The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
701 Oxford Street East N5Y 4T7 London, ON, Canada

#OTD in 1941, at Wong Nai Chong Gap (Hong Kong) the Japanese 38th Division took by surprise a small force formed of two Canadian battalions commanded by a former member of The RCR, Brigadier J. K. Lawson. In November 1941, Britain requested support for guarding their remote Asian colony, Hong Kong. Expecting to perform routine garrison duties, they were taken by surprise on 11 December 1941. Outnumbered, poorly equipped and unprepared for combat engagement of that scale, the two Canadian units were defeated, with 290 killed in battle, 493 wounded and a total of 1685 captured. On Christmas Day 1941, Britain eventually surrendered Hong Kong to the enemy. The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association @Hkvca has put together this Remembrance Book, recently donated to our museum. The donation also includes the group's flag.

In December 1943, The RCR had advanced with the British 8th Army from Campobasso to the Adriatic Coast, west of Termoli. From here, the Regiment moved northward, objective: crossing of the Moro River. From the 8th to the 10th of Dec 1943, The RCR engaged in the Battle for San Leonardo, stronghold successfully defended by the Germans. The map drawing from the War Diary partially overseas the landscape shown in the photo (From Library and Archives Canada ), south of Moro and San Leonardo. During this time, many acts of bravery were recorded, but Lieutenant Sterlin's defence of the farmhouse outside the town of San Leonardo has probably echoed more prominently through the years. A fragment of a letter dated 16 Dec 1943 included in the same RCR War Diary, also refers to the actions at San Leonardo.

Looking for holiday gift ideas? Check out some of the many items found in The RCR Museum gift shop. Contact the Retail Clerk to place an order. http://www.thercrmuseum.ca/en-ca/Shop #ldnont

RCRM DIGITAL - https://mailchi.mp/81382b2c8801/rcrm-digital Third issue of RCRM DIGITAL is here. This is a free membership for all, designed to engage with our public in London, Ontario, across Canada and world-wide! We welcome everyone, from everywhere. Subscribers will receive a monthly update about the museum activities and its most recent digital content.... Stay connected and become a Subscriber.

Drop In Wednesday with Collections Registrar Jessica Stevenson, who walks us through one of the recent additions to the museum’s collection.

Drop in Wednesday, last one in 2020. Curator, Dr. Georgiana Stanciu and Public Programmer, Sarah Coates will briefly chat about plans for next year. They are streaming live from one of the museum’s storage spaces.

Interested in heritage/museum careers? Join us for Future of Tradition: Careers in Heritage, a free, virtual event on Monday, November 16th 2020. Register before Sunday at 3pm to take part and learn about different careers in the heritage and museum field. National Air Force Museum of Canada Oshawa Museum Eldon House Ontario Regiment Museum Petawawa Military Museum Registration on Eventbrite to take part. https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/the-royal-canadian-regiment-mus

Do you have medals that need to be mounted? The RCR Museum offers a medal mounting service, which is still available during the museum closure. #ldnont Contact the Retail Clerk for details and shipping information. http://www.thercrmuseum.ca/en-ca/Shop

Meet Jessica, our Museum Cataloguer. Jessica Ly is the last Canada Summer Jobs student for 2020. She is enrolled in a History Program at the Western University History Department - Western University @westernuhistory . She is working in the collection storage and has recently spent 45 minutes to properly assess and clean this piece of equipment. It is a panoramic periscope PG-1M, manufactured in 1968 and used by the military of the former Soviet Union most likely in armoured vehicles.

