Gavel with silver plaque attached. "LT. COLONEL I. M. BELL-IRVING CD PRESIDENT CANADIAN INFANTRY ASSOCIATION 1963-1964" Lt Col Ian Malcolm Bell-Irving was a WW II veteran and the Commanding Officer of the Regiment from 13 September 1957 to 23 January 1961 when Lt Col David Fairweather assumed command. He served in the Seaforths in WW II from 17 July 1942 to 19 February 1943 when he was promoted and transferred as a Captain on the Staff. Ian Malcolm Bell-Irving was born in Vancouver on January 13, 1920. He went to Shawnigan Lake School for Boys. After the war on October 25, 1947, in Vancouver, he married Joan Virginia Frost. In 1962, he became the president of H.Bell-Irving Company. Ian died in 1999. The Canadian Infantry Association (CIA) is a national association of Canadian Infanteers founded in 1912, its membership includes all who have served or are serving Infanteers. It comprises12 Regional Branches that consist of all Regular, Reserve Units plus the Infantry School. In total, CIA represents more than 17,500 Infantrymen across Canada and aboard. Object. The object of the Association is to promote and improve the esprit-de-corps and operational effectiveness of the Infantry Arm of the Canadian Armed Forces and to cooperate with all other Arms of the Service for promotion of general efficiency. Its is to assist and advise the Colonel Commandant of the Infantry and the Director of Infantry on all aspects regarding the Infantry Corp and its members as an integral component of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the CIA is outside the chain of command, it strives to further the interests of the Infantry Corps, as a member of the CDA (Conference of Defence Associations) where it can influence political, public and military affairs through the processes of resolutions, position papers and strategic lobbying. CIA as a charter member of CDA may nominations outstanding infanteers and friends of the infantry for such prestigious awards as the Vimy Award and Munro Media Award. CIA’s nomination of star of valour recipient, The CIA receives no government funding and reloies on dues assessed against each Branch based on the number of Infantry units within that Branch. Each Branch may asset additional funds to offset their own costs.