Under the kilts to deeper military traditions

The outgoing brigade sergeant major gave a real class event, and old neighbourswere the guests.

Yes, Chief Warrant Officer Howie Dunbar held his last mess dinner as 36 Canadian Brigade Group sergeant major last Saturday evening. He’s heading off to another appointment.

He had invited a wide range of people who had been part of his service in one way of another over the past 34 years. Among them were First Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders RSM CWO Rick Wambolt, my brother, Robert, a former sergeant with the unit; and myself, also a former member – all from the neighbourhood: the little community of Abercrombie. As well, from nearby New Glasgow, was Lt. Col. Bob Grant, whose dad is former Atlantic Area GOC Brig. Gen. J.J. Grant (ret’d).

We’re all duly proud of what Howie has accomplished as a soldier and policeman.

We met many others who also got to know and work with him over the decades.

Not to break protocol, but it’s suffice to say it was a tremendous evening of good company, good memories, good food and good entertainment. Military traditions and pageantry got a full work out.

Artilleryman CWO Peter Andrews is the new 36 Brigade sergeant major, the right-hand man for commander Col. David Henley, also a gunner. We can rest assured the formation and unit traditions are in capable hands.

It was a splendidly turned out group. Though there were some older folks, even for senior ranking people, they were some youngsters – at least, compared to the Fox brothers – including the first female reserve regimental pipe major and the soon-to-be-first permanent force one.

For those who worry about costs, don’t. At these events, the participants pay the shot. The taxpayer is not on the hook.

Noted Canadian military writer Prof. David Bercuson wrote recently in the Legion magazine regimental tradition instruction remains high in militia or reserve regiments, partly because, though busy, they don’t have as heavy deployment pressures the permanent force units have. The militia units have more opportunity to teach and carry on their regimental traditions. This is quite likely, but it’s not the whole story.

Where it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a community or region to prepare a soldier and support his or her regiment. This is particularly true of reserve units.

In the army reserve, people generally serve with their home units – among people with whom they grew up and went to school, work with or at least know. Regular units become like communities or family. Reserve units often begin that way.

In other words, militia or reserve units don’t just belong to the military. They belong to the community.

Often the communities involved aren’t aware of this. It’s their loss.

Small communities, such as Abercrombie, can have relatively large representation in units for a number of years.

On a personal note, my regimental kilt of so many decades ago was also there: full circle, worn by M/Cpl. Art Frost, who had trained with Howie when they were young recruits. Now I hadn’t worn the kilt since September 1971, when I transferred to the West Novas. It has been refurbished since, but I was still amazed my lineage with the reserve family goes even deeper than I had thought!