1952

1950

The Royal Canadian Artillery
​Vancouver, BC
​1951

as at 22 December 2019

15th Field Regiment
The Royal Canadian Artillery

​102nd Coast Regiment
​The Royal Canadian Artillery

43rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
​The Royal Canadian Artillery

Recruiting
Recruiting continues to be a concern in the Vancouver units.

Retired Regimental Sergeant Major
What do you do after you retire? Annoy the Governor-General? Warrant Officer Class I Charles Henry Peter Trappitt ​​MBE provided bugle calls for the GG when he dropped anchor in Gunboat Bay. I'm sure the GG looked forward to reveille every morning.

Conference of Defence Associations
The Conference of Defence Associations met in Ottawa on 11th, 12th and 13th of January 1951.
(a) The RCAA were represented by: Brigadier E. R. Suttie Brigadier H. F. Wright Brigadier G. 0. Hutchison Lt.-Col. W. T. Cooper (b) Brigadier R. J. Leach attended as Secretary-Treasurer and was also re-elected for 1951-52.
(c) RCAA Resolutions regarding Man-Power, Clerical Assistance, and A & T Staffs were considered with similar resolutions, see Conference Resolutions 1/50 (and memorandum) 4 50, 5 50.
See more...

Obituaries

Bombardier Robert Thomas Burnett
Funeral service for Robert Thomas (Bob) Burnett, 83, of 4575 Picton, who died Friday, will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Mount Pleasant Funeral Chapel. Born in Cornsworth, County Durham, England, Mr. Burnett came to Canada in 1886. In Vancouver he was associated with the Rat Portage Lumber Company for 35 years.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Anne; three daughters, Emma and Ethel of Vancouver and Margaret of Saginaw, Michigan; six step-children, 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Bombardier Burnett enlisted with the 68th Depot Battery Canadian Field Artillery  13 October 1915.

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​Gunner William Valentine Norton
At St. Joseph’s Hospital, on Thursday, January 18, 1951, aged 60, beloved husband of Florence Norton, of 429 Belleville Street; born in London, England, England, and a resident of this city for 33 years. He was a member of Naval Veterans No. 42. Besides his wife, he leaves five sons, William J., Kirkland, Washington; John P., in Victoria, Thomas A., Cultus Lake, B.C., Robert J. and Phillip E., in Victoria; three daughters, Mrs. Hilda Hansen and Miss Florence L. Norton, in Victoria and Mrs. Eileen M. Bayfield in Hope, B.C.
Funeral Service in Hayward’s B.C. Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 22, at 1.30 p.m., Reverend A.E. Hendy officiating, followed by cremation.
Gunner Norton enlisted with the 68th Overseas Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery 13 November 1917.

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Gunner Jack Fraser Riddle
A former member of 15th Field Regiment RCA was killed in action on 5 October 1951 while serving with the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
His death occurred during Operation Commando while he was serving as a communicator with the Forward Observation Officer Lieutenant M.T. O’Brennan. Gunner Riddle was severely wounded in the left leg and died at 25 Canadian Field Hospital the next day.
Then Number 6 Platoon of the Royal Canadian Regiment, under command of Lieutenant W.D. Smallman followed through in the second phase of the attack and came under heavy machinegun, mortar and shell fire on thickly wooded steep slopes. Two Royals were immediately killed while Gunner Jack Riddle was severely wounded. The observer, Lieutenant O’Brennan was also wounded, but kept on directing the fire until he was carried off on stretcher. Lance Bombardier F.M. Dorman then took over and continued directing fire under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. Their individual bravery brought O’Brennan the Military Cross and Dorman the Military Medal.
Reference: Gunners of Canada, Calgary Herald

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​Brigadier Percy (Pete) Curran Tees MM ED
Passed away in London, England, Jan. 28, 1951, Brigadier P.C. (Pete) Tees of this city in his 57th year. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude; one son, Captain P.J.A. Tees; 2 sisters, Mrs. Alice Lay and Mrs. Helen Williams, all of Vancouver. Internment at Brookwood Cemetery, London.
Brigadier Tees was a member of 31st Battery and 68th Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery prior to the Second World War. He stood up the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA before going overseas to serve in England, France and Germany.

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Sergeant Roy Pelham Wellsted
1809 Elizabeth Stree, Altadena, passed away Aug. 18, 1951. A native of London, England, he had been a resident of California 26 years and of Altadena 3 years. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Wellsted; a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Peterson of Pasadena; and two grandchildren. Services 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of the Gardens, Mountain View Mausoleum. Dr. James Henry Hitchins officiating. Turner & Stevens Co., directors.
Sergeant Wellsted enlisted with the 68th Overseas Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery as a Gunner 21 February 1916.

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Sergeant Thomas Mitchell Wilson
Passed away Dec. 19, 1951, of 1538 Victoria Drive, in his 60th year. Survived by his loving wife, 2 daughters, Mrs. E. Beaton of San Francisco, and Mrs. M. Casper of North Vancouver; 2 sons, Leslie and Ian, both of Vancouver. Funeral Monday, Dec 24, at 1:30 p.m. in the Roselawn Funeral Chapel, Broadway at Commercial Dr., The Rev. E.L. Garvin officiating. Internment Ocean View Burial Park.
Sergeant Wilson enlisted with the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve, Boorman's Battery on 15 July 1915 and served in France and Belgium with the 30th Battery, 8th Howitzer Brigade (later known as 22nd Battery, 6th Howitzer Brigade).

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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