Name/Title
1946 - September 22nd - Post WW2 - Original Newspaper article and Photo with CGG CSM Penman and CGG Sgt. E. Paget participating in the Province of Quebec Rifle Association 'Molson Cup' Grand Aggregate Shooting competition in Saint Bruno, Quebec.Scope and Content
For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection
*** ARTIFACT ON LOAN TO CGG MUSEUM ***
This clipping is attributed to the collection of artifacts from the Sgt. (Late CSM) Matthew Penman, EM.
1946 - September 22nd - Post WW2 - Original Newspaper article and Photo with CGG CSM Penman and CGG Sgt. E. Paget participating in the Province of Quebec Rifle Association 'Molson Cup' Grand Aggregate Shooting competition in Saint Bruno, Quebec.
SUMMARY
These newspaper articles from The Montreal Daily Star (Monday, September 25, 1944) report on Sergeant Matthew ("Matt") Penman's victory in the Quebec Provincial Rifle Championship and the outstanding performance of the Canadian Grenadier Guards rifle team during the first post-war meeting of the Province of Quebec Rifle Association.
Sgt. Matt Penman Wins the Quebec Provincial Championship
The principal article reports that Sergeant Matt Penman, a veteran Bisley marksman and member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards, captured the 1944 Quebec Provincial Rifle Championship after a dramatic shoot-off at Mount Bruno Rifle Ranges.
Penman and Sergeant T. Woods of the Longue Pointe Ordnance Depot (formerly of the Black Watch) each finished the championship with an identical aggregate score of 139 out of 140, forcing a tie-breaking shoot-off at 600 yards. Both competitors fired twelve consecutive bull's-eyes before Woods' thirteenth shot dropped into the inner ring, while Penman's thirteenth remained a bull's-eye, giving him the provincial title.
The article notes that:
Penman had been a leading competitive rifle shooter in Canada for many years.
Both Penman and Woods originally came from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, making the contest a friendly rivalry between two English-born Canadian marksmen.
Penman also coached the Canadian Grenadier Guards rifle team.
Canadian Grenadier Guards Dominate the Championships
The championship meeting featured many of Canada's best military marksmen from units including:
Canadian Grenadier Guards
Black Watch
Royal Montreal Regiment
Victoria Rifles
Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME)
Longue Pointe Ordnance Depot
The Grenadier Guards performed exceptionally well throughout the competition.
Among the notable results:
Sgt. Matt Penman won the Provincial Championship.
The Canadian Grenadier Guards No. 2 Team won the prestigious Bren Gun Match.
The Guards also captured the Victoria Rifles Cup, narrowly defeating the Canadian Grenadier Guards' own first team by four points.
Penman earned the PQRA Grand Aggregate Silver Medal, awarded for the highest combined score over the championship.
Montreal Marksmen Featured
A large accompanying photograph highlights the five Montreal shooters who all scored perfect 70s in the Molson Match. From left to right:
Sgt. Alex Parnell (Black Watch)
Sgt. T. Woods (RCEME)
Sgt. Ernest Paget (Canadian Grenadier Guards)
Major Donald Rae (Royal Montreal Regiment)
Capt. Don O'Connor (PQRA President)
Sgt. Matt Penman (Canadian Grenadier Guards)
The caption explains that Penman had just won the provincial championship after defeating Woods in the shoot-off and that nearly 100 competitors participated in the meeting.
Results and Awards
The adjoining article lists many of the competition results, including:
Molson Match
Capt. D. Cameron (Victoria Rifles)
Major D. MacRae (Royal Montreal Regiment)
Sgt. Matt Penman (Canadian Grenadier Guards)
Sgt. Alex Parnell (Black Watch)
Sgt. T. Woods (RCEME)
All tied with perfect scores.
Grand Aggregate Championship
1st – Sgt. Matt Penman (Canadian Grenadier Guards) – PQRA Silver Medal
2nd – Sgt. Parnell
3rd – Sgt. Woods
Penman also placed highly in several additional individual and team matches throughout the championship.
Historical Significance
These articles demonstrate that twenty-one years after first representing Canada at Bisley (1923) and nearly a decade after winning the First Stage of the King's Prize at Bisley (1935), Matt Penman remained one of Canada's premier rifle marksmen.
His victory in the 1944 Quebec Provincial Rifle Championship illustrates:
sustained excellence over more than two decades of competitive shooting;
leadership as coach and senior member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Rifle Team;
continued dominance against many of Canada's finest military shooters during the Second World War; and
the Canadian Grenadier Guards' reputation as one of Canada's strongest military rifle shooting organizations.
Taken together with the earlier newspaper articles documenting his 1934 Banker's Trophy victory and 1935 Bisley success, these reports establish a remarkable competitive career spanning at least the early 1920s through the end of the Second World War, during which Sgt. Matthew Penman consistently ranked among Canada's elite rifle marksmen.
ABOUT THE CGG SOLDIER
CSM Mathew Penman, born in Dunston, England, immigrated to Canada in 1913 and joined the 1st Regiment Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG). During World War I, he was among the 387 CGG members who volunteered to serve in the 14th Battalion (Royal Montréal Regiment) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Rising to the rank of Corporal, he was wounded in 1916 and later transferred to Canadian Division Headquarters, where he served as an Armourer-Sergeant, specializing in the repair of CEF bicycles. Upon his return to Canada in 1919, Penman was awarded the CEF Class A War Badge #399036 and rejoined CGG. He went on to become a highly successful competitive shooter from 1923-1963, earning the title of Québec Rifle Association Champion for eight consecutive years, from 1930 to 1938. Additionally, he won the prestigious CGG Pepler Challenge Cup twice. CSM Penman retired from active military service in 1958 as a Company Sergeant Major (CSM) but remained deeply involved with the CGG Veterans Association. Tragically, Mathew Penman passed away in 1974 while playing billiards in the CGG Sergeants Mess. His legacy as a dedicated soldier, skilled marksman, and committed veteran lives on in CGGs SGT’s Mess to this day.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
June 30, 2026Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
July 2, 2026
