15th Field Artillery Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
1969
as at 4 January 2020
Sub-units
31st Field Battery, RCA
​85th Field Battery, RCA
158th Field Battery, RCA
209th Field Battery, RCA
​Band of the 15th Field Regiment, RCA
Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Captain-General, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Her Majesty The Queen
 
Colonel Commandant, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Major-General H.A. Sparling, CBE, DSO, CD

Chief of Artillery
Colonel D.W. Francis, CD
Key Appointments
Back Row - 1,2, Heinz Winter, MWO Eric Tyldesly-Gore, WO Al Yelland, 6,MWO Gary Angell, 8,
Third Row - 9, 10,11,12, Bdr Ray Wilson, 16, Gnr Bill Amos, 18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28
Second Row - CWO Dave Penman, 30, 31, Sgt WAJ Wadden, 33,34, Sgt Gordie Wright, Joe Phelan, Gnr Mike Meehan,38,39,40,41,42, 43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50, Sgt Ted Johnson, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 79, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74
Front Row - 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, Maj GJ Bailey, Capt WT (Bill) Wickett CD, 82, CO Lt Col BA Clemons CD, RSM CWO Ray Guttridge CD, 85, Maj Vic Stevenson CD, Capt Steven Burridge, 88, 89, Capt Porter, 91
Promotions and Appointments
February 1969 - Major BA Clemons CD promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer.
​Warrant Officer Class II Raymond Guttridge CD promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major.
Maj R.S. Abbott CD appointed second-in-command.
Major Gary J Bailey appointed Battery Commander 158 Battery.

​​31 October 1969 - Captain William (Bill) T. Wickett promoted Major.

​Second Lieutenant Robert (Bob) E Mugford promoted Lieutenant.
Nominal Roll
Command Team
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant-Colonel GM Platt EM CD
Regimental Sergeant Major: Warrant Officer 1 Patrick H Smith CD
Second in Command: Major RS Abbott
Honoraries
Honorary Colonel:  Brigadier AE McB Bell-Irving OBE ED
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel: Lieutenant-Colonel WS Jackson CD
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Change of Command Parade
Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Clemons receives the Commanding Officer's sword from Colonel Freeman and addresses the parade. Colonel Freeman inspects the new recruits on the Change of Command Parade. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Platt already wears the tabs of a staff officer. See more...
Remembrance Day 1969
No mention of the regiment in the newspaper.
​Members Extra-Regimentally Employed
Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. Platt, CD, promoted in rank to Colonel, with the new appointment of Militia Advisor (Lower Mainland).
Warrant Officer DM McCloy attached to The Rocky Mountain Rangers 

​General Military Training (GMT) Course
Student                Private Richard Van Slyke
 
Basic Artillery Communicator Course
Student                Private Richard Van Slyke
 
