THE WAY IT WAS
A 50 Year Tradition Of Performance Excellence By Andrea Grimes
W
hat are some of your recollections of Windsor in the 1970s? Was it that gas in Windsor was 0.36 cents a gallon or that you attended the opening of Devonshire Mall on August 12, 1970? Perhaps it is that you stood in line for the annual Birks “Plum Sale”? Or maybe you were so absolutely passionate about music and military tradition that you joined a Canadian Armed Forces band? History shows that the ’70s marked a pivotal turning point (changes and challenges) in Canada’s military from redesignations to imposing a single set of uniforms for all three services. These changes also determined the presence of our local military bands — HMCS HUNTER, Windsor Regiment (RCAC) and RCEME (The Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). Captain Beth Dykeman (retired Director of Music, Windsor Regiment Band) says, “With the subsequent reorganization of Canada’s military, all three Bands were disbanded in 1969 resulting in an amalgamated military band as the Windsor Militia District Band. Captain Lasse Pahjola was the first Director of Music in 1970 followed by Captain John Gimpel. Chief Warrant Officer Grant Peifer was the Bandmaster from 1969-75 and Captain Age Smies, (a young music educator who emigrated from the Netherlands) served as Director of Music from 1975-87.” In the ’80s, the Band was renamed Windsor
District Military Band. At that time, Mobile Command stated that only 15% of a unit could be female members but Captain Smies was instrumental in having the directive eased for the Band. Under his direction, the Band performed for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. Prince Philip, in Toronto on October 2, 1984. In 1987, Chief Warrant Officer Marlene Holmes became the first female Band CWO in Canada. Holmes took over the Band at this time and was eventually commissioned to the rank of Captain. The Windsor District Military Band became the Windsor Military Band (WMB) in 1991 falling under the command of London Militia District. Captain Dykeman became the Director of Music in 1996 and held that position until 2018. According to Dykeman, “In June 1997, the WMB became a regular performer at the Hamilton International Tattoo (later called the Canadian International Military Tattoo). In September 1997, the Band became a sub-unit of 31 Canadian Brigade Group (London). The WMB travelled to Dieppe, France in August 2006 to rededicate the Dieppe Memorial at Red Beach with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment. Later that year, in November, the Band was transferred to the Windsor Regiment (RCAC) with another name change to the Windsor Regiment Band.” In recognizing the Band’s 50th anniversary (1970 to 2020), the Windsor Regiment Band, under the direction of Lt. Andrew
B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0
The Windsor Regiment Band is pictured at the Major F.A. Tilston, VC, Armoury February 11, 2017. Photo courtesy of the late Ed Goodfellow.
Shaw, (Director of Music) will showcase its commitment to achievements in our Canadian Military Music heritage with an anniversary celebration to be held in October 2021. Military music not only fills many hearts with a stirring sense of patriotism; it contributes to our national identity lending itself to foster “esprit de corps” honouring the memory of all Canadian Armed Forces Armoured Corps soldiers, including its bands. Do you recall where you were the first time you heard the Quick March “My Boy Willie” of the Windsor Regiment? (Youtube.com/watch?v=jEfslWDdfrk) It honours the memory of all who had the privilege to serve (and continue to do so) — a commitment made to safeguard our Canadian values of democracy . . . “fighting to the front of our battle cry.” As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the “Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” and the “Governor General’s Medal” recognizing her volunteer service to Veterans and the military families of our Canadian Armed Forces, as well as with military family service-support organizations to include, North Wall Riders Association, Windsor Veterans Memorial Service Committee, Military Institute of Windsor, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, the Korean War Veterans Association and the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association.
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