The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in partnership with Military Communications and Electronics Museum is hosting a virtual commemoration for Remembrance Day. #MessageofRemembrance: join us to honour those who served and continue to serve with the Canadian military, in war or peace. Find your way to remember (a sentence, a picture, a story, a poem, a song - be creative) and use the hashtag to share it! You can post the message on social media or share it on this page (https...://www.facebook.com/events/365687074665412/) as we approach Remembrance Day 2020. The Royal Canadian Legion - National Headquarters Organization of Military Museums of Canada Canada Remembers London Heritage Council

The RCRM Speakers Series, season 1 finale with Katrina Pasierbek, "A Cenotaph for the Community: How Londoners Londoners have Remembered the First World War premieres on Thu, 19 Nov 2020 at 6pm, on our YouTube channel. Katrina Pasierbek, is a PhD Candidate in History at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON Wilfrid Laurier University. Katrina has taught myth, memory, and public history courses at Laurier and King's University College at Western University. An educator b...oth inside and outside the classroom, Katrina also leads overseas battlefield tours of First and Second World War sites across England, Belgium, and France. Before enrolling at Wilfried Laurier, Katrina was a Public Programmer at our museum and today she will be talking about a familiar feature to London’s residents: The Cenotaph at Victoria Park. In the years following the First World War the citizens of London, Ontario raised local memorials to honour the generation who served in the war. Built in 1934, the most prominent local structure is the Cenotaph located at Dufferin Avenue and Wellington Street, but few Londoners are aware of its complicated and intriguing history. Throughout its eighty-six-year history, the Cenotaph has been edited to reflect Canada's military engagements throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the space surrounding the Cenotaph has become a gathering place for remembrance ceremonies, parades, public protests, and vandalism. https://youtu.be/AlYxwYiWv_Y

Doctoral Candidate Heather Ellis shares her... investigation into the circumstances of Andrew Buttery’s death, who was bludgeoned by a psychiatric patient on 9 June 1933, at Westminster Hospital, currently known as Parkwood Institute in London, ON. Following the unfortunate event, the Department of Pensions and National Health initiated an inquiry. Heather has researched hospital archives and will try to answer legitimate questions arising from this story. Check episode 9 of the RCRM Speakers Series here https://rcrm-speakers-series-podcast.simplecast.com//murde

Interested in heritage/museum careers? You may wish to join our virtual event on Monday, 16 Nov 2020. This is the link to register by 3pm on Sunday, 15 Nov. https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/the-royal-canadian-regiment-mus.

We welcome everyone, from everywhere. RCRM DIGITAL is a free membership for all, designed to engage with our public in London, Ontario, across Canada and world-wide! Subscribers will receive monthly updates about the museum most recent digital content. Stay connected and become a Subscriber (https://mailchi.mp/b1687e8253ea/rcrm-digital)

We invite you again inside a display case! Today we have close up views in a barrack dorm diorama (Pre First World War section of the permanent gallery) and the Observation Post diorama (Korean War section of the permanent gallery). #RCRHistory

Drop in Wednesday begins earlier today. We are streaming live the service held by the 4th Battalion, The RCR, at the Cenotaph situated in the parade square at Wolseley Barracks. Unlike the previous years, it will be a short service, with no public in attendance.

Drop-in Wednesday is here. Curator Dr. Georgiana Stanciu is opening a medal display case again. This time, to the medal set belonging to Milton Fowler Gregg, VC, OC, MC, ED, CD. Take a look to view the medals, but also some of other memorabilia that came with the lot.

As we approach Remembrance Day, we invite everyone to share their thoughts at a time when we honour those who served and continue to serve.

