Seventy Eight years ago on 21 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 21 Oct 1939 – York Island Letter re rations. Civilian employees (see App. "E"). Letter re reliefs. Letter re searchlights. Weather: dull. The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston One hundred years ago on 21 October 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: Our batteries relieved the batteries of the 108th A.F.A. in the early morning and found the battery positions a sea of mud and many guns hopelessly mired while the roads leading into the battery positions were completely blocked with over-turned guns, wagons, dead horses and mules and other supplies. Operation Order # 112 was issued today with reference to a readjustment of zones. Operation Order #113 was also issued with reference to barrages to be put on by our batteries. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: In accordance with O.O. 138 the 3rd. C.D.A. relieved the 108th. And 232nd. Army Brigades, RFA. Visibility was good after 11.a.m. Aircraft were very active, enemy planes flying low well behind our lines, fired on some of our working parties. Many balloons were up on both sides. Artillery on both sides was active, our Heavies shelling BELLEVUE Spur and PASSCHENDAELE heavily. No. of guns in action – 86 – 18-pdrs. 32 – 4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended A.1722, AX.1683, BX.1230 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: We took over from the 55th Australian Battery. They had two guns in action and one to be mounted. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Barrages carried out at 07:00 and 13:30; 1007 rounds all calibers ? during the day. Harrassing and ? carried out intermittently during the day with 3098 rounds being expended. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: Art'y Order #91 issue. Bdes. of 3rd C.D.A. relieved 108th and 232nd Army Bdes. R.F.A. 112th Siege Bty. R.G.A. relieved by 9th Canadian Siege Bty. 110th Heavy Bty. R.G.A. relieived by 1st Canadian Heavy Bty. 1/1 Kent Heavy Bty. R.G.A. relieved by 2nd Canadian Heavy Bty. 71st Siege Bty. R.G.A. relieved by 2nd Canadian Siege Bty. 16th H.A.G. relieved by 1st Cdn. H.A.G. 42nd H.A.G. relieved by 2nd Cdn. H.A.G. 55th Siege Bty. R.G.A. relieved by 5th Canadian Siege Bty. Our siege groups engaged wire, trenches and strong points. Counter battery work: two destructive shoots, 9 N.F. calls. 36 hostile btys. harrassed. Hostile art'y was very quiet against our bty. positions and roads. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. Seventy Eight years ago on 20 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 20 Oct 1939 – York Island Weather: rainy The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston One hundred years ago on 20 October 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest, the batteries getting further equipment such as ration packs and pack-saddles, water carriers, etc. and some of the officers going forward to look over the new gun positions. On October 20th Operation Order #111 was issued referring to the relief by the 9th Brigade of the 108th A.F.A. Brigade R.F.A. which is to be complete by 8.00 am October 21st, 1917. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: At 10.a.m. 20th October, in accordance with O.O. 138, the C.R.A. 3rd. C.D.A. took command of the Field Artillery covering the 1st New Zealand Division front. Visibility was bad on account of rain and very little intelligence was sent in. No. of guns in action – 90-18-pdrs. 32-4.5”Hows Ammunition expended – A.1920, AX.1426, HX.1348 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: Reached YPRES about noon and the men proceeded to their billets. The Officers quarters being in the CLOTH HALL. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Reached YPRES about noon and the men proceeded to their billets. The Officers quarters being in the CLOTH HALL. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: HQ 4th C.D.A. relieved H.Q. 3rd AUSTRALIAN D.A. HQ 3rd C.D.A. relieved HQ NEW ZEALAND D.A. 108th and 232nd Army Bdes. R.F.A. pulled out to wagon lines. Hostile art'y put four barrages on our front line and support trenches. Our bty. positions were shelled all day. Our heavy art'y engaged concrete structures, dug-outs and houses. Counter-battery work: 23 hostile batteries neutralized. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. Seventy Eight years ago on 19 October 1939
From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 19 Oct 1939 – York Island Letter re fresh water (see App. "E"). Weather: heavy dull. One hundred years ago on 19 October 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest, the batteries getting further equipment such as ration packs and pack-saddles, water carriers, etc. and some of the officers going forward to look over the new gun positions. On October 20th Operation Order #111 was issued referring to the relief by the 9th Brigade of the 108th A.F.A. Brigade R.F.A. which is to be complete by 8.00 am October 21st, 1917. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: The Headquarters remained at MERSEY CAMP for the 19th., General Mitchell and Brigade Commanders going forward with advance parties. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: Left Bethune and proceeded North via Hazelbruick and reached Steenvoorde about dusk. The lorries were parked in the Town Square where we stayed for the night. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: This Group is now known as ? Group and batteries ??? respectively. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: Arty's Orders #88, 89 and 90 issued. Hostile art'y active all day, particularly against bty. positions and roads. Our heavy art'y engaged wire, dug-outs and houses in the vicinity of PASSCHENDAELE. Counter-bty. work 32 hostile btys. neutralized; bursts of fire on hostile btys. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. Officers' Mess renovations contract has been uncovered and placed in the 1985 yearbook. Have you got any pictures of the renovation in progress?
Seventy Eight years ago on 18 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 18 Oct 1939 – York Island Letter re ammunition (see App. "E"). Weather: heavy rain The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston One hundred years ago on 18 October 1917
31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest, the batteries getting further equipment such as ration packs and pack-saddles, water carriers, etc. and some of the officers going forward to look over the new gun positions. On October 20th Operation Order #111 was issued referring to the relief by the 9th Brigade of the 108th A.F.A. Brigade R.F.A. which is to be complete by 8.00 am October 21st, 1917. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: Ammunition, tents, shelters, etc., were handed over. O.O.137-10 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: We received orders to move and the battery took the road in Motor Lorries leaving one Officer Lieut. Beecroft and 10 men as rear guard to hand over to relieving Battery. The remainder of the Battery proceeded to Bethune where we billeted for the night. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Special Battalion arrived from BREST at 20:00 this evening. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: Bdes. of 4th C.D.A. went into action. Hostile art'y active on bty. positions and movement on roads. Short and not heavy barrages were placed on our front line. Our heavy art'y bombarded strong points, concrete emplacements and dug-outs. Counter-battery work: three successful aeroplane shoots, neutralizing fire on 34 hostile btys. 28 N.F. calls. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. More pictures have been added to the 2017 Yearbook from our recent Yakima Gun Camp including a fine video of the Honorary Colonel firing his last round. |
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