Gunner George McCullock, MM was born in Woodstock, Ont. 23 Jul 1891. He was a bank clerk and enlisted with the 77th Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF. He was awarded the Military Cross while serving with the 31st Battery, 9th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF His citation reads: For distinguished conduct and devotion to duty. During an intense bombardment 28th of March 1918, a dugout in which were Gunner McCULLOCK and another man, was hit, and caved in. These two men though stunned, and gassed, succeeded in digging themselves out, immediately after which they started to dig out a second dugout which had also been done in, burying Gnr HEWSON. They worked for over thirty minutes under most intense shell fire, before they succeeded in rescuing HEWSON who, undoubtedly would have been smothered had he remained as he was a few minutes longer. Gunner McCullock was killed in action 8 August 1918 at the age of 27 and is interred at the Hourges Orchard Cemetery, Domart-Sur-La-Luce, Somme, France, grave B,21. Did you receive your announcement email from the RCA Association (RCAA) regarding Perkoplis? All paid up members of the Vancouver Artillery Association are also members of the RCAA, and you can benefit from thousands of discounts by signing up with the Perkopolis group using your RCAA membership number. Send me an email if you never received the announcement and I'll send you the details. [email protected]. A former member of the 43rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA has recently passed away. His obituary has been placed in the 2023 yearbook. Lest We Forget The unit conducted a C7 PWT3 Range as part of the annual training for individual soldiering. Check out the other photos in the 2023 yearbook page.
Support to Canada Post Sergeant (ret'd) Dave Urquhart found an interesting photo from 1947 when the Bessborough Armoury was utilized as a makeshift postal sub-station. Check out the other stories in 1947 here. Source: Montreal Gazette Additional photos of Darren Kostinuk and Ian Smith from Aldergrove Remembrance Day parade have been added.
Thursday Lunch - 9 November 2023
Lunch with an Operations Reassurance and Unifier Information brief from Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse van Eijk and Major Jurgen Miranda afterwards. Check out the photos in the 2023 Yearbook. Corporal Gaspard was born in St Boniface, Manitoba and spent several years with the US Field Artillery before returning to Canada. He spent some time with the BC Horse (or it may have been the BC Hussars) before enlisting with the 5th (BC) Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery. He was with the 2nd Canadian Division Trench Mortar Battery, CEF, the 2nd Canadian Division Ammunition Column, CEF and was awarded the Military Medal. On the 12th, Oct;1916, from an emplacement Cpl Gaspard succeeded in firing 60 rounds, in spite of retaliation. On the 17th Oct; from the same position and after the neighbouring trenches had been battered beyond recognition, this N.C.O. succeeded in firing 30 rounds. The entrance to his emplacement was blown in, badly wounding his only gunner. After dressing the wound Cpl Gaspard fired his remaining ammunition alone with excellent effect on enemy wire. After the war he settled in the Lower Mainland and in 1949 started a Frog Farm in order to harvest frog legs. A year later he disappeared in the Upper Pitt River area as he searched for a lost gold mine. Check out the story in the link below.
The guns were back at Hallelujah Point in Stanley Park for the 21 gun salute to commemorate the fallen. Some of our retired Gunners were in the Aldergrove parade. Thnaks to Ralph Webb for some great photos. Check them out here. Have you got any that you would like to share? Send them to [email protected]
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