#OTD 1918, Brigadier Milton Gregg Brigadier Milton Gregg earned his Victoria Cross, during operations on the Marcoing Line (Cambrai area). Wounded several times, he organised his men and led them with the greatest determination against the enemy trenches, which he finally cleared, inflicting important losses in the German camp. It is to be noted that for his actions between between 26 August and 30 Sept 1918, then Lieutenant Gregg, was awarded a bar to his Military cross and ...a Victoria Cross. By spring 1918, Gregg has returned at Avion (north of Arras) as the front was quickly advancing towards Cambrai. On 26 August 1918, he was fighting at Monchy-le-Preux. With his platoon, he became detached from his company and, being subjected to withering machine gun fire, Gregg led a bombing party forward and rushed two machine-gun crews, killing them. Pushing on with his platoon, he found his position isolated, so dug in, and by a personal reconnaissance connected up with the left flank, and by skilfully disposing his men enabled an enemy counter-attack to be repulsed. For his conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, Gregg was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross . Following a short leave period in the UK, he returned in France. On 28 September 1918, Gregg was appointed Regimental Adjutant for The RCR. At that time the Antante’s Forces were engaged in the so called Hundred Days Offensive. The RCR was part of the 3rd Canadian Division. Lt Gregg was advancing with his brigade through heavy machine gun fire, hard to break through; Gregg crawled forward alone and explored the wire until he found a small gap, through which he subsequently led his men, and forced an entry into the enemy trench. The enemy counter-attacked in force, and, through lack of bombs, the situation became critical. Although wounded, Lt. Gregg returned alone under terrific fire and returned with more bombs. Then rejoining his party, which by this time was much reduced in numbers, and, in spite of a second wound, he reorganised his men and led them with the greatest determination against the enemy trenches, which he finally cleared. He personally killed or wounded 11 of the enemy and took 25 prisoners, in addition to 12 machine guns captured in this trench. Remaining with his company in spite of wounds, he again on the 30th September led his men in attack until severely wounded. For his bravery, Gregg was awarded the most important decoration in the British Commonwealth, the Victoria Cross . He is the only VC winner among the members of The RCR who fought under The RCR Colours.

Remembrance Day is different this year. The museum team found a way to mark the date and this video is our #MessageofRemembrance. Don't forget to pause tomorrow at 11am for a moment of silence. https://youtu.be/0gVq9DPlvj0 31 Canadian Brigade Group - 31e Groupe-Brigade Du Canada The Royal Canadian Legion - National Headquarters 4th Canadian Division - 4e Division du Canada 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment

Thank you Backus-Page House Museum for a wonderful weekend of live history Life in the Talbot Settlement. Day 2 begins and we are happy to be part of this event.

RCRM Speakers Series, Episode 8 is here with Grant Maltman, the Curator of Banting House National Historic Site of Canada. He has prepared You, Sir Frederick, Will Be Chairman! Military Research and the NRC (1937-1941)" One hundred years after the discovery of the insulin, Frederick Banting continues to be remembered from the perspective of this singular moment in time, the image of himself with Charles Best and a dog on the rooftop of the University of Toronto Medical Schoo...l. But, like any other story, that representation is neither the beginning, nor the end of his contributions to Canadian science and innovation. Major Sir Frederick Banting’s involvement in military research began with an invitation to join the National Research Council in 1937 to stimulate peacetime research in Canada and ended with his death on a secret mission to England in 1941. While his tenure was brief, Banting's influence through his involvement with two National Research Council Associate Committees - Medical Research, and later Aviation Medicine, served as a catalyst for several military research projects, some controversial. His reputation opened doors and solicited financial support from Canadians and Government that affected the evolution of Canada’s biological warfare program and military aviation projects. These included Canada’s first human centrifuge, second decompression chamber, and the development of the Franks Flying Suit. https://youtu.be/iX3JjUqYXNk

We are here for Drop-in Wednesday! Today we will view and hear about General Charles Foulkes’ medal set, postnominals: CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD. Curator, Dr. Georgiana Stanciu will open the display case to facilitate a close up with many details. http://www.thercrmuseum.ca/en-ca/Collection/Stories

We invite you again inside a display case! Today we have close up views in Op Medusa diorama (Afghanistan section of the permanent gallery) and the M113A diorama or Armoured Personnel Carrier - APC (Cold War section of the permanent gallery).

Episode 7 of the RCRM Speakers Series is now available. A great throw-back in time over Stanley Barracks. The Life and Times of Toronto’s Military Garrison" with Dr. Aldona Sendzikas from Western University. An almost forgotten heritage landmark in Toronto, Stanley Barracks are connected in more than one way to the early years of the Permanent Force of Canadian Military. In Exhibition Place near the heart of downtown Toronto, surrounded by a sea of concrete parking lots and... modern buildings, an imposing but incongruous-looking mid-19th century structure stands its ground. This two- storey stone building is the last remaining structure of Stanley Barracks, once the main military establishment for the Toronto Garrison. Constructed in 1840-41 by the Royal Engineers of the British Army to replace Toronto’s decaying Old Fort, the new fortification was originally referred to as The New Fort, and housed British troops until their withdrawal from Canada in 1870. In Canadian hands, the New Fort (renamed Stanley Barracks in 1893) would serve a variety of purposes over the next century, including as training facility for the first recruits of the Northwest Mounted Police; home for part of Canada’s new infantry and cavalry schools; recruitment and training centre for Canadian troops during the two World Wars; and home to B Company of the Royal Canadian Regiment between the wars. Dr. Sendzikas’ talk will tell the story of Stanley Barracks and of some of the individuals who occupied its buildings over the years. https://rcrm-speakers-series-podcast.simplecast.com//stanl See more

