The Royal Canadian Artillery
Vancouver, BC
1940
Vancouver, BC
1940
as at 7 October 2016
By 1940 the unit had successfully manned all the Forts under their command. Personnel were transferred on a six month rotation through Yorke Island and this year witnessed the first Battery exchange, 31 Heavy Battery, RCA from Point Grey exchanging with 85th Heavy Battery on Yorke Island.
Authority to organize the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA, NPAM was given on 12 July 1940. The unit was to be formed as a 2nd Brigade of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA, and to have the same establishment. This called for 18 Officers and 328 Other Ranks together with a chaplain and M.O. attached.
1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA was redesignated: '1st (Reserve) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA' on 7 November 1940.
Celebrations
In the 1930's the mainland companies of the old 5th B.C.B.G.A. were remembered with nostalgia. "The boys of the old brigade" held reunions in1937, 1938 and 1940 and exchanged memories of comrades and youthful escapades. Some stories grew with retelling: a former powder-boy of the Seymour Battery, in successive accounts of his enlistment, pushed the date farther and farther back into the mists of antiquity. "Remember when the sergeant bawled us out for carrying umbrellas while wearing the Queen's uniform?" asked one ex-gunner of his fellows in 1940. In the light of the Boer War and the two world conflicts that followed, those days in the 1890's when the men of Vancouver and New Westminster paraded in gaudy uniforms and fought mock battles in which no one died seemed like the innocence of childhood.
Vancouver Defended, Peter N Moogk, pg 30
In the 1930's the mainland companies of the old 5th B.C.B.G.A. were remembered with nostalgia. "The boys of the old brigade" held reunions in1937, 1938 and 1940 and exchanged memories of comrades and youthful escapades. Some stories grew with retelling: a former powder-boy of the Seymour Battery, in successive accounts of his enlistment, pushed the date farther and farther back into the mists of antiquity. "Remember when the sergeant bawled us out for carrying umbrellas while wearing the Queen's uniform?" asked one ex-gunner of his fellows in 1940. In the light of the Boer War and the two world conflicts that followed, those days in the 1890's when the men of Vancouver and New Westminster paraded in gaudy uniforms and fought mock battles in which no one died seemed like the innocence of childhood.
Vancouver Defended, Peter N Moogk, pg 30
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60 Pounder Battery in 1940
The Regimental Museum has digitized some old films. This is possibly 5th Medium Bty of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA, training in 1940. The film may be reversed as evidenced by the "D" on the vehicle front and the figures on the backs of the gun numbers. The location is unknown. Check out the video and see if you can identify some of the missing info! 0:07 - The Battery moves out from the camp area (Does anyone recognize these buildings?) 0:18 - The Gun Tractors move out. What vehicle is this?Note the reversed "D" 0:32 - Prepare for Action? Are the Gunners exercising the recoil? 0:38 - The Detachment Commanders lead the guns into the position. 0:40 - What was thrown to the Detachment Commander? 0:54 - The detachment now wear numbers on their backs. What do you think was the purpose of this? 0:58 - Halt! Action Rear! 1:03 - All the members are wearing coveralls with numbers except the one Sergeant. Is he the Regular Force Instructor? Is this a gun numbers course? 1:06 - The gun is unhooked. 1:08 - The limber is unhooked. 1:15 - Why we don't walk backwards while moving guns and limbers! 1:21 - Angles passed from the Director. 1:40 - Ammunition is distributed. 1:43 - The Command Post setup. 2:07 - The first round fired. 2:22 - Misfire drill. 2:39 - Primer fairly struck! 2:55 - The impact area. Does anyone recognize the terrain? |
Obituaries
Gunner Francis (Frank) Davis
Full military services for Private Francis Davis, 31, of the 31st Heavy Battery, 15th Vancouver Coast Brigade, R.C.A. were held Monday in Center & Hanna Chapel, with Capt. Rev. J.P. Gordon officiating. Burial took place in Returned Soldiers' Plot, Mountain View Cemetery.
Born in England, Private Davis had been on active service for 14 months. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Rose S. Holmes, London
Full military services for Private Francis Davis, 31, of the 31st Heavy Battery, 15th Vancouver Coast Brigade, R.C.A. were held Monday in Center & Hanna Chapel, with Capt. Rev. J.P. Gordon officiating. Burial took place in Returned Soldiers' Plot, Mountain View Cemetery.
Born in England, Private Davis had been on active service for 14 months. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Rose S. Holmes, London
Sergeant William Thomas Harrison
Services for William Thomas Harrison, aged 54, of 829 East Twenty-second, who died on Monday in General Hospital will be held in Hamilton Funeral Chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Internment will take place at the Returned Soldiers’ Plot Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Harrison was born in England and had lived in this city for thirty-two years. He served overseas during the Great War with the 2nd C.F.A. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and a sister and a brother.
Services for William Thomas Harrison, aged 54, of 829 East Twenty-second, who died on Monday in General Hospital will be held in Hamilton Funeral Chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Internment will take place at the Returned Soldiers’ Plot Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Harrison was born in England and had lived in this city for thirty-two years. He served overseas during the Great War with the 2nd C.F.A. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and a sister and a brother.
Gunner Edward Fulton Hewitt
Edward Fulton Hewitt, 64, of 317 West Cordova Street, died Tuesday in the General Hospital.
Mr. Hewitt was born in Toronto. During the First Great War he served as a gunner with the 1st Canadian Division He was a member of the executive of the Army and Navy Veterans, Branch No. 68. He leaves a sister; Mrs. W.H. Parrott, Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria.
Edward Fulton Hewitt, 64, of 317 West Cordova Street, died Tuesday in the General Hospital.
Mr. Hewitt was born in Toronto. During the First Great War he served as a gunner with the 1st Canadian Division He was a member of the executive of the Army and Navy Veterans, Branch No. 68. He leaves a sister; Mrs. W.H. Parrott, Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria.
Gunner John Robertson Wilson
Gunner Robertson was taken on strength as a Gunner with 85th Battery 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA on 4 September 1939. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 15 July 1940 enroute to Yorke Island and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery. He was awarded the War Medal for his service.
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Gunner Robertson was taken on strength as a Gunner with 85th Battery 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA on 4 September 1939. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 15 July 1940 enroute to Yorke Island and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery. He was awarded the War Medal for his service.
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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