Kangaroo Reunion 2005

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Yesterday, Ma and I attended the Kangaroo reunion here in Toronto. For me, this has been an annual occasion for a few years now, and it was personally gratifying to once again have a few precious hours to spend with men who have over time become friends. As per Mark's comments in the other thread, I know Ma enjoyed herself too, and I KNOW the fellas enjoyed her!

We took with us a few small contributions to bring some colour to the event: Rupert, my Armoured Corps captain replete with black beret and Kangaroo badge; 22 copies of Mark's new book, generously donated by Hanno and Clive; and 16 pages of outstanding then-and-now pictures of other Kangaroos which Bill Miller has compiled and sent to me in a PDF file for printing, along with a letter of intent for distribution to all indicating his current project of assembling the most complete history of the Kangaroos - both Canadian and British - in existence.

Mark and his wife Denise drove up from London to sign these books and meet the lads. I think the Kangaroos were duly impressed.

In addition to the 16 or 17 Kangaroos in attendance, there was also a Dutchman (now resident in Canada) who had been liberated by them; a CBC producer who's been there before; Col. Peter Turner, Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps; Mike Shultz, retired military himself whose father was Tpr Shultz of 1CACR; several sons of attending and past Kangaroos, and a few others who have associations in one way or another.

Two of the Kangaroos are in their ninties now, the rest being mid to late eighties.

What astounded me was not only the size of the turn-out - the largest I've seen - but the fact that most were there a good hour before the official start-time; last year I arrived at 1130 and was the second one present. This year we arrived at 1100 and was one of the last ones there...

The meeting was called to order after the last of them - 94 year-old Ken Ramsden, late Lt. Ramsden of HQ Coy - arrived from his place outside Peterborough via Wheel Trans. It began with the playing of The Last Post followed by two minutes' silence and Reveille. The Tpr Art Bell was called to the floor and read a travelogue of his trip to Holland last May with Tprs Sawchuk and Miller and Bill Miller Jr. (It should be noted, and was at the meeting, that Hanno Spoelstra rented a nine-person van for the event and was - as usual - an exemplary host. His contributions to the legacy of the Kangaroos have been, and remain, outstanding. Thank you, Hanno.)

Mark Falls, son of Tpr Bill Falls (also in attendance) gave a video show of his tour of the new War Museum along with verbal commentary. It was then Mike Shultz's turn.

Mike had long thought the plaque at the Kangaroo Monument at Mill, Holland wasn't going to last as long as the tank itself, and commissioned a permanent bronze plaque be cast and installed on a 1,000 pound block of granite from the Canadian Shield. He raised the money from a number of sources, coordinated the project's development and the eventual unveiling in Holland, which was filmed. He played the video for us, and it represents what was truly a moving ceremony put on by the Dutch on our behalf. I will shortly have a copy of that video and will pass along more once I get a chance to watch it on my own TV rather than from an oblique angle on a fuzzy projector.

In short, he did an outstanding job, both then and yesterday.

I was called upon to address the men (as I do every year) and first passed along greetings from Kangaroos and related individuals who couldn't make it this year; then I indicated Hanno's and Clive's contribution of the books, which allowed me to introduce Mark Tonner as the author along with Denise and of course, Ma, with a bit of background relating to her research on her uncles. Bill Miller's excellent pictures were explained and later passed around. One of them liked them so much he took them home with him!

Through all this, in the interim several others spoke briefly as well, then we broke for a lunch which was supplied along with free coffee and beer! The lads went through about 2 1/2 pitchers by the time things wound down...

The next hour or so was spent in myriad conversations with a variety of individuals, each bouncing around from guest to guest as their questions and interests evolved.

What struck me was the comradery. I shall quote something I wrote to Mike Shultz this morning:

...Every year I attend this reunion I watch their faces; they may be old men with a shared experience most of us can just imagine, but they're not there to relive the past, only to acknowledge the impact its existence has had upon their lives. And when they're together again, for a brief few hours, the old men become the boys they once were. For those of us who have been accepted by them, it is truly a privilege to be allowed to be a part of that.


Hanno, Clive and Bill, thank you for your help in bringing this together - it was truly appreciated. Mark, thank you for attending and making this that much more interesting for the old fellows. I think you got something out of it too...

Certainly, MLU and 1CACR.org are solidly on the map with these chaps, and for their appreciation of what we do I am profoundly grateful.

The them and all of you:

[Bill Miller]

Thanks for all your help and for delivering my photos, I really appreciate it. It was nice to hear that the reunion was so well attended. I regret very much that Dad and I couldn't attend. We'll shoot for next year, his health willing.

Thanks for the report! It was some very good news to wake up to!

Bill.

