Canadian parachutists - The Canadian, Canadian-USA or British Units in
which they served.
THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNPAID AD FOR THE BOOK. I saw the book in a
local bookstore the other day, retailing at $40 Canadian for soft cover. A
better deal is the $29.95 hardcover through the publisher. Information AS
supplied is shown following with yellow background (The photo of the cover
did not reproduce, and I have changed "we" to "they".)
I am NOT affiliated or associated with the author or publisher.
NEW BOOK IN 2002
BASTARD
SONS
by Bernd
Horn
"In
a rapidly changing world, where the unpredictable shape of conflict will
continue to be the order of the day, can our country further risk its
beliefs, honour and very existence by excluding the Canadian Airborne
Regiment, whose identity naturally harnesses some of the most versatile
committed and inspired soldiers our nation has to offer?"
-Colonel.
Peter G. Kenward, Last Commanding Officer, The Canadian Airborne Regiment
Bastard
Sons
is the long awaited examination of the legendary Canadian Airborne
Regiment. In this important new book, Lieutenant-Colonel Horn brings the
reader through the whole of the Airborne experience, by offering a
detailed and thoroughly researched account of its history. With the
current international circumstances, this book should appeal to all
Canadians, through its consideration of homeland defence, the need for an
elite military unit, and the relationship between the political and
military establishments of Canada.
Throughout
its pages, Bastard Sons also offers a revealing and controversial
assessment of why the Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded by
government order in 1995. It is a rare look into the decision making
process in Ottawa, with its personalities and motives, heroes and
villains, causes and betrayals. Lt-Col. Horn expertly captures the
“schizophrenic” attitude of Canadian governments, the military and
public towards the Airborne. From the creation of the postwar Mobile
Striking Force and Defence of Canada Force, to the demise of the Airborne
Regiment, the Army’s key problem remained its inability to find a
viable, long-term role that made airborne forces “indispensable.” This
dilemma stemmed from the fact that Canadian political and military leaders
never believed that any justifiable, strategic role existed for airborne
forces; the existence of the latter was instead the fulfillment of political
requirements.
Lt-Col.
Horn does more than just analyze the politics behind the birth,
development and demise of the airborne forces. He pays tribute to those
who served in or supported the Regiment and its predecessors during the 53
years of the “Canadian airborne experience.” His impressive research
and documentary evidence proves that the vast majority of Canada's
paratroopers did their duty faithfully and honourably.
Bernd Horn is a
serving officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and is a former member
(1993-95) of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He holds a PhD in War Studies
from Royal Military College, Kingston, where he is an adjunct professor of
history. Lieutenant-Colonel Horn is currently the Commanding Officer of 1
RCR in Petawawa, Ontario.$29.99 CDN. HC 288pp 6X9" b/w photos &
illustrations 1-55125-078-0
HOW
TO ORDER
THE
BOOK
Visa or MasterCard orders may be made
by
PHONE 1-800-661-6136
FAX 905-937-1760
Cheque, Money Order, Visa and MasterCard
orders may also be made via MAIL
Vanwell Publishing Limited
P.O. Box 2131 - 1
Northrup Crescent
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7S2
=====================================
A good book was recently published about the overall history of
Canadian Airborne Forces. It is called: IN SEARCH OF PEGASUS
by Bernd Horn and Michel Wyczynski. Published 2001 by Vanwell Publishing
Ltd. , St. Catharines, Ontario. ISBN 1-55125-039-X It sells
for about CDN$45 and was in most Canadian book stores in Jan 2001.
The following lists many but not all of the units:
 | 2 Canadian Parachute Battalion (see First Special Service Force as this
was one name for the Canadian component of the FSSF) |
|
Canadian Parachute Training Company (in England 1943-45) |
|
Canadian Parachute Centre |
| First Special Service Force (FSSF - "The Devil's Brigade")
1942-44 |
| S.O.,E. (Special Operations, Executive) 1940-45 Sabotage organization
in World War II S.O.,E. had two training schools in Canada. http://www.pro.gov.uk/releases/soe-europe.htm
|
| Camp X (aka Project J, and STS 103 - Special Training School 103) One
of the S.O.,E. training camps in Canada. The other one was for Force 136 in B.C. Camp X
was, contrary to the incorrect info in "A Man Called Intrepid" basically a basic
training and screening school. The OSS (predecessor to the CIA) did some of its earliest
training there. Town of Whitby
Ontario including Camp X |
| Force 136 (see S.O.,E.) Far East Branch of S.O.,E. Many
Chinese-Canadians, Japanese-Canadians and others served in it. Some Chinese-Canadians were
sent by Force 136 to serve with the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army
(MPAJA). |
|
S.A.S. (Special Air Service) World War II raiding unit. Some Canadians
served in 1 & 2 SAS. 5 SAS (Belgian) originally trained in Canada. They used a maple
leaf as a symbol as a result. Eddie Blondeel was the C.O. http://www.blarg.net/~whitet/sas.htm
(Post-WWII SAS collar badges shown). |
| S.I.S. (Secret Intelligence Service, MI-6) British spy organization.
The 'real' James Bond's organization. |
| MI-9 (Military Intelligence 9) (British World War II Escape
Organization) Canadian members included Lucien Dumais and Ray Labrosse. See "The Man
Who Went Back". |
| Canadian Special Air Service Company - 1947-49
Raised and commanded by Guy d'Artois who had served in R22eR, F.S.S.F., S.O.,E. (F
Section), and after the SAS Coy was disbanded, he served again with R22eR in Korea. I had
the pleasure of meeting him and feel he was one of the ultimate Canadian airborne soldiers.
Even his wife was a combat parachutist! She too served with S.O.,E. behind the
German lines in France. |
| C.J.A.T.C. http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/cjatc.htm |
| Mobile Strike Force
1948-58 |
| 
Canadian Airborne Regiment 1968 - 1995. This
proud formation was disbanded by politicians in a very controversial
and demoralizing action. |
| Joint Task Force II (aka JTF 2) c.1995 - Present http://www.blarg.net/~whitet/jtf2.htm
A secret SAS style unit based near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. See book "Tested
Mettle" by Scott Taylor and Brian Nolan. This group was
photographed delivering Afghan prisoners to US Forces. They were
recognizable by their green camo uniforms in the desert environment. |
| Royal Westminster Regiment, airborne platoon (AB Platoon
is now defunct). A contact person is buryniuk.dh
(at) forces.ca[2002 March] |
 |
| The Canadian Airborne Regiment in a mass jump. Happier
times - at the "Colours Presentation" 1973 June 09
Note the bottom right corner, second man to left. His main chute has
not deployed properly and he has started to deploy his reserve
chute.
Photo from "The Maroon
Beret" 20th Anniversary Edition 1988 courtesy Don Thomas.
Comment from Guestbook: There is a picture of a mass drop on the page titled "Canadian Airborne Units". It was taken June 9, 1973. I was on that jump. The winds that day were about 20 knots, some say higher. If you look in the lower right corner of the picture, you will see a white canopy partially inflated and slightly below that what looks like a bundle of material. That was the jumpers vain attempt at trying to deploy his reserve. The jumper is Bill Tremain. He was a young Bdr in the Airborne Battery. He survived the jump and lived to tell the tale.
jogden55 (at) shaw.ca |
|
