15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade
The Royal Canadian Artillery
1939
The Royal Canadian Artillery
1939
as at 3 February 2025
Sub-units
31st Heavy Battery, RCA
58th Heavy Battery, RCA
68th Heavy Battery, RCA
85th Heavy Battery, RCA
Attached – 5th Medium Battery, RCA
31st Heavy Battery, RCA
58th Heavy Battery, RCA
68th Heavy Battery, RCA
85th Heavy Battery, RCA
Attached – 5th Medium Battery, RCA
Key Appointments
Promotions and Appointments
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Warrant Officer Class II Robert J. Watson EM promoted Warrant Officer Class I and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major on 1 October 1939. |
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Structural Changes
The 68th Heavy Battery and the 15th Brigade's attached 5th Battery provided the initial manpower and became the 9th and 11th Batteries of the new 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment on 5 May 1939. |
31st Heavy Battery RCA CASF
Rear Row - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,Gnr Noel Liversidge,12,13, 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,
Second Row - 22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39, 40,41,42,43,44, 45, 46,57,48,49,50
Front Row - 51,52,53,54,55, Black Dog, 57,58, Lt W (Bill) F Osburn, Second Dog, Maj Ken Hicks, Lt Allan McGavin, 63,64,65,66, Third Dog, 68,69, 70
Rear Row - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,Gnr Noel Liversidge,12,13, 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,
Second Row - 22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39, 40,41,42,43,44, 45, 46,57,48,49,50
Front Row - 51,52,53,54,55, Black Dog, 57,58, Lt W (Bill) F Osburn, Second Dog, Maj Ken Hicks, Lt Allan McGavin, 63,64,65,66, Third Dog, 68,69, 70
Nominal Roll
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant-Colonel Cyril G. Beeston, ED
Regimental Sergeant Major: Warrant Officer Class 1 Willard J. Purdy EM
Honorary Colonel: William Wasbrough Foster, DSO, VD
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel: William Culham Woodward, ED
Major Charles Kenneth Rosebrugh
Adjutant: Captain J.D. Ross
Quarter-Master: Lieutenant W.G. Purdy
See more...
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant-Colonel Cyril G. Beeston, ED
Regimental Sergeant Major: Warrant Officer Class 1 Willard J. Purdy EM
Honorary Colonel: William Wasbrough Foster, DSO, VD
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel: William Culham Woodward, ED
Major Charles Kenneth Rosebrugh
Adjutant: Captain J.D. Ross
Quarter-Master: Lieutenant W.G. Purdy
See more...
Preparation for War
The need for personnel to man the searchlights which were to be used in conjunction with the coast artillery necessitated a new organization. This was solved by disbanding the British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car) to create the 1st Searchlight Regiment RCA. in May, 1939. Although the Hussars were designated armoured car, their vehicles consisted of motorcycles with sidecars and Morris sports cars - hardly armoured! As with the 1st Anti-Aircraft, equipment would be a long two and a half years in arriving. This was the only searchlight regiment formed in Canada; elsewhere only units of battery size were formed. Although the Brigade was now coast artillery, it did manage to retain the beloved 18 pounder for the purpose of firing artillery salutes on such occasions as Dominion Day, the King’s Birthday, and visits of the Governor General. Salutes were usually fired from a point near the nine o'clock Gun in Stanley Park. War clouds continued to gather in Europe as the Brigade sailed for what was to be its last peacetime camp at Esquimalt in July, 1939. Few were to dream that August would see many of them practising their newly learned skills in the forts of Vancouver and Yorke Island.
