VANCOUVER GUNNERS
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    • The 1910s >
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        • 1916 - 31st Bty, 8th Bde, CFA
        • 1916 - 68 Depot
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        • 1917 - 5th CSB, CGA ,CEF
        • 1917 - 68 Depot >
          • 1917 - Hastings Park
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        • 1939 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1939 - 1st AA Regt, RCA, CASF
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      • 1940 >
        • 1940 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1940 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA NPAM
        • 1940 - 1st AA Regt, RCA, CASF
      • 1941 >
        • 1941 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1941 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA NPAM
        • 1941 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1942 >
        • 1942 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1942 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA RF
        • 1942 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1943 >
        • 1943 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1943 - 39th (Reserve) Fd Regt, RCA RF
        • 1943 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1944 >
        • 1944 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1944 - 11th AA Regt, RCA RF
        • 1944 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1945 >
        • 1945 - Vancouver Defences
        • 1945 - 11th AA Regt, RCA RF
      • 1946 >
        • 1946 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1946 - 11th (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1947 >
        • 1947 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1947 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1948 >
        • 1948 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1948 - Vancouver Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1948 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1949 >
        • 1949 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1949 - Vancouver Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1949 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
    • The 1950s >
      • 1950 >
        • 1950 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1950 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1950 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1951 >
        • 1951 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1951 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1951 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1952 >
        • 1952 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1952 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1952 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1953 >
        • 1953 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1953 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1953 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1954 >
        • 1954 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1954 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1954 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1955 >
        • 1955 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1955 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1956 >
        • 1956 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1956 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1957 >
        • 1957 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1957 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1958 >
        • 1958 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1958 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1959 >
        • 1959 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1959 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
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Sailing
A tale from the 1970's as presented by a former member Rene Bischof.
One day Captain Steve Burridge brought a friend to 15th Field.  He introduced his as a Lieutenant Commander from HMCS Discovery, the Naval Reserve Unit at Stanley Park, who invited us to join their Sailing Club.
Nobody was too interested, but I had always been curious about this and so I went to Discovery next Sunday morning and started my sailing career.  They had four boats there called “Sailing Dinghies” which had one mast, one beam and two sails.  They were very heavy but also quite forgiving and I picked up the necessary skill quite quickly and enjoyed my times on the water very much.
Dave Levien, a member of the Band and future Regimental Sergeant Major, was at that time living with me and joined me a few times as he had done some sailing in his native New Zealand.
Every so often we held a regatta and competed against each other mainly for bragging rights but I do recall a regatta in Victoria where we competed against Navy teams and of course go soundly skunked.
That of course didn’t deter me and when I found out about the Canadian Forces Sailing Championship in 1973 held in Halifax I submitted mine and Dave’s name and we got accepted.  Flight by Service Air, room and board there provided.  Great!
Unfortunately Dave just got himself a new job and couldn’t make it so I asked another member of the Sailing Club to take his place.  He was a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer who had been my mentor and teacher at the club.  He also had friends in Halifax and welcomed the opportunity to see them at no cost.  The change was accepted with no problems and off we went to Halifax.
Not a direct flight though.  We spent the night in a barrack at CFB Trenton with a bunch of Cadets who all night long ordered one small pizza per kid instead of getting together and ordering one single big one!  Well, whatever.
Next morning we carried on to Halifax where we found out accommodation to be on board HMCS Fraser which gave me an idea of Navy living, three high with about two feet space next to the rack.  At least our meals were in Messes.
The first day we could get used to the boats and the wind conditions and while we were tootling around we saw a big sailing vessel leave the harbour.  I identified her as the “Bluenose” but my crew member didn’t agree.  However with the help of a dime and once she had all her sails up I was confirmed right.  Helps to know what you carry in your pockets.  Alas, that turned out to be about the high point of the whole weekend.
There were several races and we did alright.  Unfortunately during one of them I miscalculated and we bumped into another boat.  The rules specify in this case either disqualification or we could make two 360 degree turns and carry on.  This we did and after the race I went to see the skipper of the other boar and told him about our part of the deal.  At first he agreed with this, but came back twenty minutes later and told us he would protest and so we lost this one race in a big fashion.
