Sent from the HON LCOL
Black Watch Friends:
It is with deep personal sadness that I inform you that Don Ludlow passed away suddenly and unexpectedly but peacefully at home late yesterday afternoon.
Don’s association with Canada’s military began in 1949 with the Army Cadets when he commanded, as a cadet-major, the first Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Newfoundland. He subsequently served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, as a soldier and NCO, until he joined the Canadian Army (Regular) in January 1956.
He was posted to 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada when he completed officer training in October 1956 and remained with that battalion in Aldershot and West Germany until it redeployed to Gagetown in 1961. After a brief tour on recruiting duties, Don returned to 1st Battalion where he held various appointments (Intelligence Officer, Reconnaissance Platoon Commander, Anti-Tank Platoon Commander) until 1964 when he was posted to Headquarters, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade (3CIBG) in Gagetown as Brigade Intelligence Officer. Before leaving HQ 3CIBG he spent six months on United Nations duties in Cyprus as Zone Intelligence Officer.
In 1967 Don was posted to Headquarters Mobile Command in St. Hubert, and the following year he was selected to attend Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College (CLFCSC) in Kingston, Ontario. On completion of Staff College Don was promoted major and remained on staff at CLFCSC and until he was posted to 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in CFB Petawawa in 1971 as a rifle company commander.
In the first-half of 1973 Don served with the International Commission for Control and Supervision in Vietnam where he was employed in the Operations Centre of the Canadian Contingent in Saigon.
On return from Vietnam he was assigned to the Land Staff at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) where he remained until 1980 when he was posted in to Pacific Region Headquarters in Esquimalt as Staff Officer, Civil Emergency Operations. In 1983 he returned to NDHQ where he held various staff appointments until he retired from the Forces in 1991.
Following his retirement from the CF, Don was employed in the Emergency Preparedness Section of Public Works and Government Services Canada in Ottawa until 1996.
In recent years Don has been very active in The Black Watch Association, especially Upper Canada Branch, and with St. John’s Anglican Church in Kanata.
Don and I first met in Aldershot in 1957 and we have been good friends ever since. I will miss him personally, and I know that his wide circle of friends across the Country will as well.
Will forward details of memorials as soon as possible.
R. I. P.
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT