Monthly Archives: February 2025

South Africa, Uniforms

Paardeberg Day February 27

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“For two decades afterwards, Canadians would gather on 27 February (known in Canada as “Paardeberg Day”) around memorials to the South African War to say prayers and honour veterans.” (Wikipedia)

The Canadian participation in the South African War of 1899-1902 saw the active involvement of various Canadian military units, including The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. This esteemed regiment, based in Toronto, Ontario, contributed thirty-four soldiers to the conflict, playing a vital role in the war effort.

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, a militia regiment with a rich history and tradition, eagerly answered the call for service during the South African War. Known for their marksmanship and tenacity, the members of this esteemed unit demonstrated exceptional bravery and skill on the battlefield.

During the war, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada played a crucial part in numerous engagements, including the Battle of Paardeberg (which concluded on February 27th) and the subsequent march to Pretoria. Their actions were instrumental in supporting the larger British war effort, as Canadian forces worked alongside other Commonwealth troops to achieve success in South Africa.

Three members of the regiment did not return – one killed in action and two of disease:

  1. Sergeant A Beattie – Died of Enteric Fever – 14 April 1900
  2. Rifleman W. S. Blight – Died of Enteric Fever – 15 April 1900
  3. Private Charles E.E. Jackson – Killed in Action – 18 February 1900 at Paardeberg

The soldiers from The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada’s experiences in the South African War were pivotal in shaping the regiment’s identity and legacy. The lessons from this conflict contributed to the ongoing development and refinement of the unit’s training and operational capability.

In the aftermath of the war, the contributions of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada were celebrated and recognized as an integral part of Canada’s military history when they were awarded the battle honour “South Africa 1899-1900.” Their gallant service in South Africa served as a testament to the dedication and courage of Canadian soldiers, leaving an indelible mark on the regiment and the nation as a whole.

Read more about The Queen’s Own Rifles and Canadians in South Africa.

Read more about the uniforms and equipment used by Canadians in South Africa.

Learn about joining The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada as a Canadian Forces reserve soldier on the Regimental website recruiting page.

Combat, Remembrance, Second World War

26 February 1945: More than a VC

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Aubrey Cosens’ Victoria Cross, now in the Canadian War Museum.

The Regiment usually recognizes 26 February as the anniversary of the action to capture the farmhouse at Mooshoff for which Sergeant Aubrey Cosens was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the only one awarded to a QOR soldier in the Second World War – and quite rightly deserved. However, our veterans often referred to the actions that day as “our toughest scrap.” This was part of “Operation Blockbuster” and February 26 was the third deadliest action the QOR would see during the war. Four officers were killed and three wounded; twenty-eight other ranks were killed, and five later died of wounds; sixty other ranks were wounded; and one battle injury resulted.

Rifleman Charles Nahwegezhik

One of those who died of wounds received on the 26th was the young Indigenous Rifleman Charles Nahwegezhik who was posthumously awarded the Military Medal.

“…Finally the platoon had to withdraw. Rifleman Nahwegezhic refused to go back and stayed behind with his Bren gun to cover the withdrawal. His accurate and determined fire enabled the balance of his platoon to pull back and reorganize for a further successful attack. In displaying this supreme courage and devotion to duty Rifleman Nahwegezhic was in large measure responsible for the capture of the platoon objective.”

Wounded Lieutenant Lloyd Carleton McKay who survived the war, was awarded the Military Cross for “his gallant and distinguished services” in this action.

Below is a list of the thirty-four QOR killed in action on 26 February and two soldiers who died of their wounds on the 27th and 28th. The oldest two were 35, the youngest one 18. Many had joined the QOR as reinforcements just weeks before.

All are buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands where the local Dutch citizens continue to honour their memories through their Faces to Graves Foundation.

Today we remember them all and invite you to read their stories.

