Features
Former 2PPCLI DCO visits grave of last CEF soldier KIA during Great War
April 20, 2023
It was a sombre moment for a former 2PPCLI DCO during a visit to St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, located just southeast of Mons, Belgium.
106 years ago on April 9 in France — May brothers survive Battle of Vimy Ridge
April 9, 2023
A veteran of the Battle of Vimy Ridge 106 years ago left his descendants a treasure trove of black and white photographs and memories he kept in scrapbooks. Using his trusty Kodak film camera, Bill May captured images at the now defunct Camp Hughes when it was a hive of activity as Canadian soldiers trained on the prairies before heading overseas as members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the Great War.
Vimy centennial experience ‘moving’ for Capt (Ret’d) Megan Couto
April 9, 2023
Standing at ease nearby the historic Vimy monument, then 2PPCLI A Coy 2IC Capt Megan Couto thought of the soldiers going into battle on April 9, 1917. It was a chilly Easter Monday when the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in France did what the French and British armies had failed to do — they seized the best-defended German bastion on the Western Front, a muddy scarp known as the Vimy Ridge.
PHOTO ESSAY: Royal Manitoba Winter Fair
April 1, 2023
CFB Shilo BComd LCol Chris Wood and wife Lisa were part of the opening evening ceremonies, arriving at Westoba Place arena by horse-drawn carriage.
11 Health MIR observe 1RCHA in action during Ex FROZEN GUNNER
March 20, 2023
11 Health MIR and support staff had an opportunity to observe 1RCHA’s A Bty in action on fire missions during Ex FROZEN GUNNER. Ideal weather conditions greeted 11 Health CO Maj Joel Bernier’s team, with four groups dispatched to observe and question gun line members as four M777s were put to work.
Former Boston Bruins coach Don Cherry donate’s great-uncle’s Great War memorabilia to RCA Museum
March 20, 2023
He might have been a plumber as a civilian, but during the First World War acts of bravery on the battlefield did not go unnoticed by his Chain of Command. Sgt Thomas MacKenzie was awarded the Military Medal (MM), with bar, on Aug. 6, 1918. Eight days later he was wounded for the first time during the 100-day push, but remained on duty.
Two military medals from Gen Thomas Strange ‘invaluable’ to RCA Museum’s collection
March 12, 2023
It felt a little like Christmas when RCA Museum director Andrew Oakden finally held the FedEx package containing Gen Thomas Strange’s two medals purchased during an auction held in spring 2019. He waited more than 48 hours before he finally lifted the package from the table, and tore at the envelope. Examining the contents, a bubble wrapped package slipped from amongst package backing and a book written by Gen Strange.
COS misses deploying to field on 1RCHA’s Ex FROZEN GUNNER
March 11, 2023
Taking flight as pilot did not come to fruition for Maj Scott Youngson. COS left RCAF during training, switching to artillery when he joined CAF.
International Women’s Day — Focused, hard-working combat arms officer enjoys being back in Manitoba
March 8, 2023
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PMC Maj Melissa Marshall made sure officers enjoyed a tasty meal at the Officers’ Mess by operating a Friday lunch hour drive-thru. It did not matter if it was winter or summer, she was there every Friday around 11:30 a.m. to set up her tables. If it was too frigid, she would move inside to the mess entranceway.
Cross placement on military grave markers does not signify cause of death
February 28, 2023
Have you asked yourself why military grave stones all look different, and the engraved words sometime tell a story, and other times just provide name, rank, military number, DOB and DOD? Mark Dams did, and he reached out to the Shilo Stag for answers. He has always wondered why his brother’s military grave stone is different from those around it in a Winnipeg-based cemetery.
