1996

1994

15th Field Artillery Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
1995

as at 12 February 2020

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

Regimental Command Post Officer: Captain Dennis O. Rintjema
 
31 Battery
Battery Commander (BC): Major Leon Jensen CD

Appointments

​22 April 1995         Brigadier General WT Wickett CD appointed Honorary Colonel

​22 April 1995         Lieutenant-Colonel R Victor Stevenson CD appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel

Rear Row - WO Randy Sedgwick CD, WO Don Gatward CD, Sgt Donato Calogero, Sgt George Lenis, Sgt George Dempsey, WO Brian Lougheed CD, MWO Dave Levien CD, Benson Lum CD, 9, Sgt Ken Fowler, Sgt Rob Wishnicki, Sgt Keith Laing CD
Fourth Row - 13, Gnr Isaak Skuce, 15, MBdr AD Lavalee, Gnr Garnet Woodford, Gnr Robyn Chambers, Gnr Tania Baker, Gnr Dan Taylor, 21, Bdr Brian Holt, MCpl Andrea Bond, 24, Cpl Bill Schmidt, Bdr Oliver Young, 27, Bdr Barry MacLeod, 29, 30
Third Row - 31, Bdr Rick Tennant, Bdr Shane Hall, MBdr Derrick Mann, 35, MBdr Salah Kalmoni, Bdr John Meszaros, Cpl Liane Louangxay, Gnr Jennifer Dajko, 41, Bdr Lisa Abbott, 43, 44, 45, MBdr Tim Nowe, Gnr John Oulette
Second Row - 48, Gnr James Perkins, Pte Aaron Sutherland, 51, Gnr Nav Litt, Bdr Rob Garrett, Gnr Bron Mach, Bdr Tony Gee, 56, Pte Lani Jakimchuk, 58, Gnr Theresa Fraser, Bdr Jason Beattie, MBdr Paul Dolomont, Gnr Anne Edwards , 63, Gnr Jennifer Goodfellow, Pte Tim Spruston
Front Row -  Capt Kent Wickens CD, Capt iska Scholl, Capt Nick Watts, Capt Grayson McCready, Capt Dave Montrose, Maj Leon Jensen CD, Maj Peter Learmonth CD, CWO Vic Yano CD, LCol John Brownlee-Baker CD, Maj Al Woo CD, Maj Dean Drysdale, Capt Richard Van Slyke CD, Capt Steve Burridge CD, Lieutenant Doug Gayton, 2Lt Dave Scott

Captain Douglas P Gayton appointed Regimental Command Post Officer (RCPO)
 
New Members
November 1995             Private (Recruit) Craig Burridge enrols in the unit.​

UN Protection Force (Yugoslavia) (UNPROFOR)
UNPROFOR was established in February 1992 as an interim arrangement to create the conditions of peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the Yugoslavian crisis. The role of the UN troops was to ensure that areas designated as "UN Protected Areas" (UNPA) became and remained demilitarized and that all persons residing in these areas were protected from fear of armed attack.Major Leon Jensen deploys with UNPROFOR in September 1995. See more...

Gunner Douglas Corsor Jr. Memorial Trophy
The Gunner Douglas Corsor Jr. memorial trophy was created by his close friends in the Regiment, Gunner Noel RR Dykes, Gunner Joseph C. Gauthier, Gunner R. Gerard, Gunner H. Harsch and Gunner V. Hughes after his untimely death in a vehicle accident in 1974. It is presented to the Gunner that most exemplifies the best characteristics of being a Gunner. This year’s award is presented to Gunner Jakimchuk.

​Regimental Officers
Rear Rank - Lt Iska Scholl; Lt Nick Watts; Lt Douglas Gayton; Lt Grayson McReady; Lt Dave Scott; Capt Steve Burridge; 
Front Rank - Capt Dave Montrose; Maj Leon Jensen; Maj Peter Learmonth; Capt Kent Wickens; LCol John Brownlee-Baker; Maj Alfred Woo; Maj Dean Drysdale; Capt Richard Van Slyke.

Regimental Senior NCOs
Rear Rank - Sgt Donato Calogero; Sgt George Dempsey; Sgt Ken Fowler; _______; Sgt George Lenis; Sgt Rob Wishnicki, Sgt Keith Laing.
Front Rank - WO Benson Lum; WO Don Gatward; MWO Dave Levien; CWO Vic Yano; WO Randy Sedgwick; WO Brian Lougheed

Regimental Regular Force Members
Rear Rank - Sgt George Dempsey; MBdr Derrick Mann; MBdr AD Lavalee; MBdr Dolomont
Front Rank- WO Don Gatward; WO Randy Sedgewick; WO Brian Lougheed

United Nations OP
As advertised in the 1995 issue of the Canadian Gunner

Western Challenge 95
The Ram, the newspaper of Land Force Western Area, features Bombardier Chris Schulz on the front cover highlighting the story on the exercise that took place from 19 to 25 August 1995. 

​Members Extra-Regimentally Employed

 19 Jun 1995 - Sergeant Rob G Wishnicki deploys to pre deployment training for Op HARMONY.  Op HARMONY is canceled due to replacement of UNPROFOR by NATO Implementation Force; Offered employment as Detachment Commander with 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery until 18 June 1996 in lieu. Employment consisted of instructing on three Regular Force developmental period 1 (DP1) Artillery Courses at the Royal Canadian Artillery Battle School.

