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There were some exciting times with the 15th Field Artillery Regiment in 1960! For a start - there was a name change with the word "Artillery" inserted to ensure that we weren't confused with other types of units. The 25 Pounder salute gun arrived, the band received new herald trumpets and sent Drum Major Jim Hamilton on a course in Edmonton. The Annual Christmas Tea was held in the Officers' Mess and there was talk that having debutantes at the Officers' Ball might not still be appropriate. Check out the newspapers articles that have been placed in the 1960 yearbook and see if you can remember what it was like back in the "Sixties"!     Corporal John Sebastian Helmcken attested with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 16 May 1916. He was assigned Regimental #332905 and taken on strength 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery in Victoria, BC. He received several months training and embarked Halifax on 11 September 1916. Eleven days later he disembarked at Liverpool and was transported to Witley for additional training.
The following page is a transcript of his diary starting 8 August 1917. The first instalment ends as he arrives in the Le Havre on 22 August. More to follow in the future.  The 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA will be exercising their Freedom of the City of Vancouver with a parade to be held at City Hall at 1400 hours on 2 October 2021. Retired members and friends of the Regiment are invited to attend the parade as the Commanding Officer knocks on the door of City Hall to seek permission to march with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed. Hope to see you there and for socialization at the Bessborough Armoury afterwards. Please think of your friends and ensure that you are feeling healthy prior to attending and follow the most recent COVID protocols.
 What is the connection between 15th Field Artillery Regiment and the historic Helmcken House located at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria?
The Regimental Sergeant Major published a collection of information for Senior NCO's that includes Interrelation Officers and NCOs, Discipline, Dress, Deportment, Recruit Standards, Redress of Grievance, points from Area Sgt Major's Conference and excerpts from Reserve Compensation Study 1985. Check out the RSM's concerns from 35 years ago! (Wait, that can't be 35 years already!) Find it in the 1986 Yearbook here.     Once COVID conditions allow us to re-open the Museum for visitors, we will also provide access to the books in the Regimental Library/Conference Room. The collection includes books that are not aligned with the focus of the Museum and will be advertised and made available for sale in the near future. We have also recently been gifted about a dozen of these two books, Camp Vernon and Camp Chilliwack. These can be purchased by donation to the Regimental Museum. Would you like a copy? Send an interac e-transfer to [email protected]   The 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment, RCA Fort cards have been printed and are now available to add to your collection. Send a donation via interac e-transfer to [email protected] and I'll send you a charitable tax receipt and a set of 4 cards!. Check out all the great projects that you can help fund on our Quartermaster Stores page.     Looking for a good read on a rainy Sunday? Check out our latest scanned pdf copy of Colonel Sharman's account of the 16th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, North Russia Expeditionary Force. You can find it on our Reference Page here.     Yorke Island requires an artillery forage cap size 7 7/8. Have you got one in your closet that you would be willing to donate to a worthy cause? We have the capbadge, we just need the hat. Contact [email protected]
Additional photos have been placed online from the 1981 visit. Yes, we were all that young, once. Check out the other photos from that trip here.    |
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