• Bill Grant slate on D-Day 1944
  • PA 140209; Lt. Michael Dean, Driver Chuck Ross, Lt. George Cooper
  • PA 140095; Private Kenneth E. White and Sergeant Norman C. Quick of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit, Ortona, Italy, 6 February 1944
  • PA 152111; Private Nadine Manning of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit processing strips of censored film at Merton Park Studios. December 19, 1944 / London, England
  • PA 150150; Sergeant Karen M. Hermiston of the Canadian WomenÕs Army Corps (C.W.A.C.), who is holding an Anniversary Speed Graphic camera, London, England, 15 November 1945.
  • Sergeant Margaret O. King of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit operating an editing machine in the film library at Merton Park Studios, London, England, 19 December 1944Date(s): December 19, 1944, Place of publication: London, England.
  • Private Charlie Ross, Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit ; July 11, 1944 / Caen, France
  • Chuck Ross poses in his uniform for the camera.
  • ZK 1063A; Canadian Film & Photo Unit
  • PA 166305; Eve of D-Day. Cine and still photographers of No.3 Public Relations Group. (L-R): Sgt. E.R. Bonter, Lt. C.C. McDougall, Sgt. L.E. Weekes, Lt. F.L. Dubervill, Sgts. C.E. Roos, W.G. Grant, D.A. Reynolds
  • Sgt. Robert Sleigh poses with tripod
  • PA 136214; Sgt. L.E. Weekes (Vancouver, B.C.) of the Photo and Film Unit taking cine pictures along side of shelled house ; 15 Oct. 1944 / Hogerheide, Netherlands (vicinity)
  • PA 136331; Sgt. George A. Game of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit ; 23 Mar. 1944 / Italy
  • PA 147111; Sergeant George A. Game Canadian Army Film Unit operates his camera between two German bodies on the outskirkts of San Leonardo ; 10 Dec. 1943 / San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy
  • Back lot at Merton Park Studios. Left to right; 'Red' Law (sound: civilian); Bruce Newlands; Alasdair Fraser; Gordon Sparling; Gordon McLain
  • Sgt. Norman Quick with Bell & Howell Eyemo somewhere in Europe.
  • Sgt. Norman Quick labelling a roll of film in Cassino
  • PA 168109; Members of Army Public Relations during making of last Canadian Army News Reel at the Merton Park studios. Seated: S/Sgt K.G.Ewart; Maj Gordon Sparling. Back: Cpl Marjorie Cox; Capt. G.W.McClain; Merton Park Studios recording engineer; Sgt. Lew Weekes
  • PA 152104; Private Nadine Manning of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit in a film vault at Merton Park Studios. December 19, 1944 / London, England
  • PA 128178; Private Marjorie Cox of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit splicing film.
  • PA 183310; Private Dave King, a driver with the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit, talking with an Italian who lived in his own hometown of Burlington, Ontario, for a number of years, Delianuova, Italy, ca. 5 September 1943.

MAY 162010

 

Chuck Ross: In Memoriam

Chuck Ross and Norman Quick pose with disc set

PHOTO CREDIT: Personnel of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit with their jeep, Gruchy, France, 9 July 1944 - Left-to-right: Lieutenant Micheal M. Dean, Driver Charles N. Ross, Lieutenant George A. Cooper. - Photo credit: Dean, Michael M. PA-140209 (copy negative number) - Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.

In Memory of Charles N. Ross...
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of a great friend and Canadian Combat Cameraman, Charles (Chuck) Ross. Chuck passed away peacefully May 16, 2010 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Chuck is survived by his loving wife Verna, and son James.

I met Chuck through Norman Quick, another Combat Cameraman veteran here in Ottawa. Soon after talking with Chuck over the phone, I had decided to travel to Alberta where I met Chuck and sat down to do a video interview in March of 2007.

Two years later Chuck would travel to Ottawa and history was made during the 2009 Remembrance Day week when the surviving members of the Canadian Film & Photo Unit (CFPU) reunited in Ottawa. Over 65 years of tradition, and experience was passed on to a new generation of military photo-journalists, held at the Department of Public Affairs Learning Centre (DPALC).

The Dedication Ceremony involved the unveiling of a newly furnished Editing Suite located at the National Printing Bureau building at 45 Sacre-Coeur Blvd in Gatineau.
The Suite was furnished with numerous photographs depicting CFPU personnel along with some of their achievements during the war years from 1941 to 1946.

On hand were Sgt. (ret) Nadine Manning, Film Librarian. Sgt. (ret) Norman Quick, Combat Cameraman, Sgt. (ret) Chuck Ross, Combat Cameraman, and Capt.(ret) Michael Spencer, Director/Editor, all former members of the Canadian Film & Photo Unit.

Receiving the Unit were staff and students of the DPALC, who were on hand to showcase their new imaging technology, and welcome the veterans in a memorable ceremony that saw a tradition of news gathering and recording exchange hands.

Afterwards, a "Town Hall" event was organized, which saw all four members of the CFPU onstage to address answers from an audience made up of students from the DPALC.
Recorded by Army News, the forum wrapped up with students and veterans mingling onstage for a chance to meet and mug for photographs.

Some of the events of the 2009 Remembrance Day week was a visit to the Canadian Forces Army News, the progenitor of the CFPU. In a small gesture, the patch of the Army News image techs was presented to Chuck Ross, who in exchange, presented a signed Canadian Army Newsreel t-shirt to Army News.

The week was capped with a visit to the Cenotaph follwed by a special presentation held in the Victoria room at the Extended Stay Hotel in Ottawa. Making the presentations was Lt.-Col. Rejean Duchesneau, who handed out Appreciation Certificates and Coins to the veterans.

This 2009 Remembrance Day week will live on in memory as a rare exchange of military tradition from one generation to another.

The act of recording the men and women of the Canadian Forces is a unique and special honour. From foreign battlefields they graphically record history in the making, getting their stories and film back to headquarters so that Canadians back home can see the deeds of Canada's fighting men and women.

This tradition will be survived by a new generation of military photo-journalists who can be comforted in knowing that their work has a long line of experience, tradition, daring, and sacrifice.

Seven members of the CFPU were lost during WWII in the performance of their duties. Unfortunately, this sacrifice continues today with the loss of MCpl.Darrell J. Priede in Afghanistan back in 2007. Its a sober reminder that the men and women who take up a camera instead of a gun are still soldiers, and as such, must utilize their grit and determination to ensure that the news gets back home.

Read more about Chuck and his amazing career here...

- WE RECORDED HISTORY -