Blog Archives

Yearbook Updates

1/31/2016

Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major photos have now gone up in most years. Not all are the best quality but I'll update them as better ones become available. Have you got a better one? Send it to president.vcrgunners@gmail.com

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Yearbook Update 1920s

1/30/2016

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The yearbook pages 1920 to 1929 are now all on line. They are currently somewhat sparse in content but this will be remedied as more information comes to light. In the meantime, we do have the COs and RSMs for each of the years and we have a tidbit in 1928 of the first motorized exercise that the unit undertook. It was a success and the Gunners even had time to stop for tea!

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Who, What, When, Where

1/27/2016

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Here's some group shots from an earlier time in the Regiment's history. The Battledress puts the photos somewhere before 1970. Let me know if you can help me fill in some of the many blanks! LeonJ1@hotmail.com

Back Row - MWO George Chow (1953-1965), MWO 2, 3, Lance Sgt 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Cpl Jackie Joyce, 11, Lance Bdr 12, 13, Gnr Preston, 15, Ray Wilson, 17, 18 ,Bdr Joe Phelan, 20, Capt Langmuir.
Front Row – Sgt 22, Bdr Eric Tyldesley-Gore, 23, Bdr Al Yelland (Bdr -1963-1964), Maj 24, Bdr 25, 26, Lance Bdr 27, 28, 29, Capt 30.
Al Yelland's rank of Bdr helps us to narrow the date down to 1963 or 1964. Wonder what the event was? A Battery group photo after a parade? Interesting sign covering up the BC Hussars crest!

Back row – Lance Sgt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Capt 10, Capt 11, Capt Vic Stevenson
Fourth Row - 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, Maj Barrie Hamilton, 25, 26
Third Row – MWO 27, 28, 29, MWO George Chow, Staff Sgt 31, Peter Erwin?, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, Lt 38, Lt Bill Wickett, Capt 40, Capt 41, Capt 42, Capt 43, 44, 45, 46
Second Row – CWO Bathhurst, Al Sweet?, Maj Griffiths, Maj Mohr, Maj Platt, LCol Elsdon, Capt Clemons, Maj Ted Eckford, Maj Dave Ames, MWO? Dave Penman
Front Row – MWO Lloyd Hunter, Staff Sgt 58, MWO Windy Wadden, Lance Sgt 60, Sgt Gary Angell, Staff Sgt Freeborn, MWO Isbister, MWO Gordie Wright, Sgt Doug Reaney, MWO Gus Clark, MWO More, Sgt Ho, Sgt Dave Upton.
By the looks of the leaves on the ground, it appears that this second set of photos might have been taken on the same day in either 1963 or 1964.

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Who What When

1/26/2016

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Following is a series of Regimental group photos. Can you help fill in some of the names? Is the rank correct for the year of the picture? Advise LeonJ1@hotmail.com

Soldiers Christmas Dinner 2005

Front Row – Capt Doug P. Gayton, CD; Capt Richard Van Slyke, MMM, CD; Capt Noel RR Dykes, CD; MWO Kevin Walker, CD; BGen (ret) W.T. (Bill) Wickett, CD; Hon LCol Peter Vueger; HonCol John Brownlee-Baker, CD; LCol Dan Kuhn, CD; MWO Robert G Wishnicki, CD; Maj James Barrett, CD; Col Leon Jensen, OMM, CD; Maj (ret) Victor R Stevenson, CD; Capt Lajoie, CD; Maj Brent Purcell, CD; MWO George Dempsey, CD.
1st Row Standing – WO Joe Shortt, CD; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; MBdr Anthony Gee, CD; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; Capt Nick Watts, CD; Capt Don Lamb, CD; George Lenis, CD; Sgt Donato Calogero, CD.
2nd Row Standing - ; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; Bdr Barry Macleod, CD; 50; 51; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; Bdr Martinez, CD; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 69; Ken Chiu.
Back Row – Rick Tennant, CD; 72; Adam Coleman; 74; 75; Ian Smith, CD

Soldiers' Christmas Dinner 2004

Fifth Rank: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; MBdr Goran Kurtagich; 7; 8;9; 10.
Fourth Rank: Bdr Barry McLeod; 12; Bdr Stone; 14; Bdr Adam Coleman; 15; 16.
Third Rank: 17; 18; 19; 20; Bdr Martinez; 22; 23; Bdr Taylor; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; Bdr Oliver Stone, CD; 31; 32; 33.
Second Rank: Lt Don Lamb, CD; 35; 36; 37; Sgt Ian Smith; Sgt Rick Tennant; Sgt George Lenis; Sgt Brian Holt; Bdr Lyle Erickson; Sgt Ken Chiu; Sgt Rob Garrett, CD; Sgt Andrea Bond, CD; Sgt 46; 47; 48; 49; Capt Nick Watts.
Front Row: WO George Dempsey, CD; Capt Douglas P Gayton, CD; Sgt Donato Calogero, CD; Capt Kent Wickens, CD; HonLCol Peter Veuger; CO, LCol Daniel S. Kuhn, CD; RSM MWO Rob G. Wishnicki, CD; Hon Maj 57; Capt Brent Purcell, CD; Capt Noel RR Dykes, CD; WO Kevin Walker, CD.

