1974

1972

15th Field Artillery Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
1973

as at 26 October 2021

Sub-units
31st Field Battery, RCA
68th Field Battery, RCA
Band of the 15th Field Artillery 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

Senior Regular Gunner
Brigadier-General R.G.J. Heitshu CD
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Director of Artillery
Colonel D.H. Gunter, CD

Key Appointments

Adjutant: Captain RWM Davidson
Training Officer: Captain Martin A Casey
Regular Support Staff Officer: Captain DB Harrison
Regular Support Staff Warrant: Warrant Officer Fred H Rossi
Transport Officer: Lieutenant Ian D Newby
Signals Officer: Lieutenant Gary S Woloski
Battery Commander (BC) 31 Battery: Major Barry VM Hamilton CD
Battery Commander (BC) 68 Battery: Major Stuart T McDonald

Promotions and Appointments

​19 October 1973 - Major William (Bill) T. Wickett CD is promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer.

Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
The Canadian Forces' Decoration is awarded to officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of service. The decoration is awarded to all ranks, who have a good record of conduct. The decoration is awarded to the regular forces, reserve forces, officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), Canadian Rangers and holders of honorary appointments in the CF. 
29 March 1973  Warrant Officer Al Yelland, CD  awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration.   See more...

​New Members
Warrant Officer Fred Rossi posted in as Regular Force Support Staff (RSS)
Recruit Larry D Amskold 
Recruit Sevan A Ashikian
Recruit Noel RR Dykes
Recruit Douglas Corsor Jr 
Recruit Joseph C Gauthier 
Recruit Reginald Gerard 
Recruit Ernie Kovacs 
Student Summer Employment Plan (SSEP)
SSEP consisted of a 32 man troop
RSS – WO Fred Rossi

Shilo Live Fire Exercise - 3-4 March 1973
It's a long way from the warmth of a Vancouver spring day to the frigid cold of the Canadian prairies. For the Firing Battery, it's another weekend of putting rounds down range. Some Officers spend their flight time playing cards while others take the time to catch up on sleep. Major Bill Wickett catches a few Zzz's on the way.  ​Lieutenant Bill Basaraba and Master Warrant Officer Eric Tyldesley-Gore appear to be enjoying the flight. Once on the ground, there's vehicles to be assigned and others to be signed for. Captain Bob Mugford mans the Battery Command Post.     See more...

RCAA Annual Competition
Fort Lewis 5-7 October 1973
The unit participates in the 1973 - 1974 annual Artillery competition. It placed 5th out of 12 Regiments that participated. See more here...

Remembrance Day
Salute Troop Commander - Captain Preston?
Assistant Troop Commander - Captain Art Gee
Salute Troop Sergeant Major - Warrant Officer George Wood
#1 Detachment Commander – 
#2 Detachment Commander – Sergeant Bill Amos
#3 Detachment Commander – Sergeant Don Friedsam
#4 Detachment Commander – Bombardier Leon Jensen?
See more...

French Naval Vessels Salute
The regiment fires a salute for the visiting French warships, Jeanne d'Arc and Victor Schoelcher.  Anti-nuclear protesters blocked traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge but there was no effect with the salute troop. Visiting sailors were informally hosted by several members of the unit and Gauloises cigarettes brought about severe coughing fits.

Members Extra-Regimentally Employed
​United Nations Emergency Force II 
Established in October 1973 to supervise the cease-fire between Egyptian and Israeli forces and, following the conclusion of the agreements of 18 January 1974 and 4 September 1975, to supervise the redeployment of Egyptian and Israeli forces and to control the buffer zones established under those agreements. 
Bombardier Gary S. Palmatory deployed to Cairo, Egypt
Bombardier Brian D Harmon deployed to Cairo, Egypt and subsequently to Ismailia.

1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery 
Captain Martin Casey deploys to Germany in July 1973 followed by Gunner Bill Barlow, Bombardier Mark J Jackson, Bombardier Leon Jensen from 26 July – 26 October 1973.
The 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group were stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany as part of the NATO defence of Europe. Every and autumn, a large contingent of reservists would flyover to assist in the participation of the Reforger series of exercises. Reforger was the US acronym for REServe FORces to GERmany where they would deploy a considerable quantity of reserve forces from the Continental United States to fall in on pre-positioned equipment.  ​Gunner Bill Barlow works with his B Battery callsign refurbishing the children's playground in Lahr during his Fallex Flyover​.   See more...

Unit Winter Training Course October – December 1973
 
Winter 1973/1974 Group 3 (Detachment Commander Course)
Bombardier Glenn Patterson

Basic Parachutist Course Edmonton
Second Lieutenant EE Johnson
Sergeant Brian D Harmon

QL6A Musician Course
Sergeant Richard Van Slyke

THE NATIONAL RCA(M) SUMMER SCHOOL
By Captain F.H. Hansford
Again this summer saw the families of 3 RCHA members extremely happy, with the heads of households remaining in Shilo to instruct and work with the National RCA(M) Summer School. One hundred and ten officers and men from the Regiment were employed as administrative and training staff, as instructors and as members of a firing troop. Although planning for the school started in Nov/Dec 72, active preparations could not be started until after the annual Combat Group concentration in June.    See more...