Vancouver Defended, pg 60, Peter Moogk
The need for personnel to man the searchlights which were to be used in conjunction with the coast artillery necessitated a new organization. This was solved by disbanding the British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car) to create the 1st Searchlight Regiment RCA. in May, 1939. Although the Hussars were designated armoured car, their vehicles consisted of motorcycles with sidecars and Morris sports cars - hardly armoured! As with the 1st Anti-Aircraft, equipment would be a long two and a half years in arriving. This was the only searchlight regiment formed in Canada; elsewhere only units of battery size were formed. Although the Brigade was now coast artillery, it did manage to retain the beloved 18 pounder for the purpose of firing artillery salutes on such occasions as Dominion Day, the King’s Birthday, and visits of the Governor General. Salutes were usually fired from a point near the nine o'clock Gun in Stanley Park. War clouds continued to gather in Europe as the Brigade sailed for what was to be its last peacetime camp at Esquimalt in July, 1939. Few were to dream that August would see many of them practising their newly learned skills in the forts of Vancouver and Yorke Island.
Vancouver Defended, pg 60, Peter Moogk
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Militia Held Defence Force As Well As Training Nucleus
Canada has duty beyond that of helping Empire abroad. |
15th Coast Brigade Inspection
District Officer Commanding Brogadier J.C. Stewart DSO inspect the unit on parade at Connaught Park.
District Officer Commanding Brogadier J.C. Stewart DSO inspect the unit on parade at Connaught Park.
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Junior Trade Board Members Tour Bessborough Armoury.
The Province newspaper reported on a tour provided to the Vancouver Junior Board of Trade. 17 Feb 1939. |
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Live Fire Exercise - Victoria
Headquarters, 31st Battery and 85th Battery complete live firing exercise in Victoria. Also in attendance were 11th Anti-Aircraft Battery and 1st Searchlight Regiment.
Headquarters, 31st Battery and 85th Battery complete live firing exercise in Victoria. Also in attendance were 11th Anti-Aircraft Battery and 1st Searchlight Regiment.
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Call Out!
The 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and its batteries, the 31st Heavy Battery RCA, 58th Heavy Battery RCA and 85th Heavy Battery RCA are called out pursuant to the authority granted the Minister of National Defence. |
Mobilization
For the gunners of Vancouver the Second World War began fifteen days before Canada's declaration of war against Germany. The Allies' reaction to Nazi aggression against Poland had been anticipated. On August 25th Ottawa ordered the mobilization of three Vancouver militia units, including the 15th Coast Brigade. The callup for the 1st Searchlight Regiment (formerly the B.C. Hussars) soon followed. From Victoria the 5th (B.C.) Coast Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, went out to man the coastal forts at Esquimalt and Albert Head. "The militia will cover vulnerable points throughout the province as part of a pre-arranged programme of defence" said Brigadier J.C. Stewart, commander of the military district. The men were still free to choose whether or not to accept fulltime service with the army. "This army is becoming too bloody dangerous" quipped an officer as the gunners assembled at the Bessborough Armouries to volunteer and to be assigned their duties. A detachment, the 85th Heavy Battery, sailed for Yorke Island on the night of the 29th. The 31st Battery of the brigade took charge of the nearly-complete battery in Stanley Park and six men were detached to occupy the north side of the First Narrows. Pending the completion of huts onPoint Grey, the 58th Battery was quartered in the armouries.
Vancouver Defended, pg 61, Peter Moogk
For the gunners of Vancouver the Second World War began fifteen days before Canada's declaration of war against Germany. The Allies' reaction to Nazi aggression against Poland had been anticipated. On August 25th Ottawa ordered the mobilization of three Vancouver militia units, including the 15th Coast Brigade. The callup for the 1st Searchlight Regiment (formerly the B.C. Hussars) soon followed. From Victoria the 5th (B.C.) Coast Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, went out to man the coastal forts at Esquimalt and Albert Head. "The militia will cover vulnerable points throughout the province as part of a pre-arranged programme of defence" said Brigadier J.C. Stewart, commander of the military district. The men were still free to choose whether or not to accept fulltime service with the army. "This army is becoming too bloody dangerous" quipped an officer as the gunners assembled at the Bessborough Armouries to volunteer and to be assigned their duties. A detachment, the 85th Heavy Battery, sailed for Yorke Island on the night of the 29th. The 31st Battery of the brigade took charge of the nearly-complete battery in Stanley Park and six men were detached to occupy the north side of the First Narrows. Pending the completion of huts onPoint Grey, the 58th Battery was quartered in the armouries.
