15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade
The Royal Canadian Artillery
Active Force
1942
The Royal Canadian Artillery
Active Force
1942
as at 19 January 2020
Sub-units
31st Heavy Battery, RCA
58th Heavy Battery, RCA
85th Heavy Battery, RCA
31st Heavy Battery, RCA
58th Heavy Battery, RCA
85th Heavy Battery, RCA
Key Appointments
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Change of Command
Lieutenant Colonel appointed Commanding Officer 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA AF in June 1942. |
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Routine Orders 1942
The collection of Routine Orders provides an excellent window into the past. Names as shown below have been added to the nominal roll. Did you know:
2 April - Sgt Hankin Orderly Sergeant (daily until further orders);
6 April - Use of military vehicles for other than purely military purposes is forbidden;
13 April - Discipline - Troops Warned for Draft - Absence without leave is definitely a "PREVALENT" offence...;
16 April - Point Atkinson Detachment is placed under quarantine in Point Atkinson Fort for seven days;
See more...
The collection of Routine Orders provides an excellent window into the past. Names as shown below have been added to the nominal roll. Did you know:
2 April - Sgt Hankin Orderly Sergeant (daily until further orders);
6 April - Use of military vehicles for other than purely military purposes is forbidden;
13 April - Discipline - Troops Warned for Draft - Absence without leave is definitely a "PREVALENT" offence...;
16 April - Point Atkinson Detachment is placed under quarantine in Point Atkinson Fort for seven days;
See more...
Structural Changes
15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA was renamed 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment, RCA on 1 June 1942.
15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA was renamed 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment, RCA on 1 June 1942.
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Active Service
The full extent of the Vancouver coastal defences and their role in the protection of Canada's west coast were outlined in the local Fire Commander's Orders of October 1942.7n keeping with security regulations, the earlier standing orders issued by the commanding officer, who was customarily the Fire Commander, had been destroyed and the 1942 orders are the oldest ones in existence. The standing orders reveal that though the defences were elaborate they were also deficient in many things. See more... |
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Point Grey Fort
Could this be the Point Grey Fort at the beginning of the clip? Recognize any faces? |
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Narrows North - Fort Record book
The Fort Record Book contained the technical information for the fort. Armament, personnel and equipment are listed.
The Fort Record Book contained the technical information for the fort. Armament, personnel and equipment are listed.
The Liberty Ship Incident
The incident that … causes embarrassed laughter among veterans of the 15th Coast occurred on September 13th, 1942. This was when the gunners proved that they could sink a ship, albeit a friendly one.
D. Ken Brown had taken over command of the Narrows North detachment in late June 1942 and he believed in a firm application of the port security regulations. With the approval of Col. Hood, the guns came into action. The firing of heave-to rounds provided useful training for the troops and it cowed the fishermen into conforming with the wartime rules. See more...
The incident that … causes embarrassed laughter among veterans of the 15th Coast occurred on September 13th, 1942. This was when the gunners proved that they could sink a ship, albeit a friendly one.
D. Ken Brown had taken over command of the Narrows North detachment in late June 1942 and he believed in a firm application of the port security regulations. With the approval of Col. Hood, the guns came into action. The firing of heave-to rounds provided useful training for the troops and it cowed the fishermen into conforming with the wartime rules. See more...
Yorke Island
Yorke Island now took on a much more important role and it was decided that her armament should be increased. With no surplus guns in Canada and those on order in England unlikely to arrive for at least another year a straight trade was made with the two 6-inch guns at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver and the two 4.7-inch ones at Yorke Island. To keep both batteries operational only one gun from each was to be moved at a time. The changeover was to take place at the end of June 7942 and early July. Tension was mounting at this time as the Japanese were now in the position of being able to launch a hit and run raid. Dutch Harbour, Alaska was bombed on June 3rd,1942, and on the evening of June 20th the Japanese submarine I26 fired approximately seventeen projectiles at the Estevan Point Lighthouse on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. See more...
Yorke Island now took on a much more important role and it was decided that her armament should be increased. With no surplus guns in Canada and those on order in England unlikely to arrive for at least another year a straight trade was made with the two 6-inch guns at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver and the two 4.7-inch ones at Yorke Island. To keep both batteries operational only one gun from each was to be moved at a time. The changeover was to take place at the end of June 7942 and early July. Tension was mounting at this time as the Japanese were now in the position of being able to launch a hit and run raid. Dutch Harbour, Alaska was bombed on June 3rd,1942, and on the evening of June 20th the Japanese submarine I26 fired approximately seventeen projectiles at the Estevan Point Lighthouse on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. See more...
Yorke Island and 30th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
The 30th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery was also known as the "Sportsmen Battery" with the Battery Commander Major Conn Smythe of Toronto Maple Leaf fame. Major Smythe had personally recruited many of the members of the Battery and there were a considerable quantity of National Hockey League players.
