War Trophies
A construction project at the Pacific National Exhibition has uncovered a bit of a mystery. While excavating some ground, the operator uncovered pieces of a rusty gun.
It is believed that this was piece of ordnance was originally a "10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16" manufactured by the German armament Company Krupp. The 16 refers to the start date of production and it is believed that about 500 were manufactured. The first mystery is, "Where did it come from?" The second mystery is, "Why was it buried at Hastings Park?"
One suggestion was that the gun was originally installed in front of Bessborough Armoury in 1932 and was later turned in as part of a program to recycle material for the war effort during the Second World War.
Colin Stevens, curator at the Richmond Service Battalion Museum has a collection of War Trophy serial numbers. In that list serial number 7283 is listed as a 105mm allotted to the Vancouver Exhibition Association. The Association is also listed as having been allotted 10 Machine Guns and 2 Trench Mortars. Photos of their collection have yet to be found.
James Calhoun, curator at the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum has studied War Trophies and suggests there was a strong pacifist movement after the First World War which resulted in many of the War Trophies being collected at Hastings Park. This included the large 21 cm German field gun that had been mounted at the entrance to Stanley Park. This gun had originally been captured by the Seaforth Highlanders in the First World War and its disappearance is particularly galling to the Regiment. One archived document states that it had simply been dumped in a ravine at Hastings Park and covered over! Could that be the location where the 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16 was found?
Global News Article
‘Described as a cannon’: Crews dig up WWI artillery piece at PNE in B.C.
‘Described as a cannon’: Crews dig up WWI artillery piece at PNE in B.C.
Global News Report II - with video
The artefact is now at the Seaforth Highlanders armoury. We'll be working together to work on a refurbishment. Interested? Send me an email.
Described as a Cannon
The artefact is now at the Seaforth Highlanders armoury. We'll be working together to work on a refurbishment. Interested? Send me an email.
Described as a Cannon
Vancouver Sun article 1 Apr 2025
Vancouver Sun article provides some additional background information including the following photos and news clips.
Vancouver Sun article provides some additional background information including the following photos and news clips.
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23 April 2025 Update
It appears that the Hastings Park PNE site has a few more surprises for us. Another two guns were excavated today and shipped to the Seaforth Armouries. Types of guns are yet to be determined. One of them looks like our 9 pounder! |
Vancouver Volunteer Reserve
Prior to the 68th Depot Battery, the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve had an artillery contingent. Photos are rather rare but it does appear that they are equipped with 9 Pounder Muzzle loaders. Are these the latest guns to surface from Hastings Park?
Prior to the 68th Depot Battery, the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve had an artillery contingent. Photos are rather rare but it does appear that they are equipped with 9 Pounder Muzzle loaders. Are these the latest guns to surface from Hastings Park?
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Vancouver Sun Article 30 Apr 2025
They’ve found more old military guns buried deep in the dirt on the Pacific National Exhibition grounds, including a pair of cannons from the 1870s. The March 27 discovery of a rusty and decayed German howitzer from the First World War that had been buried at the PNE made international headlines. The second find came April 23, and included two British/Canadian “nine pounder” cannons from the 1870s and four First World War German machine-guns that were brought to Canada as war trophies. Article Link |
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More military artifacts unearthed at Vancouver's PNE
A field gun from the First World War is among the latest military artifacts discovered during amphitheatre construction at Vancouver's PNE grounds. Michelle Morton reports on the findings and what they reveal about the site's military past. CBC Video
A field gun from the First World War is among the latest military artifacts discovered during amphitheatre construction at Vancouver's PNE grounds. Michelle Morton reports on the findings and what they reveal about the site's military past. CBC Video
Pacific National Exhibition 19 August 2025
The PNE hosted an official unveiling of two of the artefacts which were covered by several of the media outlets. Unfortunately, the PNE became fixated on the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada portion of the story and neglected to include the Artillery side. They also only brought the British 9 pounders to the display (ignoring the German 105 howitzer) and called them war trophies (which they aren't).
The Seaforth Museum remains the lead with the artefacts as they have sufficient resources to handle them.
The PNE hosted an official unveiling of two of the artefacts which were covered by several of the media outlets. Unfortunately, the PNE became fixated on the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada portion of the story and neglected to include the Artillery side. They also only brought the British 9 pounders to the display (ignoring the German 105 howitzer) and called them war trophies (which they aren't).
The Seaforth Museum remains the lead with the artefacts as they have sufficient resources to handle them.
The future of the artefacts remains uncertain at this time. The 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum does have a 9 pounder on display at the Armoury although it's history does not tie into the history of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery as determined by the RCA Museum back in 1956. (see attached letter).
One idea is that the actual war trophies should remain with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (keep our fingers crossed that the 205mm gun can be found) as they are part of their history while the 9 pounders should be kept by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum. What would we do with them? How expensive would it be to refurbish them and start up a two gun mounted troop?
One idea is that the actual war trophies should remain with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (keep our fingers crossed that the 205mm gun can be found) as they are part of their history while the 9 pounders should be kept by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum. What would we do with them? How expensive would it be to refurbish them and start up a two gun mounted troop?
Quebec City - 12 September 2025
Travels took us to Quebec City where we came across an excellent display of WW1 War trophies behind the Armoury of the Voltigeurs. One could almost believe that this display concept may have been in the minds of the Vancouver group that collected the the guns at Hastings Park in the 1930s.
Travels took us to Quebec City where we came across an excellent display of WW1 War trophies behind the Armoury of the Voltigeurs. One could almost believe that this display concept may have been in the minds of the Vancouver group that collected the the guns at Hastings Park in the 1930s.
