QUESTION OF THE WEEK

[Danjanou]

Ok to get back to my second question, what happened to Rifleman O‘Hea after his encounter with a burning train.

As Korus noted in his Link (good info BTW, thanks) O‘Hea died in Australia in 1874. There were rumours that he had gone out there to pursue fame and fortune possibly mining for Opals. There are also suggestions that he was murdered.

Now here‘s the kicker. The person who died in Australia in 1874 might not have been Timothy O‘Hea. It appears he had a twin brother. There is a possibility that O‘Hea VC died much earlier of TB and his twin covered this up and assumed his identity in order to get the pension. It may have been the brother that died in Australia.

Thanks to brin11 for this extra little info on the life of Rifleman O‘Hea.

Michael that was a fascinating read about the regiment of MOH "winners" thanks for sharing. And that guys and girls is the kind of question (and discussion) we‘re looking for here.

So who‘s ready for another?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Are we allowed to ask, or just answer?

Which Canadian regiment was the last one to receive an official Battle Honour for WW II - when was the honour granted, and for which battle?

 

[brin11]

Just wanted to clear up a tiny point regarding Tim O‘Hea; don‘t believe it was a twin brother, just a brother that assumed his identity.

 

[Danjanou]

Michael Of course you‘re allowed to ask. Besides that way you can‘t answer and everyone gets a chance to play.

Ok the esteemed Mr. Dorosh has posted the next question. (which means I can play in this round)Answers anyone.

brin11, sorry I misquoted you there, me bad.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Mike, would that be the Princess Louise Fusiliers receiving the Battle Honour "Arnhem. 1945", the award being finally confirmed in 1999?

"April 13, 1999 - The Princess Louise Fusiliers are awarded the Second World War battle honour ARNHEM, 1945. This was based on recently released documents that established the role of the 11th Independent Machine Gun Company (The Princess Louise Fusiliers) in support of the British 49(WR) Division attack on Arnhem (Op ANGER) during the period 12 to 14 April 1945."

Mike

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Michael OLeary, weren‘t you the dude that wrote about it for the Doctrine journal??

That was too easy - and of course you (and Danjanou, who answered via email) are correct. Now how about this - what was the next newest, ie the one awarded immediately before the PLF‘s honour for Arnhem? It was within the last couple of decades. Two other hints

a) the regiment it was awarded to still exists
b) it was to an infantry regiment

I hope it is the one I am thinking of, but hey, maybe I‘ll learn something too if I am wrong.

 

[Michael OLeary]

I didn‘t write that piece. I just happened to be the Adjutant the following summer when the unit officially accepted the honour.

Mike

 

[Danjanou]

That was a good one Michael. My immediate guess was the Canadian Airborne Regiment being awarded the WWII battle honours of the 1st Canadian Parachute Bn and the SSF in the sixties but you‘re craftier than that.

A little research (and a slow day at work) and the right answer eventually was found. Mind it helps I guess if you‘re in the Regiment involved I guess.

Prior to the PLF I‘m guessing either the Canadian Scottish granted WAGENBORGEN in the 1990s, (Didn‘t the Toronto Scottish get it too?) Or the couple of "misplaced"" ones for the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

Another easy one to keep the rest of you occupied while I come up with one to stump the two Mikes here (Dorosh and O‘Leary).

True or false a Canadian Regiment has the Battle Honour Gallipoli?

 

[mattoigta]

Im assuming false since there were no Canadian units (to my knowledge it was british and anzac and french in that area) in the world war 1 battle of Gallipoli. Perhaps it was awarded in another war?

 

[mattoigta]

Ahh crafty, the NFLD Regt has it

 

[L/MCpl_Argyll_ Kurrgan]

Haha, but NFLD wasn‘t part of Canada until 1949.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by L/MCpl_Argyll_ Kurrgan:
[qb] Haha, but NFLD wasn‘t part of Canada until 1949. [/qb]

But they are now. The question is whether or not a Canadian unit has the battle honour Gallipoli.

The answer is yes (or true)...

 

[xFusilier]

Seeing as that one got answered quickly;

Where is the "Danger Tree" and why is it so named?

 

[mattoigta]

Originally posted by xFusilier:
[qb] Seeing as that one got answered quickly;

Where is the "Danger Tree" and why is it so named? [/qb]

haha it just so happens that the Danger Tree is the "Photo Of The Moment" on the main page

"The Danger Tree, in the middle of "No Man‘s Land" was a navigation feature and rallying point"

 

[Danjanou]

Scarlino, good one. The Newfoundland Regiment was the only "Colonial unit in the 29th Division of the British Army that landed at Gallipoli (the other Bns were all British/Northern Irish). ANZAC and french troops made up a lot of the invasion force but there were British regulars there too.

Bonus points for putting Newfoundland Regiment not Royal Newfoundland Regiment as they would not receive the Royal preface for another two years.

Re the Danger Tree, guys many of the answers are here on the web site. Like I said this is supposed to be fun and informative not "school."

Now a little followup, as I said the RNFLDR received their Royal Cypher in 1917, what is unique about that?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Danjanou:
[qb]

Now a little followup, as I said the RNFLDR received their Royal Cypher in 1917, what is unique about that? [/qb]

They were the only regiment granted the Royal distinction during the First World War...?

 

[Danjanou]

Close Michael.

The title "Royal" was bestowed in recognition of the unit‘s part in the battle of Cambrai. It‘s the only time a unit has been so recognized during hostilities. Usually a regiment receives the honorific after hostilities have ended in recognition of thier acheivements in a particular battle, campaign, war etc.

BTW it‘s not the first time the regiment has been "Royal" During the 18th and 19th centuries it was the Royal Newfounland Regiment and/or the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and saw service throughout Upper Canada in the War of 1812 before being disbanded in 1816. For some reason when the unit was reconstituted in 1914 the "Royal" was not retained.

 

[mattoigta]

Originally posted by Danjanou:
[qb] BTW it‘s not the first time the regiment has been "Royal" During the 18th and 19th centuries it was the Royal Newfounland Regiment and/or the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and saw service throughout Upper Canada in the War of 1812 before being disbanded in 1816. [/qb]

Yeah weren‘t they at some point garrisoned at Fort George? I visited the place the other year and was surprised to see alot of the Newfoundlander uniforms hung up in the barracks.

 

[mattoigta]

Here‘s the next question if I may.

The Lorne Scots were punished with the Primrose hackle for rape committed during World War 2
True Or False

 

[L/MCpl_Argyll_ Kurrgan]

TRALSE!