Royal Roads Military College Explained

Royal Roads Military College
Motto:Truth, Duty, Valour
Established:1940
Type:Military college
Chancellor:David Collenette (1993-1995, ex-officio as Minister of National Defence)
Head Label:Commandant
Head:Captain (N) David B Bindernagel (1994-1995)
Principal:Dr. John J.S. Mothersill (1984-1995)
City:Victoria
State:British Columbia
Country:Canada
Undergrad:200+
Campus:Hatley Park
Free Label:Closed
Free:1995
Website:rrmc.ca

Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) was a Canadian military college from 1940 to 1995, located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia, near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

The facility now serves as the campus of Royal Roads University, a public university that offers applied and professional academic programs on-campus and via distance education.

The campus' centrepiece is Hatley Castle, which was erected by architect Samuel Maclure in the early 20th century for British Columbia coal magnate James Dunsmuir and his wife, Laura.[1]

History

The property owned by industrialist James Dunsmuir, along with his mansion Hatley Castle, was acquired by the Dominion Government in 1940. The initial plan was that the site would be used to house the British royal family during World War II. However, as the Queen Mother put it, "The children will not go without me and I will not go without the King and the King will never go".[2]

Designed to support Canada's naval war effort, the facility began operating in December 1940 as an officer training establishment known as HMCS Royal Roads (named after the Royal Roads naval anchorage). Many of the 600 volunteer reserve officers who underwent training during this time served in the Battle of the Atlantic. HMCS Royal Roads was used to train short-term probationary Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) sub-lieutenants to serve in World War II.

In 1942, because of wartime expansion, the Royal Canadian Naval College was established. In 1947, the facility became known as the RCN-RCAF Joint Services College where Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel were trained. The facility changed its name to Canadian Services College, Royal Roads in 1948 where personnel from all three services - the Navy, Air Force, and Army were trained during a two-year program.

In 1968 the college's name was changed to Royal Roads Military College, and in 1975, the college began granting degrees.

The gentlemen cadets of RRMC were not only required to excel in their respective academic fields, but to achieve the standard in the three other components as well, the Second Language Training component, Physical Fitness component and the Military component. Failure in any of these four components resulted in the officer cadet not being awarded the coveted RRMC degree.

In February 1994, after the end of the Cold War and under the pressure of massive spending cuts from the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence announced that it would close Royal Roads Military College. The final class graduated in May 1995.

Hatley Park and former Royal Roads Military College was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995 to commemorate the Dunsmuir family (1908–1937) and RRMC (1940–1995). The site was plaqued in 2000 as a Canadian example of an Edwardian park, with gardens, which remains practically intact.

The name Royal Roads was drawn from geography. The name refers to an anchorage located in Juan de Fuca Strait between the city of Victoria, British Columbia and Albert Bay. HMCS Royal Roads was located on a property originally purchased by James Dunsmuir in 1902. Dunsmuir was a former British Columbian premier and lieutenant governor. The Hatley Park Estate originally comprised 650acres. The Dunsmuir family added Hatley Castle, which was completed in 1908. The Canadian Department of National Defence purchased Hatley Park, almost in its entirety, in 1940, for $75,000. This sum was roughly the value of the fence surrounding the property.

As Executive Officer, Commander Reginald Amand (Jumbo) Webber D.S.C., C.D. served there till late 1942. On June 21, 1995, after negotiations with the Department of National Defence and the Government of British Columbia, the British Columbia government passed the Royal Roads University Act, creating Royal Roads University. The campus is currently leased from the federal government under a $1, 50-year lease agreement with Royal Roads University which was announced in 2001. The Department of National Defence leases approximately 55 hectares of land for the campus to Royal Roads University, and has entered into a five-year Renewable Management Agreement with the University for the maintenance of the remaining 175 hectares of property owned by the Department of National Defence.

The athletic facilities at Hatley Park included a swimming pool, five tennis courts, two squash courts, three soccer pitches, one rugby field, two ball diamonds, a quarter- mile track, a 6.1 km cross country course, jetty and boat house. Cadets played sports including rugby, soccer, baseball, golf, scuba diving, track and field, wrestling, ball hockey, broomball, and ice hockey.

Squadrons of the Cadet Wing

The undergraduate student body, known as the Cadet Wing, was sub-divided into four smaller groupings called squadrons, under the guidance and supervision of senior cadets. Until the late 70's the four squadrons were populated by undergraduate cadets. When the college started training NCMs it was reorganized so that the first three squadrons were for cadets while 4 Squadron was for mature students from the University Training Program Non-Commissioned Members program. Although squadrons were not named, they were represented by embroidered patches bearing mythological figures, which were worn on the sleeves of the cadet workdress. The squadrons were subdivided into flights, which were named after historical figures (explorers). Cadets competed by squadron in drill and intramurals.

