Queens Own Rifles and proceeded to load a Recce Sqdn (cant remember the unit). The flight deck was full of their vehicles and stores. We left them enough space to drill on the flight deck on the way over. It was a very busy time. That little adventure confirmed to me that I would rather be in an Army unit than the Navy and started my attempts to transfer to the Royals . It took me two more ships and three years before I got my transfer. Perhaps Bob Brown remustered to the Armored Corps or another affiliation to get to Suez and Gaza and Cyprus at that time.
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RCN 55 to 60, Hmcs Magnificent,Crusader, Thunder, Bonaventure. transferred to RCR depot 1960 Amiens platoon..1961 Jnr NCO course..Delta Coy, Ipperwash,
promoted Cpl..1961..Det Comd/A/Tank..C coy Germany 1962, 1963-66 Int Sec Germany..1967 Int sec Cyprus..1968..Jungle Warfare School ..69-70 PMC Jnr Ranks Club..70-73 Cornwallis..74-Cyprus. to Borden CFR to Lt-Borden..Captain..CFLA 75 to 80..Adjt RCR Battle School 80-81, RSS HF of C
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Al Meecham
Veteran 200+ Member
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Was 2 Bn.54-55.Did not know a Bob Brown then,however i went to Germany 55-57with the 1st Bn.and knew a Bob Brown well.The Bob I knew was a Cpl. in the Pay Corp and seen him for sure once a month on pay parade.Don,t know if it,s the same Bob,but if it is,he was a great guy and one of us.I remember having a lot of laughs with him.Hope this might help.
Al
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Al Meecham
Veteran 200+ Member
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Was thinking about Bob Brown,and a flashback tells me about Bob as being hurt in a drop earlier as a Royal.I can,t swear to this ,but something rings a bell as to that occuring. Please forgive me ,as to not being exact,but it was a long time ago.
Al
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