Service Number
Highest Rank Received
Full Name
Birth Date
age
Cemetery
Grave Reference
B157584 Rifleman 3 Jul 1909 35 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands X. H. 16.
L91715 Rifleman 22 Sep 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 6.
B56077 Rifleman 19 May 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 9.
B116330 Rifleman 12 Mar 1926 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 1.
L57848 Lieutenant 29 Apr 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 9.
B64802 Lieutenant 29 Oct 1929 22 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 8.
C64183 Corporal 23 Mar 1915 30 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 14.
B46495 Sergeant 21 May 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 2.
B117972 Rifleman 12 Oct 1925 18 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 5.
B149901 Rifleman 30 Jul 1925 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 3.
B36737 Lance Corporal 8 Dec 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands XVI. H. 1.
B44572 Rifleman 19 Jul 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 4.
B145438 Corporal 18 Mar 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 3.
G53534 Lance Corporal 3 Jan 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 11.
K46136 Lieutenant 18 Apr 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 10.
B162294 Rifleman 20 Feb 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 7.
B159825 Rifleman 3 May 1925 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 7.
B103245 Rifleman 26 Mar 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 15.
B124032 Rifleman 7 Oct 1912 32 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 14.
F7471 Rifleman 14 Nov 1920 24 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 6.
B63407 Rifleman 17 Jun 1922 22 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 8.
B52575 Rifleman 27 Jun 1918 26 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands XVI. G. 13.
B36812 Corporal 21 Apr 1920 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 10.
B157996 Rifleman 6 Jan 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 13.
Lieutenant 8 Oct 1918 26 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 12.
B157100 Rifleman 11 July 1924 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 4.
B145134 Rifleman 26 Sep 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 1.
B157668 Rifleman 21 Jan 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 12.
A104737 Rifleman 11 Sep 1917 27 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 13.
K46678 Rifleman 12 Jun 1920 24 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 2.
K76048 Rifleman 27 May 1909 35 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 11.
B157616 Lance Corporal 11 Feb 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 11.
B149466 Rifleman 14 Nov 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 9.
B131997 Rifleman 19 Jul 1924 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 16.
K15645 Rifleman 27 Jan 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 15.
B9251 Rifleman 17 Nov 1918 27 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. F. 16.
Volunteers

Recognizing Our 2024 Volunteers

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Our annual event to recognize our 2024 volunteers took place in the library of the Royal Canadian Military Institute on the evening of 6 February 2025.

Twenty-five attendees included our weekly volunteers, members of our museum’s Board of Governors, the Curator and Assistant Curators of Casa Loma (which hosts our museum) and Major Rhys Henderson, Deputy Commanding Officer of The Queen’s Own Rifles (on behalf of the Commanding Officer) and Master Warrant Officer Darnel Leader, Quartermaster Sergeant Major Instructor (on behalf of the Regimental Sergeant Major.)

After an hour of socializing and snacking on beef sliders and grilled cheese sandwiches and introductions, Museum Director John Stephens recognized individuals for their hours of service in the past year. From just 6 hours from our newest volunteer Eli to 270 hours by our dedicated Curator, Shaun Kelly.

Thanks to the Casa Loma operator Liberty Entertainment Group, we were pleased to present $50 gift certificates for any of Liberty’s Toronto restaurants to six volunteers with the most hours (except Shaun):

  • Anne (73 hours)
  • Sarah (75)
  • Patrick (77)
  • Brock (95)
  • Bruce (95)
  • Briahna (98)

Three volunteers were also recognized for some significant all-time hours milestones: Graham Humphrey (since 2013) and Briahna Bernard (since 2018)  for surpassing 1,000 hours and Shaun Kelly (since 2012) for reaching 2,000!

Major Henderson congratulated all our volunteers for their important contribution to collecting, caring for, and sharing the long and distinguished history of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and the soldiers who served in it.

We are also very grateful for the support of the members of our museum’s Board of Governors for their thoughtful oversight, the Queen’s Own Rifles Trust Fund for their funding, the Regimental Senate for recognizing the Museum as an important part of the Regiment Family, and not least the support of both the leadership and members currently serving in the regiment, particularly for their support on QOR Day at Casa Loma!

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If you would like to provide financial support for the operation of the museum, please note that the government has put in place a temporary extension for donations made before the end of February 2025 which allows them to be used with your 2024 income tax returns.