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6A THE OSHAWA TIMES, Tuesdey, Moy 31, 1966 Col. McLaugblin's Interest Evi Ma SOS 61 Over The burly sergeant weighed all of 300 pounds, He was, so the story goes, one of the big- gest pnd best sergeants the Ontario Regiment ever: had. The problem was that no one eould find or make up a uniform that came anywhere near fit- ting the sergeant's ample girth. The incident ' wk piace in the early 1930's and the then CO of the Ontarios, Li. Col 'Bob' Smith, was desperae. Finally, he put a call in to! R. §&. McLaughlin, the Regi-| ment's Honorary Colonel. " A} uniform has to be tailor made | for the man", explained Col, | Smith when the two: got togeth- | er. "We can't afford it. Can | you help?" "Is the fellow worth it", was the Honorary Colonel's only query : "Indeed", replied Co) Smith." | He is tie best sergeant we have and we don't want to lose him", "Then go ahead and send me the bill', came the prompt reply. The gesture was a smal) onc but it is well remembered among the militiamen of the Ontario Regiment, Over the years the Honorary | Colonel's generosity to the Re- giment has been limitless. The 1930's, remembers Co). Smith who commanded the Re- | giment from 1931 to 1936, were | tough years. | "There was no pay -- just a uniform and a minimum of equipment to train with. The | Government made few contri- | butions to the running of the | Regiment." j you' <7 V [= Y ees with the greatest courtesy and then give his answer, "On all the many visits 1) never | made to his office he turned me down once." One of the Colonel McLaugh- lin's most notable gestures oc- cured in the early W's, "We had no where to practice our shooting', Col. Smith recal- led with a smile, "We had guns and ammuni- tion; but no where to practice. So I went to Col, McLaughlin and asked if he could send us to the Niagara army camp where they had ample facili - ties for range firing. "He listened very carefully, and then promptly agreed'. For the next five years Col- one] MeLaughlin paid for the sending of 150 cers 10 an annua) summer camp | in Niagara. "It cost an awful lot of money | and we were grateful I can te} | ' said Col, Smith, HARD WORK ON RANGES The militamen paid back the Colonel's gesture wih hard work on the ranges, "We used to shoot all day long.The men used to Jet go their Junch break on a Satur- day so they could shoot right through the day till dusk. "In return the men were al- lowed to sleep in on a Sun- day and miss church parade. "The men really enjoyed them selves and they learnt © shoot men and offi- | too. "Without the Colonel's sup st port we would never have got th | practice. "] think that it was this ges: | irc Tn Be ed ested in winning it again. I point- ed out that we wanted the money to go for somcthing else. "He listened very carefully and agreed once more'"', Col. McLaughlin became the Regiment's Honorary 'olone) in 1920. The Colone|'s father, Robert li was during these jean years {ture that I remember most of McLaughlin is well rernembered thatColonel Sam," as he be- | came known to the Omarios, | helped the Regiment out wih | many timely donations. | DOOR ALWAYS OPEN "He never inierfered in the | running of the Regiment', said | Col, Smith, 'But his door was | always open. "If there was something we) needed, } just had to go along | to his office aml ack. | "I would make an appoint -| men, of course. When | arriv-| ed he would never keep me wait-| ing more than a couple of minu- | tes af the most. "He was en easy ma 33! Sasy Man tO tain to. He was always very direct end when you started to ex- plain something his eyes. would | mever leave you. | "With the Colone) there was | no beating around the bush. He | expected me to come straight | to the point, He would listen pie on the Colonel." There were other moments 100, many others, "] can remember a time when we dearly wanted to win the Dominion Signals Cup. It was highly coveted in its day", said Co}. Smith, "There was nothing in the budget to cover the extra ex- pense, "So 1 went to see the Colone) He agreed immediately after 1] had put my case. Wih his help we went out that year and won the cup handsomely, "The next year we wanted to transfer the money that had won the cup to another compe: tition. I forget what itwas now "Anyhow, when we took along our annua] budget he noticed Immediaely that we had not budgeted for keeping the Signals Cup. "T explained that we had won it once and we were not inter- Congratulations . . . To The ONTARIO REGIMENT R.CAC. the occasion of their 100th Anniversary Mitchell's DRUGS LIMITED 9 Simcoe N. -- Oshawa SINCE 1897 for his generosity ot the Regi- ment, It is recorded that when the Ontarios were being mobilized ai the outset of the First World War, the men were assembled at the Oshawa Armouries. They were to sleep on the bare floor of the Armouries no great hardships, of course, for young fighting men. cent 'TALK OF THE REGIMENT Col. McLaughlin With Col. Paynte: But Robert McLaughlin would have none of that, He went to Oshawa's largest furniture store and bought up 20 eiderdowns and all the blankets the store | possessed, These were immediatley dis- | patched to the Armouries. Not content with this Mr. McLaugh- lin went from house to house soliciting blankets. 4 In the end none of the Ontar- ios siepi on bare boards that night, "When Col. McLaughlin first joined us"', Said Col. Smith, "he knew very little of military matters. Bui he made it his business to learn. "J think the thing J] remem- more much needed ber most about him was his wonderful generosity, He was a | very busy man. He stil] is to | day; but he has a real affection for the Ontarios. "We are his boys and we are proud of him as he is of us'. In recent years the Honorary Colone| has continued his open handed generosity to the Regie ment, | The building and furnishing of the Officcr's Mess was his responsibility. It is reported that when the Honorary Colonel had his first view of the newly decorated mess complete with lush, lea ther chairs he stopped and said with a slight smile:. Is it all right if 1 smoke in here?" -- Oshawa Fashion House 'hers & as Installed only by experts and Fully Guaranteed Free Making | On All Drapery Any Width -- offering Any Length --< 7 SIMCOE ST. N. PHONE 723-3321