2016

2014

​15th Field Artillery Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
2015

as at 25 January 2020

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

Key Appointments

Christmas Dinner 2015
Back Row - Sgt Ryan Crawford, Sgt James Cooley, Bdr William Martinez, 4, MBdr Kyle Hodgson, 6, 7, Gnr Terrence McGee, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Third Row - 2Lt Mark Staples, 20, Sgt Conrad Skuce, 22, 23, 24, Gnr Bojan Aleksic, 26, 27, 28, Gnr Andrew Law,  29, 30, 32, Lt James Morrison, 2Lt Ian Oceguera.
Second Row - Capt Iska Scholl, Sgt Donato Calogero, 37, 38, 39, 40, MBdr Dan Taylor, Pte Jessica Deacon, Gnr Craig Drew, MBdr Kazue Maruyama, MCpl Gabriela Varga, Bdr Monika Soltys, Sgt Goran Kurtagic, MBdr Eric Wong, Capt Andrew Peters.
Front Row - Sgt Andrew Ukrainzow,  Capt Kevin Walker, MWO CA Roberts, 53, CWO George Dempsey, LCol Brent Purcell, HCol Bill Rodgers, Maj Andrew Grieve, MWO Rob Garrett, Capt Isaac Skuce.
H/MBdr Bombardier Francis

​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. Sergeant Donato Calogero, CD awarded his second bar to the Canadian Forces Decoration. Major Ian Watt awarded his Canadian Forces Decoration. See more...

​Sergeant Dwayne Nelson promoted Warrant Officer

Corporal Gabriela Varga promoted Master Corporal

Privates Xavier Tintinger, Thomas Martin, Darryn Lacomel, Minwoo Kim and Terrence McGee awarded Gunner stripes on completion of their DP1 qualification.

Remembrance Day Salute
​It was a bright and clear day as the 15th Field Artillery Regiment fired a commemorative salute in honour of those that have fallen in the defence of our nation. A large contingent of Air Cadets came out to participate in the ceremony.
Salute Troop Commander - 
Assistant Salute Troop Commander -
Salute Troop TSM - Sergeant Donato Calogero -
Assistant Salute Troop TSM -
See more ... 

Commanding Officer's Hour
The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Brent Purcell has a talk with the troops on 14 January as well as using the opportunity to present the Canadian Forces Decoration to Major Ian Watt. See more...

Remembrance Day - Ottawa
Lieutenant George Lenis with the Air Canada team at the National Capital Remembrance Day Ceremony

With Glowing Hearts Concert
The Band of The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA produced their With Glowing Hearts Concert at two venues this year, The Michael J. Fox Theatre on 8 November and the South Delta Baptist Church on 11 November.​ For more...

Chinese Canadian Military Museum Fundraiser
The Chinese Canadian Military Museum commemorated the 70 year milestone of the the end of the Second World War by hosting a special gala on October 24, 2015. About 360 people attending and they honoured many surviving veterans of that war.See more...

International Military Band Concert
The Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment participated in the 2015 International Military Band Concert. A small contingent of five performers were hosted by this year's organizers, the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, in Victoria. See more...

​Surrey Represented in Nepal
SINDHUPALCHOK, NEPAL – Second-Lieutenant Roshan Prasad, a member of the Canadian Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), liaises with a community leader while members of the DART assist the non-governmental organization Global Medic and local villagers on May 13, 2015 to set up community tents at Sukute Lower Secondary School, Sindhupalchok Region, Nepal, after the school was destroyed during an earthquake. See more...

2015 Vancouver Ride to Live
The Regiment provided a gun detachment to start the Ride to Live event, a fundraiser for prostate cancer awareness and research. The detachment consisted of Sergeant Goran Kurtagic, 2, 3, Bombardier William Martinez, 5

Retired Members
Lee J Hammond MSC CD retires in Lower Mainland, BC.
Dean Drysdale runs as the Conservative candidate in Cloverdale – Langley City
Leon Jensen OMM CD has taken a year off from University to run as the Liberal candidate in the electoral district of Langley-Aldergrove. Unfortunately, neither member was succesful. Dean Drysdale received 18,800 votes in a loss to the Liberal candidate’s 24,617 and the NDP’s 8,463 while Leon Jensen received 21,894 votes in a loss to the Conservative candidate’s 27,333 and the NDP’s 7,490. 
David Warner worked on the movie Tomorrowland as the Second Unit Gaffer. ​

​Corporal Robert "Suds" Sutherland’s Funeral
Suds passed away on 28 December 2014 and the funeral was held in January. A large contingent of friend and acquaintances showed up as the funeral limber transported his casket. They included Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer George Dempsey, Battery Sergeant Major Master Warrant Officer Rob Garrett, Captain Rob G. Wishnicki, Sergeant (ret'd) John Dobrzansk, Bombardier (ret'd) Darren Kostinuk, Master Bombardier (ret'd) Ernie Kovacs, Sergeant (ret'd) Colin Parkinson and Sergeant (ret'd) Keith Laing.

British Columbia Army Gala 2015
​A swanky crowd took over the Hyatt Regency for a fantastic evening of big band sound and an excellent meal. See more...

Artillery Day
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA celebrated Artillery Day with a day of sports events. Of course, one had to ensure that a suitable cake was acquired for the event.

