02/01/2026
Gustav Platoon 7501, Fifty Years Later
About three years ago, I received an unusual message – “Hello sir, you probably don’t remember me ...”. With that as an opening line, my mind started racing and I thought: Well, this should be interesting!
He continued, “I was in your Recruit Course in 1975 in the Second Battalion.” That course I certainly remember. Our course was the first Trade Qualification (TQ) 3 Infantryman course to be conducted at the Battalion following the devolution of basic infantrymen training from the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown to the various battalions. Later, Regimental Battle Schools were formed to conduct infantry and other trade training courses. I was newly commissioned and commanding 3 Platoon, G Coy, 2RCR when tasked to run this course.
“The boys stuck together and we’re going to have a reunion next year (ie, 2023) in Shediac and we want you to come.” Well, I gave the only sensible answer, “Damn right I’ll be there!”. This was Terry Randall, one of the erstwhile recruits who was speaking to me some 47 years after the fact. He helped significantly in organizing our reunions.
Of an initial intake of about 30 recruits, 15 graduated from Gustav Platoon 7501. After hearing of the numbers, I was shocked at a 50% attrition rate. Terry quickly assured me that several of them had been medically recoursed and eventually did fine in The Regiment. Many had also put in for a Voluntary Occupational Transfer to another trade and or found a meaningful career in civilian life. The system works.
In 2023 we were able to gather a number of the 15 Royal Canadian graduates accompanied by their lovely ladies to Shediac, NB. The event lasted three days centred at the Legion with fun-filled activities hosted by another course member, Eddie Cormier. The event allowed us to gather and reminisce about the old times, proving that the bonds and comradeship built in the The Regiment can last the test of time. The graduates were augmented by Stan Grady (course storeman/driver), Doug Allison (course instructor) and me. We had so much fun on that, our 48th anniversary, we decided the 50th had to be celebrated too and it must be back in Oromocto and Base Gagetown near the Second Battalion.
And, so it was: on 15 and 16 August 2025, we celebrated the 50th at the Oromocto Legion and with the Second Battalion. Although one or two who were at the Shediac reunion didn’t make it, the blank file was filled by another, Recaro Francis. The Second Battalion, under LCol Rolls graciously supported us by tasking Recce Platoon to give us a “Dog and Pony Show”. Under Capt Savoie and MCpl Nichols, who got a grip on us old farts all the while muttering something about herding cats, we had a splendid show. The new (to us at least) Battalion lines are a wonderful improvement over our old lines, even though those were where our memories were made so many years ago.
Recce Platoon was fabulous. They gave a great set of briefings and demos on their vehicles, weapons, identification and tracking equipment, and comms. This is Star Wars stuff for our generation. The briefs were delivered with enthusiasm, by fit and very professional NCOs of The Regiment.
An interesting fact of our group of Royal Canadians is that several did not serve all their years in The Regiment. One went to the Military Police, another became a Photo Tech, and yet another became a Refurbishment Tech. One or two others similarly went in different directions, while a few remained serving in The Regiment for all their years.
We wrapped up our reunion on Saturday night having had a great Meet and Greet on Friday, the tour with Recce Platoon on Saturday afternoon and a lovely private dinner at the Legion that evening. Because we’re not quite as fit or fleet of foot as we were in 1975, we had initially thought that this year would be our last together, however we again had so much fun that we’re hopeful for another reunion in a couple of years.
Our years apart and diverse career paths could not diminish the wonderful bonds of friendship initiated 50 years ago in the tough and arduous training of qualifying as an Infantryman or the years and shared challenges, not to mention the crazy times, formed together in Canada’s oldest and finest Regular Force infantry regiment. It’s a brotherhood that lasts a lifetime!
Pro Patria
H.A. (Drew) Halpenny
Major (Ret’d)
Course Commander, Gustav Platoon 7501
