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  #1  
Old 10-06-18, 03:45 PM
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Default Lt.Col.H.F.G. Letson and Canadian Rifle Team - Bisley,1934

City of Vancouver Archives,AM54-S4-: LP 313

A group of officers, NCOs and ORs showing a nice array of cap badges.

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  #2  
Old 11-06-18, 12:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltigeur View Post
A group of officers, NCOs and ORs showing a nice array of cap badges.
As far as I can tell, including Lt. Col. Letson wearing the cap badge of the University of British Columbia COTC, the following Regiments, Corps and Service are represented:

Governor General's Foot Guards;

The Royal Canadian Regiment;

Canadian Machine Gun Corps;

Queen's Own Rifles of Canada;

Royal Canadian Artillery;

Three Rivers Regiment;

The Grenville Regiment (Lisgar Rifles), from Kemptville, Ontario. No, I've never heard of it, either;

Royal Winnipeg Rifles;

48th Highlanders of Canada;

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry;

Royal Canadian Air Force;

Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, or not, there were many regiments with the cross of St. Andrew as a cap badge;

Gentleman Cadet of the Royal Military College; and

One officer whose cap badge I cannot identify. It's similar to the Canadian Provost Corps, but isn't. It's the officer, last on the left, in the front row.

Finally, one would think it easy to determine the names of the members of the Canadian 1934 Bisley Team. Ha! Not even the Bisley or DCRA websites have it. It's possibly on archived Winnipeg and Ottawa newspapers, but they want my credit card info for a "free" trial. Where are all the forum members with their strong google-fu?

Cheers,
Dan.
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  #3  
Old 11-06-18, 01:13 AM
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First seated officer on the left is Cadet Services of Canada Instructor Cadre, but perhaps someone will ccome up with a better answer.As for the last NCO in the last row,I will go for Black Watch. A similar cap badge was the P.E.I.Highlanders and the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regt but, I still will go for Black Watch.

Jo
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“There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.”
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Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.

Last edited by Voltigeur; 11-06-18 at 01:19 AM.
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Old 11-06-18, 01:24 AM
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Lieutenant Colonel Letson is wearing the cap badge of The British Columbia Regiment, not UBC COTC.
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  #5  
Old 11-06-18, 05:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan M View Post
Finally, one would think it easy to determine the names of the members of the Canadian 1934 Bisley Team.
From The Globe, Toronto, Wednesday, May 2. 1934
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File Type: jpg Bisley 1934 team.jpg (108.5 KB, 20 views)

Last edited by Blackadder1916; 11-06-18 at 05:48 PM.
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  #6  
Old 11-06-18, 05:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackadder1916 View Post
From The Globe, Toronto, Wednesday, May 2. 1934

That's great information Blackadder.I greatly appreciate your help in identifying those members of the 1934 team.
One question....what made you think to look for the Globe newspaper item ????
Again, Many Thanks.

Jo
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"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." -

“There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.”
Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003.

Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.

Last edited by Voltigeur; 11-06-18 at 06:06 PM.
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  #7  
Old 11-06-18, 10:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackadder1916 View Post
From The Globe, Toronto, Wednesday, May 2. 1934
Awesome find. (The google-fu is strong in you.)

The article doesn't mention an RMC cadet, but there could be dozens of reasons for him to be there. Relative of someone in the photo?

Thanks for the help.

Cheers,
Dan.
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  #8  
Old 11-06-18, 10:37 PM
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Since the subject of the thread is MGen Letson and a shooting team, then it may be appropriate to add the following:

From CFAO 50-15
Quote:
THE LETSON TROPHY

15. This trophy, donated by Major-General H.F.G. Letson, CB, CBE, MC, ED,
CD, to encourage and promote greater interest in competitive rifle shooting
in the Regular Force, was presented for the first time in 1955.

16. General Letson, born in Vancouver, served with the 196th Battalion
Canadian Expeditionary Force and the 54th Battalion in England and France
during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross in May 1917. From
1927 to 1930 he served as a Commanding Officer British Columbia Regiment
(Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles) and in 1936 he became the Commander 14th
Infantry Brigade. In 1940, General Letson was the first Canadian Military
Attache appointed to the United States of America and in 1944 returned as
Commander Canadian Joint Staff after two years as Adjutant General in
Ottawa. A keen rifle shot, General Letson attended several shooting meets
at Bisley, England, and was Commandant of the Canadian Rifle Team (DCRA)
in 1934. He retired from the Active Army in 1946.

17. The Letson Trophy will be awarded annually to the Canadian Forces
(Regular) twelve-member unit rifle team that obtains the highest aggregate
score in the rifle matches of Stage One of The Queen's Medal Competition
during the Canadian Forces Small Arms Competitions. The winning team will
be known as the "Canadian Forces (Regular) Unit Championship Rifle Team"
for the year in which this trophy is won.

