All Good Things Come In Pairs

A Tale Of Two Hats

My idol

A guy without a lid ain't worth talking about and anyone who knows me knows that I am rarely seen in public without a hat. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a heart of retro and a Humphrey Bogart-esque alter ego. If you're gonna wear a hat, it might as well be a fedora. No seriously, I'm all in favour legally banning every form of stupid hat out there that people wear backwards or sideways and mandating that every adult male own a fedora, homburg or bowler. Not cheap ones either. No-one should ever be allowed to vote who hasn't seen The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. But since that's never gonna happen, I just have to take satisfaction in that wearing my lid makes me stand out from a distance, which when you are a photographer is highly desirable as anyone who comes up to you and asks you questions is a potential client.

My current fedora

Foolishly enough, I believed that my days of wearing a uniform, shining boots and brass were over more than two decades ago when I left the regiment.  Even more foolishly, I underestimated CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé's resolve in getting me to be an active 3BAM member. Most foolishly of all, I believed in my own willpower to resist his never-ending insistence that I wear a uniform  like all the other 3BAM members rather than keep showing up dressed in my customary black slacks and polo shirt and trademark grey fedora. As the unit's photographer, I felt that I didn't need to wear a uniform to execute my function and when I go somewhere with 3BAM, I want onlookers to recognize me a pro photographer with a knowledge of gunnery, not as a gunner with an expensive camera. And no way was I ever gonna wear short pants or a big floppy 1940's beret. Never.

Well, I managed to keep that promise, but Gilles is a former RSM of the regiment and isn't programmed to take "No!" for an answer...not even even if you yell it a hundred times at the top of your lungs. Too boot, everyone has a price, including me and he' just kept coming right back until he found my price--a bush jacket! Yes, that was my price...a khaki drill bush jacket! My heart of retro craved one almost as much as I crave fedora's and shooting pin-up photos. "

"Find me a bush jacket and I'll wear it." The words came just out of my mouth one evening as the dark side of the force took control of my soul, not to mention my mouth. "And get me a decent hat...a wedge cap maybe, not one of those floppy berets....and war correspondent or war photographer badges!"  Yes folks,  civilian war correspondents and war photographers wore uniforms in WWII and Korea. They were civilians but part of a military entourage, generally wearing the same uniforms as officers, but without rank badges and with special insignia to denote their status. The notion of dressing like this did not seem quite so objectionable to me. 3BAM has no shortage of former sergeants and warrant officers, so one more guy wearing sergeant's ranks in the unit would have made no difference really. On the other hand, someone dressed like a correspondent would still stand out a bit. I began to like the idea.

My new hat

Gilles, true to his word ordered the bush jacket, long trousers (no shorts for me) badges and as a bit of a surprise, a matching KD service dress cap instead of the wedge cap. I had asked for a wedge cap because it's easier to use a camera with one than when wearing anything with a visor, but once I got it and saw how smart and distinct it looked, my objections to wearing it quickly evaporated. We had initially planned to deck it out with a general service cap badge, but had only the postwar version with the wrong crown and besides this, it proved impossible to affix to the cap. As Gilles gave a hint that he didn't mind my wearing it with an artillery badge (no surprise there) I opted to do this, going a step further and wearing my old regimental ascot to boot. I have to say that now that I have the kit, I like a lot, looking as it does, very smart. The bush jacket is so cool looking that I predict that it won't be long before others will want one!

Pros and cons....

Pros
1. It was all free. 3BAM paid for everything.
2. It's definitely "Retro"
3. It' very smart looking.
4. I have a unique uniform within 3BAM.

Cons
1. The uniform needs pressing and the boots have to be shined
2. I will probably be expected to start saluting officers again.
3. It's more stuff I have to lug around with me and already lug around a ton of photo gear.
4. I may suffer from fedora withdrawal.

