SC Rewind: Remembrance Day

This week's Rewind is devoted to remembering a very important date on the annual calendar. Each year on November 11th, we set aside a time from our daily tasks to remember all of the special people who have in some way sacrificed their time and sometimes even their lives to protect our Country and preserve our freedom. Every year the ranks of our living veterans shrinks and grows ever so much smaller. I want to make special mention of one man who remains and is known and loved by many in our sport.

All people who have served our Country in war and in peace time deserve our thanks, praise and admiration. This applies not only on November 11th but all year long. Those like Roland Montgomery Armitage who went above and beyond the call of duty deserve perhaps even a bit more recognition, although WWII vets are a different breed and seldom seek any attention for what they did. Now at the age of 95 "Roly" (as he is known by everyone) continues to "march" on. His life story in so many ways serves as a great inspiration to all of us.

Roland M. Armitage as he appeared in 1945

At the age of just 17 (before he was officially eligible), Roly enlisted in the Canadian Army. After an extremely eventful few years serving his country, including being injured in battle, he returned home in 1946 as a decorated veteran. He immediately set out to use the rest of his lifetime in the most useful way possible. Despite his heroic involvement in his active duty, he was still too young to do all the things one might imagine like voting, or even be able to drink alcohol legally. His journey had just begun.

Just before leaving Europe after the war he was told by his superior officer that he should seek further schooling. At this time he was armed with only a grade nine education but his natural intelligence level was quite obvious to those around him. Certain abilities that he exhibited even in the heat of battle displayed his potential for learning. He soon enrolled in a special program in Brockville, Ont. with the aim of securing a High School diploma. It involved 10 hours a day of classroom work plus a half day on Saturday. He recalled that only about 40 percent of those enrolled survived the rigorous schedule. After this Roly set his sights on more education as he entered veterinary college at Guelph. By 1951 he graduated with honours and became "Dr. Roly" and the next stage of his rather hectic life continued.

His entire lifetime has been closely connected to horses in one way or another. Early in his veterinary career he moved from Ontario to Quebec, taking up residence in Shawville where his practice specialized in caring for the many heavy horses used in the logging and lumbering industry centered in that area of the Ottawa Valley. By 1970 he decided to move back to Ontario where he set up a practice at Dunrobin, not far from Ottawa, involving horses. From this point he became deeply involved in the sport of harness racing. The name he chose to identify his horses was Armstead and many fine performers have carried that name down through the years and continue to do so.

For a number of years he served as the track vet at Connaught Park. He also set his sights on the administrative side of racing, serving as the President of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society from 1972 to 1974. This was followed by a six-year term as the C.T.A. President from 1974 to 1980. From 1981 to 1990 he was General Manager at Rideau Carleton Raceway. A number of years ago Roly set out to remove a long-standing part of most tracks that he felt created a danger to all drivers. He worked feverishly and prevailed in having the hub rails removed. I believe the first new track to be built without them being installed was Hiawatha Park in Sarnia.

Dr. Roly Armitage (centre) assists in presenting the Governor General's trophy to trainer Lew Clark along with Maurice Sauve who was acting for his wife, then Gov. General Jeanne Sauve, at Rideau Carleton in this 1985 scene.

Sadly, Roly has been twice widowed. Cancer claimed both his first wife, Mary, after 38 years of marriage (1947 to 1985) and his second, Karen after 23 (1990 to 2013). He now lives alone, close to his three surviving children (his son Blake died in an accident at 27), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A trio of books authored by Roly Armitage

"Active and enthusiastic" are two words recently used to sum up Roly's entire lifetime. He has always been energetic and on the go. Even in recent years he continues to bake huge Christmas cakes (if you consider 28 lbs. a pretty good size), as well as producing his prize-winning pickles to show at the local Carp fair. (I love fruit cake). He has also written a number of books in the past decade. A quote from a recent interview with the Ottawa Valley based journal Fifty Five Plus, “I haven’t retired yet,” says Roly, as he prepares to drive to his son’s farm to view a trotter in training for an upcoming harness race. “I’m in excellent health and still pretty active in the horse business. Retirement’s not for me. I just get a new number every year.”

Dr. Armitage at Remembrance Day Celebration in 2019 (Photo by John Major reprinted with permission from Fifty-Five-Plus)

Just a few weeks ago I had the pleasure and the privilege of a short telephone conversation with this remarkable man. The circumstances surrounding the call came about in a rather unusual way. I was making a call to Bill Galvin before his recent passing, and as it turned out through the magic of today's cellphones he just happened to be at Roly's Ottawa Valley home paying him a visit. After Bill and I concluded our visiting, he asked if I would like to speak to Roly. I of course accepted the offer and we chatted for a short while. I love talking to people of such depth of character and substance. It seems that almost every word they utter is important and their whole persona just captivates your entire attention.

Thanks to you Roly for your great service to our Country and for the many other great deeds you have done over your entire lifetime.

Note: I recently read that many communities across the country are asking that people not attend Nov. 11 ceremonies this year. This is perhaps the first time ever that this request has been made and it is of course due to the current restrictions being applied due to the pandemic. People are asked to set aside a personal time to remember our heroes.

Quote For The Week: "If we start to judge people as 'good' or 'bad', we may be surprised at how much good there is in the bad and how much bad there is in the good."

Who Is It?

Can you put a correct name on this individual? If you can send it along.

Who Else Is It?

This gentleman had very strong military ties dating back to WWI. In fact he carried his title throughout his entire adult life and was frequently referred to by his rank. Can you name him? A hint to the era he was from....he is wearing a necktie under his racing silks.