1987

1985

15th Field Artillery Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
1986

as at 27 September 2021

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

Key Appointments

Regimental Headquarters
​Regular Support Staff Officer:                                    Captain Douglas R Winters
Regular Support Staff Warrant Officer:                   Sergeant Gary R Tees
Chief Clerk:                                                                       Sergeant Cary A Gertsen
Padre:                                                                                Major Bob RJP Foulis     
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant:                     Sergeant John V. Dobrzanski                 
Regular Support Staff Storesman:                            Master Bombardier Robert P Healey  ​

68 Battery Headquarters - 9 October 1986
Major Robert E Mugford, CD                                      Captain Michelle Del Motte
Captain Francis D Forbes                                               Second Lieutenant Ken L Godfrey
Officer Cadet Paul K Lee                                               Second Lieutenant Grayson McCready
Lieutenant Kent A Wickens
Sergeant Jennifer M Ritchie                                        Master Corporal John E Otway
Corporal Kenneth W Francis                                        Private Beverly K Schmidt
See more...

Promotions and Appointments

1 April 1986           Master Warrant Officer Leon Jensen CD promoted Chief Warrant Officer and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major

New Members
Bradley D Arkles
Ken Chui 
Oliver Young
 John Meszaros

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. Bombardier Ernie Kovacs, CD is presented the Canadian Forces Decoration. See more...

Most Efficient Recruit
This award is presented to the most efficient recruit from the start of the training period in September of the previous year. This year’s winner of the trophy is Private (Recruit) Nick Watts.

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Block 12 Artillery - Combat Training Centre - Gagetown, NB
Captain John Brownlee-Baker completes the Major qualifying course. 1, Capt Brad Woolven, 3, Capt John Brownlee-Baker, 5, 6, 7, Capt Vezina, Capt Macleod, Maj Casey, 11, 12, 13, 14, Capt Ward, Capt Bennett, Maj Lockridge, MWO Potte, WO Brydges

​Quartermaster Stores
Master Bombardier Bob Healy in the QM Stores at Bessborough Armouries. Bombardier Barry Chafe just off to the right.
Photo by John Dobrzanski (c1986)

BC Hydro employees
BC Hydro featured a story on members of the Regiment employed by the company.

Expo 86
The band performs at one of the many Expo 86 events held throughout the year.

Centennial Celebrations
The Regiment fires a 21 gun salute at the Train Station to greet the Governor General followed by a salute in the evening at Stanley Park in commemoration of the historic day.

​Master Bombardier Donato Calogero wins the Annual Turkey Shoot competition.

Members Qualifications
16 Jan 1986         Range Safety Officers Course
 
Combat Leaders Course – Area Rank and Trade School (ARTS) Nanaimo
Bombardier Ian M Smith
 
Exercises
16-19 May 1986 Exercise Rapid Rifle, Chilliwack, BC
OIC         CWO Leon Jensen

Milcon 86, Wainwright, AB 6-12 July 1986                    
RSM       CWO Leon Jensen

Gun Drill - Local Headquarters Training
Master Bombardier Donato Calogero drills his gun detachment on a Thursday night training parade. Gunner Kevin Rankin, Gunner Alfred Arnold and Gunner Roger Street practice laying the 105mm C1A1 howitzer before starting in on some regular maintenance.   See more...

Exercise October Gunner, Yakima Firing Centre, WA
17-19 October 1986
Well laid out gun position. Sergeant Paul Roberts detachment firing charge 6.
Sergeant Paul Roberts retrieving the spent casing while Sergeant Dave Warner does the pose.
Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Leon Jensen comes out for a visit to the battery position and a talk with the Battery Captain, Captain Steve Burridge, Battery Sergeant Major, Master Warrant Officer Mark Jackson and Warrant Officer Brian Hill. See more...

