CFTA Meaford

[Wayne McGee]

I started this thread to avoid high-jacking the "Bedroll" thread...oh well.
My last time in Meaford would have been about 1980ish and though I visited quite regularaly as a RHLIey throughout the 70's, my memory of specific places is spotty.
Lets see...long straight gravel road ending in a steep switch-back to get in to the place, gaurd shack/house(?) on the left, airfeild/sportsfeild/paradeground on the right, abandoned, boarded up wooden barracks straight ahead, turn left for the Rocket Range, Feild Firing, and Range Tower. I don't remember a conventional range, gas hut, or grenade range but I'm sure they were there.
If you went right at the old shacks you headed East past an abandoned apple orchard on your right, then turning North into the training area.
Somewhere along there is where the RQ burned down a giant circus tent with one of those M37 burners. The tent contained all of the BN's support weapons including, four brand new, never been fired, 84mm's.
Further along, heading North, drop down off the escarpment, then turn West on 7th Line for a long ways before coming out into the impact area.
What I seem to remember overall was the complex and varied terrain (excellent for patrolling), and the lack of an open "bowling alley" to practice Platoon formations/movements etc. Also very good feild firing ranges for small arms up to .50Cal and Carl G.
I was aware that Meaford was a going concern again and last summer I even drove past the entrance in transit from Borden to Sauble but, I would sure like to stop in to see the place again, a lot of good times, in what now seems to be a simpler time.

Cheers