Artillery Exercise Winter Warfare
Chilliwack, BC 2-4 Feb 1973       
Bdr Leon Jensen
 
Artillery Exercise
Shilo, Manitoba, 2-4 Mar 1973      
Bdr Leon Jensen
 
Annual Range Qualification
Chilliwack, BC, 16-18 Mar 1973 
Bdr Leon Jensen
 
Artillery exercise Easter Concentration
Chilliwack, BC, 19-23 Apr 1973  
Bdr Leon Jensen
 
Blair Competition
Chilliwack, BC, 8-10 Jun 1973     
Bdr Leon Jensen
 
Winter Training Exercise
Manning Park, BC, 7-9 Dec 1973       ​
Bdr Leon Jensen

Fan Out Exercise
There aren't any dates on these photos, but I'm thinking that they're right around 1973. Bill Amos is a Sergeant, Joe Phelan is a Master Corporal. 
We would initiate a fan out of the Regiment in the early morning in order to assess the size of the turnout and the speed with which the unit could respond if needed as part of an Aid to the Civil Power. To add a bit of realism and excitement, weapons would be issued and an all round defence of the Armoury carried out. Hopefully someone phoned the police department to advise them of the exercise.

​MILCON 73 Shilo, MB
Scarcely had the dust settled from our early return to Shilo after WAINCON when the regiment had to prepare for MILCON 73. All the Militia units from Kenora to Victoria arrived in Shilo on 30 June and 1 July to prepare for a full week of competitions, troop and battery shooting, and fire planning. The batteries were composed of the following units:
RHQ       26 Field Regiment, LCol Brown, 20 Fd Regt CO Milcon 73.
P Bty      20 Field Regiment, 10 Field Regiment, and 10 Independent Battery.
Q Bty     15 Field Regiment and 5 BC Field Battery
R Bty      26 Field Regiment and 116 independent Battery.  See more...

​Visit to British Sister Unit
​Lahr and Munsterlager
One Officer
One Sergeant
Two Gunners
The Canadian Gunner 1973, Volume 9, December 1973, page 52

Soldiers' Christmas Dinner
The slides did not have any dates indicated however. I'm pretty sure that it's 1973.  The head table has the RSM Chief Warrant Officer Brian Cormier, the youngest soldier ? and the CO Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Wickett. The CO serves Bombardier Leo Kung.
Bombardier Mark Jackson, Bombardier Brian Hill, Bombardier Claude Elezam, Bombardier Leo Kung, Gunner Will Hanks, Warrant officer Al Yelland, Sergeant Richard Van Slyke, Sergeant Glenn Patterson at the head table, Don Friedsam,Eric Tyldesley-Gore, Mike Meehan and Joe Phelan.

Regimental Picnic - Hume Park New Westminster
Martin Casey and Don Friedsam. Bill Loiselle.
Bill Amos.
Bill Loiselle posing with Sylvia Tyledesley-Gore.
Stuart McDonald . Bill Amos and Eric Tyldesely-Gore wearing a strike sign?
See more...

Sailing Competition
Warrant Officer (ret'd) Rene Bischof recounts the time he competed against the Navy in a sailing competition. Check it out here.

Officers' Mess

St Barbara's Day Dinner
The slides were simply marked Officers' Dinner 1973. I'm putting them down as the Saint Barbara's Dining in until someone informs me otherwise. The Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Blythe with the Second in Command Major Whitelaw and the Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Wickett. The CO and Captain Hoskinson.
Lieutenant Ian Newby, Major Whitelaw and Captain Wayne Davidson. Captain Wayne Davidson and an unknown Captain.    See more...

Mess Meeting 13 October 1973
The minutes provide an interesting glimpse into Armoury history. Did you know that Mr Jones of Jones Tent and Awning across the street from Bessborough Armoury, received a complimentary associate membership in the Officers' Mess in return for allowing members to park in his parking lot?

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 Clay G Harmon was presented the trophy at the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants Mess’ Annual Dinner for his performance during 1972. ​

Regimental Museum

Point Grey Battery - 24 April 1973
​The view from the Point Grey Battery shows the wide field of fire available. The photographs were taken as the construction of the UBC Anthropology Museum began.
The #2 Gun artillery stores and  crew shelter. #2 Gun escape hatch and magazine hatch.
The #2 Gun looking west. the rear of #2 Gun.
The #1 magazine. Entrance to magazine tunnel.
The rear of #3 Gun and the Battery Observation Post floor to the right. 
​See more...

Royal Canadian Artillery Association - Annual Meeting
The 88th annual meeting of the RCAA was held at CFB Petawawa 1-3 Nov 73. The meeting was attended by delegates from nearly all militia gunner units, the Colonel Commandant, representatives from some regular force units and various headquarters staffs, as well as several distinguished guests.
See more...