[Mark W. Tonner]

It was an honour and privilege to have attended the Kangaroo Reunion yesterday in Toronto. It was a most enjoyable afternoon. I was able to have some long and informative talks with former members of the Regiment. They may be in their 80's and 90's, but for most, it was as if it were yesterday. What Geoff wrote earlier, when he said "for a brief few hours, the old men become the boys they once were", this is very much true.

A very fine body of men indeed, who know how unique the Regiment was and also know how what they did saved countless Infantrymen's lives and are very proud of it. Their numbers are now declining, but the concept of what brought this body of men together back in 1944, first as an ad hoc unit and then on a temporary basis (1 CAPC Sqn) until finally being 'stood up' as a Regiment and their subsequent deeds will never fade.

Their concept lives on today, but not in the form of a Regiment, but in the simple fact, that there are available to Canadian Infantrymen, the current version of the Armoured Personnel Carrier, the LAV III.

The men I met yesterday truly hold a unique place in the history of the Canadian Army and the memory of the 'Kangaroos', nor their deeds, should ever be forgotten.

Gentlemen, it was truly an honour and a privilege, on behalf of Denise and I, Thank You!

Cheers

[Jon Skagfeld]

Sunray:

Was Vic Norburn in attendance?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Affirmative, Pronto. Good man, he.

Hello All,

FYI ... I was unable to have a camera available after all, to take photos ... BUT, not to worry, as a gentleman there took many and promised to send me copies ... for which, in gratitude, I dropped a roll of Canadian Poppy Quarters in his pocket to say thank you Of course we'll need to find a working scanner, once we receive them, before I can upload some of them for your hungry eyes ...

I don't know how to express myself about the reunion, except to say I feel extremely honoured to have been accepted and welcomed to such a personal and private event for these wonderful "Kangaroos" ... yes, I chatted some of them up ... and the most emotional/powerful moments for me were hearing the Last Post, the 2 minute silence ,,, in which my mind and heart were all over the place, especially with these "Kangaroos" ... (I did a little reading about the Kangaroos in prep for knowing better who I'd be meeting )

GEOFF ... YOU I must thank most ... for inviting me along, and for sharing this event, and these wonderful people and experiences with me. It was food for my heart, mind, and soul.

As for the Kangaroos, well, I think I'm in love with all of them now ... The Royal Winipeg Rifles, who I think of as my family's regiment, now has competition. They MUST make room for the Kangaroos. I insist

Contrary to what SOME folks may say, who were there, I hardly paid any attention to Rupert at all at that reunion as I only had eyes (mostly) for the Kangaroos ... and now I'm paying for it as he's giving me the total silent treatment :

As for Mark and Denise ... it was one another wonderful highlight moment to meet you both. FINALLY and AT LAST!!!

Picture this:

Mark sipping coffee, Denise beside him, me across the table from him, watching him furiously writing ... personally inscribing all the Kangaroo books ... and me thinking, "Well ... my goodness ... he truly IS a hairy-faced beast ... (but a rather NICE one) I'm glad I got to share this event with Mark and Denise ... (Denise ... you are a delight!!! I hope we can meet again!)

Well ... I think what stands out most in my mind is the faces of the Vets ... and when they were chatting with each other, I had no problem at all seeing them in their youth together "over there" ... the spirits and memories of those young boys still live ... you only have to be with them to spot that!

Enough for now ... I just sort of freeflowed here ...

Will post photos as soon as is possible ... which may take some time yet ... please be patient. I know that Hanno ... YOU must especially want to see photos. I'll be sure and email copies of the original scans to you as soon as I have them.

Lest We Forget.

Karmen

[Keith Webb]

Bloody good show all round, and my sincere congratulations to all concerned.

Geoff, I particularly relate to your comment about the vets not reliving the past but becoming boys again. I've seen that happen over here too as I've been involved filming interviews and seeing how these men relate to each other. It's as though 60 years have been erased.

My partner and I in these things are planning to interview as many of these people as we can, with no immediate use for the footage other than knowing this is a very narrow window of opportunity for us to do so. Lest future generations forget.

I'm meeting with the RSL (Returned Servicemens' League) next week to see how we can best go about it.

A wonderful thread, and a very well written one. Thank you, Geoff.

Originally posted by Keith Webb
My partner and I in these things are planning to interview as many of these people as we can, with no immediate use for the footage other than knowing this is a very narrow window of opportunity for us to do so. Lest future generations forget.

I'm meeting with the RSL (Returned Servicemens' League) next week to see how we can best go about it.

What a great way to preserve and honour their history, Keith. I hope this works out. Recognition and history does easily become a blank void for present and future generations.

I also like that the more you know about someone's life and experiences, their thoughts and dreams, memories, the more you understand them ... and appreciate them. That can only be good for the world ... and YOU seem to be doing a great job at "catching history bits, and history in the making"