AT THE West Vancouver cenotaph tomorrow, one of the f wreaths will be quietly laid by a pleasant chap named Danby. He’! be there on behalf of the North Shure Korean Veierans Association. A number of words spring to mind: General, Infantry Brigade Commander, Distinguished Ser- vice Order, Croix de Guerre with Gold Leaf (France's highest honor). One word is dominant: Seaforth. I first heard of Brig.-Gen. E.D. Danby in 1968. I was in the Black Watch Officer’s Mess at CFB Gagetown, N.B., which once fell under his infantry brigade com- mand. But the man who mentioned his name talked of distinguished ser- vice during the war with New Brunswick’s Carleton & York Regiment. — @6©>-. Another officer interjected that Danby was ‘‘really a Seaforth’’ and he went on to tell me about 4H this remarkable British Columbia regiment. 1 have been hearing about it . ever since. . Last year in Amstecraam, we hired a car and driver to take us ona tour. - On the outskirts of the city, the im driver, unaware of where we were from, pointed to a bridge. “That’s where the Canadians came from when we were liberat-- “When I told him a friend of mine was in command that day, there was disbelief on his face. Budge Bell-Irving (Distinguished Service Order & Bar, Order uf the ritish Empire etc.) in his jeep, had led the alies into Amsterdam. 2 Seaforth. He and I are on a first narme basis: he calls me ‘‘Gary’’ and I call him ‘‘General.” At a Seaforth dinner you may tfind yourself staring at a Victoria Cross. Lt. -Col. Cee Merritt was igned to the South Saskat- chewan Regiment when he won his at Dieppe. Cpi. E.A. moky’’ Smith earned his with ¢ Seaforths in italy. An infrequent visitor to the Seaforth Armory on Burrard Street these days is still a revered legend in Canadian military cir- f :cles: Maj.-Gen. B.M. “Bert’’ . a “Hoffmeister, Companion of the British Empire, Distinguished Ser- vice Order with Two Bars, two Military Decorations with an ‘American Legion of Merit. a There are many others. ‘ House of Commons Speaker + John Fraser, once a Seaforth 4 cadet, rarely misses an event. He’s now working on a new MacKenzie ; kilt. The first one was rather threadbare after decades of fine & parties. = Robert Bonner is usually there. “Brig. Doug Anderson, of the Srespected printing family, has been a determined supporter. Amore recent recruit is the Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES Associate Minister of National Defence Mary Collins, whose daughter serves in the regiment. The Seaforths’ Pipe Band com- posed a special piece of music for Mrs. Collins two years ago. The Seaforth Highlanders, the regiment of Clan MacKenzie in Scotland, was merged some years ago with the Camerons to form the Queen’s Own Highlanders. Their band, not Jong after meritorious service in the Persian Gulf, was in concert this weekend in Vancouver. The Canadian Seaforths survive as a reserve batialion, the proud inheritors of one of the scrappiest bands of soldiers ever assembled in Canada. Ever since the late Gen. J.A. Clark forged the Vancouver riff raff and young Shaughnessy into fighting trim, the achievements have consistently startled observers fzom the larger, older and federally favored regiments. Brig. Danby remembers looking out of his West End window as a child. Every day, the erect bearing of a military officer marched past. His mother admonished him: “You must become a fine gentie- man like that.” It was Clark. Young Danby soon surprised his mother. He returned with an application to join the Seaforth Cadets. Confronted by reality, mother’s First World War memories almost ended the son’s military career be- fore it began. But he persevered. The year was 1930. Dick Danby served at the side of Clark, Hofimeister, Bell-Irving, the renowned Gen. George Kit- + ching and Gen. George Pearkes, vc. These men and fallen comrades are his memories. | Today, cadets remain an ambi- tion. | Seniors You should hear what you're missing! ' (North Shore) - Hearing tests will be given at the Bel- tone Better Hearing Centre on the North Shore on Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Anyone who has trouble hearing is welcome to have the test. Many people with hearing problems don't need hearing aids. But only a mod- ern hearing test like the one one being offered by Beltone can really tell for sure. Everyone should have a hearing test at least once a year — even people now wearing a hearing aid or those who have been told nothing could be done for them. Only a hearing test can determine if modern methods of hearing amplification can help them hear better. The hearing tests will be given Monday to Thursday from 10:00 am. to 4:00 p.m. on the North Shore. In-home - testing is also available. Please phone for appoint- ment. _D.V.A. Weicome “In cadets I learned that I had self-discipline. One could take pride in what one did,’ Danby recalls. ‘‘It was really a wonderful experience.”” He is assisting another Clark, the current commanding officer. Lt.-Col. Rob Clark, upon assum- ing command, established cadet development as his top priority. Funding, recruitment and en- thusiasm have followed. A catastrophe has landed upon the military industries of the world. This is called PEACE. When the munitions factories close in the United States, the Soviet Union and elsewhere, whole towns will be economically destroyed. The grey gnomes of government accounting will find it increasingly attractive to cutback on military spending. In the face of this certainty, the great regiments, the air force and navy will try to convince young people that opportunities await them. Cadets, militia and regular service have little sex appeal among today’s youth. Without any family or persona! tradition as an incentive, why would a tuned-in teenager want io suffer the tyrannies of drill sergeants on a parade square? Col. Clark says it’s sometimes hard to get a youngster through the door the first time, but the at- titude change is rapid: “It’s kind of like a transforma- tion that takes place. At first, it wasn’t what they thought it would be, but they soon realize the legacy that they are part of." The stellar performance of the army at Oka, and the Canadian forces in the Persian Gulf, have had a noticeable impact. Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: , GIRTHRIGHT Sunday, November 10, 1991 - North Shore News - 9 ‘A regiment with a proud tradition would be a line up at the door. In the militia, all this comes with a paycheque. No recruitment incentives would be necessary if Rob Clark’s family was maintained at battalion strength. Grandfather founded it. Uncles served. His father Jock, a well-known North Vancouver resident, If a boys and girls club offered professional assistance, education, discipline, access to music, fitness training, athletics, a sense of im- portance, career opportunities, an unswerving dedication to Queen, country and the community, at- tractive uniforms and travel, there wounded in wartime service, still supports the effort. Brother Dan Clark, before a brief career in the National Hockey League, served for one year. Rob Clark will complete his command next year. The Seafor- ths have had to look outside the Clark family for a replacement. His name is Bell-Irving: a new one for the limelight. These determined and successful Canadians will also honor and remember tomorrow. 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