Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan S. Sherman, CD

Commanding Officer

2002-2005

Like many of us, at a young age Mr. Sherman already nurtured an admiration of and proclivity towards the military. Some of his youngest memories include watching troops parade past in all their stoic splendor and regalia. Then and there, in the din of the smart smack of left heels onto pavement did spark a life long commitment to the Militia – 39 years to be exact.

Like many distinguished soldiers, Bdr Sherman began in the junior ranks, having been Shanghaied by Dennis Downs at a neighbourhood shopping centre at the tender age of 16 – thereafter known as ‘The Yorkdale Mall Incident’. Bdr Sherman’s penchant for implied tasks, concurrent activity and time appreciation elevated him quickly through the ranks, spurring him onto numerous instructor postings and qualifying as a sergeant by the time he completed his collegiate studies.

Alas, though a fearsome #1 that he was, MBdr Sherman saw the life that awaited him as an RSM and quickly about-faced, embarking upon the mysterious life of an officer, commissioning in 1980. Some of 2Lt Sherman’s best memories are that as a junior officer – inspecting the gun line, sharing rations of rum, and performing IFCCS calculations manually.

Some say Captain is the best rank – knowing just enough to be useful, but not nearly enough to be accountable. And a spry Captain Sherman would agree, after having some of his most cherished memories as BK of 9 and 15 Battery. The ‘Dreary Trudge’, Liar’s Dice, recces as a dismounted FOO, firing 400 rounds on a weekend EX, Captain Sherman loved it all.

However, this fairy tale was not to last. Despite 7Tor’s full accompaniment of junior officers, the loss of 7 captains in one year forced him to trade his beloved 3x pips for a crown – a crown to which he added a pip shortly thereafter becoming one of the youngest COs to grace our officers’ mess. And with title came great responsibility – Cyprus, the Ice storm of 98, and the Blizzard of 99 to name a few. Looking around, one will also see LCol Sherman’s legacy everywhere, from the 8-inch gun that adorns the front lawn, to development of the Col Piper room for mock fire missions, to the Arty crest on the parade square.

True to army form, though Col Sherman was promoted out of 7Tor in 2000, the Colonel still had more to give. From frequent postings in CFB Kingston, to instructing US Army Reserve Majors in Fort Devens, teaching American troops the truth behind the War of Independence, and eventually to becoming CO of 49^th Field, the brevity of 400 words scantily captures the colorful memoir of one of our most distinguished officer.

Here’s to Col Sherman! The CO who almost became an RSM!

v.2017