Because of this, not very sporting, if you ask me, we wound up last of all participants.   Or, as I explained to the Admiral, first, if you looked the other way.  He totally agreed and congratulated us on our showing.
That was my only National competition and all I brought home was a nice certificate.  I still have it and every once in a while I look at it and smile.
Back to 1973

What's New

Copyright © 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Webmaster/editor - Leon Jensen, OMM, CD, Commanding Officer 1998-2001, Regimental Sergeant Major 1986-1988
Additional photos and stories as well as comments regarding errors and omissions would be greatly appreciated. ​
​Have I inadvertently placed personal information of yours on line that you don't approve of?
​Please accept my apologies and contact me at president.vcrgunners@gmail.com and I’ll have it removed.
  • Home
  • What's New
  • Lists
    • The Fallen
    • Memorial Page
    • Honours and Awards >
      • Distinguished Service Order
      • Distinguished Conduct Medal
      • Military Cross
      • Military Medal
      • George Medal
      • Croix de guerre
      • Mentioned in Despatches
      • Canadian Forces Decoration
    • Trophies
    • Commanding Officers
    • Regimental Sergeants Major
    • Honoraries
    • BCs and BSMs
    • Band Appointments
    • Chaplains
    • Uniforms
    • Guns
    • Notable Characters
    • Ubique
    • Cemeteries
    • Pets
  • Yearbook
    • The 1890s >
      • 1893 - BC Garrison Artillery
      • 1894 - BC Garrison Artillery
      • 1898- BC Garrison Artillery
    • The 1910s >
      • 1915 - 31st Bty, 8th Bde, CFA
      • 1916 >
        • 1916 15th Brigade, CFA
        • 1916 - 31st Bty, 8th Bde, CFA
        • 1916 - 68 Depot
      • 1917 >
        • 1917 - 31st Bty, CFA, CEF
        • 1917 - 5th CSB, CGA ,CEF
        • 1917 - 68 Depot >
          • 1917 - Hastings Park
      • 1918 >
        • 68th Depot Battery CFA
        • 85th Battery CFA
        • Obituaries 1918
      • 1919 >
        • 68th Bty, 16th Bde CFA
        • 5th Cdn Siege Bty, CGA
    • The 1920s >
      • 1920
      • 1921
      • 1922
      • 1923
      • 1924
      • 1925
      • 1926
      • 1927
      • 1928
      • 1929
    • The 1930s >
      • 1930
      • 1931
      • 1932
      • 1933
      • 1934
      • 1935
      • 1936
      • 1937
      • 1938
      • 1939 >
        • 1939 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1939 - 1st AA Regt, RCA, CASF
    • The 1940s >
      • 1940 >
        • 1940 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1940 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA NPAM
        • 1940 - 1st AA Regt, RCA, CASF
      • 1941 >
        • 1941 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, CASF
        • 1941 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA NPAM
        • 1941 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1942 >
        • 1942 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1942 - 15th (Vcr) Cst Bde, RCA RF
        • 1942 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1943 >
        • 1943 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1943 - 39th (Reserve) Fd Regt, RCA RF
        • 1943 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1944 >
        • 1944 - 15th (Vcr) Coast Bde, RCA, AF
        • 1944 - 11th AA Regt, RCA RF
        • 1944 - 1st (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1945 >
        • 1945 - Vancouver Defences
        • 1945 - 11th AA Regt, RCA RF
      • 1946 >
        • 1946 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1946 - 11th (Res) AA Regt, RCA
      • 1947 >
        • 1947 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1947 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1948 >
        • 1948 - 15th Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1948 - Vancouver Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1948 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1949 >
        • 1949 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1949 - Vancouver Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1949 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
    • The 1950s >
      • 1950 >
        • 1950 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1950 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1950 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1951 >