Retirement: Warrant Officer Ian Smith
Warrant Officer (WO) Smith is currently the Troop Sergeant Major (TSM) of 31 Battery, the training formation of the Regiment. Born in Coryton, England, Warrant Officer Smith moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1967 where he joined the Regiment on June 30th, 1983 after graduating secondary school. He enrolled as a Private in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves but was soon after promoted to the rank of Bombardier in 1984 for his leadership qualities.
See more...

Honour House founder walks the walk
De Genova appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel to 15th Field Regiment
Honour House founder and former park board commissioner Allan De Genova couldn’t be prouder of his most recent appointment, that of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel to 15th Field Regiment.
“After all of my work with Honour House, I am proud to wear this uniform,” De Genova told the Courier during an interview Monday morning. “I want those men and women to know I am here to serve them.”  See more...

Yorke Island Buildings
Email from one of our members, John Eckersley,"Further to our discussion at lunch on Wednesday, below is a photo of the two Yorke Island buildings now on Hardwicke Island that I visited on a boat tour put on by the Campbell River Museum a few years ago, hosted by Catherine Gilbert.  I gather they were moved there by Bendickson Logging for use as a teacher's house and school house, with the former (right on photo) having previously been the Yorke Island jail.
The boat tour also stopped at Port Neville, with a great federal dock, to tour the historic store and post office building, which is well worth a visit if you get the chance.  It's filled (particularly the second floor) with memorabilia, including a 1943 poster setting out gasoline rationing regulations."

Officers' Mess

Valentine's Ladies Dining In Night
You had to be quick to buy tickets for this excellent dinner before they were sold out.

St Barbara's Day Special Guest Night

Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess

Annual Mess Dinner
​Another successful Annual Mess Dinner for the Warrant Officers' & Sergeants' Mess! In addition to our crowd of currently serving members we also had a large turnout from the past. See more...

​Vancouver Artillery Association

2015 Canada Day
Major (ret) Bob Mugford test fires the 25 Pounder at the Canada Day celebration at Port Moody, BC. Success! Set off one car alarm.

Yorke Island
Ross Keller - our Honorary Battery Commander was mentioned in the BC Parks Annual Report 2014/2015.

Chinese Cultural Centre Museum
The Vancouver Artillery association deployed the 25 Pounder and Limber in support of the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum.

Warrant Officer Class II George Chow
George is featured in the attached Province article. He was a member of the 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery during World War II and followed on after the war with the 43rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment and the 15th Field Regiment RCA. 

​The Regimental Museum

Coastal defence of Vancouver in both world wars: Preparing for attacks that never came
Vancouver, British Columbia — Does “Old Fort UBC” sound a little far-fetched?  It’s not. In 1914, part of the University of British Columbia’s (UBC’s) Point Grey campus was officially designated a “fortress area.”
The history of the fortifications on Point Grey began in the summer of 1914. See more...

Museum Tour
Steve Minnie passed along some great photographs he took of the Regimental Museum on Remembrance Day. The Museum is open almost every Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30. Drop in for a visit and join us for a great lunch in the Officers' Mess. See more...

Obituaries

​Major Peter Michael Erwin CD
November 10, 1942 - January 14, 2015. Born in Vancouver to Francis and Phyllis Erwin, Peter was always interested in music and at age 8 joined the world famous Kitsilano Boys Band; touring with the band in Europe in 1958.  After the Kits Band, he joined the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Band, ultimately becoming Bandmaster.  As Bandmaster, he started the process of changing the band from a group of dedicated amateurs to the highly competent, professional group it is today.  He went on to become Area Director of Music for BC Army Bands.  Peter retired from bands in 1985 with the rank of Major.
See more...

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Corporal Anthony (Tony) Lawrence
July 3, 1936 - February 7, 2015 Tony served in the Merchant Navy and traveled the world.  He also served with the 2nd Bn, The Parachute Regiment, where he qualified as a PT Instructor, and was deployed to the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt. He ‘retired’ as a Cpl.  In Canada, he had a friend serving in 15 Field Artillery Regiment and wanted to join. However, because he didn’t have any Gunner trade qualifications, he had to join the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and serve with 15 Fd on attachment.​ See more...

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Captain Terence Crosby O’Brien RCA  
14 October 1934 - 22 May 2015 Terry O’Brien born in Whitewood, Saskatchewan passed away peacefully in Vancouver, BC on 22 May 2015 in his 80th year.  While at university Terry joined the Canadian Officers’ Training Corp in 1952, received his commission as Second Lieutenant in 1954 and later held the rank of Captain in 15 Field Artillery Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Terry accepted the position of Secretary to the High Commissioner, UNHCR and served in Geneva, Switzerland between 1961 and 1964.
​See more...

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Colonel Ronald James Webster CD RCA
November 19, 1925 - December 28, 2015 Ron was born November 19, 1925 in Chuquicamata. Chile and died December 28 at Evergreen House. Ron Immigrated to Canada in 1944 to join the RCAF. He was a Second Lieutenant in 102nd Coast Regiment RCA in 1954 and transferred to 15th Field Regiment RCA. He was later promoted Captain and released. He was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1988 and appointed Honorary Colonel in 1991.

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Lists - The following pages contain lists of 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

2014