The Battery connection to Yorke Island came with the introduction of a pair of 20mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns to protect the guns from air attack. The following letter outlines the story from one of the members of the Battery. Did Conn Smythe make it to Yorke Island? That's still to be discovered....
The 30th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery was also known as the "Sportsmen Battery" with the Battery Commander Major Conn Smythe of Toronto Maple Leaf fame. Major Smythe had personally recruited many of the members of the Battery and there were a considerable quantity of National Hockey League players.
The Battery connection to Yorke Island came with the introduction of a pair of 20mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns to protect the guns from air attack. The following letter outlines the story from one of the members of the Battery. Did Conn Smythe make it to Yorke Island? That's still to be discovered....
Military Bureaucracy
Following files illustrate the movement of paperwork after Gunner Wallace Brunt’s death on 20 August 1941 which was required to complete the distribution of Service Estate.
6 March 1942 – Court of Inquiry Findings approval for the court which sat on 21 February 1942.
14 March 1942 – Army Form B.2090C. Missing Man, Acceptance of Death for Official Reasons. Signed by the Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Letson. See more...
Following files illustrate the movement of paperwork after Gunner Wallace Brunt’s death on 20 August 1941 which was required to complete the distribution of Service Estate.
6 March 1942 – Court of Inquiry Findings approval for the court which sat on 21 February 1942.
14 March 1942 – Army Form B.2090C. Missing Man, Acceptance of Death for Official Reasons. Signed by the Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Letson. See more...
Dieppe Raid - 19 August 1942
The Raid on Dieppe, France was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces faced a well-entrenched enemy. Some method had to be found to create a foothold on the continent, and the Raid on Dieppe offered invaluable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion in 1944, saving countless lives in that momentous offensive. Veterans Affairs Canada
Some ex-members of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA transferred to the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and took part in the Dieppe Raid with their new units. Many of them are remembered on our Dieppe page.
The Raid on Dieppe, France was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces faced a well-entrenched enemy. Some method had to be found to create a foothold on the continent, and the Raid on Dieppe offered invaluable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion in 1944, saving countless lives in that momentous offensive. Veterans Affairs Canada
Some ex-members of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA transferred to the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and took part in the Dieppe Raid with their new units. Many of them are remembered on our Dieppe page.
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War Work Fund
Battery Sergeant Major Charles Henry Trappitt assists with entertainment for the War Work Fund. |
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Wartime weddings
Who do you get to stand in as you're groomsman when you're getting married during the war? How about the Sergeant Major? |
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Obituaries
Gunner Joseph Camile Dessureault
Gunner Dessureault was a Private in the Lincoln Regiment from 1933 to 1935 before being taken on strength as a Gunner with 31st Heavy Battery 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade on 26 June 1940. He subsequently transferred to 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, 3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA on 5 September 1940 and was reported missing from Combined Operations (Dieppe) on 22 August 1942. He was declared killed in action effective 19 August 1942 on 14 June 1943 and is buried at Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery.
Gunner Dessureault was a Private in the Lincoln Regiment from 1933 to 1935 before being taken on strength as a Gunner with 31st Heavy Battery 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade on 26 June 1940. He subsequently transferred to 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, 3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA on 5 September 1940 and was reported missing from Combined Operations (Dieppe) on 22 August 1942. He was declared killed in action effective 19 August 1942 on 14 June 1943 and is buried at Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery.
Captain Henry Arthur Slatter
A well-known Vancouver Bandmaster died Wednesday in the person of Henry Arthur Slatter, 76 of 1047 Melville Street, brother of Captain John Slatter, of Toronto, one of Canada's leading bandmasters.
Henry was born in London, where he was a member of the famous Coldstream Guards. In 1912 he came to Vancouver to take over the bandmastership of the 72nd Highlanders, and when war broke out went overseas with them.
After the war he retrned to Vancouver, and had resided here ever since. He had subsequently been master of various bands, including the Elks Lodge Band.
Until a few years ago Mr Slatter was also engaged in instructing various Indian brass bands up and down the British Columbia coast.
A well-known Vancouver Bandmaster died Wednesday in the person of Henry Arthur Slatter, 76 of 1047 Melville Street, brother of Captain John Slatter, of Toronto, one of Canada's leading bandmasters.
Henry was born in London, where he was a member of the famous Coldstream Guards. In 1912 he came to Vancouver to take over the bandmastership of the 72nd Highlanders, and when war broke out went overseas with them.
After the war he retrned to Vancouver, and had resided here ever since. He had subsequently been master of various bands, including the Elks Lodge Band.
Until a few years ago Mr Slatter was also engaged in instructing various Indian brass bands up and down the British Columbia coast.
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