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Seventy Eight years ago on 27 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 27 Oct 1939 – York Island Weather: rain The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries 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 October 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 visibility was good today and seven enemy balloons were observed on our front. Enemy planes were also very active during the morning and at about 10.00 am nine enemy planes flew around WIELTJE area dropping many bombs. This activity of enemy artillery was below normal today. Our own batteries fired about 2000 rounds in the 24 hours. Operation Order #115 was issued today referring to the new preparatory barrages and harassing fire. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: Visibility was good – Aircraft were active on both sides patrolling lines and observing for Artillery; during the morning the enemy Bombed WIELJTE aand area between WIELJTE and YPRES. During the night the area in vinity of our forward and rear headquarters was heavily bombed. Artillery was active on both sides, most of the fire being harassing. A practice barrage was fired in the afternoon. Enemy appeared nervous and was active during the night. No. of guns in action – 124 – 18-pdrs. 45 – 4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended AX.11548, A.s. 2661, BX.4134, BCBR.100, BS.148. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: Fired ?2 Rounds Barrage on Battery lanes and 54 Rounds on a Pill Box at V 29 d 30.60 by Aeroplane observation. During the afternoon fired 12 Rounds as Bursts of Fire on Valour Farm and D.5 Central. At 3.15P.M. we fired 20 Rounds barrage on Battery Lanes. During the night Bursts of fire were kept up and 38 Rounds expended. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Barrages, bursts of fire and concentrations in ? carried out ? rounds all calibers being expended. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: 66th Divisional Art'y relieved by 2nd C.D.A. Personnel of 158th Army Bde. R.F.A. arrived in Cdn. Corps area and were attached to 4th C.D.A. Our siege groups engaged Crest Farm, just west of PASSCHENDAELE; m.gs, strong points, houses in PASSCHENDAELE, cross roads and railway station. All calibers fired barrages, concentrations and harassing fire. Counter-btys. had two successful destructive shoots. Enemy ammunition train was engaged by our 60 pdrs. and blown up; also a dump near by. Five hostile btys. concentrated on. Hostile art'y below normal. ZONNEBEKE and YPRES shelled by H.V. gun. 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. Seventy Eight years ago on 26 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 26 Oct 1939 – York Island Weather: cloudy. The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries 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 October 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: It rained very heavily during the night and was raining when the attack on PASSCHENDAELE started at 5.40 am. The enemy artillery opened up one minute after our Zero Hour and during the morning his artillery fire was very heavy. Owing to the flooded and impassable state of the ground our attacking infantry found it almost impossible to move and their machine guns became clogged with mud. Very heavy machine gun fire was encountered from enemy pill-boxes and as our men could not move with rapidity to outflank these, heavy casualties were sustained, and the attack was held up about the middle objective. In the afternoon by continuous hand to hand fighting we established a strong line which included a row of pill-boxes on BELLEVUE HEIGHTS and the enemy have been unable to dislodge us from this line. Owing to the rain and poor visibility there was no aerial work done. Special reports are attached from this brigade and from Lieuts. Manning and Livingstone, Brigade F.O.O. and Battalion Liaison Officer, respectively. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: At 5.40.a.m. the 8th and 9th. Brigades, 3rd. Canadian Division in conjunction with the 1st. Anzacs on the right and the 5th. Army on the left attacked. This being the first of three attacks to gain PASSCHENDAELE and the high ground in the vicinity. Our barrage commenced well together and on time. The weather conditions were bad, considerable rain falling during the day interfering with observation and aerial activity. BELLEVUE HEIGHTS and approximately all objectives were gained and hold. Hostile planes dropped bombs in the vicinity of YPRES and Wagon Lines during the night. 8th Army Brigade, CFA. Is attached to 3rd. C.D.A. O.O.145 No. of guns in action – 121 – 18-pdrs. 45 – 4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended A.2176, AX.13432, A.smoke, 410, BX.5213, BCBR.300, BS.190. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: Got guns into action for the advance of today but gun went out of action before the end of the day and had to be pulled out and put back on new line. Fired 298 Rounds attack barrage and 31 Rounds protective barrage on Battery lanes. During the evening we fired 12 Rounds, bursts of Fire and during the dark hours fired 50 Rounds on Valour Farm. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Barrages, bursts of fire and concentrations carried out intermittently 1004 rounds all calibers being expended during the day. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: At 05:40 the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions attacked on a front of 2700 yds. in conjunction with operations by 18th Corps on the left and 1st ANZACS on the right. In conjunction with this operation, siege groups placed barrage in accordance with plan; concentrated and harrassing fire covering all main enemy approaches, assembly areas and centers of activity. Counter-btys. engaged 40 hostile btys. during the operation. Intense concentration was placed on MOORSLEDE, and harrassing fire was continued throughout the day. All field art'y fired barrages, and later protecting and harrassing fire. Hostile art'y at time of attack barrage was heavy but scattered; later on fire became directed on newly won positions but was also erratic. 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. Seventy Eight years ago on 25 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 25 Oct 1939 – York Island Weather: cloudy. The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries 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 25 October 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: Visibility was fair but there was an extremely high wind and enemy planes and guns were not so active. We fired about 1800 rounds. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: Our Heavy Artillery was active doing destructive shoots during the day. The visibility was good and aircraft were active on both sides. Enemy planes came over our lines and seemed to observe our barrage in the afternoon. The enemy sent up a number of green flares at this time. No. of guns in action – 119 – 18-pdrs. 46 – 4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended A.4315, AX.4210, BX.1804 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: Fired 22 Rounds Barrage and 164 Rounds on strong points and Harassing Fire on Graf Farm. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Barrages carried out at 07:00 and 13:30; 1007 rounds all calibers ? during the day. Harassing and ? carried out intermittently during the day with 3098 rounds being expended. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: Art'y Order #94 issued. Siege groups fire as usual. Counter-bty. work: concentrations on 3 hostile btys. and 2 on MOORSLEDE. Shelled ROULERS Station with 9.2" gun. Hostile art'y : intermittent shelling of roads and btys. Medium barrage put up in reply to ours. H.V. gun shelled vicinity of POPERINGHE and TEN ELMS. 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. Exercise Limber Gunner 83 More photographs have surfaced from our Shilo Exercise in 1983 and demonstrates that not everyone on the exercise was fully employed! Check out the other photos in the 1983 yearbook. Major Arthur Connaught Ryerson, a member of the 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I lays a wreath on the Vimy Memorial on 26th July 1936 in memory of those of the Battery that fell.  Seventy Eight years ago on 24 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade 24 Oct 1939 – York Island Letter re slate of N.C.O's (see App. "E"). Weather: dull. The war diaries of the Headquarters 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA and the following Batteries have yet to be located:
31st Heavy Battery stationed at Stanley Park and Narrows North 58th Heavy Battery stationed at Point Grey and Steveston |
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