#OTD 1916, 84 men and officers of The RCR (and its perpetuated units) were killed during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, in the early days of the Somme offensive. This map in our collection was used at the front.The Roll of Honour photo only shows the first page of 10 listing the names of those who lost their lives during this battle.

#AskACurator day is here. Our Curator is here to answer your questions. Post questions in the comments box!

Don't forget about our #AskaCurator event on Sept 16. Check the event post to enter your questions https://business.facebook.com/events/752900315273231/ Do you have any questions for our museum staff? Instead of our usual Drop-in Wednesday with a live tour, we will be happy to answer the questions you wish to submit.

For members of The RCR, 14 September is Pashmul Day. The date was selected because it coincides with the day that 1 RCR Battle Group 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment achieved its final objective during OP MEDUSA. This operation was a Canadian-led offensive during the second Battle of Panjwaii of the war in Afghanistan. Its goal was to establish government control over an area of Kandahar Province centered in the district of Panjwayi. A tactical victory, it resulted ...in the deaths of twelve Canadian soldiers; five during the major combat operations, five in bombings, and two in a mortar/RPG attack during the reconstruction phase of the operation. Operation Medusa was at the time the most significant land battle ever undertaken by NATO. Pashmul Day commemorates the service of all Royal Canadians in Southwest Asia between 2001-2011. Check Mishall Rehman's "Remembering Operation Medusa" published one year ago in the Canadian Military Family Magazine https://www.cmfmag.ca/remember/remembering-operation-medusa/ Pashmul Day

#OTD 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, joining the Allies, who eventually opposed the Axis aggression between 1939 and 1945. The political and military alliances were complex, involving countries from Europe, Asia and North America, which generated multiple combat theatres across the globe. The opposing forces were a continuation of the alliances active during the First World War. The Allies, eventually called the United Nations, were formed mainly of United Kingdom, Fran...ce, Soviet Union, China and the United States. Other European countries and British dominions, such as Canada, joined the Allies in an effort to stop the Axis aggression. The Axis was formed of the Third Reich Germany, Japan and Italy. Canada declared war on Germany on 10 September 1939. An unprecedented industrial production was developed to adequately supply the demand for technology and equipment at the front. Not only did this bring international recognition, but it also allowed for the advancement of a Canadian sense of identity. See more

Thank you to @fanshawepioneervillage for inviting us today! The sun is starting to come out and we are looking forward to sharing the history of The #RCR with visitors. #visitFPV #ldnmuse #history

Facebook Live: Second World War 1939-1943 Michael Baker "The Aerodrome of Democracy: The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Southwestern Ontario." https://youtu.be/L9DyElkBqgc

We are re-branding to enhance our presence online. Our new logo reflects the long history of the Regiment, with the silhouettes of three cap badges that were in use since 1883 projected on a background of the three regimental colours: blue, yellow and black. The new logo is also bilingual, nicely standing out on the icons of our social media channels.

#OTD 1943 the Allied crossed from Sicily to inland Italy at Reggio. This photo, allegedly taken there, today in our archives, shows a welcome banner in the city otherwise deserted. The RCR was part of the landing force that conducted Op Baytown.

Drop in Wednesday is back! Today, Dr. Stanciu continues the tour in the First World War gallery and the aftermath of the war.

In the series of Friday Short Videos, here is how quickly #CanadaSummerJobs student, Abby Field, is organizing a box of bayonets. The majority of them are from late 19th to early 20th century. While locations in the collections database are updated, storage shelves fill up every day with newly organized boxes. uOttawa