        • 1951 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1951 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1951 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1952 >
        • 1952 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1952 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1952 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1953 >
        • 1953 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1953 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1953 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1954 >
        • 1954 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1954 - 102nd Coast Regt, RCA
        • 1954 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1955 >
        • 1955 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1955 - 43rd HAA Regt, RCA
      • 1956 >
        • 1956 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1956 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1957 >
        • 1957 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1957 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1958 >
        • 1958 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1958 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
      • 1959 >
        • 1959 - 15th Fd Regt, RCA
        • 1959 - 43rd MAA Regt, RCA
    • The 1960s >
      • 1960
      • 1961
      • 1962
      • 1963
      • 1964
      • 1965
      • 1966
      • 1967
      • 1968
      • 1969
    • The 1970s >
      • 1970
      • 1971
      • 1972
      • 1973
      • 1974
      • 1975
      • 1976
      • 1977
      • 1978
      • 1979
    • The 1980s >
      • 1980
      • 1981
      • 1982
      • 1983
      • 1984
      • 1985
      • 1986
      • 1987
      • 1988
      • 1989
    • The 1990s >
      • 1990
      • 1991
      • 1992
      • 1993
      • 1994
      • 1995
      • 1996
      • 1997
      • 1998
      • 1999
    • The 2000s >
      • 2000
      • 2001
      • 2002
      • 2003
      • 2004
      • 2005
      • 2006
      • 2007
      • 2008
      • 2009
    • The 2010s >
      • 2010
      • 2011
      • 2012
      • 2013
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
    • The 2020s >
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
  • Nominal Roll
    • Nom Roll Aaa - Ang >
      • Nom Roll Ank - Azz
    • Nom Roll Baa - Bay >
      • Nom Roll Bea - Bil
      • Nom Roll Bin - Boy
      • Nom Roll Bra - Bry
      • Nom Roll Buc- Bzz
    • Nom Roll Caa - Cav >
      • Nom Roll Caz - Chu
      • Nom Roll Cla - Con
      • Nom Roll Coo - Cri
      • Nom Roll Cro- Czz
    • Nom Roll Daa - Den >
      • Nom Roll Der - Dru
      • Nom Roll Dry - Dzz
    • Nom Roll Eaa - Ezz
    • Nom Roll Faa - Foo >
      • Nom Roll For - Fzz
    • Nom Roll Gaa - Gil >
      • Nom Roll Gin - Gra
      • Nom Roll Gre - Gzz
    • Nom Roll Haa - Han >
      • Nom Roll Har - Hei
      • Nom Roll Hel - Hog
      • Nom Roll Hol - Hui
      • Nom Roll Hul - Hzz
    • Nom Roll Iaa - Izz
    • Nom Roll Jaa - Jzz
    • Nom Roll Kaa - Kim >
      • Nom Roll Kin - Kzz
    • Nom Roll Laa - Led >
      • Nom Roll Lee-Log
      • Nom Roll Loh-Lzz
    • Nom Roll Ma - Mal >
      • Nom Roll Man - McB
      • Nom Roll McC - McH
      • Nom Roll McI - Mei
      • Nom Roll Mel - Moo
      • Nom Roll Mor- Mzz
    • Nom Roll Naa - Nzz
    • Nom Roll Oaa - Ozz
    • Nom Roll Paa - Pek >
      • Nom Roll Pel - Pos
      • Nom Roll Pot- Pzz
    • Nom Roll Qaa - Qzz
    • Nom Roll Raa - Rho >
      • Nom Roll Ric - Ror
      • Nom Roll Ros - Rzz
    • Nom Roll Saa - Sey >
      • Nom Roll Sha - Sma
      • Nom Roll Sme - Spr
      • Nom Roll Spy - Sur
      • Nom Roll Sut - Szz
    • Nom Roll Taa - Til >
      • Nom Roll Tim - Tzz
    • Nom Roll Uaa - Uzz
    • Nom Roll Vaa - Vzz
    • Nom Roll Waa - Way >
      • Nom Roll Wea- Wig
      • Nom Roll Wil - Wol
      • Nom Roll Won - Wzz
    • Nom Roll Xaa - Xzz
    • Nom Roll Yaa - Yzz
    • Nom Roll Zaa - Zzz
  • Calendar
    • Battlefield Tour 2022
    • Centennial Page >
      • History Book
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  • Newsletters - 2022
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    • Newsletters - 2017
    • Newsletters - 2016
    • Newsletters - 2015
    • Newsletters - 2014
    • Newsletters - 2013
    • Newsletters - 2012
    • Newsletters - 2011
    • Newsletters - pre 2011
    • Newsletters - WW1
  • Yorke Island
  • What year was that?
  • Index
  • Artillery Music