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Today is the 132nd anniversary of the founding of The Royal Canadian Regiment and The Royal Canadian Dragons. Happy Birthday, “Pro Patria”, “Audax et celer”.
In honour of this occasion I recommend you do the Ortona Toast:
One oz dark rum;
One oz water;
one teaspoon brown sugar;
Served in plain white china mug.
The origins of this toast is from the WWII Battle of Ortona:
“On December 21st, it was realized that it was The Regiment’s Sixtieth Birthday, and Lt-Col. Spry (acting Commander of 1 Cdn lnf Bde) was invited to visit the Battalion’s Command Post and drink the Health to The Regiment: this he did although the Command Post was under shell fire at the time. Capt. Mitchell prepared a punch of issue rum, sugar and water, and those who participated in the toast were Lt.-Col. Dan Spry, Major Strome Galloway, Capt Sandy Mitchell, Capt Marty Upper, Lieut Walter Roy, Capt [Padre] Rusty Wilkes, M.C., and RSM Archie McDonnell. Just as the ceremony was concluded Capt Dick Dillon, M.C. and Lieut Buck Bowman, M.C. , reported in from two fighting patrols which they had been leading with considerable success. So was the Diamond Jubilee of The Regiment observed; not only within sight of the enemy, but engaging him the while!”
In honour of this occasion I recommend you do the Ortona Toast:
One oz dark rum;
One oz water;
one teaspoon brown sugar;
Served in plain white china mug.
The origins of this toast is from the WWII Battle of Ortona:
“On December 21st, it was realized that it was The Regiment’s Sixtieth Birthday, and Lt-Col. Spry (acting Commander of 1 Cdn lnf Bde) was invited to visit the Battalion’s Command Post and drink the Health to The Regiment: this he did although the Command Post was under shell fire at the time. Capt. Mitchell prepared a punch of issue rum, sugar and water, and those who participated in the toast were Lt.-Col. Dan Spry, Major Strome Galloway, Capt Sandy Mitchell, Capt Marty Upper, Lieut Walter Roy, Capt [Padre] Rusty Wilkes, M.C., and RSM Archie McDonnell. Just as the ceremony was concluded Capt Dick Dillon, M.C. and Lieut Buck Bowman, M.C. , reported in from two fighting patrols which they had been leading with considerable success. So was the Diamond Jubilee of The Regiment observed; not only within sight of the enemy, but engaging him the while!”
