4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in action, from FallEx 1988 to disbandment in 1993
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4940578)
Beaver armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB), being loaded by Cpl Moore onto a train at Parsberg, Germany, en route to Rothenberg for Exercise Certain Challenge, Sep 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
M113 TUA, Grafenwohr, Germany, 30 June 1988. Invar Mfg. Ltd. In Batawa, Ontario modified, built and installed the weapons system for these APCs.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
M113, TUA, Grafenwohr, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
M113 TUA, Grafenwohr, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4940572)
Fallex 88. Drivers of Umpire vehicles plotting positions of each Army Unit location in Germany, September 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Hohenfels, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Hohenfels, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4940579)
Germany, Fallex 88, 4 CMBG, 4 Service Battalion, Cpl. Beresford and Sgt. Mattews De-Cam their MLVW, September 1988.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4940574)
Fallex 88. Private Setchell, W.O. Wright and MCpl. Landry in Leopard tank ready for action, 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Hohenfels, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Hohenfels, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
.50 cal, 4 CMBG, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
4 CMBG, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
4 CMBG, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Field Kitchen, 4 CMBG, Germany, 30 June 1988.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4940573)
Germany, Fallex 88, 4 CMBG, crewmembers of 4 CER relaxing on and around an M113 APC 11F, near a lumber yard, September 1988. Jim Perez, Dan Bitor, Sergeant Hamilton, and looks like James Simon reading a book. (Rick Morris).
(Brian D. Watters Photo)
Leopard on base at Lahr, 30 June 1988.
Capt Harold Skaarup in the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG), Command Post M577, Fallex 91.
I had the extraordinary privilege of serving as the Deputy G2 (Intelligence Officer) working in the back of an M577 Command Post with 4 CMBG based at CFB Lahr, Germany from 1989 to 1992. I therefore have an interest in the origins of the tanks and armoured fighting vehicles found in Canada. In an effort to help maintain the record of Canada’s armour history and artefacts, I have documented some of the preserved equipment on display in Canada and overseas with details, photos and research in the pages you will find on this website. This page is for those with an interest in 4 CMBG.
We worked with a lot of Allied forces along the way, and while in Germany, would go on annual NATO exercises in the fall. Some our training took place at the US forces installation at Hohenfels, where we were loaned a number of examples of former Soviet kit to familiarize our soldiers with the Warsaw Pact weapons and equipment. This is Capt Harold Skaarup with a Soviet T-62 tank in OpFor markings at Hohenfels, Germany, Sep 1989. This equipment was loaned to the 4 CMBG G2 Intelligence Section by the US Army to provide familiarization training on Soviet kit to Canadian troops during annual Fall Exercises (FALLEX) held in September each year.
(DND Phooto)
4 CMBG HQ and Sig Sqn Officers and Senior NCOs January 1992.
Fourth row: Capt Barbier, Capt Lapointe, Capt Bayes, Sgt Branchaud, MWO Moring, MWO Euteneier, MWO Landry, MWO Mackenzie, Sgt Wills, Sgt Bolke, WO Forcier, Capt Jones, Sgt Paradis, MWO Holleley.
Third row: Mr Johnston, Capt Fitzsimmons, MWO Anderson, Sgt Tetreault, Sgt Rhyno, Sgt Castonquay, Sgt Tremblay, Sgt Macdonald, Sgt Snodgrass, WO Teakles, PO2 Hunter, Sgt Dunlop, MWO MacLeod, WO Poulin, Sgt Chaykowsky, Mr Schlager.
Second row: Capt Haindl, Capt Roth, Capt Hill, WO Sutcliffe, Capt Beauchemin, Capt Murray, Capt Cressman, Capt Kiropoulos, Sgt Schenk, Sgt Mcphee, WO Nepton, WO Power, WO Macgillivary, Capt Gibson, Sgt Beaulieu.
Front row: Maj Rousseau, Maj Levesque, Maj Grant, Mr Dickson, CWO Desjardins, LCol Bastien, BGen Addy, Maj Francki, Capt Raymond, CWO Lapierre, Capt Angiolini, Maj Stocker, Capt Skaarup.
Capt Harold Skaarup briefing SACEUR General John R. Galvin and LGen George R. Joulwan & BGen J.J.M.R. Gaudreau, 4 CMBG HQ, G2 Section, Fallex 91.
Our Command Post, Fallex 91. 1, Capt Mike Rouleau, 3, Capt H.A. Skaarup.
(Author Photo)
M577 Command Post on display at the NBMHM, 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick.
From 1956 to 1988, the Hohenfels Training Area was used by NATO forces consisting primarily of American, German, Canadian, and occasionally British and French forces. In 1988, Hohenfels became the home of the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC), the mission of which was to provide realistic combined arms training for the United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army’s maneuver battalion task forces in force-on-force exercises.
(C Int C Photo)
1991, 4 CMBG M113 APC with recce Bicycles, FallEx.