Vancouver Defended, pg 61, Peter Moogk
Point Grey Fort
Captain Theo DuMoulin, then commander of the 58th Battery, remembered the rainy weekend when the brigade was mobilized and work began on the "fort" at Point Grey. Men of the Royal Canadian Engineers laboured at night under flood lamps banging together huts while buildings of the Dominion Wireless Station provided temporary shelter for meals. On September 3rd the entire battery took up quarters on the sandy headland overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Two 6-inch calibre coastal guns were delivered to the site by barge. The elaborate concrete emplacements for which they were destined did not yet exist and temporary positions were built on top of the cliffs. See more...
Captain Theo DuMoulin, then commander of the 58th Battery, remembered the rainy weekend when the brigade was mobilized and work began on the "fort" at Point Grey. Men of the Royal Canadian Engineers laboured at night under flood lamps banging together huts while buildings of the Dominion Wireless Station provided temporary shelter for meals. On September 3rd the entire battery took up quarters on the sandy headland overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Two 6-inch calibre coastal guns were delivered to the site by barge. The elaborate concrete emplacements for which they were destined did not yet exist and temporary positions were built on top of the cliffs. See more...
Narrows North Fort
Construction of the Narrows North fort proceeded at a faster pace. Two 12-pounder guns had been provisionally located on a gravel spit at the mouth of the Capilano River. On October 6th, 1939 they were moved to the roof of the three storey, concrete "gantry" beneath Lions' Gate Bridge. It was not a moment too soon since two weeks later heavy rains flooded the old gunsites and half of the camp. See more...
Vancouver Defended, pg 62, Peter Moogk
Construction of the Narrows North fort proceeded at a faster pace. Two 12-pounder guns had been provisionally located on a gravel spit at the mouth of the Capilano River. On October 6th, 1939 they were moved to the roof of the three storey, concrete "gantry" beneath Lions' Gate Bridge. It was not a moment too soon since two weeks later heavy rains flooded the old gunsites and half of the camp. See more...
Vancouver Defended, pg 62, Peter Moogk
Searchlights
To assist the guns at night, eight manually-controlled, 18-inch reflector searchlights were installed on the north shore. It was said that some of the searchlights had come from Niagara Falls where they had illuminated the cascade for honeymooners. They were used in a similar fashion by the gunners of Narrows North who illuminated the ferry to Victoria as it carried away a newlywed comrade. It was also a favourite trick of the soldiers to flick the beams onto Prospect Point after midnight and, with the aid of binoculars, watch surprised lovers disentangle themselves to escape the all-revealing glare.
Vancouver Defended, pg 62, Peter Moogk
To assist the guns at night, eight manually-controlled, 18-inch reflector searchlights were installed on the north shore. It was said that some of the searchlights had come from Niagara Falls where they had illuminated the cascade for honeymooners. They were used in a similar fashion by the gunners of Narrows North who illuminated the ferry to Victoria as it carried away a newlywed comrade. It was also a favourite trick of the soldiers to flick the beams onto Prospect Point after midnight and, with the aid of binoculars, watch surprised lovers disentangle themselves to escape the all-revealing glare.
Vancouver Defended, pg 62, Peter Moogk
Yorke Island
Number One gun was ready for action on September 4th, and with this began the lonely lookout watches maintained throughout hours of light and darkness, wind and rain, with eyes straining and voice ready to warn of the enemy's approach. Number Two gun was ready on September 9th, the day before Canada declared war. Although they were ready and could be fired, their effectiveness was seriously hampered as new auto-sight cams. which were custom-made for each particular gun site, were not ready. See more...
Number One gun was ready for action on September 4th, and with this began the lonely lookout watches maintained throughout hours of light and darkness, wind and rain, with eyes straining and voice ready to warn of the enemy's approach. Number Two gun was ready on September 9th, the day before Canada declared war. Although they were ready and could be fired, their effectiveness was seriously hampered as new auto-sight cams. which were custom-made for each particular gun site, were not ready. See more...
