North Bay, ON, Canada
Fern Taillefer
Current Location: Oro-Medonte, ON, Canada
I joined the reserve forces in North Bay in 1974 serving with the Algonquin Regiment until 1980. While in the Reserves, I volunteered for a tour of duty with the United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF II) in Egypt, from 12 Oct 1977 to 12 April 1978. I was ready for a trip full of adventure and fun, and I probably thought I was going on an all-expense paid trip for a six-month holiday. This could not have been further from the truth. My trip to Egypt was very eventful, and it left me with some very disturbing memories. When we landed in Cairo, we were told to stay in our seats while I watched a deceased Canadian soldier being loaded into the belly of the aircraft. This soldier had been killed while on the same UN mission I was being sent on. This was a very sobering moment for me, and I wondered what lay ahead in the next few months. This was not going to be a vacation. This was for real. My whole mindset totally changed in that instant. That moment has never left my mind. I think of it often.
At one point during my mission, while driving a jeep with another Canadian soldier, we were stopped at a check point where the barrel of a rifle was pressed against the left side of my temple. This was a very tense moment for me as I did not know if the Egyptian soldier holding the rifle was intent on pulling the trigger. At that moment I got very angry and pushed the rifle away from my temple and swore at the guard. I pointed out that we were with the United Nations (UN) in a UN marked jeep and that he had no right to point his weapon at me, let alone press it against my head. Only after I did this did I realize that I could have caused the guard to pull the trigger. Till this very day, I can feel the location where the rifle was held against my temple, and I sometime feel pressure to the side of the temple as if something is pressing against it. Every day we had to check our boots in the morning before we put them on because we were told that poisonous snakes and scorpions loved to curl up inside them at night. I checked every single day. Some evenings I slept with my boots on just in case!! I still find myself checking my boots and shaking them to make sure there is nothing in them. Old habits die hard!!
When I was not guarding the camp, one of my duties was to drive supplies from Egypt to Israel via the Golan Heights. We were very short of drivers, so I volunteered on my days off. We had to cross many check points and were always fearful of being ambushed. We also had to watch out for landmines that were strewn about and had to drive in the middle of the road just in case. We lost two Canadians to that very issue when they pulled off the road and hit a land mine. On one of these trips to Israel, someone along the route shot at my truck. There were bullet holes in the canvas, but we had no idea when and where along the route it occurred, as we were driving 5-ton multi-fuellers which were very loud inside the cab.
I also witnessed several beatings, by the Egyptian National Police, of prisoners we had turned over to them. Even though handcuffed, the prisoners suffered serious beatings at the hands of the police, and we could do nothing to stop it. I tried to interfere once but was stopped by my immediate supervisor and told it’s their way of life and that we were not to get involved, as the prisoners were Egyptian Nationals. That really bothered me.
Biography
Fern Taillefer started his military career as an Army Cadet with the 204 Algonquin Cadet Corps in North Bay, ON. He spent four years with the cadets, attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. In 1974 he joined the Infantry Reserve unit the Algonquin Regiment in North Bay and served with the Regiment for six years. In 1977, while serving in the Reserves, he volunteered for a tour of duty with the United Nations Emergency Forces in Egypt. He celebrated his 20th birthday in Ismailia, Egypt.
In February of 1980 he joined the Regular Forces as a Military Policeman, serving for three years in Petawawa, working in various sections of the Military Police Detachment. Because of his previous experience as an Infantryman, he completed a tour with the Military Police Field Section, then worked as a patrolman. Eventually he worked his way up to the Criminal Investigation Section. While in Petawawa, in September of 1980, he was sent to the Airborne School in Edmonton, and became a qualified military parachutist.
In 1983, he was part of a pre-selection team that was sent to CFB Borden to determine if he would be suited for Close Protection (bodyguard) duties. Fourteen of the 79 personnel who attended the pre-selection were chosen to attend a gruelling, 10-week course in London, England to undergo Close Protection training.
Having successfully completed this training he was posted to CFB Baden-Soellingen Germany, where he was sent to Heidelberg to become the personal bodyguard of the Commander of Ace Mobile Force (Land). During his four years in Europe, he was also assigned to guard numerous high ranking dignitaries with threats on their lives, including members of the Royal family such as Countess Mountbatten, Lord Brabourne, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne, to mention a few. He also provided security for the Queen Mother and the Queen.
In 1987, he was promoted to Sgt and posted to CFB Ottawa where he was placed in charge of VIP operations. He was responsible for planning the ground security of many dignitaries from around the world and was responsible for the Prime Minister of Canada’s aircraft security.
In 1990, he was posted as an instructor to the Canadian School of Intelligence and Security in CFB Borden, and subsequently promoted to Warrant Officer. He served as an instructor in all aspects of criminal law, investigations and patrol procedures, VIP security, firearms, and Defensive Tactics.
He retired in 1996 and commenced a second career with the Toronto Transit Commission’s Special Constable Services where he served as a Security Specialist in charge of security planning as the intelligence officer responsible for the Anti-Terrorism plan for the subway and transportation system. While there, he also attended Toronto Police College,
He is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, Central Ontario Chapter, and is presently the President of the Association. For the past 18 years, he was Chief Organizer of Peacekeepers parades and ceremonies in the village of Angus, an event attracting large numbers of participants.
He is the Parade Marshall for the Barrie Legion, and leads the parade in downtown Barrie every November 11th and on the anniversary of D Day parades. With the Legion he also serves as the Veteran Services Officer, 1st Vice President, and Poppy Chairman Fern is also a member of the Barrie Veterans Club, and serves on the executive for the Canadian Airborne Forces Association as the Second Vice President. He is a life-time member of the NATO Association, and the Algonquin Regiment Association.
He volunteered as a coach for Young Bowlers of Canada (8–12 years old) and volunteers as a coach for ball hockey (12–14 years old). For six years he coordinated fundraising for children with severe disabilities, cancer, dying, and severe mental illness, with the funds used to send children to Disney World. Fern also coordinated the building and erecting of the Memorial Wall at Peacekeepers Park in Angus on 9 Aug 2011. The wall has the inscription of 288 names of Canadian Peacekeepers who gave their lives in the service of peace and includes the 158 Canadian soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan.
Fern is the recipient of the following medals, decorations, and awards, including: Canadian Forces Decoration, United Nations Emergency Forces Medal, Special Service Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Volunteer Award, Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, and the Veterans Ombudsman’s Commendation.
He is a graduate of the Law Enforcement and Security Program at Seneca College.
Me getting into the jeep getting ready to go on patrol.
