Thanks to Grant Hopkins, from Vancouver Island, we have an additional $200.00 towards our tire purchase. Grant also owns a 25 pounder and understands the frustration of finding material for restoration purposes.
Maybe we should work on an historic drive past for the Freedom of the City Parade on 23 May. Make it inclusive to all the equipment that has been used by the 15th during it's existence. Our FAT and 25 pdr, Grant's 25 pounder, our 18 pdr, an MSVS with 105mm C3. I believe there's a 90mm AA out there that may be mobile......... Just throwing that out there for discussion.... The 78th Fraser Highlanders Association of Vancouver has answered our call for assistance in fundraising for our new tires! Who are the 78th Fraser Highlanders? They are a re-enactment group focused on the traditions and history of a British infantry regiment of the line raised in Scotland in 1757, one of the first to serve in North America. Check out their website here. If you happen to come across any of them during one of their numerous social engagements in the Officers' Mess, pass on our thanks for helping out with the restoration. You might even want to inquire about joining their ranks. They support quite a few other worthwhile projects throughout the lower mainland.
The Officers' Mess celebrated St. Barbara's Day with their annual Special Guest Night. One of those guests was Sergeant (Retired) Norman Kirby who landed on D-Day with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. Norman was raised in North Vancouver and recalls the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment RCA firing practice rounds in the days before he was old enough to enlist himself. He was there when the recently launched Liberty ship was holed by the 15th and had to ground itself to prevent itself from sinking. Check out his story here. The grandson of Warrant Officer I Douglas Dundas Collins has contacted us from Birmingham, England with an offer to sponsor his grandfather's photo! Hopefully he can pass on some additional insight into the war-time history of WO I Collins we can add to his bio.
Remember, there's only another six RSMs that need sponsoring. (actually five, RSM CWO Garrett gave me $40.00 at the last Mess Dinner to sponsor another RSM of our choice.)
Major-General Stuart McDonald was also kind enough to sponsor an additional photo. Warrant Officer I Tony McVicar started with 15th Brigade, went active with 15th Coast and then transferred to 6 Canadian Field Regiment RCA as their RSM, a position he held from the time the unit was stood up until it was disbanded in Europe at the end of the war.
It's a busy couple of days for the RSMs Wall! Major-General (ret'd) Stuart McDonald has offered to sponsor Warrant Officer I George Percy Cook. Check out the photo for the unique story on this Regimental Sergeant Major and check out his obituary in 1960. Can you help us find a correct photo of this gentleman and also add to his story?
One of our former Regimental Sergeants Major, Chief Warrant Officer (Ret'd) Brian Cormier has stepped forward with another sponsorship for the wall. This time for Warrant Officer Class I James Bathurst. Thanks Brian! Only six more to go!
Sergeant (Ret'd) Howard Fielding dropped by the Armoury for lunch on Wednesday with some photos from his time in the unit. He was a member of the Band for a number of the years and in his early days he was a member of the Regimental Quarter Guard competition team.
Lee Carter, Vic Yano's civilian employer has stepped up to the plate and sponsored his new photograph for the RSMs wall. Thank you for your support!
Only 8 of the original 28 photos have yet to be sponsored. Three of those we're still searching for a photo and one more donation is about to arrive! |
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May 2024
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