Pioneer Sergeant and beards

[fougasse1940]

http://forces.tv/42849745

Rgds, Thomas.

[Voltigeur]

You want beards...all photos courtesy of The Regimental Rogue.
Jo
The RCR Pioneers Jug Band,1955.
All members of the Pioneer Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, serving in Germany, they are, left to right, front row: Sgt Joe York, Toronto, with a jug that's good when full and good for bass noted when empty; Pte Al Selig, Hantsport, Nova Scotia, with musical saw; and L/Cpl John Karmasinuk of Winnipeg, with accordion. In back row, left to right, are: Pte Ken Durant of Montreal, violin; Pte Allan Crane of Belle Isle, Newfoundland, harmonica; and Pte Don Johnson, Mimico, Ontario, with guitar." (United Press Photo; 28 Oct 1955)
http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/bl...955_700px.jpeg

One member of the jug band, however, has been seen by many members of the Regiment over past decades. Al Selig's photo, allegedly brought back from a professional photographer's window display in Cyprus by regimental members on a later tour after it was replaced, was to be found in the entrance to The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum:
http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/bl...0-70_500px.jpg

This one,it seems, was taken in Bosnia.
http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/bl..._commandos.jpg

[BWEF]

I remember an item in "Soldier" magazine back in the 1970s mentioning the fact that in the Canadian army it was not just the pioneer sergeant that was bearded.

[Carnforth]

I like this photo of two Welsh pioneer sgts.



It was long a barrack room myth that Royal Pioneer Corps Sgts wore beards and carried axes, despite their being no historical link between RPC and Infantry Pioneers.

However, it seems that the myth became the reality;

Royal Pioneer Corps Disbandment Parade before being absorbed into Royal Logistics Corps



Links
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4076/4...b3b2a217fb.jpg

http://www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk/...15/02/axes.jpg

[ddaydodger]

[Blackadder1916]

Originally Posted by BWEF

I remember an item in "Soldier" magazine back in the 1970s mentioning the fact that in the Canadian army it was not just the pioneer sergeant that was bearded.

Correct re beards for all in the Pioneer Pl. Back in the seventies, I had occasion to be attached to 3 PPCLI for a bit. Though it was not usual for a medic to be full-time with the Pioneer Pl, that's where I was for work-up to the exercise that was the reason for the augmentation through to the actual ex and re-deployment. While not everyone in the platoon had a beard (some may have had difficulty getting a good growth) most did, including the Pl Comd, though the Lt's beard was a bit sparse. During the several weeks that I was with the platoon, the Sgt told me that he had no problem with me not shaving. They also passed the same to the Fd Engr section that also was attached to the pl, though I don't recall any of the sappers taking them up on the opportunity. I didn't have a full bushy beard by the time I had to shave before going back to the fd amb, but it was a respectable start. Even the RSM said nothing to me about my facial hair. It was one of the more enjoyable exercises that I was on as a young soldier - learned to make things go boom.

[ddaydodger]

On my Pioneer course with 1PPCLI in the 80s we were all ordered to grow beards. If after a suitable time the Pl WO was happy you could carry on growing. If you were a baby face and couldn't grow one then you were ordered to shave. In hindsight I think this was a test to see if you would be slave traded (cross posted) to Pioneer Platoon.