A good friend, hearing about the book I was then writing, suggested I join the Western Front Association, and I am very glad I did so. The WFA is based in the UK, and was “formed with the aim of furthering interest in the period 1914-1918, to perpetuate the memory, courage aond comradeship of those of all sides who served their countries…” The Association publishes an excellent journal, “Stand To!” as well as regular bulletins, both of which are very authoritative and informative.

(Photo: Messrs Allinson, Patten, and Broznitsky; past president, founder, and president respectively of the Pacific Coast Branch)

Even better, from my point of view, is that there is a Pacific Coast Branch of the WFA headquartered in Victoria with informal get-togethers in the Lower Mainland. The main event, however, is the annual Seminar and AGM, to be held this year on the first weekend in March, the 2nd through 4th. Speakers will include Colonel (Retired) Keith Maxwell on “Canada and the Last 100 Days of WW I;” Charlotte Cardoen, who is a certified battlefield guide; and a number of other distinguished presenters.

I will be the last presenter, on the Sunday, on the topic of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade in WW I. I am looking forward to sharing the research I have done.

CAA Vancouver’s monthly meeting, held January 12th at the offices of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, 100-938 Howe Street, had an enthusiastic crowd of members and prospective members turn out to hear an animated reading by novelist Ian Weir. Ian is also an accomplished TV and screen writer, and he spent a busy evening fielding questions and reading from his debut novel, “Daniel O’Thunder”. Ian is currently working on his second novel and is a long-time member of the Canadian Authors Association.

My historical novel, “Soldier of the Horse,” is galloping toward us. The cover has been finalized, back and front, due to the tireless work of the people at Touchwood Editions. (It is amazing how much effort is required to actually get a book off the ground, quite apart from writing it.) I have placed an order for a few copies above and beyond the free author’s copies; the distribution network is standing by….  and I’d better stop holding my breath, as my complexion is starting to resemble those sunny summer skies that we remember so fondly as the snow falls outside.

After struggling with a couple of last minute edits, I am told by Ruth Linka, my publisher at TouchWood Editions, that the book cover will be available shortly and a final pdf is on its way. It has been a very impressive progression from when Ruth first indicated interest in the manuscript, up to today, when the excitement is building, at least at my end! “Soldier of the Horse” will be a reality in the new year. Now, to try to get the next one on track…

I never thought I’d see the day, but I must comment on a letter to the editor of the Vancouver Sun by Ben Mulroney, of television’s eTalk. He respectfully took issue with a column by Craig and Marc Kielburger, who had written that “Canada’s prominence on the international stage started back in 1956, when Lester B. Pearson launched the world’s first peacekeepoing mision during the Suez Crisis.”
“That is patently false,” wrote Mulroney, and went on to cite our country’s 60,000 service deaths in the First World War and 50,000 in the Second. He eloquently countered “Suez” with “Normandy.”
Good for him.

The Bismarck went down on May 27th, 1941, a very close run thing as it turned out. She was only hours from safety under the Luftwaffe umbrella when she was stopped by the British.

And on November 23rd, 2010, the Naval Officers of BC, at their annual Surrender Day lunch, were treated to a presentation on the Bismarck by Dennis Molnar, a keen amateur historian. Remarkably, one of the members attending the lunch was John Moyneux, who was an able seaman in HMS Hood only months before the pride of the Royal Navy was sunk by the Bismarck.

Dennis Molnar, left, and John Molyneux at the Surrender Day lunch, held at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. “Surrender Day” marks the occasion when the German Grand Fleet surrendered to the Royal Navy in 1918 following the armistice.

The NOA of BC was founded in 1919 by a group of Canadian officers who had served in the Royal Navy.