 Another week in the life of Gunner John Sebastian Helmcken serving in France with the 58th Battery, 14th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. It's a fairly quiet week with the usual gun pit maintenance, S.O.S. missions at night and ammunition fatigues. Check out the diary here.
 The guns will not be firing at Crab Park on Remembrance Day due to ongoing COVID concerns. It is also doubtful that the Messes will be open to non-serving members on that day.
The Vancouver Artillery Association has been tagged to lay the wreath at Vancouver's Cenotaph on behalf of the Veterans of the Canadian Army. It will be a subdued ceremony similar to last year. A large quantity of news clippings have been uploaded to the 1957 yearbook page as well as the 15th Field Regiment and the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Check out these pages for items on the new role for the Militia, a story about coastal artillery and a mermaid and some interesting recruiting ads.    A few more photos of the Point Grey Fort from the Peter Moogk collection. The #1 Gun emplacement, #2 Gun emplacement and the main power house. Check out the other photos from 1973 here and 1974 here.    Summer Camp was on Vancouver Island for the 43rd and Shilo for the 15th. National Survival is the major activity. Officers Mess activity continues to make the news. Check out the 43rd in 1958 here, the 15th Field in 1958 here and items concerning both units here.   Check out the news clippings uploaded today to the 1959 Yearbook. It was a busy year! National Survival and the amalgamation of the 15th Field Regiment and the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiments. The graduation of a student militia course and one of our members was in hiding from immigration. Check out the clippings here.    Back in 1956, the nine o'clock gun was silenced due to severe barrel wear. The 15th Field Regiment assumed its duties for a period of two weeks. Fast forward to 2021, the 9'o'clock gun has been silenced due to a fallen tree and no one seems to miss the nightly roar.    Big news item was the cutback in the Canadian Militia. 15th Field Artillery regiment lost 158 Battery in Vancouver and the 85th Battery in Ladner. The 5th (BC) Battery lost their regimental band. The Military Ball was also in the social section. If you're a "Man of Action" contact Captain Wickett! Check out the clippings here.    Another set of photos from the 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum & Archives. Amazing work bringing the #1 gun emplacement back into view. Check out the photos here.    New clippings added. Big news in 1968 seems to be the successful recruiting campaign. Of course, there was also a lot of media coverage on the Military Ball debutantes. There was also some concern over the loud noise of salutes. Lots of calls to the media and police. Who's attacking? seems to be the primary question. Check out these ads - good thing we couldn't compare one month to the next back in 1968. Check out the complete 1968 yearbook here.    |
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