(C Int C Photo)
1991, 4 CMBG M113 C&R Lynx with recce Bicycles, FallEx.
(C Int C Photo)
1991, 4 CMBG M113 C&R Lynx with recce Bicycles, FallEx.
Commanders of the Canadian Brigade in NATO
The author had the privilege of serving as a Canadian Forces Intelligence Branch Staff Officer at Headquarters, Canadian Forces Europe from June 1981 to July 1983, and as the G2 Operations Officer for the 4 CMBG Headquarters & Signals Squadron from July 1989 to July 1992. During the close-out ceremonies for the Brigade in Lahr, the author served as the escort officer for the group of past Commanders of 4 CMBG when this photo was taken on 15 June 1992.
(DND Photo)
From left to right: Lieutenant-General J. Chouinard, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Battle Group as a Brigadier, 27 July 1971-13 July 1972. Major-General J.E.P. Lalonde, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 9 July 1986-15 September 1987. Lieutenant-General John Elwood Vance, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 19 July 1976-1 July 1978. Lieutenant-General William Alexander Beaumont Anderson, OBE, CD, Commanded 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade as a Brigadier, 15 Oct 1953-31 Oct 1955. Major-General R.G Meating, CMM, CD, MSM, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade as a Colonel, 13 June 1992-1 July 1993. Brigadier-General P.V.B. Grieve, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Battle Group (1973) and 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1974), as a Brigadier, 13 July 1972-1 July 1974. Major-General W.C. Leonard, MBE, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Battle Group as a Brigadier, 3 July 1970-27 July 1971. Major-General A.J. Tedlie, DSO, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 10 December 1964-15 September 1966. Major-General J.M. Robert Gaudreau, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 3 July 1989-13 April 1991. Major-General Tom F. de Faye, CMM, CD, SBStJ, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 15 Sep 1987-13 July 1989. Major-General Clive J. Addy, OMM, OStJ, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 3 April 1991-13 June 1992.
Past commanders missing from the group include:
Lieutenant-General John K. Dangerfield, CMM, MSC, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 20 July 1984-9 July 1986. Lieutenant-General Richard J. Evraire, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 1 July-1982-20 July 1984. General Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, CH, OC, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 1 July 1980-1 July 1982. Lieutenant-General James A. Fox, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 1 July 1978-1 July 1980. Brigadier-General C.H. Belzile, CM, CMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 1 July 1974-19 July 1976. Major-General J.C. Gardner, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 27 January 1968-3 July 1970. Brigadier Edward Alfred Charles Amy, DSO, OBE, MC, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 15 September 1966-27 January 1968. Lieutenant-General Michael Reginald Dare, DSO, OMM, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 15 August 1962-10 December 1964. Major-General Cameron B. Ware, DSO, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 20 December 1960-25 August 1962. Brigadier D.C. Cameron, DSO, ED, CD, Commanded 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 14 November 1957-20 December 1960. Major-General Roger Rowley, DSO, ED, CD, GCLJ, GOMLJ, Commanded 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group as a Brigadier, 31 October 1955-14 November 1957. Brigadier J.E.C. Pangman, DSO, ED, CD, Commanded 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade as a Brigadier, 5 December 1952-15 October 1953. Lieutenant-General Brigadier Geoffrey Walsh, CBE, DSO, CD, Commanded 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade as a Brigadier, 5 June 1951-5 December 1952.
Special Service Medal (SSM)
I volunteer as tour guide at the New Brunswick Military History Museum at 5 CDSB Gagetown, and often take groups of children and seniors on visits to our exhibits. There are lots of medal displays, but one I like to point to is the Special Service Medal (SSM). My father earned his with the RCAF serving at 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany, (1959-1963), I was a grade school student and during those years we often had air raid drills – the Cold War was a very real part of our lives then. I remember the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis – the first time I saw my father, an RCAF MSE Op, come home wearing a pistol. Some of you may remember the story of Nikita Khruschchev, leader of the Soviet Union, taking off his shoe in the United Nations and banging it down on the podium shouting “we will bury you!”
I take the kids outdoors and tell them we are going to have a practice air raid drill, then shout “air raid, air raid, air raid” and they all hit the deck. (I also use the words “Snowball, Snowball, Snowball”, which many 1 CAG and 4 CMBG veterans will remember very well). The kids get a kick out of it. If they are in school, I have them duck under their desks or cover their heads. Sometimes we have veterans with us, and I tell them, look, these retired servicemen and women don’t have many medals, but when you see someone wearing this one, go over and shake their hand and say thank you – because they were ready to do the job and go to war if need be, we didn’t have a war, and you never had to go through an air raid for real. (I earned my SSM on two tours in Lahr, the first with HQ CFE, 1981-1983 and the second with 4 CMBG, 1989-1992). On behalf of all the school children who are still learning about those who served overseas and at home during the Cold War and why it counts, thank you.