Former Members now in Regular Force
 Sergeant George M Dempsey posted to Fox Bty, 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Petawawa, ON.
Captain Noel RR Dykes, CD Land Force Western Area Headquarters, Edmonton AB G1 Operations 2 (Responsible for all Board of Enquiries, Summary Investigations).
 23 Jul 1995           Master Warrant Officer Colin Norris completed Master Gunner Course No. 27. Posted to Regular Support Staff Prairie at 78th Field Battery, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA in Red Deer, AB.
Captain John P Pulchny Land Force Atlantic Area Headquarters, Halifax, NS.
Warrant Officer Paul A Stewart Field Artillery School, Gagetown, NB.

Members Qualifications
Nov 1995             A/Captain Leon Jensen CD British Army MAPPER Course; Swinton, UK.
​Lieutenant Grayson McReady - FOO Course​
Sergeant Rob G. Wishnicki, Senior leaders Course, Shilo MB.
Sergeant Rob G Wishnicki, Gun Controller for the Infantry Machine Gunners Course while on pre-deployment training at CFB Dundurn, Saskatchewan.
Master Bombardier Ian M Smith, Detachment Commanders Course – Module 1 – CFB Shilo, MB.

Forward Observation Officer Course
Lieutenant Grayson McReady attends the Forward Observation Officer (FOO) Course in Gagetown, NB. Several of the other candidates gained future prominence in the Artillery world. Captain Brent Purcell, a Captain in 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery later joined 15th Field Artillery Regiment and took command in 2014. Captain Dany Fortin from 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada is currently (2019) a Major general. 

Trade Qualification 1 (TQ1) Artillery Course
​Back Row - Gunner C Skuce; Gunner Spruston; Gunner Hall and Gunner Sterkenberg. 
Front Row - Master Bombardier Oliver Young; Master Bombardier Matthew H Gillies; Course Officer Lieutenant Isaak Skuce; Commanding Officer's representative Captain Byrne; Acting Regimental Sergeant Major, Master Warrant Officer Jacobson; Course Warrant Officer Sgt Rob Wishnicki; Sergeant Brian Holt.

Liberation of the Netherlands
The Regiment participates in a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the  liberation of the Netherlands.

Qualification Level three course - Graduation Parade
​Trophy Presentation, 10 November 1995
Standing, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
​Seated: Bombardier Gee, Master Bombardier Matthew H Gillies, Master Bombardier Drew Bartlett, Sergeant Rob Garrett, Lieutenant Douglas P Gayton, Lieutenant-Colonel John Brownlee-Baker, Warrant Officer McClelland, Master Bombardier Graig Halpin, Master Bombardier Holt 

USS Constellation
The Band performs onboard the USS Constellation in October 1995 in a Sunset Ceremony

75th Anniversary Open House
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment hosted an open house for family, friends and neighbours to tour the Bessborough Armoury and meet the Gunners. The band played, there was cake and displays were set up. See more...

Unveiling of the Armoury plaque
The 15th Field Artillery Museum arranged for a plaque commemorating the 75th anniversary of the formation of 15th Field Artillery regiment on 2 Feb 1920. The plaque reads:
BESSBOROUGH ARMOURY
ARMOURY CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 1932 TO See more...

Exercising the Freedom of the City of Vancouver – 22 April 1995
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA was granted the Freedom of the City of Vancouver on 12 June, 1977. The Freedom of the City, in military terms, is an honour conferred by a city council upon a military unit, which grants that unit the privilege of marching into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed". See more...

Bessborough Armoury
Freedom of the City Parade, a letter from the Queen; and yet the Bessborough and the Beatty Street Armouries are threatened for closure. The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) take the lead. It's a classic Recce pull!

16 Feb 1995        A thank you from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second is received in response to a message of greetings on the Regiment’s 75th Anniversary.

Media Guidelines 1995

15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum & Archives

War and Peace
The Museum opens for Remembrance Day

Bessborough Armoury
The Armoury' s art deco style is mentioned in a Vancouver tour.

Obituaries

Sergeant Charles Gwynne Fothergill
Passed away peacefully on January 10, 1995 at Lions Gate Hospital in his 85th year. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Amy, children John (Kathryn), Dolores (Bill) and Virginia (George), five grandchildren, and sisters Margaret and Norah. Memorial service will be held at 1.00 p.m. on Monday, January 16th at the Boal Chapel, 1505 Lillooet Rd., North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers donations to the Salvation Army or charity of choice appreciated. Charles served with the Signals Corps in the Second World War. Arrangements entrusted to the Memorial Society of B.C. and First Memorial Services.
Sergeant Fothergill served with the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA in the 1950s.

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Honorary Captain, Reverend James Edwards Whittles
9 June 1908 - 11 March 1995
Reverend Whittles was born in Bristol England and attended University in Saskatchewan. On 6 August 1936 he married Anna Evangeline Mackenzie. He enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force as an Honorary Captain and landed on Juno Beach on 6 June 1944 with the 14th Field Regiment, RCA. After the war he was attached to the 15th Field Regiment, RCA from Western Command Chaplain Unit RCAChC. He is interred Saint Hilda's Pioneer Cemetery, Sechelt, BC.

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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