Gerry, When? Likely the summer of 1959 or 1960, judging by the bush dress and the big-tail-fins Chevy staff car. It's difficult to be more precise; the '59 Chevy had swoopy curved fins and a solid teardrop shaped taillight while the '60 model had a gull-wing bend in the fins and a series of paired or tripled circular taillights, depending on the model, but the detail can't be observed. And that type of staff car, rather than a European model, indicates that it was somewhere in Canada, likely Petawawa or Gagetown. The white and blue bunting on the reviewing stand may be representation of a tac sign, perhaps RC Sigs. A birthday parade, perhaps? That's my input. And readers are free to contribute, criticize or otherwise comment on yet another wild-assed guess. Let's keep it going . . . Cheers. Al (Ditter) (Jan 27)

Mystery Picture...I am thinking Sennelager 1962 or earlier...4CMIBG parade..staff car looks like a German Taurus...Could be JC Hayter in foreground with back to camera..just behind the VIP tent. Or Brigade group picture from air strip at Brigade Headquarters Ft. Henry. Winston Golden

Gerry. I think it was the 1st Division Parade in Gagetown circa 1956-57 on the Innisville (? ) Airport runway. I believe Governor General Vincent Massey was the Inspecting Officer. Jas (Jan 27)

Gerry; For what its worth, my guess is later than 1960 because the web belt is khaki green. In 1961 it was changed from black. I think I still was in Depot when that happened. I've been meaning to send my graduating photo on the steps which you have not gotten yet. Will send as soon as my daughter scans it. Best regards Lowell Wierstra

Hello Gerry, I can solve the mystery for you, about the battalion picture. I have a similar pic taken at Sennelager in either 1960 or 61. The reason I can be sure that the mystery photo was taken at the same location is that the tree line in the back ground is exactly the same as in my photo. You know maybe I should have gone to "I "Section with Patty Weedle, after all. Lol. Something else, we never doped our web belts black, we used olive drab. Sincerely Yours, Matt Corbett. (Jan 31)

I was going to say it was Innisfeld (or field) Airport in Gagetown as well until I studied the picture a little bit more. First of all the tarmac isn't wide enough to be a runway, (And there was only one as I recall) and the second reason is that we stood on the tarmac for the divisional parades. You could hear the loud bang when everyone came to attention at the same time. There was something like ten thousand on parade. Maybe it was more, or less. I agree though that it is a 1959 Chevy. And I also agree it's most likely a Brigade parade because as I recall there were more people on the saluting base at the Divisional parade. Also they are carrying the FN, and we didn't get that until late 1957??. Maybe if someone could identify the band to the left it would help. (Looks to me like they all got "pin head's"). And then again I could be completely wrong. Anyway I have a big picture of the 2nd Battalion on the Divisional Parade in 1957 if you are interested. Might be fun to try to identify some of the faces, like Silver Lee and Cliff Ludtke. Let me know. Don Hilchey Good point reference the tarmac width. I couldn't enlarge the photo to pick out the rifles. I think the Band is the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Jas (Feb1)

2nd Battalion (and all of 4 Brigade) paraded in Sennelager in 1959 with the Canadian Ambassador as the VIP Guest. I seem to recall the date as having been on Canada Day. I had some black and white pictures of that event but am not sure where they are now. Doug Yuill (Feb 2)

Jas, Only one Div Parade has ever been held since the end of WW2, if memory serves me correct. Place....Blissville Airport (Inactive at the time) Date...... 1 Jul 1955 Parade Commander........ Maj Gen John Rockingham (Division Commander) On Parade ....about 10,000. Rifles at the "slope" (3.03) I was on Parade with 4th Bn ( Intelligence Sgt at the time) Wes Hamilton (Feb 2)

I do not think the photo was from Germany (Sennelager) circa 61-62. Yes we did have a brigade parade. However it seems to me the road/air strip was wider. Also I do not see any Centurion tanks in the rear. I remember the tanks taking out a few flag standards as they turned their barrels in salute as they rumbled by. And yes we were on the Right of Line deservedly so. Tom O'Shea (Feb 22)

Definitely Canada - it is a 1959 or 1960 chev staff car. Several uniformed onlookers are wearing the 1 Div red patch. There are kilts on parade. Beyond that I have nothing to add. Maybe the ladies can guess based on skirt lengths? Dave DeClerq (Feb 22)

Scrub my last comments on the picture. I had forgotten that the bde in Germany also wore the 1 Div Patch. While I am sure it is a 1959/60 Chev staff car, I now believe it could well have been Germany. A bde parade of this type in Canada would probably not have involved the number of civilians in attendance in my estimation. Dave D (Feb 22)

Greetings Webmaster, This photo that as sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, was taken at Sennelager, circa 60, 61. To determine the location of said mystery photo, one need only to compare tree lines in both photos and as if by magic the mystery is solved. Gentlemen I rest my case. Next mystery please. LOL. Best Regards, Matt Corbett. (Feb 27) Dear Sir, reply to your query. 1st. Bn. Guards in foreground, sorry that’s all my demented ole brain can recall. But I do remember the Black Watch was in Germany at the same time and was stationed in Werl. Hello, me again, an after-thought about what I said about the Black Watch. If my memory serves me right, the BW replaced the Queens Own Rifles, some time later than our arrival in November 59, perhaps 1960. Matt

Seeing that picture of the large parade.... Well it was Gagetown Vincent Massey Inspection officer, I remember this one, my family attended and yes it was on the runway 1956/57  Bob McCarthy (March 15)

The staff car in the original picture is, as Al Ditter said, a 1959 Chev. Therefore, picture is likely from 1960 since new vehicles in those days didn't come out until the Fall of the year. Ken Donovan, Guardsman, SB188145 March 29

The biggest Military Parade ever held in Canada at the time was a # 1 Division Parade held in Gagetown.It was the summer of 1959,and I was on that parade.After returning to Petawawa from Gagetown that summer we were in a hurry-up mode.We were leaving from the village station Oct,16/1959 for Germany. I remember so well each and every unit getting there words of command. The French Officer speaking in broken English giving the command of fix bayonets,.."Royal 22nd Regiment de Canada". This was not only a Parade to remember,.but a time in my life that will always be precious. How well I also remember being in the first platoon to come out of Depot,and then go to # 1Section, # 1Platoon, # 1Company, 1st Battalion, of # 1 Division.How can you forget that.   "Thank You Guards For Such A Wonderful Life."  Regards. R.V."Mitch"Mitchell. SF.98889 (Apr 10)