A Tale Of Two Birthdays

Place Jaques Cartier

The city of Montreal and the Regiment de Maisonneuve share a special relationship. The regiment after all, was named after Montreal's founder, Paul de Chomedy, Sieur de Maisonneuve. On May 17, 2013 the both celebrated their birthdays together though I don't think either was born on this date and one is rather older than the other. No matter. 3BAM was present to fire a celebratory salute in honour of both, deploying on the Champ de Mars, behind City Hall. An appropriate place in many ways, since after all the Champ de Mars was once a military parade ground, and to boot, the various entities that currently make up the 2nd Field regiment were once stationed in the long-demolished Craig Street Armoury that used to be just across the street from where we fired the salute. CWO (ret) Aubé, MWO (ret) Tom Savoie and WO (ret) Gilles Pelletier all started their service at the Craig Street Armoury.

In attendance were Lcol (ret) Yvon Bégin, CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé, MWO (ret) Tom Savoie, WO (ret) Gilles Pelletier, Lsgt (ret) Marc-Antoine Hotte, Bdr (ret) Jean Rochelau (in the wrong uniform) which I can now say as I was for the first time present in (any) uniform. Speaking of my uniform, my trousers were a little bit too big and I had to hold them up with a pair of WWII era suspenders. Not reproductions mind you, but worn out originals that are older than I am. Unfortunately, the leather parts were not up to the job and one of them gave out forcing Gilles Pelletier to make a fix with para-cord.

I digress. Three shots were fired in all, all by VIP guests from the Maisonneuves or city. As their seemed to be a bit of a temperature inversion and only a light wind, the smoke hung low and was slow to disperse. As usual we attracted quite a bit of attention from onlookers though the event was not really publicized and there weren't nearly as many as I would like to see. But they were very curious and very interested and asked a lot of questions. This is why all of us in 3BAM would really like for the regiment to detail a couple of recruiters for the regiment to accompany us whenever we go shoot anywhere. In the final analysis, pretty much everything 3BAM does is to support and promote the regiment in some way or another. It's for sure it's the main reason I'm there.

WO (ret) Gilles Pelletier answers questions from fascinated onlookers.

After the shooting was done and the gun and truck returned to the armoury, the detachment proceeded to a nearby Nickels restaurant for supper, most of us still in uniform. The dinner was courtesy of 3BAM and I snapped this photo with my iPhone as Tom Savoie explained who we were and what we do to yet another very interested onlooker for whom our mission seemed to have a special meaning. It's always nice to have people come up and express their appreciation.

A Tale Of Two Trucks

Finally, to finish off this rather long blog post, I will announce to everyone who doesn't yet know that 3BAM finally has a second fully restored Canadian Military Pattern truck to serve as an FAT. I'm told that it's engine is more powerful than our first truck, which is nice because that one has hard time hauling a gun up the mountain. It doesn't look as nice just yet, and has a darker coat of paint, but I'm confident that in good time, our automotive guys will have it looking just as good as the other FAT.

And this message from our Sunray:

"Bonjour tout le monde c'est terminé pour notre deuxième FAT (Field Artillery Tractor) Chevrolet C15A 1943, à droite sur la photo, qui nous a été donné par Me André Guibeault de Elgin, QC.
Ils restent quelques petits travaux à faire, mais rien de très grave.Nous avons du réorganiser la benne arrière, car nous n'avons pas deux caissons où placer l'équipement des obusiers.

Du côté sécurité nous avons installé des miroirs plus gros et des feux de position supplémentaires.
Le système électrique a été refait en entier et la prise pour nos obusiers ou les remorques a été remplacée et elle fonctionne parfaitement! La toile originale nous a été donnée par un admirateur de Waterloo au Québec durant une parade avec les Vétérans. Le combat est déjà parti avec la SAAQ pour l'immatriculation.  Nous sommes une catégorie légère avec une possibilité de cargaison lourde à suivre…

Un GROS MERCI à: Adj (ret) Gilles Pelletier, Bdr (ret) Jean Rocheleau, L/Sgt (ret) Michel Lapointe et beaucoup d'autres membres de la 3BAM et de non-membres.



Adjuc (ret) Gilles Aubé
SUNRAY 3BAM


 

And that's all for now.

Ubique!