18. A Championship Badge (Catalogue 8455-21-102-3464, badge,
qualification, rifle, silver-gold), awarded to each member of the winning
unit rifle team, may be worn on all orders of dress, except mess dress,
centred on the left breast pocket, and will be retained for life. Not more
than one badge may be worn at any one time.
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  #9  
Old 11-06-18, 10:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phillip Herring View Post
Lieutenant Colonel Letson is wearing the cap badge of The British Columbia Regiment, not UBC COTC.
i was spending so much time looking for a COTC cap badge, I completely missed the obvious.

Thanks,
Dan.
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  #10  
Old 11-06-18, 10:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan M View Post
Awesome find. (The google-fu is strong in you.)

The article doesn't mention an RMC cadet, but there could be dozens of reasons for him to be there. Relative of someone in the photo?

Thanks for the help.

Cheers,
Dan.
In the December 1935 issue of the RMC Review, No. 2339 Gentleman Cadet R.D. McLeod was identified as having been a member of the previous year's (1934) Bisley team. In the news clipping he is listed with the rank of Lieutenant and in the photo has a "pip" on his shoulder.


In the June 1937 issue of the Review (his graduation year) this was the entry for Mr. Mcleod.

Quote:
2339, SGT. ROBERT DONALD McLEOD.
Born, Saint John, New Brunswick, April 27,
1915.
School: Saint John High School.
Don first gained fame as a female impersonator
in the Cakewalk. At the end of his recruit
year he was on the Canadian Bisley Team, and
returned to College wearing the coveted King's
Hundred Badge. Since then he has maintained his
position as the best marksman and his is by far
the best arm in the College as he possesses every
badge but three, besides two crowns. Owing to
his name and his hunting successes last fall he
was nicknamed the "Duck," and this year became
one of the famed farm trio. True to Maritime
tradition Don is a keen and proficient sailor,
spending all his time on the lake, and he was one
of the original founders of the ice-boat club. At
present the Royal Engineers holds his attention,
and if scholastic ability and military knowledge
count for anything his success in that corps is
assured.

Last edited by Blackadder1916; 11-06-18 at 11:33 PM.
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  #11  
Old 11-06-18, 11:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackadder1916 View Post
In the December 1935 issue of the RMC Review...

In the June 1937 issue of the Review...
Okay, what are you doing to search that I'm not? How come I don't get the same good results you do?

Cheers,
Dan.
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  #12  
Old 13-06-18, 10:32 PM
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The 20-man Canadian team at Bisley in 1934 did very, very well. They won both the Kolapore and Mackinnon Cups, as well as having the Gold Cross Aggregate winner.

The Aggregate winner was PJ Martinson of the Three Rivers Regiment. The Globe and Mail article identifies him as a private, although in the photo he's clearly wearing sergeants stripes.

The Kolapore Cup was for the highest scoring eight-man team from the Empire. The Canadian team's captain was Captain Bishop, the adjutant was Lt Col Utton and the coach was Lt Col Letson. The team shooters were Sergeant Borland, Private Martinson, Lieutenant Dow, CSM Emslie, Lieutenant McLeod, Captain Lucas, Corporal Beaumont and Lieutenant Sweet.

The Mackinnon Cup was for the best twelve-man team, again from the Empire. The team captain was Captain Bishop, the adjutant was Lieutenant Johnson, and the coaches were Lt Col Letson and Sergeant Stock. The team shooters were Sergeant McLeod, Private Martinson, Lieutenant Dow, SMI Trainor, Corporal Beaumont, Sergeant Borland, Captain Lucas, Lieutenant Sweet, Private Hamilton, CSM Emslie, CQMS Parnell and Lt Col Utton.

Cheers,
Dan.
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  #13  
Old 13-06-18, 10:41 PM
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Thanks for the info.
Jo
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"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." -

“There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.”
Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003.

Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
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  #14  
Old 25-03-23, 03:50 PM
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Default Canadian Rifle Team - Bisley, 1935

I know its the year after, but I found a photo of the 1935 Canadian team for Bisley. My Great-Grandfather was Lieut. A. P. Williams.
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  #15  
Old 26-03-23, 08:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MD_0707 View Post
I know its the year after, but I found a photo of the 1935 Canadian team for Bisley. My Great-Grandfather was Lieut. A. P. Williams.
Welcome to the thread, and thanks for the info.

The 1936 Militia List (December) has two A.P. Williams, both Majors by then. One in Kamloops and one in Ottawa. Both had seen Great War service.

Dan.

PS: Is there any way for you to scan that photo of the team?
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