W. J. Aitchison

Colonel William Joseph (W.J.) "Joe" Aitchison, OMM, CD[1] (born December 5, 1941) is a retired Canadian military officer, and former Colonel of the Regiment for the Royal Canadian Regiment.[2] He is also a security consultant and member of the board of directors of several organizations.[3][4] He received the 2008 J.J. Kelso Award from the Hastings Children's Aid Society for his work with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.[5][6]

Colonel

William Joseph Aitchison

OMM, CD
Colonel of the Regiment of the Royal Canadian Regiment
In office
February 25, 2011 – June 18, 2018
Succeeded byIvan Fenton
Personal details
NationalityCanadian
Children3
Alma materRoyal Military College of Canada
OccupationSoldier
Military service
Allegiance Canada
Branch/service Canadian Army
Years of service1959 - 1996
2011-2015
RankColonel
UnitRoyal Canadian Regiment
The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment

Life

Aitchison attended the Royal Military College of Canada and graduated with the class of 1963. Throughout Aitchison's career he held several command appointments, including being the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion of The RCR, Commandant of the Canadian Forces School of Infantry and Base Commander of CFB London, ON.

Aitchison has three sons, Master Warrant Officer Alan Aitchison, CD, Brigadier General D. Craig Aitchison, CD, and Daniel, and five grandchildren, Second Lieutenant W. Justin Aitchison, Colin, Kayla, Callie, and Alicia. Sons Alan and Craig, and grandson Justin, are all currently serving members of the Canadian Forces. Craig is also an officer in The Royal Canadian Regiment and also commanded the Infantry School (2009–11), perhaps the first father-son to command the same unit in the Regiment's, if not Army's, history.

Aitchison became the new Colonel of the Royal Canadian Regiment on February 25, 2011. On June 18, 2015, Aitchison handed over this position to his successor, Major-General (Retired) J.I. Fenton, OMM, CD.

He currently resides in Southern Ontario.

Honours and Decorations

Aitchison received the following orders and decorations during his military career:[7]

Ribbon bars of William Joseph Aitchison
OMM, CD
RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit (OMM)
  • Officer 1 June 1995[8]
Order of Saint John
Special Service Medal
  • With Peace Bar
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
  • 1992
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  • [10]
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
  • With 3 Clasps

References
  1. "Jubilee winners go above and beyond for all of us". Intelligencer. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. "20 Questions - The Young Officer". Royal Canadian Regiment. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  3. "W.J. (Joe) Aitchison". OMERS Sponsors Corporation. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  4. "Disclosure of contracts over $10,000". Public Safety Canada. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  5. "HCAS Board of Directors present Joe Aitchison the J. J. Kelso Award for 2008 at Society's 101st Annual General Meeting June 25" (PDF). Hastings Children's Aid Society. June 25, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  6. McVicar, W. Brice (June 24, 2008). "Residents lauded for years of giving back Province recognizes 90 local volunteers". The Intelligencer. Belleville, Ontario. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  7. Decorations identified via official Colonel of the Regiment Portrait of the RCR, or from the website of the Governor General of Canada
  8. "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved 15 Aug 2018.
  9. https://www.sja.ca/French/Order-of-St-John/Documents/Roll-of-the-Order-2017-Repetoire-de-lOrdre.pdf
  10. "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
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