Dear Prof. Bridger:

I’m quite sure that you have again received much praise for your efforts in maintaining the Review at such a peak of “quality and quantity”, but please let me add my own. Whenever and wherever any of us get together the prime topic seems always to be the Review and, of course, the “backroom boy” responsible !

If it is possible to choose any one item or article which stands out above the rest (a difficult decision when contemplating the contents of the Review) I think the most should go to the history of the College as you are writing it by decades. As a cadet I often heard rumours of a complete history in the making, but that was as far as it went. Certainly, your research is filling a long outstanding need. 

Each number of the Review seems to carry more and more pages of “Random Notes” which, I hope, means that we who are away from the College are maintaining a share of your burden. 

Here at the “Big Maroon Machine” we consider ourselves very much an R.M.C. Division. General Hoffmeister is not an ex-cadet, but all four brigadiers
are : 

C.R.A. -Brig. J. S. Ross (2116).
            Brig. Cumberland (1769).
            Brig. Johnston (1855).
            Brig. Lind (2016). 

Then there’s Chips Drury (2382) as A. & Q.; Jack Christian (2211) as C.R.E.; Harris Widdifield (2066) as O.C. Sigs.; John Sinclair (2482) as B.M.R.A.; Pete Hertzberg (2685) on the G. Staff, and myself as A.D.O.S.

Up until a short while ago, too, the C.R.C.A.S.C. was “Sparky” J. L. Sparling (1760) and his brother Brig. H. A. (1878) was C.R.A. “Kits” Jordan (1858) has the G.G.H.G. while Bob Smallian (2362) and Bob Cameron (2563) had Field Squadrons R.C.E. until a few weeks ago. 

From the Ordnance point of view, my cousin “J. A. W.” (2073) holds forth as D.D.O.S. at Army H.Q.; Tony Townesend (2004) is A.D.O.S. Cdn. Sec. G.H.Q. 1 Echelon here and Fred Slater (2483) is A.D.O.S. at 1 Div. where he recently relieved “Joe” Lake (2398). Just at the moment I’m not sure where the latter is. Elliot Durnford (1526) is A.D.O.S. Army.

While in Brussels a few weeks ago I was very surprised to run into Henri Emond who was staying at the same Transit Hotel as I was. We breakfasted together and of course, “compared” a lot of notes. He had just received word that he was a father, and with justifiable pride, showed me the cable bearing the good news. He was then doing work as a Canadian L.O. at the H.Q. of the French Forces. Luckily both Jack Christian and Chips appeared shortly, and of course joined us. It is truly amazing the circumstances under which ex-cadets always, seem to turn up. 

Yours sincerely, 

(Signed) BOB BENNETT, No. 2435.