Squadron #FlightFlight
1CartierFraser
2ChamplainMackenzie
3HudsonLasalle
4VancouverThompson

Band

See main article: Royal Roads Military College Band. By 1955, Royal Roads had a drum and bugle corps. The Brass and Reed Band had already been formed by 1975. WO George Dunn, the first full-time Bandmaster, served from 1975 to 1979. The Pipes and Drums performed at parades, public relation trips and recruit shows. The Pipe Section and the Drum Section performed at mess dinners; parades; sporting events; ceremonies (official or squadron); weddings; funerals; public relations; wing events; Christmas and Graduation Balls; private events; and holidays.

Notable historical milestones

YearSignificance
1940The Canadian Government purchased the land for Royal Roads.
1941
  • HMCS Royal Roads was used by the Royal Canadian Navy to train five classes of officers, each with 100 Acting Sub-Lieutenants.
  • A decision was made to phase out the Sub-Lieutenant Officer training at HMCS Royal Roads and to establish a Naval College which would open in September 1942.
  • A recruiting campaign to attract 100 Naval Cadets was conducted in 1941–1942.
  • Auxiliary buildings on the Hatley estate such as the Mews stables and garage were converted into classroom space.
  • A new building called the Grant Building located behind Hatley Castle was built in order to provide a mess hall and dormitories, as well as classrooms and laboratories.
  • Architects John Young McCarter and with Robert W. Chadney constructed the Royal Canadian Naval College buildings 1942–3.[3]
1942-47
  • The Royal Canadian Naval College was established to train marine and naval officers.
  • Vice-Admiral Percy W. Nelles, Chief of Naval Staff: "While you are here, work hard and play hard, and make yourself tougher than any enemy you will ever meet."[4]
1946The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force College offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers.
1947
  • The Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy became partners in the college life at HMCS Royal Roads.
  • The college name was changed to the Royal Canadian Navy-Royal Canadian Air Force College at HMCS Royal Roads.
1948
  • The Canadian Army became a partner in the college.
  • The tri-service college name was changed to Canadian Services College Royal Roads.
  • The college offered the first two years of university-level programs to 345 Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force officers.
  • The Stone Frigate HMCS Royal Roads was paid off.
1950The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 + years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted.
1956Scarlet tunics[5] introduced.
1968Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers.
1975The Royal Roads Military College Degrees Act was passed by the Government of British Columbia, allowing RRMC to grant degrees.
1983/4
  • The Royal Roads Military College band consisting of 15 pipers and drummers and 30 brass-and-reed musician recorded an LP.
  • Petty Officer First Class Gabby R. Bruner, RRMC bandmaster from 1979-85 composed "Hatley Park" as the official quick march for RRMC and "Dunsmuir Castle", for the Visit of Queen Elizabeth to RRMC in 1983.[6]
1984The first female cadet enrolled at RRMC creating a slight shift culturally in the Canadian Military Colleges, as well as in the CF as a whole.
May 11, 1986RRMC was granted the Freedom of the City for outstanding military service to the community.
1990Prometheous and the Vulture, an abstract stone sculpture was created by Jay Unwin for the 50th anniversary of Royal Roads Military College.
1995
  • following the end of the Cold War and massive government cutbacks on defence spending, the Department of National Defence closed Royal Roads Military College (RRMC).
  • RRMC Royal Roads Military College is no longer a military institution, and is now maintained by the Government of British Columbia as Royal Roads University.
  • The loss of RRMC along with their many traditions and history as military colleges still remains a bitter event for many cadets and alumni.[7]
[8]

Facilities

The Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings lists 9 recognized buildings and 1 classified building on the former grounds of the Royal Roads Military College.

Other buildings

[9]

Building (Year built)SignificancePhoto
Arbutus Buildingacademic classrooms, administrative offices, a computer lab, and a canteen
Boat House (1989)boat house
Coronel Memorial Librarymemorial library honours Battle of Coronel
dock (1990)dock
Guard House Building 38Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2002[10]
Gatehouse Lodge RR8 (1912 to 1916)Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[11]
Hatley Park / Former Royal Roads Military College (1908–13)designated National Historic Site of Canada 1995[12]
Mews Conference Centre (1912)James Dunsmuir's stables and garage later converted to classrooms, dormitory, social centre and conference centre. Registered Federal Heritage Building[13]
Millward Wing (of the Nixon Building) (1991)Offices, dormitories, named for former Commandant Air Vice-Marshal James Bert Millward DFC (Bar), GdG(F), CD, RCAF 1949-52 the 4th Commandant of RRMC.