Student Youth Employment Plan (SYEP) 1986
​A special day for the unit SYEP troop as they were selected to try out the newest laser tag system (sometimes known as MILES - multiple integrated laser engagement system). The evaluation brought up a team from the US Army with no less than a three star, Lieutenant General and some civilian gentlemen. The Base Commander CFB Chilliwack and some of his headquarters staff were also in attendance to view the latest technology. At this point the laser system still required a rather large box to be worn by the soldier. See more...

Salute for Prince and Princess of Wales
The salute troop await the arrival of the Prince and Princess for their Expo 86 visit. Second Lieutenant Kent Wickens, Sergeant Mike Imada, Bombardier Darren Kostinuk, Bombardier Eric Goodwill, Master Warrant Officer Mark Jackson.  Master Bombardier Geoffrey Wilkie as #1 and Gunner Kevin Rankin as #2.
​The HMCS Terra Nova escorted the BC Ferry Queen of the North for their 90 minute trip to Vancouver. 
See more...

Saint Barbara's Day - Chilliwack
The unit sends a gun to Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack to fire a 7 gun salute in honour of St. Barbara's Day.

Guide for Senior NCO's
The Regimental Sergeant Major publishes a collection of information for Senior NCO's that includes Interrelation Officers and NCOs, Discipline, Dress, Deportment, Recruit Standards, Redress of Grievance, points from Area Sgt Major's Conference and excerpts from Reserve Compensation Study 1985.

RSM Guide 1986
File Size:	3972 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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​Members Extra-Regimentally Employed
Former Members now in Regular Force               
Private (Recruit) George M Dempsey posted to RCA Battle School in Shilo, MB.

Source: Noel Dykes collection

​Officer Cadet Noel RR Dykes posted to Phases 2 – 4 Artillery School, Gagetown, NB; Aug 86 Commissioned Second Lieutenant (effective May 86, seniority as of 1 Jan 86). His father, Lieutenant-Commander (ret) Robert Hudson Dykes, OMM, CD, RCN presented Noel with the Family Sword. The sword had originally been presented to his maternal Grandfather, Regimental Sergeant Major Cornelius Shepherd, 2nd Battalion The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment, upon being Commissioned from the Ranks in the field, for bravery, in 1917. It had been presented by him to Noel's maternal uncle, Squadron Sergeant Major Neil Shepherd, Royal Signals, upon his Commissioning from the Ranks sometime in the late forties, and then presented to Noel as the next in line to Commission.  This sword is his most prized possession.
Aug 86 posted Air Defence Troop Commander "U" Bty, 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Shilo, MB; Sep - Dec 86, Air Defence Troop Commanders Course, Air Defence Artillery School, Chatham, NB (finished 2nd of 7); Dec 86 Presented with Canadian Forces Decoration at Men's Christmas Dinner(1 Yr, 1 Mo late) CD engraved OCDT (bet that's the only one of it's kind...;-);

​30 Sep 1986        Warrant Officer Colin Norris promoted Master Warrant Officer; Member of Royal Canadian Artillery School as Staff AIG.
Lieutenant John P Pulchny member of 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
Captain Gary S Woloski posted to Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, NB.

Officers' Mess

Annual Military Ball 1986
​15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA is tasked to provide the Quarter Guard and sentries for the BC District Officers' Ball. Gunner Malkit Kalsi and Bombardier George Lenis man the sentry booths and salute the senior Officers as they arrive for dinner. Sergeant Amnon Lichtmann marches the Quarter Guard into the foyer of the hotel. Front rank: Bombardier Alan McDonnell, Bombardier Barry Macleod, Gunner Ken Chiu, Gunner John Meszaros, 5, Bombardier Richard Bowe. Rear Rank: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. See more...

Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess

​ Alas, despite all the letters that were sent out in 1985 paving the way for royalty at the Coronation Ball, the federal coordinator of visits informed us that the Coronation Ball did not make the cut for their programme. Meanwhile ticket sales were fantastic, based on the possibility that the Prince and Princess of Wales may have attended.