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Yorke Island War Diaries
The 85th Heavy Battery war diaries have been placed on a separate page. |
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Barracks construction
New accommodation construction begins at Little Mountain. |
1939 Royal Tour
The 1939 royal tour by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was the first time a reigning Canadian monarch had stepped foot in this country. The King and the Queen stopped in Vancouver, Victoria, and a number of other smaller communities in British Columbia. Mackenzie King was enthused, stating in his diary on May 29, 1939: "The day in Vancouver was one of the finest on the entire tour."
The 1939 royal tour by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was the first time a reigning Canadian monarch had stepped foot in this country. The King and the Queen stopped in Vancouver, Victoria, and a number of other smaller communities in British Columbia. Mackenzie King was enthused, stating in his diary on May 29, 1939: "The day in Vancouver was one of the finest on the entire tour."
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Christmas Party 1939
Even the Christmas Party at Bessborough Armoury was of interest to the newspaper. There's a Christmas tree, tall as the sky . . . or at least as the roof of the Bessborough Armories. And there's going to be clowns and fairy-tale pages, ice cream, oranges, candy, Santa Claus and presents for all the little boys and girls whose daddies are in the R.C.A., whether they were good all year or not. |
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The Regimental Band
Newspaper articles feature the band advertising for the upcoming BC Hussars' show Shellsapoppin' and the Militia Day at the Exhibition. |
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Band Inspection
The Commander inspects all the Army bands at the Seaforth Armoury. |
Regimental Weddings
The Officers were busy at weddings! First Lieutenant Edward Royce married Diana Osburn on 18 September 1939 and then Diana's brother, Lieutenant W. (Bill) F. Osburn weds Dorothy Anne Mueller on 6 November 1939. The Officers provided a wedding arch of swords for both weddings.
The Officers were busy at weddings! First Lieutenant Edward Royce married Diana Osburn on 18 September 1939 and then Diana's brother, Lieutenant W. (Bill) F. Osburn weds Dorothy Anne Mueller on 6 November 1939. The Officers provided a wedding arch of swords for both weddings.
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The British Columbia Hussars (A.C.) Converts to the 1st Searchlight Regiment RCA |
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Royal Canadian Artillery Association - RCAA - 1939
Officers and Members of the Executive - President - Lieutenant-Colonel Cyril Gainsborough Beeston ED |
Officers' Mess
The officers of the Regiment held their Annual Mess Dinner at the Hotel Vancouver on 24 February 1939. It appears that there were considerable speeches made by some of the members present.
Court of Inquiry
A Court of Inquiry was held on 15th September 1939 into the death of Bombardier Norman Stanley Bajus, a member of the 58th Heavy Battery, RCA, who was accidentally shot in the chest in an accident at the guardhouse at the Point Grey Fort. The Court of Inquiry was ordered by Colonel HFG Letson MC ED, Commanding Vancouver Fraser Valley Area. The President was Lieutenant-Colonel EB Westby, Commanding officer 1st Searchlight Regiment with Major W Murphy, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaughts Own) and Captain GS Gibson of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada as members. See more...
A Court of Inquiry was held on 15th September 1939 into the death of Bombardier Norman Stanley Bajus, a member of the 58th Heavy Battery, RCA, who was accidentally shot in the chest in an accident at the guardhouse at the Point Grey Fort. The Court of Inquiry was ordered by Colonel HFG Letson MC ED, Commanding Vancouver Fraser Valley Area. The President was Lieutenant-Colonel EB Westby, Commanding officer 1st Searchlight Regiment with Major W Murphy, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaughts Own) and Captain GS Gibson of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada as members. See more...
Lists
The following pages contain additional information relating to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Honours and Awards
Trophies
Commanding Officers and Regimental Sergeants Major
Honoraries
Battery Commanders and Battery Sergeants Major
Band Appointments
Nominal Roll
Guns of the Regiment
Memorial Page
The following pages contain additional information relating to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Honours and Awards
Trophies
Commanding Officers and Regimental Sergeants Major
Honoraries
Battery Commanders and Battery Sergeants Major
Band Appointments
Nominal Roll
Guns of the Regiment
Memorial Page