Humour Hunt Archives - Legion Magazine

Winged commander

Legion Magazine — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:56:53 +0000

Amazingly, during the early years of the Second World War, Royal Air Force bombers were equipped with carrier pigeons. They were supposed to be the last resort if radio communications were lost. In 1942, one of these birds actually helped rescue a downed crew member. The pigeon, named Winkie, was aboard a badly damaged bomber …

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Blaze of glory?

John Ward — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:08:08 +0000

The 1976 Montreal Olympics was a major assignment for the Canadian Armed Forces, with about 9,000 service members involved. Security was a preoccupation for the hosts, with memories of the terrorism attack at the 1972 Munich Games still fresh. While the army had the biggest load, the navy contributed about 1,000 sailors as it handled security …

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Flag flap

John Ward — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:48:44 +0000

Bruce Stock, a retired major who served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and now lives in London, Ont., shared a tale about a flag mishap. In April 1967 on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, former Ontario premier Leslie Frost went to Vimy to present the town with the new …

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Loony tunes

John Ward — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:28:29 +0000

Over the years, soldiers have found that music helps pass the time and keeps spirits up on long marches. Some military songs long outlived the conflicts that inspired them. During the American Civil War, General William Sherman’s men stepped out to the strains of “Marching Through Georgia.” A generation later, British soldiers in South Africa …

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Like stealing potatoes from a baby

John Ward — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 17:40:05 +0000

Between the late 1940s and the early 1990s, thousands of Canadians served with NATO in Europe. Early on, there were problems with things as simple as clothing and rations, as Canada adjusted to maintaining a large force far from home supply depots. In some cases, the Canadians were served British rations, which seemed to consist …

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The hairy private

John Ward — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:01:34 +0000

A female polar bear born at the Toronto Zoo on Remembrance Day 2015 is the official mascot of the Canadian Armed Forces. The bear, Juno, was named after Canada’s D-Day beach. The CAF say it is “a living example of the bravery, tenacity and strength of Canadian soldiers who were instrumental in the success of D-Day …

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Like bombing fish on the banks

John Ward — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:31:19 +0000

The corvettes of the Second World War were tough little vessels, but their trappings were primitive. Fresh food typically ran out after a few days, leaving crews to dine on things like red lead (canned tomatoes) and bacon.

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Tickled pink

John Ward — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:58:32 +0000

Officers in the RCN share with the RN the privilege of drinking the loyal toast to the sovereign while seated. Those in other services must stand. It’s said the naval dispensation from standing dates to the days of King William IV. He was apparently dining aboard ship as a cadet and banged his head on an overhead beam when rising for the toast. He promptly exempted naval officers from standing. The tradition continues to this day.

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Taking the field

John Ward — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:48:39 +0000

Peter Cannon of Paisley, Ont., has a story about a 1983 summer exercise with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, which was staged at a farm owned by one of the regiment’s senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The unit was to practise defensive measures and repulsing attacks. On arrival, they dug slit trenches and strung concertina and low wire entanglements before getting their heads down. “I’m in my hooch …

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Retirement riches

John W Graham — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:12:57 +0000

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Maclaren of the British army thought he had hit it big. When he retired in 2001, Maclaren received a letter from the Ministry of Defence detailing his pension benefits and the tax-free lump sum to which he was entitled. The ministry noted that he had been commissioned a second lieutenant on Feb. 1, …

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