Junior NCO Course
Student                Private Richard Van Slyke
CWO Albert Bramwell Sweet, CD — one of the most well-known Bandmasters in the Lower Mainland, retired from the Regiment after many years service. The 15th Field Regimental Band, under the guidance of Mr. Sweet, has gained an enviable reputation throughout BC. This has placed many commitments on the Band throughout the year, including being the official Military Band at many events and summer tours. The Band has also been the Orchestra Band for the Vancouver Military Ball for several years. Mr. Sweet’s retirement will be a loss for the Band and the Regiment as a whole. Mr. Sweet has seen to it however that the Band was left in capable hands (WOs Hamilton and Irwin).
RCAA Annual Report 1968-1969
Shilo Live Fire Ex - 23 February 1969
The uniforms worn are a mix of battle dress and bush. There's also the odd piece of combat that someone has picked up at a surplus store as  the Militia was not entitled to be issued with the fancy new field uniform.
Good thing the parkas were issued for the exercise. Not much snow but it does look cold.
The Command Post is the back of a 3/4 ton truck with a C42 radio mounted. The techs work off of the tailgate.
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Oakridge Mall Recruiting Display
The Regiment participated with other lower mainland units .
Albert Head - Easter Gun Camp 
The Regiment may have been a little lax in their camouflage and there is no record on how successful the camp was.
School Support
Major Ron Abbott receives support from the Regiment for his school's fundraiser.
Civilian Career
Major Gary Bailey advertises in the Vancouver Sun.
Colonel Alfred Hood
A former Commanding Officer, Colonel Alfred Ogilvie Hood, CD, 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment, RCA CASF (1942 - 1943) is featured in a Vancouver Sun article.
MESSAGE FROM THE COLONEL COMMANDANT
From The Canadian Gunner 1969
From the reports on our Militia artillery firing practices, it is apparent that the local headquarters training of the Militia Gunner met the test of practical gunnery. Our Militia regiments and independent batteries together with those Regular Gunners who assisted in this training are to be congratulated on the standard achieved, and the continuing evidence that, as in the past, they can be counted on to fulfill their role in the defence of our country.
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​Recruiting Handout
Undated recruiting handout from some time in the 60s. Unknown artist. Print reads as follows:
If You Can’t - Go active – go reserve
The Regiment is always looking for good men. In this age of science and technology, we have a demand for good men with the capacity to be trained in these fields. For the right applicants, we offer a great deal.  New friends. Opportunities for new skills and experience. A choice of training in gunnery, signals, driving, rifle and machine gun and many other specialized trades.
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​Regimental Memories
Sergeant John Forsyth recalls that Danny Davidson, Dan Wheeler, Jeff Ho and John Forsyth were posted to the Vernon Cadet Training Centre as instructors under the watchful eye of Chief Warrant Officer William (Bill) Chilton from the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from June to August 1969. The memory is clear as he remembers being a 19 year old sergeant having a Gin Collins in the mess, where the drinking age was 21, watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.
Commanding Officer's Committee
The Commanding Officer forms a committee of ex-Commanding officers and senior ex-officers. It's objectives include fundraising and promoting interest in the Gunner family and others.
Officers' Mess
Commanding Officer's Christmas Tea
The Officers' Mess holds their annual Christmas Tea.
Sergeants' Mess
​The Brigadier DuMoulin Trophy
 This trophy is awarded to the most efficient member of the Sergeants’ Mess as determined by the displayed rating system. Warrant Officer Al Yelland was presented the trophy at the  Sergeants Mess’ Annual Dinner for his performance during 1968.
Sergeants' Mess Dinner
The annual dinner on 21 March 1969 featured the presentation of the Brigadier Dumoulin and the Lt Col Jackson trophies as well as the Mobcom Cup.
Regimental Museum
The start of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum & Archives was announced by Lieutenant-Colonel Clemons with Major Vic Stevenson appointed as curator.
​Strings and Things*
A young, enthusiastic officer was finally given the opportunity to attend the course of his dreams: “Management.” One of the exercises was to carry out an organization and management survey of a group which he was not normally familiar and submit recommendations as to how their efficiency could be increased. He selected as his target a symphony orchestra and having read up on the tools of the trade, he attended his first concert and submitted the following analysis:
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Regular Force Artillery
The state of the Regular Force Artillery was given in the Canadian Gunner 1969 issue as follows:
​See more...
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY
From The Canadian Gunner 1969
Last summer it was my privilege to take over the appointment of Chief of Artillery from Colonel J.P. Beer whose well known devotion to the Regiment was immediately apparent from the healthy state of affairs which I inherited.
Alas, this situation was destined to be short-lived; indeed it had already begun to deteriorate with the rumours of impending reductions and these rumours soon proved to be well-founded. In September the new force structure was announced, and the resulting effect on the Royal Regiment became clear. On the surface, a loss of one unit seemed not unreasonable, but in terms of manpower the Regiment suffered a loss of approximately one-third of its strength. I would like to outline some of the consequences as I see them:
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Obituaries
Sergeant William Arthur Laird Armstrong 20 December 1888 - 19 Feb 1969 Served as a Gunner in Headquarters 15th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery 9 May 1916, regimental number 332864, and subsequently reorganized as 14th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery on 22 January 1917. Proceeded overseas 21 August 1917 and was promoted Sergeant on 19 September 1917. Wounded on 10 November 1917 and invalided to England. Returned to Canada on 15 March 1919 and discharged 31 March 1919. Married Archenn M Connor on 10 Jul 1923 and was employed as Canadian National Railway agent, deceased 19 Feb 1969.
BWM, VM
Warrant Officer Class I Charles Edward Minter   
Born 22 July 1884 in Woolwich, England. He was a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery and Royal Field Artillery for 13 years before being attested into the Canadian Over-Sea Epeditionary Force on 14 June 1916. His marriage to Elizabeth Bunyan was registered in 1903. He was taken on strength 68th Overseas Depot Battery and rose through the ranks to Battery Sergeant Major Overseas Section No. 11 Artillery Depot on 23 April 1917. After the war he was promoted Warrant Officer Class I and appointed Regimental Sergeant of the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery from 1921 to 1924. He died 10 February 1969 and was predeceased by his wife who died on 7 September 1955.
Staff Sergeant James (Jimmy) Henry Walker
On April 13, 1969 Staff Sgt. James Henry Walker of 28 E. 40th Ave., aged 70 years. Survived by many friends. Served in First World War, and in Second World War, with 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment Band later affiliated with 15th Field Regt. R.C.A. Funeral Service Saturday, April 19th at 9:30 a.m. in the CHAPEL OF CHIMES, Harron Bros. Ltd.  on 10th Ave., 2 blocks west of Main St. Maj Rev. Canon J.W. Robinson CD, CCA, Ch. C. (Retired). Internment Field of Honour, Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
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