Padre's Corner - Faithfulness and duty
November 8, 2022 - Padre David Jackson, Senior Chaplain, 1 Service Battalion
As we mark Remembrance Day this year across Canada and the Commonwealth, I cannot help but reflect upon our late Queen’s service to the Armed Forces.
Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96, having served 70 years as our Sovereign. It is important to recognize that throughout her life of dutiful and faithful service our late Queen was devoted to the Armed Forces of all her realms, including Canada.
It is worth noting that while still a princess, the Queen spent five months in the British Army. During the Second World War, then‑Princess Elizabeth lived through the London bombings and witnessed first‑hand how the war damaged Britain. In fact, Buckingham Palace had been frequently hit by German bombing in 1940. Four years later, Windsor Castle was hit by a V1 missile that killed 121 people.
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Photo courtesy the Imperial War Museums
As a result of what she had witnessed, the young princess wanted to do her part and had a strong desire to enlist. However, although she wished to enlist, her royal responsibilities did not allow her to enlist immediately. Finally, in 1945 towards the end of the war, Princess Elizabeth was permitted to enter the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a Second Subaltern, joining the Mechanical Division receiving training in heavy vehicle driving and mechanics. Following the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Princess Elizabeth completed her training and finished her service with the rank of Junior Commander (equivalent of Captain).
As we all know, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6, 1952 upon the death of her late father King George VI. As Queen of Canada and her other Realms and Territories she always had a strong bond and affinity with all of her Armed Forces. She was Commander‑in‑Chief of our Canadian Armed Forces, a role she took very seriously, always taking time to visit Canadian Armed Forces personnel on her Royal Tours of Canada.
In 1970, when my late father, Padre Robert “Bob” Jackson, was Chaplain to the Canadian Airborne Regiment, he, along with other paratroopers, was tasked with jumping for the Queen during Her Majesty’s Royal Tour of Manitoba for the province’s 100th Anniversary.
Ahead of the “Royal Jump” a fellow officer recommended that my father wear his “dog collar” (clerical collar) for the jump, since the Queen might be more likely to speak with him (he did not normally wear his dog collar in combats). So, as recommended, my father wore his dog collar in his combats for the “Royal Jump.” He jumped with the rest of the troops and formed up to be inspected by the Queen.
As the Queen inspected the troops, she eventually stopped in front of my father and stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. Of course, protocol dictates one is supposed to wait for the Queen to speak first. However, feeling somewhat nervous, my father broke the awkward silence by blurting out, “Pleased to meet you, Ma’am.” With a twinkle in her eye, the Queen responded, saying, “Do you always wear your dog collar when you jump?” To which my father replied, “No Ma’am, only for special occasions.”
My father’s story is one of many encounters innumerable people had with the Queen over the past 70 years of her reign. As the Commonwealth and the World mourn the death of the Queen this year, I am sure many such stories have been recounted by all those who were touched by the Queen’s life of duty, whether in person or not.
As military members, we can look to her example of faithfulness and duty to inspire us in our own lives of service and as we remember all those who have gone before us in service, especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice in laying down their lives in service to Crown and Country. May the memory of their devotion ever be an example to us, that we may not break faith with them.
And so, as our new Sovereign King Charles III assumes his role as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, may he be granted wisdom and strength to fulfill his duties faithfully and diligently, and may wisdom, honour and truth be the foundation of our times that we might lead a peaceful and quiet life.