Royal Roads Military College Museum

Royal Roads Military College Museum
Location:Hatley Castle, on the campus of the Royal Roads University
Website:www.rmc.ca/other/museum/index_e.html (Official)

Hatley Castle is home to the Royal Roads Military College Museum.

The museum is located in Hatley Castle, on the campus of the Royal Roads University and former campus of the Royal Roads Military College of Canada. The Museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the Royal Roads Military College, its former cadets and its site.

The Royal Roads Military College Museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The Royal Roads Museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces Museum System.[14]

The museum has formed a cooperating association of friends of the museum to assist with projects.[15]

Traditions

TraditionSignificance
Blanket tossBlanket toss of senior class members after the last waltz at the Graduation ball
Ceremonial maceSymbolizes the authority of the college, as granted in the name of the Sovereign (currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). When carried into the ceremony and placed on stage, the mace signals the opening of the convocation. It was last used at the RRMC postgraduate convocation in 1995. The mace's four sides commemorate the sequence of institutions at Royal Roads. It was made prior to the first graduating class from Royal Roads Military College in May 1977.
'Change of command ceremony'The former commandant offers farewell and best wishes to the college and to the new commandant. The new commandant accepts a first salute as the cadet wing marches past.
Christening bellFollowing naval tradition, a ship's bell was used as a baptism font in the college chapel for christenings and the names of the children were later inscribed on the bell. The ship's bell from RRMC is currently used in the chapel at Royal Military College of Canada.
HMCS Royal Roads bellDuring the life of the college, HMCS Royal Roads bell was displayed in the porte-cochere of Hatley Castle. After the closing of RRMC, HMCS Royal Roads bell was kept in the museum at CFB Esquimalt. It was officially repatriated on 10 September 2010 during the Royal Roads University 2010 Homecoming. The bell is prominently displayed in the new entrance to Grant block in the foyer that links Grant block and the new academic building.
College toastRRMC club toast to absent comrades meaning those who have fallen in action or otherwise died
ColoursAfter the last parade of RRMC in spring 1995, the colours were deposited into the care of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, British Columbia where they are on display with several other retired colours including "Royal Canadian Navy" and "Royal Canadian Air Force".
Feu de JoieAn honour guard perform a rifle salute with field artillery, or more commonly, rifles using blank ammunition.
Ghosts and hauntingThe B.C. Society of Paranormal Investigation and Research into the Supernatural have investigated stories of paranormal activity in and around Hatley Castle[16]
Grace
  • Officer cadets ate meals cafeteria style;
  • A senior term was responsible to say a traditional Navy grace for the table “For what we are about to receive, thank God. Carry on…”
Graduation and Commissioning Paradein honour of graduating cadets:
  • Graduating students are presented with their Officer's Commissions in the Canadian Forces.
  • Officer Cadets display their foot drill and sword movements,
  • Feux de Joie an honour guard performs a rifle salute with field artillery
Jacket exchangeThe RRMC Director of Cadets exchanges tunics with a I Year Officer Cadet at RRMC Christmas Dinner.
Just Passing ByWhen a graduate of the RRMC pilots an aircraft in the vicinity of Victoria, British Columbia he or she conducts an impromptu airshow over the college.
Lord Horatio Nelson's quote hung over the entrance to the Grant BuildingA replica of the quote, "Duty is the great business of a sea officer: All private considerations must give way to it however painful it is." was returned to Royal Roads University campus for Homecoming in 2011.
MarchesQuick - Hatley Park; Slow - Royal Roads Slow (Going Home)
Naval heraldry
  • Royal Roads badge 1 features a name on a shield; Royal Roads badge 2 features crown plus anchor, open book & spray of three maple leaves.
  • Royal Canadian Naval College badge features maple leaf, sword, book, anchor[17]
Obstacle course raceCourse for recruits set up by the cadets' immediate predecessors
Old BrigadeAlumni who entered military college 50+ years before wear unique berets and ties, have the Right of the Line on reunion weekend memorial parades, and present the College cap badge to the First Year cadets on the First Year Badging Parade. Each class traditionally marks its 50-year anniversary and entry into the Old Brigade with a gift.
Skylarks
  • Annual class practical joke or prank
  • Apples taken from the Commandant's trees at 2am were brought back to the doors of popular seniors.
  • A whaler was taken to dockyard and the Navy Dockyard flag was liberated and run up the RRMC mast.
  • A dinghy was strung up the mast in front of the Castle and left there.
  • A cow was chained to the top of Neptune stairs where the Director of Cadets held his morning parade.
  • The Cadet Wing Commander had the 1st year cadets muster in the common rooms while 2nd years took their rooms apart, moved their mattresses out and ran their sheets from building to building. The cadets scrambled back to their rooms to prepare for an inspection of their rooms to find no beds.
  • During 100 days to grad parties, 4th years were not allowed to sleep in their dorm. Instead, the 1st years took their beds and moved them around the college. Cadets might find their bed - up a tree or in a hall. The DCadet found a cadet's bed in the DCadets residence and another in the yard.
  • The University of Victoria copper dome was painted 'RRMC #1' in 1981 by second year cadets who formed a rep skylark team completing several skylarks on and off campus.[18]
  • Cadets took a whaler to Esquimalt dockyards and attached a can painted to look like an explosive device to the side of destroyer.
  • Cadets would routinely kidnap senior cadets and/or staff members, transport them to the rock (a tiny rock island in the lagoon) and maroon them there. On at least one occasion, tables were turned and the "victims" were able to maroon one or more of the kidnapper cadets themselves.
Sweetheart broochOfficer cadets gave their dates an enamel brooch in lieu of a corsage for formal dances at Christmas, and Graduation.
White peacockBlue Indian peafowl have lived free on the college grounds since the 1960s. Albert, a rare white peacock resident since RRMC days, died in 2003.[19]