Soldiers Christmas 2003

Top Row (L to R): MBdr Ouellette, Gnr Gillis, 3, 4, 5, Bdr Zhong, MBdr Oliver Young, Gnr Labadze, Bdr Butler, Gnr Parker, Gnr Ho, Bdr Taylor, MBdr Lisa Abbott, Pte Pare, 14, 15, Bdr Mcleod, 16, 17, Gnr Keene, Gnr Greig, Pte Watrich, Sgt Ian Smith
Middle Row (L to R): 1, 2Lt Grieve, Sgt George Lenis, 4, 5, Bdr Haman-Das, 7, MBdr Adam Coleman, MBdr Mackenzie, Cpl Lysholm, Gnr Hodgson, Bdr Campbell, MBdr Art Gee, Pte Fleischer, Gnr Forystek, 16, Bdr Goran Kurtagic, Gnr Bolgak ,Bdr Martinez, Pte Scott, Pte El Baghdady, Gnr Bolegoh, Cpl Sutherland, MBdr Skuce, Sgt Rick Tennant, Sgt Brian Holt, Lt Evans, 2Lt Hui, OCdt Tai
Front Row: Capt Noel Dykes, Sgt Halpin, Capt Brent Purcell, Sgt Donato Calogero, Capt Kent Wickens, Maj Daniel Kuhn, MWO Rob Wishnicki, LCol Dean Drysdale, HCol R. Victor Stevenson, Capt Richard J. Van Slyke, WO Walker, WO George Dempsey, Capt Douglas P. Gayton, 14. Sgt Andrea Bond

Soldiers' Christmas Dinner 2002

Front row: WO George M. Dempsey, CD; 2 ;MWO Don Labossiere, CD; Captain Kent Wickens, CD; Hon Col William (Bill) T. Wickett, CD; RSM CWO Mark J. Jackson, CD; CO LCol Dean Drysdale, CD; Maj Daniel Kuhn, CD; Hon LCol Vic Stevenson, CD; Capt Noel R.R. Dykes, CD; Capt Brent Purcell, CD; WO Rob G. Wishnicki, CD; 13
Middle Row: Sgt Street; Sgt Ian Smith; Sgt Brian Holt; MBdr Oliver Young; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; Bdr Martinez, CD; 28; 29; 30;
Bdr Barry Macleod, CD; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; Sgt Andrea Bond, CD; Sgt George Lenis, CD; Sgt Rob Garrett, CD; 41; Sgt Rick Tennant, CD; Sgt Donato Calogero, CD.
Back Row: 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; MBdr Tony Gee, CD; 51; 52; 53; Bdr Lannie Jakimchuk; 55; 56; 57; MBdr Lisa Abbott; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63.

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Yearbook 1921

1/24/2016

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The year 1921 and the first Regimental Sergeant Major is appointed. Warrant Officer 1 Charles Edward Minter was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major on 9 July 1921. He was born in Woolwich, England on 22 July 1884 and immigrated from England in 1908 with his wife and one daughter. A carpenter by trade, he had been attested into the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 14 June 1916 with 13 years experience in the Royal Garrison Artillery and the Royal Field Artillery.
http://www.vancouvergunners.ca/1921.html

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Yearbook 192O

1/23/2016

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The year that the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery is now on line. It's rather sparse; There are no photos of parades, guns arriving, great speeches or even the unit on exercise. More to follow in the future! Did you know that our first Commanding Officer was a dentist?

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Website Update

1/22/2016

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It's true! Another page was added to the website. This one tries to list all the guns that the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and it's ancestors have had the honour of serving. The list is somewhat sparse, the photographs may not be the best and the photographs may even be incorrect. That's where you come in! Have you got any better photographs? Care to write up a better description? How about a write up and a photograph of a type of gun that I may have inadvertently omitted? president.vcrgunners@gmail.com

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Website update

1/21/2016

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The new page is up and running with all the information that I have on awards and decorations that have been awarded to unit members. I've include the awards of members that they earned prior to joining for example - the unit was formed in 1920 but I've included medals that were earned in the First World War. Hopefully I have the precedence of medals correct.
The list is far from complete but, at least, it is a start! It's a pretty impressive group of members that have been members of the unit over the years!
http://www.vancouvergunners.ca/lists.html
Here's where I need your help!
Have I got your Canadian Forces Decoration listed? Your operational medals? (I know I'm missing a lot!) Do you know of anyone else that I may have missed? Email me the details at president.vcrgunners@gmail.com or simply add a comment to this blog.