I find the history of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA a fascinating subject. Despite my many years with the Regiment, I'm coming across an amazing amount of facts that I just didn't know. My latest project is reviewing old Part II orders to find additional names for the nominal roll and I just recently came across the 1959 Band file. It has been an accepted fact that WO I Al Sweet led the Regimental Band from 1953 until 1969. Turns out that this fact is wrong! Al Sweet was a Gunner in the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA Military Band in 1958! The Bandmaster that year was WO I JAS Munro. Another little known item from 1959 is that the 15 Field Regiment RCA Military Band was reduced to nil strength and disbanded on 14 October 1959! The following day, 15 October 1959, the 43 Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA Military Band is redesignated the 15th Field regiment RCA Military Band. Keeping up with our listing in the nominal roll is the following additions:
Adair, LP; Arita, HH; Bannister, ML; Card, Faustine Stanley; Duguid, P; Edge, RP; Eely, Alnor; Gesi, J; Grimway, JH; Hall, GE; Hall, WAE; Holmes, Hugh Walter; Howland, DS; Hrushowy, WJ; Kofoed, Anders John Wesley Bodtker; Kothlow, Kenneth William; Lewis, Cecil James; Lodge, George Stephenson; Munro, JAS; Myles, David Orr; Nicol, RE; Nicoll, RJ; Rawlinson, W; Reader, FPW; Robbins, Norman Kenneth; Smith, Robert Orton; Spragg, CK; Sugie, SI; Sweet, RJ; Taylor, AE; Waldie, Robert Jackson; Woods, H Of interest is Gunner RJ Sweet. I wonder if this is the father or grandfather of Al Sweet? A later entry has Gunner RJ Sweet struck off strength on 30 Aug 1959 as deceased. More picture from the 70s! I've added a few pictured from St Barbara's Day Dinner and a Ft Lewis exercise to the 1979 Yearbook.
A few photos from Remembrance Day, St Barbara's Dinner, the trek to Yorke Island and additional Scotty McGinley retirement dinner photos. Take a look at the 1981 yearbook and let me know if you can identify more of the faces.
Added the following names from Part II orders to the Nominal Roll. That makes 1,750 names. Is your father or grandfather listed?
Aikens, Jack Warner; Ashby, Eric Joseph; Bringland, Hal Irvin; Buchanan, John James; Casement, RM; Cave, Frank Norman; Cave, John Douglas; Cave, Wifrid James; Dow, Douglas George; Eely, A; Erickson, MA; Flett, Heman Thomas; Green, George Munro; Jackson, William Arthur; Johansson, LA; Lark, GAW; McCallum, John Mitchell; McGee, KG; Oughton, JM; Requa, DS; Richard, RMc; Robbins, NK; Silvester, Norman Alfred; Smith, RH; Spray, RB; Stevenson, John Harold; Towers, Thomas Ewart; Ulmer, Adolph S More photos were added to the 1982 Yearbook featuring a road move exercise and a rifle exercise. Were you there? Was that really 34 years ago?
From: Mike Walker
I have just been on the phone with Brian Reid discussing the progress on the Airborne Gunner History Project which we hope to complete in the next year. As you know the intent is to produce an illustrated, high quality, hard covered product covering the years from the initiation of the concept in 1942 through to the current time. An issue has arisen with the production of the final chapter or chapters. Although a few individuals have responded, it appears there is an information gap relating to this more modern era – from circa 1982 to 1993 as well as subsequent airborne gunner activities in the current century. I wonder if you could circulate this request for input via your mailing lists. Certainly any anecdotes or memories would be most appreciated. In order to produce a well rounded text the perspective of all ranks is most welcome and encouraged. The type of information needed relates activities and experiences for both field and air def in the airborne role, as well as related aspects pertaining to the more recent reintroduction to mortars and the establishment of the observation batteries. Submissions should be made directly to the author, Brian Reid at breid10271@aol.com and it is requested that this be done with a minimum of delay. Thanks for your support. Sincerely Mike Walker More photos for the 1983 Yearbook including a range exercise in Nanaimo, reunion in the Officers' Mess and a display on the Armoury parade square (or was that from 1980?)
More Gunners!
Adair, WD; Babey, M; Baseley, Alfred; Boyce, Jack Gordon; Campbell, Norman Ernest; Coltman, Robert McKenzie; Ewert, Earl; Gosse, J; Henry, W; Herman, David Leon; O'Brien, Pat; Orre, Glen Hugo; Paul, Robert Clark; Penman, DM; Pollard, T; Rutledge, Earl Edward James; Sansum, VH; Sigurdson, GR; Stevenson, John Donaldson; Taylor, Thomas Edward; White, Ralph William Now at 1,725. Mostly a clean up on the 1984 Yearbook page with some reunion photos and our Regimental Tank.
The Vancouver Artillery Association has several events planned for November.
Remembrance Day The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA will be firing the salute from Crab Park (Portside Park) close to downtown Vancouver at 1100 hours on Friday 11th of November 2016. It is the intent of the Vancouver Artillery Association to move the Field Artillery Tractor (FAT) Limber and 25 Pounder to that location in the morning. The Association Dun Detachment should advise Bob Mugford if they are available at 0800 hrs 11 November for the move. bob.mugford@outlook.com The Commanding Officer has granted permission for former members of the Regiment to form up on parade, behind the guns, with the Regiment and Cadets. The Regiment will form up at 10:30 hrs. Dress is blue Regimental blazers with grey pants and berets. It is understood that not all members own “Blues and Greys” so the dress policy will certainly be extremely lenient. It’s more important that you’re on parade than dressed properly! Drop Leon Jensen an email at president.vcrgunners@gmail.com if you plan to attend. The Messes will be opened after the Ceremony for recounting of historic deeds and tall tales. Yorke Island Coastal Artillery History Meeting The Vancouver Artillery Association will be hosting a Yorke Island Coastal Artillery History Meeting on Saturday 12 November 2016 at 1300 hours in the Officers’ Mess, Bessborough Armoury, 2025 West 11th Avenue, Vancouver. The intent of the meeting is to bring attract individuals or groups with an interest in BC's Coastal Artillery history with a specific focus on Yorke Island. The session will mostly concentrate on Yorke Island photographs in order to build a comprehensive history of the island's preparation in World War II. We are looking for individuals that would be interested in examining the photos to develop an historic timeline of construction. In addition, we are working on identifying the members that served on Yorke Island and their career in the Canadian Army. We are hoping to attract descendants of many of those members that may have photographs and information in their family albums that they may wish to share. Scanners will be available to record that information. Interested? Contact Leon Jensen at president.vcrgunners@gmail.com if you plan to attend. |
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