Commandants

NameYearSignificancePhoto
Captain John Moreau Grant, CBE, RCN1940-42, 1942–46
  • First commanding officer of HMCS Royal Roads 1940-4
  • He was in command of Royal Canadian Naval College 1942-4
  • Grant Building was named in his honour.
Captain W. B. Creery, CBE, CD, RCN1946-482nd Commandant, RRMC
Captain Herbert Sharples Rayner, DSC (& Bar), CD, RCN1948-493rd Commandant, RRMC; As Vice Admiral, Rayner was 8th & last Chief of the Naval Staff 1960–1964.
Air Vice Marshal James Bert Millward DFC (Bar), CdeG(F), CD, RCAF1949-524th Commandant, RRMC[20]
2253Major General Cameron Bethel Ware DSO, CD, PPCLI (RMC 1931)1952-545th Commandant, RRMC
2444Captain John A. Charles, CMM, CD RCN (RMC 1935)1954-576th Commandant, RRMC
Colonel P.S. Cooper OBE, CD, L Edm R1957-607th Commandant, RRMC
Group Captain Alan Frederick Avant DSO, DFC, CD, RCAF1960-638th Commandant, RRMC[21]
2576Captain William Prine Hayes CD, RCN1963-659th Commandant, RRMC
Group Captain O.B. Wurtele, CD, RCAF1965-6810th Commandant, RRMC
RRA18Colonel Kenneth E. Lewis CMM, CD CF (RRMC ‘47)1968-7011th Commandant, RRMC
Capt(N) R.C.K. Peers CD CF1970-7612th Commandant, RRMC]
Colonel J.H. Roddick CD, CF1976-7913th Commandant, RRMC
3912Colonel George L. Logan CD CF (RHC) (RRMC/RMC ‘57)1979-8314th Commandant, RRMC; `Colonel George Logan` (1983) march composed by OCdt David V. Ferguson in his honour
4271[22] Capt(N) William J. A. Draper CD CF Adec1983-8415th Commandant, RRMC
6440Captain (N) A.J. ('Tony') Goode CD CF (Royal Military College Saint-Jean/RMC 1965)1984-8716th Commandant, RRMC
7264Colonel Ross K.R. Betts CD CF (RMC 1967)1987-8917th Commandant, RRMC
8335Colonel Claude J.E.C. Naud CD A de C. CF (CMR/RMC 1970)1989-9118th Commandant, RRMC
8241Lieutenant-General (ret'd) Vaughan Michael Caines, A de C, CF (CMR/RMC 1970) CMM, CD1991-9419th Commandant, RRMC; Chair of the DND/CF Ombudsman Advisory Committee
9318Captain (N) David B. Bindernagel CD (RRMC RMC 1972)1994-9520th Commandant, RRMC

Principals

NameYear
Commander Ketchum1942-45
Captain Ogle1945-51
Professor Brown1951-55
Professor Cook1955-61
Professor Graham1961-84
3237 Doctor John J.S. Mothersill (RMC 1954)1984-95

Notable professors

NametaughtSignificance
Sir C. S. WrightRRMC 1967-69explorer, Terra Nova Expedition
Frank DaveyRRMC 1963-1966; 1967–1969poet, author

