Operation Nijmegen

Canadian Forces participation in the Nijmegen Marches

From July 21 to July 24, 2009, a Canadian military contingent will participate in the 93rd Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandmarsen Nijmegen [International Four-Day Marches Nijmegen], as they have done every year since 1952.Led by Major-General Mark McQuillan, this year’s Canadian Forces contingent of 270 members comprises 190 marchers, plus support staff, medical staff, and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band from CFB Edmonton.

57th CF contingent completes Nijmegen Marches

Congratulations! You have just spent four days waking up at three in the morning in a field of mud to march 160 hot, humid kilometres - not counting the hike to and from the finish line - with close to 15 kg on your back. To celebrate, you get to do a victory march of five more kilometres in battering rain! This is, of course, consistent with Dutch meteorological custom.

Rescue Me, Nijmegen edition

A military career has always included risk to life and limb, but you’d think sensible people would at least try to limit their liability. Marchers at Nijmegen clearly don’t - at the end of each day, they humbly bare their feet and offer them up to the medics, hoping to be cured of misery brought on by 40 km of trudging in combat boots.