Obituaries

Sergeant Lorraine (Laurence) Patrick Adair
 Served with The Governor General's Foot Guards for 3 years. Wounded in the First World War while serving as a drummer with the 13th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Highlanders of Canada. Rejoined as a  musician in the rank of Sergeant in the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA CA(M) Military Band. Deceased 21 Sep 1973 and interred Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby BC

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Major Dick Diespecker 
February 11, 1973 , radio announcer, producer, writer, newspaper columnist, died in San Francisco, aged 65. He came to Vancouver in 1927, the same year he began his newspaper career with The Vancouver Star. In 1936 he joined CJOR and began to write radio dramas. In 1940 he joined an artillery unit, later became a radio liaison officer. His Prayer for Victory, written in a Montreal hotel room in 1942, was aired on radio networks throughout the western world. 
See more...

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Warrant Officer Class I John Allan Steele Munro
Suddenly, on February 3, 1973, John S. Munro, aged 67 years, of 1600 Beach Ave., Vancouver and formerly of 576 Francis, Richmond. Survived by his loving wife, Ethel; 1 son, Ken, Calgary; daughter, Mrs. D. (Bev) Frizell, Richmond; 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Mrs. Jean Morgan, Winnipeg, Mrs. Queenie Simpson, Calgary, Mrs. Alice Hay, London, Ont.; 2 brothers, William, Windsor, Ont., Hedley, Calgary. Served with the King's Own Rifles of Canada in the Second World War; also served as Bandmaster with the 43rd Ack Ack of Vancouver. Funeral service Tuesday, February 6 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Richmond Funeral Home. Cremation.

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Gunner William Newton
Dr. William Newton, 80, one of Canada’s outstanding plant scientists, died Friday at Rest Haven Hospital in Sydney.
Services will be held in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church at Sidney at 3 p.m. Tuesday with Canon F.C. Vaughan-Birch officiating, to be followed by cremation. Newton was responsible for establishing th Saanich Dominion Experimental Farm in 1929, retiring as director of the science service laboratory on April 25, 1958. 
​Gunner Newton was a member of the 5th Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery when he volunteered with the 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on 15 May 1916. He served in France and Belgium with the 58th Battery, 14th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.
See more...
​

Quarter Master Sergeant Garnet Forrester Pike
Passed away on June 15, 1973, Garnet Forrester Pike, of 4418 West 13th Ave., in his 86th year. Survived by 1 son, C. William Pike and daughter-in-law, Shirley of Victoria; numerous grandchildren in Victoria and San Francisco. Funeral service Monday, June 18 at 12 noon in the chapel of Simmons & McBride, funeral directors, Broadway and Maple St., Rev. Robert Yeung officiating. Cremation Garden Chapel.
Quarter Master Sergeant  Pike enrolled with the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve, Boorman's Battery on 12 October 1915. He served overseas with the 1st Canadian Division Ammunition Column and the 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.

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Lieutenant-Colonel William Allen Townsley
On May 15, 1973, William Allen Townsley in his 80th year. Survived by his wife Elizabeth Lilian, 2 sons, Philip McNair and David Strawson, his daughter, Mrs. D.A> (Mary Annette) Macintosh, 8 grandchildren, his brother Ernest. Deceased served Canada with distinction in both Wars. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Townsley served with the 27th Battery Canadian Field Artillery in the First World War, Commanding Officer of the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery from 1924 to 1930, organized the 18th Field Regiment RCA in June 1941, took command of 2nd Medium Regiment later that year.
See more...

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Sergeant Ernest Victor Wallington
Suddenly on October 27th, 1973, Ernest Victor Wallington of 7959 Elwell Street, Burnaby aged 75 years. Survived by 1 daughter, Mrs. A. (Rosetta) and son-in-law, Andrew Hague, Burnaby, 3 granddaughters, Mrs B. (Marion) Quinn, Mrs. Susan Corrins, and Mrs. Darlene Olszewski, all of Burnaby, 1 grandson David Hague, at home, 2 great grandchildren, 1 sister and 2 brothers in England. Deceased served with the British Army, First World War, also Canadian Army Second World War, was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 177. Funeral service in the Mount Pleasant, Nunn and Thomson Chapel Kingsway at 11th Avenue, on Tuesday October 30th at 3 p.m., Rev. W. Hillary officiating. Internment Ocean View Burial Park.
Sergeant Wallington was a member of 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA in 1956-1957.

Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Paul Lorne Woodward
In Shaughnessy Hospital on March 21, 1973, late of 757 Richards St., aged 68 years. Survived by 1 sister Mrs. Muriel Vickrey, Los Angeles. Mr. Woodward served overseas with the 6th Field Regt. R.C.A., Second World War. Funeral service in the chape; of the Mount Pleasant Funeral Directors, Kingsway & 11th Ave., on Friday, March 23 at 3 p.m. Padre E.J. Dossett officiating. Cremation.
BQMS Woodward was mobilized with the 85th Heavy Battery, 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA in AUgust 1939.

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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