Gary Menten
Photographer-Correspondent
3BAM

Cadet Corps Ceremonial

Cadet Corps 2719 on parade.

Cadet Corps 2719 commanded by 2lt Francois Bélec held it's annual ceremonial parade at the Cotes -des-Neiges Amoury on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The reviewing officer for the event was the commanding officer of the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, Lcol Richard Garon. 3BAM members participated in the event by firing a salute, providing a vehicle and 25-pdr gun for the march past as well as for a cadet gun drill demonstration and by presenting some of the awards and trophies that were passed out that day.

Cadets offer the ceremonial salute to the reviewing officer.

3BAM members who participated in events this day included our Sunray, CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé, Lcol (ret) Jaques Borne, Capt (ret) Maurice Noreau, Ocdt Monique Champagne, MWO (Ret) Tom Savoie,  WO (ret) Gilles Pelletier, Sgt (ret) Marc Castonguay, whose trousers were....a bit tight, Lsgt Marc-Antoine Hotte, and of course, yours truly, dressed as always in civilian clothes and fedora.

Lcol Ricard Garon address the cadet corps

Supporting the cadets is an important part of 3BAM's mission. If 3BAM represents the "Old Guard" and the regiment itself is the "present" then the cadets in many way represent the future of the regiment, being an important source of recruits to the unit once they've reached adulthood. Several of the regiment's former commanding officers in fact, were cadets in CC 2719 before joining the regiment. In his address to the cadet corps, Colonel Garon in fact remarked that there were a number of cadets he'd met that day that he was ready to take into the regiment immediately. Hint, hint guys! Now's your time! The regiment really needs you and the CO wants you!

Lcol Garon takes the salute from Lcol Borne

As I mentioned earlier, the march past included included a gun and tractor, driven by Sgt (ret) Marc Castonguay who also prepared the ammunition for the day's shoot, while Lcol (ret) Jaques Borne stood in the cupola to offer a salute the reviewing officer.  The tractor and gun were followed by the main body of the cadet corps led by cadet CWO Duffus. Notice this young fellow already has his parachute wings! Now there's an accomplishment for a young man of that age. I can see this fellow being quickly selected to for officer's training if he does chose to join the regiment.

Cade CWO Duffus leads his cadets in the march past.

Following the inspection and march past the main body of the corps was marched off the parade  to allow for the cadet corps band to give a short concert and for a 25-pdr gun drill demonstration by select member of the cadet corps who are cadet-members of 3BAM and entitled to wear a special khaki uniform to denote their status. Though they perform gun drills with the howitzer, and they do it pretty well, the cadets are not permitted to fire the howitzer with blank ammunition for safety reasons.

2lt Bélec hands out an award.

Following the demonstrations, a number of awards were handed out to various cadets for achieving distinctions in areas ranging from marksmanship to dress and deportment, personal improvement, and long service within the cadet corps. The presenters included the reviewing officer, Lcol Garon, the cadet corps comanding officer, 2lt Bélec, various members of 3BAM, and various VIP guests. There were quite a lot of these awards incidentally, and for a while, it felt like I was at the Oscars or something like that, though thankfully, no speeches!

Ocdt Champagne in the #3 position, ready to shoot! 

Once the ceremonies indoors were concluded, the cadets and guests proceeded outdoors to the parking lot where 3BAM had set up the 25pdr to fire a salute. The # for the occasion was Ocdt Monique Champagne who was firing the gun for the first time. Lcol (ret) Borne served as GPO.As weak as the indoor light was for photography inside the armoury, the outdoor light was just as frustrating, being too strong and contrasty for my tastes, not to mention that the sun was in completely the wrong place as far as was concerned, but nobody really cares about that except the photographer, right? Anyway...once the two shots were fired - we had a bit of difficulty with the first- and the national anthem played, things were pretty much over for the day and a couple of group photos were posed for before everyone repaired indoors to return stores and enjoy a brief reception. I ran off home shortly thereafter to start the editing process of the 175 photos I shot and start thinking about what I was going to write. And here you have it. 

The Gang!

Ubique!



Gary Menten
Official Photographer,
3BAM