A WORD OF THANKS

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I would like to express my sincere thanks to the many people, serving and retired, who offered ideas and critique on this booklet. Some of the ideas I borrowed, all of the critiques I learned from. One never stops learning, or at least shouldn't, and one should never stop passing on “lessons learned.”

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I remember when I was a Deputy at the Staff College and we invited Brigadier Bill Ziegler. the former Commander Royal Artillery, First Canadian Division. to loin us on the Battlefield Study of the GOTHIC LINE, Italy. He was to give a lecture at the College before departure and then pass on gems to us on the ground. He arrived in Kingston mid-day and had dinner with my wife and me. That evening he said that none of his war experiences were coming back to him, so if I didn't mind, he'd like to give it all a pass - forget the lecture the following day, and he'd head back to Edmonton. After a brief chat (and a scotch or two) he accepted that he would stay to answer a few questions in Korea Hall, but the war wasn't coming back to him, so he “wouldn't be much use.” Once in front of the sixty or so bright young army captains, after a few hums and haws, he opened right up and told them not only how he fought artillery then, but how they should today - and, how to fight as an all-arms team!

By the second day in Italy, using maps, charts and prepared notes, with shooting stick in hand, he pointed out over the battlefields and described how they had fought that war, giving lessons on how we will have to fight the next one. He essentially took over the job of DS. He had learned his lessons the hard way, and as our self-appointed mentor, tutor, teacher, he became intent on passing those on.

I would especially like to thank Brigadier Ziegler for his outstanding personal example as an army trainer. He re-did these Italy tours several times and spoke to junior Gunner Officer gatherings for years. And he never stopped learning. At 84, on the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta - a degree he gave up as a Militiaman in 1940 to fight the war for Canada. Learning never stops, and good soldiers pass on what they have learned.

Thanks Brigadier Ziegler.

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I also wish to thank Captain (Retired Regular Force and now sometimes Militia) James O'Brien, MA (English) and soon MBA, for urging me on. Also, Major Pierre Lepine, MA (War Studies) and soon PhD, for getting me started on this, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John Davidson who found the detailed errors, and set me straight, and RESERVES 2000 for engaging Sabina McGrath to do the final editing job. Also, Public Archives Canada and the Department of National Defence (Army Lessons Learned Cell) for many of the photographs.

My Thanks to RESERVES 2000 for their support in producing this booklet.