Major George Cowan
Sadly, the newspapers also carried the tragic news of the loss of a loved one overseas. Next time you're in Cassino, please take a moment and visit Major Cowan's gravesite.

Major Cowan in the news
The newspapers provided some limited information on the activities of the soldiers overseas. With the assistance of the newspaper archives we can gain some insight into Major Cowan's career. Check out the other stories in the different yearbooks 1941, 1943, 1944

 Major George Paxton Downie Cowan, a former member of 68th Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Artillery has been added to our list of fallen. He was a Lieutenant from 1926 to 1930. Promoted to  Captain in 1932, he married Grace Cameron-Cowan-Dansey on 6 June 1933. When the war broke out, he was taken on strength 9th Battery 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA, followed shortly with a transfer to 10th Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA on 28 December 1939. He embarked Halifax for overseas as a Lieutenant on 28 January 1940 and disembarked at Gourock, Scotland on 9 February 1940. Captain Cowan was posted to 8th Army Field Regiment RCA 10 February 1940, followed by a stint with 125 Officer Candidate Training Unit on 24 January 1941. A quick succession of units followed; 20th Battery, 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment RCA on 20 January 1942, 4th Field Regiment RCA on 14 September 1942, 5th Field Regiment RCA 28 August 1943, 4th Field Regiment RCA, again, on 16 September 1943, 1 Canadian G Reinforcement Unit 12 October 1943 before embarking for Italy on  26 October 1943. After disembarking on 8 November 1943 he was taken on strength with 2nd Field Regiment RCA on 12 January 1944, and then 92nd Battery, 3rd Field Regiment on 13 January 1944. On 25 May 1944 he was killed in action at Cassino Italy.

Message Traffic - A Gun is a Gun
BC District Headquarters responds to a Vehicle Move Order (VMO) from the Supply Depot in Montreal. Our history does not record the name of the message drafter. The time limits for potential charges under Section 119 of the NDA have surely expired after 38 years! Now is the time to step forward and confess! Other stories from 1982 may assist in refreshing your memory of those days.

​Regimental Christmas Party
The 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment RCA, 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA and the 1st Searchlight Regiment RCA were treated to the largest Christmas Party in  town. Two thousand people! The newspapers states, "packed into Bessborough Armories" and that sounds like an apt description. Check out the other 1939 stories here. 

Militia Staff Course
Major R.T. Perry "having passed the required tests is qualified for the appointment to the Staff of the Non-Permanent Militia of Canada in all grades up to and including that of Brigade Major." Check out the other events from 1926 here.

Researching the history of those that served before us often leads to mysteries that need to be solved before we can post new information as fact.
We have Major Dave A. Ames of the 102nd Coast Regiment RCA and the 43rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RCA. We can view his ribbons and it appears that he was awarded the 1939/1945 star, Italy Star, France/Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, Defence Medal, War Medal and Canadian Forces Decoration.
But, we do not know who he served with during the Second World War.
The province has featured a Captain David Ames from Vancouver who served with the Princess Louis Dragoon Guards after his Non-Permanent Active Militia days with the Seaforth Highlanders.
Is this our Major Dave A. Ames?

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Special Guest Night at the Ferguson Point Tea House has been postponed until 11 September 2020.
Please ensure you take care of yourself, practice social distancing and reach out to the Association if there is anything we can be of assistance with. president.vcrgunners@gmail.com  Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner Of course, that includes all of the  Gunner family.