Commanding Officer 48th Highlanders of Canada 1973 – 1976
LCol Bill Stark’s journey in the Canadian military began in 1947 when, at 12 years old, he was “drafted” into the compulsory Cadet Corps at Appleby College. Loosely associated with the Royal Regiment of Canada, his early years saw him embrace a variety of roles, including side drummer, bass drummer, and bugler, before becoming a “grunt” and eventually the Cadet Corps’ Company Sergeant Major (CSM). He left the corps in 1953 and, after some time at the Ryerson Institute of Technology, his path led him back to the military.
In 1956, Stark’s Appleby schoolmates, 2Lts Bill and Don Benson, approached him with an opportunity to join the 48th Highlanders of Canada. He recalled, “I jumped at the idea.” His initial interview at the University Armoury was a daunting experience. He was first put through the wringer by the Adjutant, Major John Venters, and then by the commanding officer, Colonel Hamish MacIntosh, whom Stark described as “really big and as a 2nd war vet wore lots of ribbons on his tunic. He scared the hell out of me.” Despite the intimidation, Stark was accepted and began his service as an officer cadet. After completing the required courses, he qualified as a 2nd Lieutenant, a moment he recalls with great pride. “I was very proud, as I still am, to be a member of the finest infantry unit in Canada.”
Stark excelled in his career, both on and off the field. He became a key member of the officers’ indoor baseball team, winning the batting championship multiple times. His military roles were equally successful; he held the position of Quartermaster for three years, a job he considers the most satisfying of his career aside from becoming CO. This role, which involved responsibility for all public and regimental stores, was a significant undertaking.
On May 3, 1973, Bill Stark was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and became the Commanding Officer of the regiment, a command he held for three years before handing it over to his friend Ron Simmons on May 5, 1976. Reflecting on this time, Stark remarked on the journey from his beginnings as an officer cadet to commanding the regiment, a “Wow, from one end of service to the other.”
After his command, Stark’s expertise was sought for a variety of special projects. He served as the Staff Officer 2 Training at Toronto Militia District HQ for a year. In 1977, he was asked by Colonel Bob Hilborn to serve as Producer for a military tattoo to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. Stark assembled a team, including Major George Pearce and Captain John Holford, to produce the event, which featured 27 Militia units from across Ontario and was performed for a crowd of 55,000 cheering patrons at the CNE Grandstand.
His talents were called upon again in 1984 when he was asked to produce another royal tribute, “A Royal Salute to Her Majesty, The Queen,” at CNE Stadium. This production was a resounding success, culminating in Stark and his team being presented to the Queen and Prince Phillip on the field.
After 37 years in uniform, LCol Bill Stark retired from the Army.
After his initial year at Ryerson, Stark joined his father’s real estate, insurance, and property management firm in Toronto. In 1978, he moved to his farm near Coldwater and established his own insurance offices there in 1980 and in Barrie in 1986. The business thrived, and he eventually sold it to his son, Colin (a Captain in the 48th), in 2018.
During his years with the regiment, Stark developed a deep fondness for the pipes, often spending his breaks marveling at the skill of the pipers. When he retired from the regiment, he and his son Graham began formal lessons. Following the tragic death of their first tutor, 48th piper Chuck Osborne, Stark summoned the courage to ask former Pipe Major Archie Dewar to teach them. Dewar famously remarked, “Well sir, I’ve no had much luck teaching officers to play the pipes,” but agreed after Stark explained he had no competitive ambitions.
Later, Stark and his son continued their studies with former 48th piper Pipe Major Duncan Fleming. In 2002, Stark formed his own band, Mariposa Pipes and Drums. From 2003 to 2017, the band toured extensively, traveling to Scotland and Ireland twice and Holland five times. Their most poignant tour was in 2017 to the WWI battlefields, where they played at the Somme, Beaumont Hamel, and Vimy memorials, as well as the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. Stark also played with the Toronto Fire Service Pipe Band from 2002 to 2014.