Episode 047 – BGen Garry Thomson

11/02/15 • -1 min

Podcasts – Canadian Military History Podcast

Brigadier-General Garry S. Thomson, CD was born in Dundee, Scotland, attended High School in Thunder Bay and Kincardine, and university at Waterloo College, and holds a B.Sc. in Business from Pacific Western University, Los Angeles.

From a police and military family, (his father was a wartime officer in the British Army, captured at Anzio Beachhead as a Platoon Commander, 6th Gordons, 1st British Infantry Division) he was an Army Cadet, then began his own military career as ROTP (Infantry) in 1958, and was commissioned in The Royal Regiment of Canada in 1963. He commanded his Regiment from 1976 to 1979. He is currently Immediate Past Chair of The Royal Regiment Foundation and Chair of the G & SF Foundation. Brigadier-General Thomson commanded Toronto Militia District (now 32 Brigade Group) from October 1986 to October 1988 and served subsequently on the staff of Central Militia Area, and later Land Force Central Area as Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration. He was promoted on March 1, 1992 to Brigadier-General, and was appointed Deputy Commander Land Force Central Area on March 8, 1992. He was Acting Commander, Land Forces Central Area (LFCA) from February to May 1995 and completed his term as Deputy Commander in April 1996. While at LFCA, he spent time with the UN forces in Croatia and Bosnia, and was in Rwanda a few short months after the massacre in 1994. Brigadier-General Thomson was appointed in December, 2011 as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of The Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regiment, and looks forward to contributing to their long and distinguished service to Canada, and the chapters yet to be written.

In civilian life, Brigadier-General Thomson had many years’ experience in the insurance industry, including Vice-President, Group Operations and Vice-President, Association Business with Constellation Assurance Co., then as Assistant Vice-President, Association with Sun Life of Canada. He moved to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario as General Manager in Operations from 1997 to 2005. After a brief retirement he returned to business for a year as President of ATF Canada Corporation. He recently completed 28 years as a Governor of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Great Lakes Division, is a member of the Probus Club of Mississauga South, a Chevalier of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, a member and past First Vice-President of The Royal Canadian Military Institute and a Past President of Fort York Branch, Royal Canadian Legion. He was for 7 years, ending 2012, the voluntary Producer of the RCMI’s Annual Massed Band Concert held every October at

Previous Episode

Episode 046 – WO Glen Moore

WO Glen Moore (Ret’d) CD joined The Royal Regiment of Canada in October 1981.

He completed Recruit, Basic and TQ1 Infantry courses and attended MilCon in the Summer of 1982 as a fully trained Private. He was promoted to Corporal in the Fall of 1982 and over the course of the next couple of years he passed the TQ2 Smalls Arms Instructor and TQ2 Communications Courses. Concurrently he was chosen to be a member of the Pioneer Platoon and participated in numerous commemorations and parades. He achieved the Rank of Pioneer Sergeant which was an honor and he enjoyed very much.

In 1984 he passed the Junior NCO Course and also participated in the Sesquicentennial Guard during the Summer. In 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Master Corporal. He then taught Recruit, Basic, TQ1 Infantry, Small Arms, Communications and Junior Courses as a Section Commander both within The Royal Regiment of Canada and in Toronto Militia District. In 1986 he passed the TQ3 Infantry Course which was conducted at CFB Aldershot, Nova Scotia. In 1987 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while performing duties as a Platoon Second in Command while also being the Pioneer Sergeant on Regimental Ceremonial parades.

In 1992 he passed the Senior Leaders Course which was conducted at CFB Downsview, Toronto. In 1993 he was awarded the Canadian Forces’ Decoration for 12 years of continuous service. In 1994 and 1995 he attended Exercise Southern Drive at Camp Blanding, Florida, USA. Also in 1995, he passed the First Regular Force Standard QL6B Warrant Officers Infantry Course at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick. In the Summer of 1993 he participated in the filming of the CBC’s Two Part Mini Series Dieppe.

He was promoted to Warrant Officer in the Winter of 1995. In 1996 he was chosen as the winner of the LCol Bell, CD Trophy for the Most Proficient Senior NCO. He then passed on the duties of Pioneer Sergeant while still carrying on the Regimental duties of Platoon Second in Command, Transport NCO, Company Quarter Master and Company Sergeant Major. He also instructed a Senior Leaders course. In 1998 he performed the duties as the 32 Canadian Brigade Group Company Quarter Master during The Ice Storm where he was deployed to Hawkesbury, Ontario. He retired a year later in the beginning of 1999. After retirement he continued to attend Regimental parades and functions.

In 2007 he joined The Royal Regiment of Canada Association where since then he has performed the duties of Director, Secretary, Sergeant of Arms, Vice President and President. He’s currently performing the duties of Vice President as well as Webmaster for the Association’s website and Facebook page.

He was the Commander of The Association’s marching contingent during the last 4 years at the CNE Warriors’ Day Parade. On that parade, in 2013 they placed Third and 2015 they placed First as well as won the

Next Episode

Episode 048 – CWO Bill Darling Part 1

William Darling joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1979 as a Gunner with 2 Field Royal Canadian Artillery, located in Montreal, Quebec. After completing Recruit and Basic training, he completed his TQ1 Artilleryman training at CFB Gagetown. He remained with 2 Field as a Gun Detachment member, being promoted to Bombardier in 1980. In 1982 he relocated to Toronto, Ontario, re-mustered Infantry and joined The 48^th Highlanders of Canada, becoming the Regiment’s first 4th generation Highlander. The Darling family has served the Regiment continuously from 1896 to present day with his Great-Grandfather, Great-Great-Uncle, Grandfather, 3 Great-Uncles and his Uncle all serving as Officers. Bill’s 2 brothers also served in the Regiment.

Bill Darling served as a section commander in C Company in 1983 and 1984. In 1983 he was awarded the Regiment’s Eaton Trophy as the Top Jr. NCO. He completed his Jr. NCO course in 1984 and was appointed Master Corporal the same year. After a 2 year posting to the Militia Training Centre at CFB Borden he returned to service with the Regiment in 1987 having been promoted to Sergeant in 1986. Sgt Darling was awarded the Eaton Trophy for a second time in 1988 as the Regiment’s Top Sr. NCO, the first NCO in Regimental history to be awarded both the Top Jr. and Sr. NCO awards. He continued to serve the Regiment in a variety capacities including Platoon 2I/C, Company Transport Sergeant, Company Quarter Master Sergeant, Company Sergeant Major and Regimental Training NCO, earning promotions to Warrant Officer in 1990 and Master Warrant Officer in 1996. In 1992, WO Darling was awarded a Central Militia Area Commander’s Commendation for his dedication and professionalism during the Area’s annual Infantry Competition. In 1996 MWO Darling was again extra-Regimentally employed as a CSM with 32 Canadian Brigade Group’s Battle School instructing recruit and primary leadership courses.

In 1997, Bill Darling deployed as a Duty Officer with the 1^st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, for the Red River flood relief operations in Manitoba as part of Operation Assistance.

When Bill returned to Regimental service, he was appointed the Regiment’s Drill Sergeant Major. He further had the honour and privilege of being promoted to the rank of CWO and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the 48^th Highlanders of Canada in 1999. He had the privilege of representing the Regiment at various exercises and events around the country, most notably the Netherlands‘ Millennium Celebration of the Liberation of Holland in 2000.

When Chief Warrant Officer Darling relinquished the appointment of RSM in 2002, he was appointed the RSM of 32 CBG Battle School a position he held until 2005. In 2005, CWO Darling deployed on Op Boreas to Bosnia Herzegovina as the 2I/C of the European Union’s Multi National Task Force (North-West) Liaison and Observation Team Detachment in Sanski Most. Upon his return he was appointed the Brigade Sergeant Major of 32 CBG in 2006 a position he hel...