The RCR Association Documents
A Medic and a Royal Canadian
By: Robert S. Berry, Huntsville ON
When I read the Regimental Adjutant's column about each Royal Canadian writing one thousand words, I thought, "that makes sense", and forgot about it for a few days. Later I thought that I was something that not too many others are, or were, whatever. I can hear someone in the background saying, "what is he talking about?"
First, I was a member of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, a jumping medic no less, who served with two battalions of the RCR, jumped with the same two Bns, and am a member of The RCR Association. Therefore I am also a Royal Canadian in the accepted sense.
I joined the CA (Reg) in March 1950 at the ripe old age of 18 yrs and three weeks. When the Personnel Officer saw that I had just finished a Red Cross first aid instructors course, he assumed I would go medical. Fine by me. So after all arms training, followed by specific to Corps training, I was posted to 37 Field Ambulance. Then all hell broke loose in some place called Korea. Canadian Army (Special Force), later 25 Infantry Brigade, was formed. In Borden we were flooded with a herd of medical wannabes, many misfits and we unit newbies were given one stripe and told we were drill and weapons instructors. So be it.
Come the end of October I took a weeks leave, interrupted only by a telegram telling me to return to unit, immediately. The RSM told me to get packed, I was going to Petawawa for Air Portability Training. Knowing that we were the medical component of the Mobile Strike Force, I was suitably impressed. Even more so when I learned we would be attached to 1 RCR for the period. Turned out we spent the better part of two weeks learning to drive jeeps up a ramp and into the mockup of a C-47 without destroying it. Interspersed here were periods of leaping out of the same mockup onto mats without breaking ankles or heads. And of course, shouting all the time. Someone off in a corner was shouting, "What are you?" "Tigers!!" "Whose Tigers?" "Bingham's Tigers!!". Didn't take long to determine that LtCol. Peter R. Bingham was CO of 1 RCR.
Shortly our whole group entrained for the Cdn Joint Air Training Centre, Rivers, Manitoba and a rigorous period of para and glider training. Through it all, 1 RCR people took it all in stride, never appearing unpressed, always smart and eager even when face down on the frozen prairie. Eventually, someone decided to get us all home for Christmas. That meant watching the weather, windy, down to -30F, and then three drops in one afternoon and evening. We were in Borden on Christmas Day, and I imagine the Royals made it to Petawawa as well.
Early in 1951 I was posted to 25 Field Dressing Station., CA(SF), and sent off on course to Kingston. Finish the course, and then I'm off on leave again, embarkation this time. So, Wainwright, Vancouver, Tokyo, and Hiro, Japan for a month or so and across the "swamp" to Korea where most of my training was used while at the 25 Fd Amb HQ section, (25 Advance Dressing Station (ADS)). We seemed to see a lot of VRI cap badges.
November 1951, I was sent for several days with a jeep ambulance and driver to the base of the saddle between Hill 355 and Hill 227 while the Royal 22e Regiment's D Company took a pasting. Quite a baptism of fire. What was it with Dog Companies?
January 1952, and lo and behold, I'm back with the RCR, 2nd Bn this time, having replaced a friend of mine (burn casualty) in D Company, (what else?) along with the company signals people. I reported to the CSM (WO 2 George Mills, I think, remember this is pre-unification). He looked at me and groaned "not another new medic!!" He brightened somewhat as he looked at the wings on my jacket, obviously I was Regular Army. Company commander? Maj Wm. "Guinea Bill" Hill, and his 2IC, Capt Bob Nuttall, who last time I saw an Association nominal roll was, like myself, still around.
After I settled in and eventually got used to my own duties etc, I began to see the fruits of the 1st Bn labours in whipping a bunch of civilians into an effective and smart fighting force. I won't go into the work involved for me, other than to say, "never spend time IN a rice paddy. They stink."
When rotation time came round in 1952, since 1 Bn D Company already had their own medic, I went to the RAP and had a chat with the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO). He pulled me out of the line and back to the RAP. Little did I know that I would work so hard patching people up.
It was during this time I made the second major gaffe of my tour. (The first was with the Brigade's commanding general, Brigadier John M Rockingham). I had gone to the sterilizer for another instrument tray for the RMO (Maj Roy A Smillie, later Lt Col, Commandant of the RCAMC School). I was trying to work my way around a rather large uniform in front of me just as the MO hollered at me to hurry. I jabbed the back in front of me with an elbow and told it to "bugger off, you're in the way" and as it moved, one arm knocked the tray out of my hand onto the dirt floor. I lost my cool, and planted a large hand between the shoulder blades and told the body to "get the hell out of the f...... way". I went back to the sterilizer for another tray, and handed it to the MO. He glowered at me, and finished what he was doing before going up one side of me and down the other. He'd do credit to any RSM.
