RMC History
True stories, anecdotes and factoids about the
history of the Canadian Services Colleges
The purpose of this feature
is to catalogue and preserve interesting information about the Colleges and to
serve as an authoritative reference.
Every Article
which appears in this space has been vetted by at least one authoritative and
respected figure from RMC's past. Readers are invited to contact the webmaster,
or Ed Murray who is the inaugural champion of stories for this archive, with any
information relating to the stories, or with new stories, photos, recollections or suggestions.
Upcoming Stories:
-
College Flag
-
Commandant's House
-
Currie Hall
-
Cadet Traditions: doubling the
square, saluting the inner playing field, cadet uniform, swagger stick,
swimming off the pier, etc.
History
Click on the picture links below for amazing
details about RMC's history:
► The College Coat of Arms
Submitted by RMC Museum Staff
Do you know why these two crest are
different?
On 31 July 1920 His late Majesty King George V
issued a special Warrant granting the use of Armorial Ensigns, “for the greater
honour and distinction of [the] Royal Military College of Canada” and directed
that they be recorded in the College of Arms. This Royal Warrant transcended the
normal method of granting Armorial Ensigns (or Coats-of-Arms); as such things
were normally left to the College itself to sort out in accordance with the
established laws of heraldry.
The design had originated with the College’s
first Commandant, Colonel E.O. Hewett, and, from the earliest years, it was
widely used as an unofficial symbol of RMC. Colonel Hewett
and his senior officers also created the College motto, “Truth, Duty, Valour”.
Having first decided on the words, “Truth” and “Duty”, they came to the
conclusion that where there is Truth and Duty, Valour was sure to follow.
(For full article, click here or on image)
► The Real Case of No. 943
William Avery Bishop
Submitted
by author 8057 J. Ross Mckenzie, RMC Museum Curator
"This
is an old article, written about 20 years ago when I had just started employment
at the College as the Museum Curator and as a Liaison Officer. In the first two
years of my civilian employment I actually had time to do museum work and time
to research stuff like this
This was published in the cadet newspaper and individual copies were passed
around and generated momentary interest. Extracts appear in Dave Bashshaw's
pro-Bishop chapter in his book, "Knights of the Air." A copy went to the late
Ben Greenhouse - a vociferous anti-Bishop historian- and he lifted some of the
information and footnotes without any credit to me and used them in another of
his books on Bishop."
► From Gentleman Cadet to No Known
Grave
Submitted by G1397 Major Andrew B. Godefroy, CD, MA, Ph.D.
►
CADET #1271 - DOUGLAS W.
FREDERICK -
EPISODE 3 - WAR SOUVENIRS AND
DOCUMENTS
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►
CADET #1271 - DOUGLAS W.
FREDERICK
EPISODE 2-
WAR KIT
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►
CADET #1271 - DOUGLAS W.
FREDERICK
EPISODE 1 - COLLEGE MEMORABILIA
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Source: RMC
Museum, DW Frederick Collection
►
THE RMC SUBMARINE
Designed , built
and tested in Navy Bay, the RMC Submarine was another unique output of
LCol Peter King
Source: Ed Murray
et al Authentication: RMC Records
►
MEMORIAL
ARCH
The purpose and
dedication of the arch, arch ceremonies and events.
Source: Ed Murray
Authentication: Jack Pike, Charlie Simonds
ANECDOTES
Under this
heading, we include stories about or from ex-cadets or cadet events that would
not fit the class of "Historically Significant" as in the section preceding, or
the category of humourous single-event deliberate "jokes" which fit the standard
Colleges definition of a skylark, as collected in the section following.
►Volunteer 4th Year Boxer (Submitted by Dusty Miller)
Click
on me!
►
Furter & Miller Go Duck Hunting - October 1952
(Submitted by Dusty Miller)
Two notable
events occurred at the college that year. I had never done any duck hunting and
the Kingston area was under a major migratory route. A classmate, Bill
Furter shared my enthusiasm and we agreed to a
hunt. He had his own shotgun and I drew one from gunroom stores. It gets dark
early in October so we made a plan to depart for Wolfe Island after classes. By
four we had a canoe loaded with our guns and ammunition, donned our life jackets
and set off for the Island....
For the rest of this story,
click here!
SKYLARKS
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