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) | Ubique (Latin for 'everywhere') and quo fas et gloria ducunt (Latin for 'whither right and glory lead') |
| March |
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| Abbreviation | 15 Fd Regt |
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is a special army unit in Vancouver, British Columbia. It's part of the Canadian Army and is made up of soldiers who serve part-time, called the Primary Reserve. They are based at the Bessborough Armoury.
This regiment was formed in 1920. During World War II, its main job was to protect the coast of Vancouver with big guns. After the war, they became a field artillery unit, which means they use cannons to support soldiers on the ground. While the regiment itself hasn't gone overseas, many of its members have joined other Canadian missions around the world.
Contents
History of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment
How the Regiment Started
After World War I ended, many Canadian soldiers came home. In 1918, a general named William Otter suggested that Canada's part-time army, called the Canadian Militia, should be reorganized. This led to a committee being formed in 1919, known as the Otter Committee.
In December 1919, a group of 11 artillery officers who had fought in World War I met in Vancouver. They talked about creating a new militia artillery unit there. Their ideas were used by the Otter Committee. On February 2, 1920, the Canadian government officially created the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.
The 15th Brigade included several smaller units called batteries. They had the 31st, 68th, and 85th Field Artillery Batteries. They also had a headquarters and a unit to bring ammunition. For a while, the 5th Siege Battery was also part of their group. The first leader of the brigade was Lieutenant F.T. Coghlan, a World War I hero.
When they first started, the field artillery batteries used cannons called 18-pounder guns. The 5th Siege Battery used larger 60-pounder guns.
The brigade's first home was the Vancouver Horse Show Building. It wasn't perfect for an army unit, but it was good for the horses that pulled their cannons. In March 1934, the 15th Brigade moved to a new, modern building called the Bessborough Armoury. They shared it with another army unit. 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 train more efficiently, the 5th Battery tried using trucks to pull their guns. This was one of the first times a Canadian militia artillery unit did this. Major J.G. Chutter led the exercise. He reported that using trucks was much cheaper and allowed them to do three times more training.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the brigade trained all year for a big summer camp. These camps were held in 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. There was a growing concern about a possible war with Japan. In 1936, an expert named Major B.C.D. Treatt suggested building four new forts to guard the Port of Vancouver. These forts were placed to stop any enemy ships or submarines from entering Burrard Inlet. Another fort was built in the Strait of Georgia to protect Vancouver from the north. Later, during the war, another fort was added to check ships entering the Fraser River.
In 1937, the government approved building the forts. In spring 1938, it was decided that members of the Canadian Militia would operate these guns. The 15th Brigade was given this job and became the 15th Coast Brigade, RCA. A year later, in May 1939, some of their batteries were separated to form the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA. This new unit protected Vancouver from air attacks. Both the coastal defense and anti-aircraft guns were helped by the 1st Searchlight Regiment, RCA. They operated powerful searchlights to help the gunners see ships at night and spot enemy planes.
The 15th Coast Brigade was called into active duty on August 25, 1939, even before war was officially declared on Nazi Germany. The forts weren't fully built yet, so the soldiers helped finish them. The batteries of the 15th Coast Brigade were sent to different 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 and 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 for the cannon round!
In the summer of 1942, Japan attacked some islands near Alaska and places along the west coast of the United States. On June 20, the only attack on Canadian soil during the war happened at Estevan Point. These events, along with the loss of many Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong, made Canadians feel that building the Pacific coastal forts was a good idea.
After the Battle of Midway, the Japanese Navy lost much of its power and 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 defense forts. On September 1, 1944, most forts were reduced to just a few people for maintenance, and the gunners of the 15th Coast Artillery were given other jobs. By October 1945, after Japan surrendered, almost all the forts were shut down.
From 1945 to Today
After World War II, the regiment went back to being a reserve unit. They continued to train with coastal guns at the Point Grey Fort. In 1948, they changed back to field artillery and were renamed the 15th Field Regiment, RCA. A new unit, the 102nd Coast Regiment, was formed to train on coastal guns on Vancouver Island. This unit later joined with the 43rd Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1954. The 43rd Regiment had been created in 1946 and then joined back with the 15th Field Regiment, RCA, in 1959.
Even though the regiment itself hasn't been sent overseas, individual members have served in many missions. They have gone to places like 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, which is the main firing unit. It carries on the history of the 68th Battery, which fought in Northern Russia during World War I.
- The 31st Field Battery, which handles the headquarters and support services.
- The regimental band, which plays music for military events.
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 museum collects and displays items related to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. It also shows artifacts from other artillery units that have been in the Vancouver area. The museum helps people learn about the history of these important military groups.
15th Field Regiment (RCA) Band
The 15th Field Regiment (RCA) Band is a military band that plays brass and reed instruments. It has 45 members who are all part-time soldiers, called reservists. This means they are trained as both soldiers and musicians. The band performs at many different events, including military funerals, ceremonies, parades, and special gatherings.
Cadet Unit
The 15th Field Regiment, RCA, supports a youth 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.
Images for kids
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Badge of the Royal Canadian Artillery
