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The RCR and the Princess Pats
By Lt Col P
As we have noted here before, Afghanistan is heating up again. One analysis I heard was that the Taliban was seeking to gain ground before the winter sets in. NATO forces have dealt them some pretty heavy casualties, but hard fighting continues. An article in the Toronto Star today says that since 1 May, 21 Canadians soldiers have been killed.
I don’t know who is bearing what portion of the fighting there, but I do know that the Canadian soldiers deserve our thanks and praise for wading into the fight and taking on a tenacious and vicious foe.
The Star article mentions that one of the recent casualties was from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Four more casualties, earlier this month, came from the Royal Canadian Regiment, the senior infantry regiment in their army. The names of these famous units remind us of the British traditions that dominate the Canadian forces, where the regiment is not a tactical formation as it is, for example, in the Marine Corps, but rather a home, a family, a patria.
Go read about those units, and take a good look at their lineage and honors. If today they are small in numbers they strong in heart and arms. I’m glad they’re with us.
(Also, if you want a good account of just how tough were the Canadian divisions that went to France in 1914, read McBride's incomparable book, A Rifleman Went To War.)
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Comments
beat me to it Sir. And we just lost four of our Canadian brothers in a suicide attack yesterday.
God bless em, and the incredible job that they're doing.
Meanwhile, British forces in Afghanistan have suffered 19 fatalities so far this month.
yeah. There's no doubt we're in a tough fight out there. Although, as long as we maintain our resolve, it's one that the Taliban can't win.
Apparently there is a study out that shows that on a per capita basis not only have the Canadians suffered the highest KIA rate in Afstan, their KIA rate is three times that of the US forces in Iraq.
Bravo once again to them.
As a Canadian living in America, I'm disappointed that their exploits aren't featured more in the US media.
Not because of the typical Canadian desire for attention in US media, but because it would show the American people that you have allies who are fighting.
Canada, UK, Denmark, are NATO allies fighting because we're supposed to take an attack on you as an attack upon ourselves. Always we hear about people picking on the US, not as often about those on side.
I had the honor to have had both the PPCLI and 3 RCR as partnership units when I was an infantry officer in Germany in the late 70s/early 80s.
I was always impressed by their professionalism, dedication and tactical expertise.....and their O Club at Baden Solingen! Nice fish tank.
Tough fighting but being well done. Don't forget they also lost their first female in combat, an RCHA officer, CPT Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard.
was just watching hockey night in canada and notice that allot of soldiers from your unit were killed. Just like to say Im sorry for your loss and that Im behind you soldier's all the way to the end, god bless you all
With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry becomes satin... Cornelius
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The bravery of Canadian forces is legendary. In the raid on Dieppe during WWII virtually all of the troops involved were Canadian (with the exception of a token force of 50 US Army Rangers). Of 6000 troops involved almost 4500 were killed, or wounded, a casualty rate of nearly 75%. Many survivors became POWs and spent years in German camps.
I have had the pleasure of serving with Canadians and have found them to be highly professional and very competent. I've also had the opportunity to have visited much of Canada and found the country beautiful, and the people are fantastic. About the only thing I might fault is that some of their politicians are jerks, but a LOT of our politicians are bigger jerks.
So a well deserved BRAVO ZULU (that's "Well Done" to those deficient in SquidSpeak) to our comrades in arms from your brothers in Baja Canada.
Marine6 Sends