|
Seventy Eight years ago on 28 September 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 28/9/39 Mob. Plus 24. No change in strength and disposition. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 28 Sep 1939 – York Island Weather: Fair. The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston. One hundred years ago on 28 September 1917 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest at this point until the end of the month, most of the time being devoted to cleaning equipment and grooming horses. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Fine and warm. Enemy shelled 6 inch Howitzer battery in Vimy with 200 rounds 5.9. Otherwise quiet. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: FORT GEORGE - Enemy artillery and balloons guns very active all day. During the afternoon German airplanes flew low over our rear areas and brought down three observation balloons and one airplane. One enemy machine was brought down. Capt. Mcknight returned from leave in England. Ammunition expended: A.18, AX.40, BX.49. Guns in action: 20 - 18pdrs., 6 - 4.5"hows. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month we were bombarded with Gas shells on several occasions also shelled 8” and 5.9” losing a quantity of ammunition. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Period very quiet. Very little firing done whatever during this time. In accordance with instructions received from the G.O.C., CCHA, infantry officers reported to these HQs for the purpose of gaining a little insight into the difficulties which the artillery have to contend with. These infantry officers are detailed from the different btns. and are attached to our HQ and batteries for a period of one week and replaced by other officers. A short program dealing with the preparation, working out of angles, error of day and elements entering into the accuracy of shooting. O.P. work details of doing special shoots for the infantry, zones of hows. and guns, ammunition supply and storage of cartridges, and operation orders in support of infantry raids and attacks, dealing with the different tasks which the artillery have to perform both before and during the battle. Major Little 28th Btn. HQ 1st C.H.A.G. 27th to 2-10-17 Cpt. Robertson 31st Btn. 72nd SAHA " Lt. Cowper, 8th Btn. 9th C.S.B. " Major Wilmot 29th Btn. 5th C.S.B. " General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Some activity on both sides. Enemy attempted some counter-battery work, but without result. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918  Recruiting brochure There is no date on the brochure however, we're talking some time after the Second World War, sometime before the word "Artillery" was inserted into our name in 1960, sometime after 1948 when the unit was re-roled as Field Artillery, sometime after 1957 when the jeep in the brochure was manufactured. Recognize any faces? Where was that Regimental Coffee Bar set up? Major Edmonds received copies of the latest Fougasse cartoons from his friend Alan Prince. Cyril Kenneth Bird, pen name Fougasse (17 December 1887 – 11 June 1965) was a British cartoonist best known for his work in Punch magazine (of which he served as editor from 1949 to 1953) and his World War II warning propaganda posters. He was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I and invalided out of the British Army. During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. Check out some more Fougasse cartoons in the 1941 Yearbook. Seventy Eight years ago on 27 September 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 27/9/39 Mob. Plus 23. No change in strength and disposition. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 27 Sep 1939 – York Island 1 OR proceeded on compassionate leave. 1 OR R.C.A.S.C. arrived to operate launch "York". Weather: Fair. The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston. One hundred years ago on 27 September 1917 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest at this point until the end of the month, most of the time being devoted to cleaning equipment and grooming horses. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Fine and warm. Three heavy barrages laid down on our trenches in neighborhood of Avion during the night. S.O.S. sent up but no infantry section followed. Otherwise quiet on the front. Lt. Col. Ralston D.S.O. inspected the wagon lines. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: FORT GEORGE - The day was unusually quiet; visibility being poor. Our artillery was active to some extent in sniping, several targets being engaged around MERICOURT. Ammunition expended: A.45, AX.52, BX.45. Guns in action: 19 - 18pdrs., 6 - 4.5"hows. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month we were bombarded with Gas shells on several occasions also shelled 8” and 5.9” losing a quantity of ammunition. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Period very quiet. Very little firing done whatever during this time. On 27th instant, at 17:00 hostile plane brought down one of our observation balloons over LA TARGETTE in flames. This plane returned at 19:00 and succeeded in bringing down another of our observation balloons over ABLAIN ST. NAZARE Church. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Brig.- General MORRISON visited the batteries of the 13th Brigade, 5th CDA, and was much pleased with the work done at the positions and with the morale of all ranks. It is worthy of note that two Artificers whom he found working in the gun-pit - which had , on the previous night, received a direct hit by gas shell - and whom he immediately ordered to leave, later developed severe blistering and were evacuated to hospital. It is more likely that if they had remained in the gun-pit much longer, the men would have died from the effects of the gas. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. Al Beaton was a cartoonist with the Vancouver Province in the 1950's. he had served with the RCAF during the war and, by the look of the detail in the cartoons, kept a close connection to the Militia afterwards. Here's a few cartoons, check out the remainder on our 1950's page. Seventy Eight years ago on 26 September 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 26/9/39 Mob. Plus 22. Bde. H.Q.: 7 Officers & 22 O.R.’s at Bessborough Armouries, 1 M.O. at York island. 2 O.R.’s in Hospital, 2 O.R’s on sick leave. 31st Bty: 3 Officers & 69 O.R.’s Stanley Park, 2 officers & 17 O.R.’s at Narrows North, 2 O.R.’s in hospital, 2 O.R.’s at Bessborough Armouries. 58th Bty: 5 Officers & 96 O.R.’s at Point Grey, 40 O.R.’s at Bessborough Armouries, 11 O.R.’s in hospital, 1 O.R. on sick leave, 1 O.R. on leave, 85th Bty: 2 officers & 44 O.R.’s at York Island, 27 O.R.’s at Bessborough Armouries. Inspection by D.O.C. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 26 Sep 1939 – York Island Progress Report (see App. "G"). Weather: Fair.Weather: Fair. The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston. One hundred years ago on 26 September 1917 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade in the 3rd Canadian Division. The 9th Brigade war diary records: The brigade remained at rest at this point until the end of the month, most of the time being devoted to cleaning equipment and grooming horses. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Dull and Cloudy. Extremely quiet on the front. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: FORT GEORGE - A sniping gun has been put in action well forward and several targets in vicinity of MERICOURT taken on. The enemy is reported to be working hard on his line in this vicinity. The day and night was quiet. Ammunition expended: A.32, AX.13, BX.62. Guns in action: 19 - 18pdrs., 6 - 4.5"hows. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - During the month we were bombarded with Gas shells on several occasions also shelled 8” and 5.9” losing a quantity of ammunition. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Period very quiet. Very little firing done whatever during this time. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Artillery Order, No. 86 issued. HQ 5th CDA moved to KING'S CROSS. 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA perpetuates the following sub units: 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 68th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force, was not authorized to be formed until 3 August 1918, and 85th Battery, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force was not authorized to be formed until 12 July 1918. |
Archives
May 2025
|
RSS Feed