MWO Brian (John) H. Johnston, CD

Royal Canadian Army Cadets

Brian (John) Johnston first became involved with the military in Sept. 1953 when, at the age of 15, he joined the Riverdale Collegiate Cadet Corps No. 2217.  With a strength of about 400, No. 2217 was one of the larger cadet corps in the City of Toronto and it maintained a strong affiliation with a Militia unit, the Third Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (3 QOR of C).  The Army Cadets met one evening a week for drill and weapons training in the basement of Riverdale Collegiate.  In the summer of 1954, he went to Camp Ipperwash for field training and gained experience in what it was really like to be a soldier.   

Third Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (3 QOR of C)

In late 1954 Brian joined the 3 QOR of C mainly because of the Militia Bn’s affiliation with Cadet Corps No. 2217.  He was only 16 years old but told them he was 17 and had experience with the Cadets.  The Queen’s Own paraded and trained once a week at the University Armouries, periodically going to other locations like Camp Meaford for live firing of weapons and Casa Loma for sentry and guard duty.  During the summer of 1955 3 QOR of C went to Camp Niagara-On-The-Lake for training and competitions with other Toronto Garrison Infantry units.   

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)

He joined the Canadian Army (Regular) on July 31, 1956, and was sent for basic training at the PPCLI Depot at the Prince of Wales Armouries, Edmonton.  On completion of basic training in November 1956, he was posted to the Second Battalion, (2 PPCLI), in Currie Barracks, Calgary.  He qualified as a paratrooper at Rivers, Manitoba in April 1957 (Serial 314).   The battalion went to Camp Wainwright for brigade summer training exercises from mid-June to the end of July 1957 and, instead of returning to Currie Barracks, went to the brand new PPCLI Home Station, Hamilton Gault Barracks, in Edmonton.  He attended Advanced Para Course No. 6 at Rivers in March 1961 and became a qualified jumpmaster.

Canadian Intelligence Corps (C Int C)

In March 1962, Brian transferred to the Canadian Intelligence Corps and was stationed in Ottawa for six years followed by a posting to Germany for 4 years.  During this period he was engaged in strategic and combat intelligence as a photo interpreter.

Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR)

When he left Germany in July 1972, Brian was posted to the Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) in Edmonton and began jumping out of serviceable aircraft again.  He went to Cyprus with the CAR in 1974 and was there when the Turkish Army launched Phase II of the Cyprus War in August.  In 1976 he was in St Hubert, Quebec with the CAR which was the QRF (Quick Reaction Force) during the Summer Olympics held in Montreal (Operation Gamescan 76).

Brian retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1976 with the rank of Master Warrant Officer.

Decoration and medals:

1. Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) – July 30, 1968, for twelve years of service with good conduct.
2. United Nations Medal (Cyprus) – December 1974, for service with UNFICYP, Nicosia District (CANCON) during the war in Cyprus.
3. Special Service Medal with the NATO Bar – September 1994, for service in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Germany).
4. Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal – June 2001, for service on an international peacekeeping mission (Cyprus).

Brian died on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, aged 85.

Biography from his son Dave.