15th Field Artillery Regiment (Canada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA |
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| 15e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne, ARC (French) | |
Badge of the Royal Canadian Artillery
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| Active | 1920–present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Field artillery |
| Part of | 39 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Bessborough Armoury, Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Ubique, lit. 'everywhere', and quo fas et gloria ducunt, lit. 'whither right and glory lead' |
| March |
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| Abbreviation | 15 Fd Regt |
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is a special part of the Canadian Army. It's a group of soldiers called a Primary Reserve regiment. They are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, at a place called the Bessborough Armoury. This regiment is part of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which is a larger military group.
This regiment was started in 1920. During World War II, its job was to protect the Port of Vancouver. They used big guns to defend the coast. After the war, they changed back to using field artillery, which means guns that can be moved around. Even though the regiment itself hasn't gone overseas, many of its members have served in different missions around the world and in Canada.
It's important to know that this regiment is different from another one with a similar name. There was another 15th Field Artillery Regiment that fought in World War II, but it was part of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division.
Contents
History of the Regiment
How It Started
After World War I ended, many Canadian soldiers came home. In 1918, a general named William Dillon Otter suggested that the Canadian military should be reorganized. This led to a committee being formed in 1919, known as the Otter Committee.
On December 16, 1919, a group of 11 artillery officers met in Vancouver. They had all fought in World War I. They talked about creating a new artillery regiment in Vancouver. Their ideas were used by the Otter Committee. So, on February 2, 1920, the Canadian government officially created the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.
The 15th Brigade had three main parts: the 31st, 68th, and 85th Batteries of field artillery. It also had a Headquarters and an Ammunition Column. Another group, the 5th Siege Battery, was also connected to them. The first leader of the brigade was Lieutenant F.T. Coghlan, who was a hero from World War I.
When they first started, the field artillery groups used guns called 18-pounder guns. The 5th Siege Battery used bigger guns called 60-pounder guns.
Their first home was the Vancouver Horse Show Building. It wasn't perfect for an artillery unit, but it was good for the horses that pulled the guns. In March 1934, the 15th Brigade moved to a new, modern building called the Bessborough Armoury. They shared it with another military group. The next year, the brigade's name changed to 15th Field Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery.
At first, the army gave them guns but no horses. So, for their first training, the soldiers had to borrow horses. In June 1928, to save money and move faster, the 5th Battery tried something new. They used trucks to pull their guns instead of horses. This was one of the first times a Canadian militia artillery unit did this. Major J.G. Chutter led this test. His report showed that using trucks was cheaper and helped them train much more efficiently.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the brigade trained all year. Their training ended with a summer camp. These camps were held in different places, like Hastings Park in Vancouver and Sarcee Camp in Alberta.
Protecting the Coast in World War II
In the mid-1930s, Canada started worrying about protecting its west coast. Japan was becoming a strong power in the Pacific Ocean. It seemed possible that Canada's allies, like the United Kingdom and the United States, might go to war with Japan. In 1936, an expert named Major B.C.D. Treatt suggested ways to defend British Columbia's coast from sea attacks. He recommended building four new coastal defence forts to guard the Port of Vancouver. These forts were placed to stop any ships or submarines from entering Burrard Inlet. There was also a fort in the Strait of Georgia to protect Vancouver from the north. Later, another fort was built to check ships entering the Fraser River.
In 1937, the government approved building the forts. But they hadn't decided who would operate the guns if war broke out. In World War I, sailors and reservists had manned these guns. In spring 1938, it was decided that members of the Canadian Militia would do it. So, the 15th Brigade became the 15th Coast Brigade, RCA, and its job was coastal defence. A year later, in May 1939, two of its batteries (the 68th and 5th) were separated. They became the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, to protect Vancouver from air attacks. Both the coastal and anti-aircraft guns were helped by the 1st Searchlight Regiment, RCA. This group operated powerful searchlights to help the gunners see ships at night and also for the anti-aircraft guns.
The 15th Coast Brigade was called to duty on August 25, 1939, even before war was officially declared on Nazi Germany. None of the forts were finished when the soldiers arrived. So, they had to help build them. The different groups (batteries) of the 15th Coast Brigade were sent to these forts:
- Ferguson Point (31st Battery)
- Narrows North (31st Battery)
- Point Atkinson (31st Battery)
- Point Grey (58th Battery)
- Steveston (58th Battery)
- York Island (85th Heavy Battery)
Besides stopping enemy ships, most forts also helped inspect ships coming into Vancouver. Ships had to stop in special "examination areas" to be checked by the Royal Canadian Navy. If a ship didn't stop, the Navy would tell the artillery to fire a warning shot in front of it. If needed, they could even sink the ship. If a warning shot was fired, the ship's owner had to pay $42.50 for the cannonball!
In the summer of 1942, Japan attacked the Aleutian Islands and places along the west coast of the United States. On June 20, the only attack of the war on Canadian land happened at Estevan Point. This, along with the loss of many Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong, made Canadians feel that building these coastal forts was very important.
After the Battle of Midway, the Japanese Navy lost much of its power. It was no longer a big threat to Canada's west coast. Also, more soldiers were needed in Europe after the invasions of Sicily and Normandy. Because of this, it was decided to close Vancouver's coastal defence forts. On September 1, 1944, all the forts, except the York Island fort, were reduced to basic maintenance. The gunners of the 15th Coast Artillery were given other jobs. A small team of 20 soldiers stayed to maintain the forts. By October 1945, two months after Japan surrendered, almost all the forts were closed down.
From 1945 to Today
After the war, the regiment went back to being a reserve unit. They continued as coastal artillery, training with the guns at the Point Grey Fort. In 1948, they changed back to field artillery and were renamed the 15th Field Regiment, RCA. A new regiment, the 102nd Coast Regiment, was formed to train on coastal guns on Vancouver Island. This group later joined with another regiment in 1954. In 1959, the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment, which had been formed from the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, joined back with the 15th Field Regiment, RCA.
While the regiment as a whole hasn't gone overseas, many individual members have served in different countries. They have been on missions in Germany, Egypt, Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia (Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia), Haiti, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Members also helped with security for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Today, the regiment has three main parts:
- The 68th Field Battery: This is the main firing group. It carries on the history of the 68th Battery, which fought in Northern Russia during World War I.
- The 31st Field Battery: This group handles the headquarters and support services.
- The band: This is the regiment's military band.
15th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Museum and Archives
| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | Bessborough Armoury, 2025 West 11th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Type | Regimental Museum and Archives |
The 15th Field Regiment has its own museum and archives. It collects and displays items related to the regiment's history. It also shows things from other artillery units that were in the Vancouver area. The museum works with other museum groups in Canada.
15th Field Regiment (RCA) Band
The 15th Field Regiment (RCA) Band is a military band that plays brass and reed instruments. It's part of the 15th Field Regiment. The band has 45 members. All of them are reservists, which means they are trained as both soldiers and musicians. The band plays music for many different events. These include military funerals, ceremonies, parades, and special military gatherings.
Cadet Unit
The 15th Field Regiment, RCA, supports a group called the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. This group is known as 2472 RCACC. The regiment helps the cadets with their activities. The cadets are also allowed to wear parts of the 15th Field Regiment's traditional uniform on their own cadet uniforms.