Notable alumni

NameGradSignificancePhoto
13705Constable José Manuel AgostinhoRRMC 1982Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, was killed in the performance of his duties near Millet, Alberta, on 7/4/2005. He is remembered on the Canadian Police and Peace Officer's Memorial (panel 14-26).[23]
14008Alan CumynRRMC 1983Canadian novelist
RCNC115Honourable Douglas EverettRCNC 1943-45Canadian automobile dealer, lawyer, and retired Senator
11510Barry Kennedy[24] RRMC ‘77fighter pilot, comedian, author, host of Discovery Channel's Out In The Cold
RCNC40Bev KoesterRCNC40 1944Canadian naval officer, civil servant and Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons
3528General (Ret) Paul David Manson O.C., CMM, CD, B.Sc., D.M.S.RRMC 1956Military leader, business executive and volunteer; former Chief of Defence Staff
13738Colonel (Ret'd) Chris HadfieldRRMC/RMC 1982Astronaut
5576Leonard Lee1960 (RRMC); 1962 (RMC)founder of Lee Valley Tools and Canica Design.
12320General Walter Natynczyk CDRRMC CMR 1979Military leader, Chief of Defence Staff
Hubert SeamansRRMC 1973businessperson, banker, politician
RCNC205Jim Thompson (powerboat racing)RRMC 1944businessman, athlete
RCNSE54Rear Admiral Robert Timbrell, CMM, DSC, CDRCNC 1937Military leader
15696RRMC 1986Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces
14098Chris WattieRRMC 1979soldier, journalist, author
16538RRMC/RMC 1988Commander of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces

Filming location

The campus of Royal Roads has been used as a film set for:

Books

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Residence of James Dunsmuir, British Columbia, Architect: Samuel MacLure. . Construction (Toronto) . 9 . 7 . 214 . Victoria . July 1916 .
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000928/http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/whatsnew/sp/sp_may07_2004.htm "Speech by Iona Campolo, Retired Heads of Mission Association's Gala Dinner"
  3. Web site: McCarter, John Young. Dictionary of architects in Canada . 19 Aug 2014.
  4. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/inroads-newsletter/2010-mar/sarah-holland.htm A history of Sport at Hatley Park
  5. Attendance at RR 1954-6. Measured for but not issued. Scarlets were not used at RR previously.
  6. http://myrru.royalroads.ca/roadspiel/fyi/archives-and-band-played RRMC band
  7. http://www.cda-cdai.ca/library/klepak.htm The Future of the Reserves - Dr. Klepak
  8. http://alumni.royalroads.ca/in-roads/heritage-pieces-mark-homecoming Royal Roads Homecoming 2011
  9. http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dfrp-rbif/pn-nb/buildings-immeubles/17452-eng.aspx?qid=9774138 Directory of Federal Real Property Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  10. http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/beefp-fhbro/FHB_RES_E.asp Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings
  11. http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-visite/affichage-display.aspx?id=11288 Registry of Historic Places of Canada
  12. http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-visite/com-ful_e.aspx?id=7944 Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Hatley Park
  13. http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-visite/affichage-display.aspx?id=2842 Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Stables
  14. http://www.rmc.ca/other/museum/index_e.html Royal Roads Museum
  15. http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/027-05_e.asp Canadian Forces Museums
  16. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/inroads-newsletter/2006-Fall/ghosts-hatley.htm Royal Roads University – Ghosts in Hatley Castle
  17. http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/resource_pages/badge/badgegallery.html CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum badge project
  18. Book: The Log - Yearbook . 1981 . 61 . Royal Roads Military College . Issuu.com . 28 November 2021 .
  19. http://www.royalroads.ca/NR/rdonlyres/FAE6FD2C-6DB0-469A-B756-EDFD5AFBA22C/0/inroads2003february.pdf InRoads – February 2003
  20. Web site: Major J.M.Stephens, CD . Millward, James B . Kilby.sac.on.ca . 2012-04-27.
  21. http://www.canadaveteranshallofvalour.com/AvantAF.htm Veterans of Valour Colonel Avant
  22. A classmate. Biographies 1953-1954 to 2003-2004 ed. by Howard Ross Wheatley
  23. Web site: Canadian Police & Peace Officers Memorial - Profile - José Agostinho . Cacp.ca . 2012-04-27.
  24. http://www.corporatecomedians.ca/bio.asp?ID=396&FN=Barry_Kennedy Barry Kennedy
  25. http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=d278c28c-5aad-433d-950b-62ad4cbfeda8 Robinson completes family circle at Royal Roads
  26. https://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Royal%20Roads,%20Colwood,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Royal%20Roads,%20Colwood,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Royal Roads, Colwood, British Columbia, Canada"

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