Among his comments: "You never talk that way to the CO." I remember a voice behind me chiming in with " the lad is right, Major. I was in the way. Should have been outside". Naturally, it had to be Peter R Bingham, in person. I will never forget the wink he gave me as he and the MO walked away. Very obviously a Royal Canadian with a lot of class.
Eventually I went home, took two months leave, and was posted back to Petawawa, and the 2nd Bn. I walked into the orderly room, to be met by the RSM (I have no idea who he was). He took one look at my wings, and said, "there's a drop tomorrow. We'd like a medic on each drop. Will you be on it or will you disgrace the regiment by going for a refresher course?" What choice did I have.? I was on the drop and many others.
The following summer (1953), after having been posted to Toronto Military Hospital, I was gone again to Wainwright, and the Cdn Rifle Battalion (later Queen's Own Rifles) of 27 Brigade. After a month or so of shin splints from the 140 ppm, the short pace, etc., and my own size, I found they were headed for Korea. Not me.. I badgered and bugged until I got sent back to Kingston on another course. After which I stayed in all medical or HQ units for the next few years.
When browsing in a local book store in 1983, I came across "100 Years, The Royal Canadian Regiment" (Bell/Stacey). Lo and behold, I found myself on p 138 along with Maj B. Dave Jaffey. So, I sat down and wrote a congratulatory note to the regiment on its 100th birthday, noting that the date on the cutline was incorrect. It was not as printed, but should have read "1952". Some time later, in the next newsletter, there was an acknowledgement from Lt Col Bingham, stating that I was correct, it was not as printed. I presume he consulted war diaries etc to verify my statement. I doubt he recognized me as the kid who punched him in the back.
What did I learn from the regiment? Many, many things. Duty to country, HONOUR, and pride in one's self and regiment and in my case, Corps. Looking back across 55 years, I don't think I'd change a thing about my involvement with The RCR other than spend more time with the regiment. People have stopped at my home and asked me about the strange flag I fly (RCR standard) along with the national flag. That gives me a chance to give a short resume of my own involvement and pride in serving with the Regiment. I refuse to comment on queries about unification. I know also from what I read and see on the news, that there is no fear of a great regiment doing the wrong thing in Afghanistan and other places.
As I write this, it is Canada Day, 2007 (remember when it was Dominion Day?) and I have just been reminded by the news that yesterday 3 members of our sister regiment, the PPCLI, were buried. I thank God for their sacrifices and those of so many Royal Canadians , along with so many others, made over the years for this country. I don't need special days to remind me. It is with me each and every day, as my heart goes out to the families who grieve their loss, and those recovering wounded. I was lucky. Others, too many, weren't. God bless all of you.
I was a Royal Canadian as in my Corps' title, and a Royal Canadian in my role as a member of a very proud, efficient and honourable regiment and as a member of The RCR Association.
The Rockingham Gaffe
Fall: 1951. Somewhere in Korea. Don't laugh. I never knew where we were until I read several histories years later. Brig. Rockingham and entourage had shown up as suddenly as if they had been beamed in. This was one thing which endeared him to the troops. He just showed up out of the blue.
We were receiving casualties to add to the confusion. I had a couple of chaps on stretcher trestles (saw horses to anyone else) and no medical officer. So, more full of enthusiasm than common sense, I ran into the tent next door, bellowing for Capt. so and so, the duty MO. I don't usually run with my eyes closed, but they must have been this time. I didn't see the gathering at the tent entry until I'd run full tilt into a very broad back.
"Out of the way, goofus, I need Capt. so and so right now." The body turned around and I saw two things at once. My own CO turning various shades of purple, and the red collar tabs of a general officer directly in front of me. I raised my eyes and spotted the balmoral of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. which only Rocky could get away with wearing. "All right, son. Col., we'll carry on this discussion elsewhere. Your people are busy and we're in the way"
He grabbed my hand, shook it, and ambled off across the PARADE SQUARE cum helipad. Sacrilege!!! The RSM would have a fit.
There's a very apt saying fits here, about defecation or go blind. I stood transfixed until the duty MO grabbed me and said "let's go see about our guys."
Several weeks later, I was on my way back from 60 Indian Fld Ambulance, day off and in no rush, and a jeep stopped, driver told me to climb in. Yes, it was Rocky, out on his own. We had a somewhat subdued chat between Brig. and 19 yr old private. Didn't even ask where I was going, but drove me right into our compound raising all kinds of eyebrows in the process. I climbed out, saluted, and he capped everything with a VERY loud, "we'll carry on this chat later, Bob". The adjutant and RSM had both witnessed his arrival and departure. For days afterward I was almost untouchable. I was a friend of Rocky. It was no wonder he was so well loved by HIS troops, Rocky's Army, the whole brigade. He'd even been known to join in with the troops singing the rather bawdy song concerning himself. Quite a guy.