Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers – Second World War

Norman D. Dingle was born in 1893 in Tavistock, England. He moved to Calgary in 1904 joining the University of Alberta contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) at the outbreak of the First World War. Norman went overseas with the battalion, receiving his commission in the field with the imperial unit of the Post Office Rifles. Norman was the Crown Prosecutor at the Calgary police court as well as carrying on his own law practice after the war when he joined the Calgary Highlanders when they were formed in 1921.

In 1933, Colonel Dingle was appointed the Commanding Officer of the Calgary Highlanders. He remained in this position until 1938. At the outbreak of war in 1939, Norman gave up his law practice and served in many capacities with the Number 13 military district in Calgary, including as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion. After the war he resumed law practice by himself and also was associated with several law firms over the years. During his lifetime he was active with the 10th Battalion Association, the St.John’s Cricket Club, the Calgary Soccer Club and the Alberta Provincial Rifle Association. He was president of the Imperial Veterans’ Association at the time of its absorption into the Canadian Legion. Colonel Norman D. Dingle died in December 1962 at the age of 69 and is buried in Queen’s Park Cemetery in Calgary.

D. Alex Ross was born in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland on 20 January 1900. His parents moved to Montreal after his birth, and he was educated in Canada. He enlisted in the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) in 1915, and went overseas and into the Tenth Battalion CEF as a Private that same year. He was wounded on 8 August 1918 near Amiens, France and released from the service shortly after.

In 1921 he joined the Militia as a Lieutenant in the 13th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion and served with them in Medicine Hat until 1932. In 1940 he re-enlisted with the 2nd Battalion, Calgary Highlanders which was a part-time reserve unit in Canada. He served as Captain and Officer Commanding “C” Company which was located in Okotoks, Alberta. From 1941-43 he served as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General of Alberta, and became Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion in 1942 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After retirement in 1943, he moved with his wife, daughter and two sons to Vancouver. In civilian life, he worked with Canadian Bakeries Ltd. beginning in 1921 and retired as Chief Executive Officer. As a Chartered Accountant he also held numerous offices in civic organizations and clubs, and was deeply involved with the building of the Air Cadet movement.

Norman V Waddell had served as Officer Commanding “C” Company in July 1941 at Camp Sarcee and took command of the 2nd Battalion in Calgary in 1944. On 28 September 1945, he took leave, and resigned on 9 November 1945. He had been the western manager of the Ford Motor Company in civilian life.

Private Rosling joined the 2nd Battalion, Calgary Highlanders in September 1940, taking basic training at Camp Sarcee near Calgary. He was promoted Corporal in 1941 and Sergeant in January of the next year. After attending Officers Training Camp at Gordon Head, Victoria, BC he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in January 1942. He became a Captain in July 1943 and a Major on 18 August 1944. After twice temporarily commanding the battalion in September 1944, he was appointed to permanent command in November. On 1 April 1946 the 2nd Battalion was disbanded. Major Rosling now commanded The Calgary Highlanders, but only until 18 May 1946 when he relinquished command. He resigned from the Army in November 1946 as a Major.