Museum donated an important piece of Newfoundland military history

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Yesterday the museum took possession of a piece of Newfoundland military history – a cannon purported to have been used by the French in the Battle of Signal Hill. This cannon was once displayed in Buckmaster’s Field – site of Royal Canadian Navy shore barrack’s and home to a number of military units until they were moved to Pleasantville, including the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

As members of the museum community we take seriously our mandate to preserve and interpret our history. We feel it is important to step in where we can and take possession of historical artifacts for future generations. As we go through the process of prepping the cannon for display we encourage anyone with information on this particular cannon to drop us a line at rnfldrmuseum@gmail.com.

We send a shout out to everyone who came out to help load and unload the cannon. Special thanks to the Grand Concourse authority who gave us a place to store it while we prepare to bring it back to life.

Museum Chair Frank Gogos, committee member Chris Butt, WO Jim Prowse Regiment Band, past chair Regimental Advisory Council Ron Penney, and former President of the Newfoundland Labrador Command of the Royal Canadian Legion Frank Sullivan volunteered to load the cannon onto the truck for transportation and storage.

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Gunner Robert (Bob) Gordon Grant

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Second World War veteran Bob Grant recalls confidence of fellow ...

Another old soldier has passed.

100 year old Gunner Robert Gordon Grant of Corner Brook has passed away after a short illness. Bob, as he was known, enlisted into the artillery from Corner Brook in May 1940. He saw action in North Africa and Italy with the 166th (Nfld) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He proudly supported initiatives to remember and support veterans through Branch 13 of the Royal Canadian Legion. He often talked about his experiences through countless interviews helping preserve the legacy of his comrades in the 166th. 

 

 

In 2017, Bob sat down for an interview with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum, here is small part of our interview about his experience at Monte Cassino, Italy. 

Robert Grant with a 25-pounder gun, R Battery, “E” Troop, 166th

(Newfoundland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Italy, 1944.

Passing of WWII and Korean Hero Honorary Lieutenant – Colonel Richard Alexander

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The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Regimental Advisory Council remember the outstanding service of Richard Alexander to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

 

Honorary Lieutenant – Colonel  Richard Alexander

  2nd Battalion The Royal Newfoundland Regiment

 

                Lieutenant Colonel Alexander was born on 25 August 1925. He enlisted in the Newfoundland Militia in the fall of 1941 as a Private at the age of 16.  On 12 December 1942, while posted to St John’s he was involved in rescuing several people from a major fire at the Knights of Columbus Hostel which killed 99 people.  This fire was widely believed to be an act of sabotage.

                In January 1943 he shipped overseas to England as a replacement for the 166 Artillery Regiment (Newfoundland). While there he volunteered for service with the British Commandos, passed commando training and was posted to 3rd Commando. Due to his French language skills he was later recruited by the Royal Navy Commandos and subsequently conducted 13 covert missions into occupied France. On his last mission he was seriously wounded, successfully evaded capture with the help of the French Resistance, and was the sole survivor of that operation.

                In the spring of 1944 after a long convalescence, he joined the 166 Artillery Regiment in Italy where he served as the COs driver and dispatch rider until the end of the war. He was married in England in September 1945 and returned home to Newfoundland upon release in March 1946.

                Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, he re-enrolled in the Canadian Forces and joined 2nd Battalion PPCLI as a Sergeant serving a tour in Korea in 1952.  In 1953 he transferred to the Black Watch and served a second tour in Korea as part of a UN Peacekeeping operation. Upon return home he served as a recruiter in Newfoundland for three years and took his release from the Regular Force in 1956.

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                In 1960 he re-enrolled in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Corner Brook. In 1972 he took his commission and he was the catalyst in the establishment of C Company 2RNfldR in Stephenville.  He was appointed the first OC of this company and in May of 1975 he recruited 99 personnel in just two days, a small indication of his credibility and skill as a leader.  He also made a major contribution to the establishment of cadet corps in the communities of Port au Port, Cape St George, and Lourdes.  In 1978 he retired from 2RNfldR.

                In 2003 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of 2nd Battalion RNfldR; an appointment which he will relinquish on 14 May 2011. In this capacity he gives freely of his time and financial resources to promote the Regiment and the CF all across Newfoundland and inspire the next generation of warriors.

                Lieutenant Colonel Alexander is married to Dolly (deceased) and they raised a family of eleven children.   Throughout his military career he was an accomplished athlete, boxer, and holds a fourth degree black belt in karate.  He was also a respected businessman owning a successful construction company in the Stephenville area for several years. 

Visitation:  Wednesday 19 Sept from 2-4 and 7-9 pm

Service: Thursday 20 Sept at 1100 am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Port au Port west.

 

Passing of Commander Kenneth H. Forbes-Robertson

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The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum wishes to extend its condolences to the family of the late Commander Kenneth H. Forbes-Robertson, Royal Navy (retired), who recently passed away at his home in the UK.

Ken is the son of Colonel James Forbes-Robertson VC, DSO & Bar, MC, DL who served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment from June 1916 to August 1917 first as 2 i/c and later as CO.

As 2 i/c of 1st Battalion James earned the Military Cross for his service on the Somme in 1916 and as CO was awarded the DSO for his leadership in April 1917 of the famous “Ten Men Who Saved Monchy”, of which he was one, an action that brought lasting fame to the Regiment for its prowess as a fighting unit.

It was as CO of 1/The Border Regiment that in April 1918 James won the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious British honour for gallantry, an award celebrated at the time by the Newfoundlanders as earned by one of their own.   Colonel James Forbes-Robertson VC, DSO & Bar, MC, DL Biography (External Link)

Unveiling a Memorial Stone to Col. James Forbes-Robertson (External Link)

Having had a distinguished 30 year career as a professional soldier of wide experience, James told his son Ken the Newfoundlanders were the best troops he ever commanded, not faint praise from a most gallant officer who knew well the measure of fighting men. 

The Regiment, RAC and Museum were fortunate to have Ken come to Newfoundland to re-establish the connection between his family and the Regiment during the visit to the province by HRH Princess Anne, Colonel-in-Chief, in 2010, when he impressed everyone he met as a true gentleman.  

RNFLDR annual Anzac Parade

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The 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment held its annual parade to commemorate the British and French armies landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915. The annual parade took place on Saturday April 28 and coincided with the 223rd birthday celebrations of the Regiment whose birthday also falls on April 25.

The Parade formed up outside CFS St. John’s and proceeded down the Boulevard to the Blue Puttee Cairn erected in the 1950’s on the original training grounds of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment in 1914. Led by the Regimental Band the 1st Battalion, along with a colour party from Branch 56 of the Royal Canadian Legion, formed up alongside the Cairn for a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of the Australians and New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives during the Gallipoli Campaign.

In attendance to lay wreaths was Hon. Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veteran Affairs; Hon. Mark Browne MHA; LCol Kurt Brown, Australian Defence Adviser, Australian High Commission in Ottawa; and Mr. Taylan Aydin, Counsellor from the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa.

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Museum hosts Turkish Delegation

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On Tuesday April 24, 2018 The Royal Newfoundland Regiment hosted a visit by a Turkish Delegation visiting Newfoundland and Labrador as a part of an information and discussion sessions to facilitate the placement of a Caribou Memorial in Gallipoli, Turkey. 

Speaker of the House of Assembly Announces Caribou for Gallipoli.

On April 25 the Turkish Delegation along with Hon Perry Trimper, and representatives from Honour 100, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Regimental Advisory Council and the The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum laid wreaths in remembrance of the service and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Forces who died during the Gallipoli Campaign. 

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment will continue to remember with more events planned this weekend.