Warrant Officers and Sergeants' Mess Dinner
Four Regimental Sergeants Major - Chief Warrant Officer Brian Cormier CD, Chief Warrant Officer Eric Tyldesley-Gore CD, Chief Warrant Officer Bill Amos CD and Chief Warrant Officer Leon Jensen CD.
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Ladies' Dining-In Night
Not positive on the date.

Regimental Wedding
Sergeant John and Mrs. Tanya McClelland's wedding complete with sword party under the direction of the Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant officer Leon Jensen. The members of the sword party include Warrant Officer Clifton John, Sergeant Brad Shorey, Warrant Officer Jim Jacobson, Sergeant Paul Roberts, Sergeant Amnon Lichtmann and Sergeant Layne Yoshimaru. See more...

Regimental Museum

Curators
Major (Ret’d) Stuart A Maitland
Major (Ret’d) Lorne A Mackenzie

​Obituaries

Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Merland Thomas Earl Atkinson
Merland, T. E. (Fat) Of Sidney, B.C., peacefully at home om March 15, 1986, aged 74. Survived by his loving wife, Peg; children, Glen, Susan and Brian and seven grandchildren. Following service in the Second World War, with the army, Fat joined with the I.B.E.W. and became an electrician with the dry docks, becoming involved in land development in View Royal.
​Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Atkinson served with the 11th (Reserve) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA during World War II.
​See more...

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Bombardier  William Osser Cook MM
Right wing for the New York Rangers ffrom 1926-37 and coach of the National Hockey League team from 1951-53, died Monday of cancer. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, he was 90.
M. Cook spent his entire playing career with the Rangers and was a member of the 1927-28 and 1932-33 teams – two of only three Ranger clubs to become Stanley Cup champions. He twice won the NHL scoring title – in 1926-27 and 1932-33 - and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.
Bombardier Cook was a member of 68th Battery, 16th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force during World War I. While serving with the unit, he was awarded the Military Medal.

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Gunner Harold Innes
Passed away November 19, 1986. At the request of the ceased, no service was held. Cremation was at Valley Crematorium - Chilliwack Progress 26 Nov 1986
Gunner Innes enlisted with the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA in 1941 and served on Yorke Island. He was later transferred to Europe and was wounded in 1945. Lest we forget

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General Sir Charles Falkland Loewen G.C.B. K.B.E. D.S.O
General Sir Charles Loewen Charles Falkland G.C.B, K.B.E., D.S.O. at his home, Boyne Mill House Mansfield, Ontario on Sunday, August 17, 1986. Beloved by his wife, Lady Kathleen Gordon Loewen (nee Ross) of Mansfield, Ontario and his two sons, Charles Barnard Loewen and John Joseph Falkland Loewen, both of Toronto.
General Loewen originally enlisted with 68th Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He was enroute to England when the armistice was declared so he transferred to 68th Battery, 16th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force but was held back from deployment due to age. At that point he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and was sent to Palestine, beginning his career in the British Army.
​See more...

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Second Lieutenant William Frank George (Bill) Martyn
Of Aldergrove, accidentally on October 8, 1986, aged 27 years, beloved son of William (Bill) and Trixie Yvonne, brother of Mrs. Gunnar (Karen), Linda, Kevin, Paul, Brian and Andrea, grandson of Mrs George Hemeon, Botwood, Newfoundland and Mr. Frank Martyn, Vancouver, nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bock, Mrs. Eleanor Brown, Mrs. Margaret Marquette, Mrs. Maude Hemeon, Mr. and Mrs. William Waterman, Mr. and Mr. Jack Favreau, Mr. and Mrs. George Hemeon Jr, Mr. Ted Hemeon, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hemeon, Mr. and Mrs. Reg Hemeon, uncle of Lars Erik and Cassandra Lindh, also survived by many cousins.
See more...

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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