Seventy Eight years ago on 4 October 1939 From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 4 Oct 1939 – York Island Completed power house floor (see App. "E"). Weather: fair. The war diaries of the 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 4 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: During this period the 31st 18 pdr. Battery and the 36th Howitzer Battery were in the line in front of MERICOURT and the Headquarters and the 33rd and 45th 18 pdr. Batteries were in rest at wagon lines near CAMBLAIN L'ABBY, with two batteries of the 10th Brigade, C.F.A., attached, also in rest. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Rainy and cold. Heavy stuff on our front at 9.30 p.m. To retaliate for an hour. O.O. No. 135 received from 3rd C.D.A. postponing the LENS show and detailing relief by 2nd CDA. Our O.O. No. 133 issued, copy attached. 39th Battery today had one other rank killed and three other ranks wounded. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: The day was better than usual for observation and considerable new enemy work was reported. Enemy movement was taken on several times, but the situation on the whole is quiet. No. of guns in action – 19-18 pdrs. 6-4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended – A.1, AX.100, BX.126 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - Fired 42 Rounds on Hostile Batteries in N21 c 90.18 and T 5 a 10.85 At 5.10.P.M. Fired 15 Rounds retaliation on M(?)ericourt and at 7.45.P.M. 20 Rounds on Lons Church 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Day very windy and rainy; batteries retaliated heartily during the day in response to enemy's ? artillery activity. S.O.S. in ?, Maricourt and ? responded to. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Artillery Order No.87 issued. Only slight artillery activity. Brig.-General MORRISON inspected wagon lines of the 6th Bde. C.F.A. Brigade found to be in good condition for a fighting unit. 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. A recruiting hand out from 1965 - Join the Fighting Gunners!
Fire the 7 mile rifle! While there is no date on the brochure, the fact that it includes Bay Street Armouries as a recruiting location and boasts about 1963 and 1964 trophy wins would indicate that it was published the year that 5th Field Battery RCA was a sub-unit of 15th Field Artillery Regiment RCA. Seventy Eight years ago on 3 October 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 3/10/39 Mob. Plus 29. Authorized to recruit replacements. Short of War strength by 27 O.R.’s. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 2 Oct 1939 – York Island "Border Prince" delivered lumber and water. Started construction of mess hut. Letter re: living conditions (see App. "E"). Weather: dull. The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA 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 3 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: During this period the 31st 18 pdr. Battery and the 36th Howitzer Battery were in the line in front of MERICOURT and the Headquarters and the 33rd and 45th 18 pdr. Batteries were in rest at wagon lines near CAMBLAIN L'ABBY, with two batteries of the 10th Brigade, C.F.A., attached, also in rest. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Windy and cold.. Quiet on this front. Warning order in regard to the coming show received from 3rd C.D.A. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: The day was very misty and very quiet. Some parties of the enemy could be seen from our front line O.P’s. working under cover of the mist. These were fired on and dispersed. No balloons were up. Some enemy Scout Planes flew low over our lines and were driven off by machine gun fire. No. of guns in action – 20-18 pdrs. 6-4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended – A.30, AX.82, A.Smoke 2, BX.143 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - Fired 39 Rounds on Hostile Battery in N 21 c 90.18 and 18 Rounds on Hostile Battery in N 20 a 52.45 and at 5.5.PM. fired 9 Rounds retaliation on M(?)ericourt sector. 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Quiet. S.O.S. in ? and ? ? answered by our batteries at 22:30. General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Hostile artillery activity practically ‘Nil’. Nothing particular to report. 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. Several letters came to light in the museum last week indicating that the 15th Field Artillery Regiment may have owned a couple of guns of 1870's vintage. It appears that the Regiment thought they were 13 Pounders and they were given away as we did not have a museum at that time. Harold Skaarup features a photograph of the 13 Pounder at Rodd Hill and states, "13-pounder 8-cwt Muzzleloading Rifle, weight 8-0-0 (896 lbs), (Serial No. 1230), mounted on a wheeled R.C.D. (Royal Carriage Department) gun carriage from the 1890s, on display along the main path through the site. Six of these 13-pounders were British Royal Marine Artillery brought to Victoria in 1893, When the British departed they were left behind. This appears to be the only remaining 13-pounder 8-cwt in Canada."
The letters from 1963 shows that we sent one to the Queen's Own Rifles Museum in Calgary and one to the RCA Museum in Shilo. A subsequent letter from the RCA Museum informs us that the gun was actually a 9 Pounder Mark II, which was apparently not bought by Canada at any time. The mystery has yet to be resolved! Seventy Eight years ago on 2 October 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 2/10/39 Mob. Plus 28. No change in strength and disposition. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 2 Oct 1939 – York Island Letter re Officer's Establishment (see App. "E"). Weather: raining The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA 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 2 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: During this period the 31st 18 pdr. Battery and the 36th Howitzer Battery were in the line in front of MERICOURT and the Headquarters and the 33rd and 45th 18 pdr. Batteries were in rest at wagon lines near CAMBLAIN L'ABBY, with two batteries of the 10th Brigade, C.F.A., attached, also in rest. 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery was attached to 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade during this period. The 10th Brigade war diary records that: Weather cloudy. Lieut-Col. G.H.Ralston, D.S.O. made reconnaissance of O.P.’s and position for the coming show. Quiet. 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery war diary records: A thick mist made visibility very poor all day. Very little movement could be observed. The day was quiet on the whole, the usual harassing fire being carried out by our Howitzers. The enemy Artillery was normal, our approaches being shelled intermittently. No. of guns in action – 20-18 pdrs. 6-4.5” Hows. Ammunition expended – AX.42.. 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Canadian Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a sub-unit of 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group. Their war diary records: ANGRES - Fired 15 Rounds on Hostile Battery in N.Z. 98 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group war diary records: Cabaret Rouge – Day quiet ?, nothing unusual to report. At 20:00 this evening a hostile plane approached our position in the ? and machine gunned billets and road around our HQ the ? General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps war diary records: In the Field - Considerable hostile counter battery work with aeroplane observation. Counter-battery: Six successful destructive shoots on hostile batteries with aeroplane observation. H.V. Gun shelled HERSIN, but stopped on being bombed by one of our ‘planes. Brig.-General MORRISON inspected 8th Army Brigade C.F.A., the latter only receiving 40 mins notice. Condition found to be very satisfactory; good discipline and a strong spirit ‘esprit de corps’ probably accounting in no small manner for the credible showing that was made. 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 1 October 1939 From the War Diaries of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA CASF 1/10/39 Mob. Plus 27. No change in strength and disposition. From the war diaries of 85 Heavy Battery, RCA CASF a sub-unit of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA stationed at Yorke Island, BC 1 Oct 1939 – York Island Started to convert power house into barrack hut. HMCS "Nootka" called. Weather fine. The war diaries for the following Batteries of the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade RCA 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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