The Armoury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Armoury |
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The Armoury
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Location | New Westminster, British Columbia |
| Address | 530 Queens Avenue |
| Coordinates | 49°12′26″N 122°54′44″W / 49.2072°N 122.9121°W |
| Current tenants | The Royal Westminster Regiment |
| Inaugurated | 1896 |
| Renovated | 1898 (gun room) |
| Owner | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Floor area | 1,400 square feet |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Fuller |
| Structural engineer | David Bain |
The Armoury is a special military building in New Westminster, British Columbia. It is also known as The Armouries. You can find it at 530 Queens Avenue, right at the corner of 6th Street. This building is very old and important because it is the oldest active wooden military structure in all of Canada! It is the home base for The Royal Westminster Regiment, which is a group of army reserve soldiers.
Contents
Building History and Design
The Armoury is made of wood and has a cool history. In 1898, there was a huge fire in New Westminster, but The Armoury was one of the few buildings that survived! Even though it's one building, people who work there often call it "The Armouries."
Construction started in 1895. The building was designed by an architect named Thomas Fuller. It was finished in 1896, but a special "Gun Room" was added in 1898.
Inside The Armoury, you'll find many different areas:
- A large parade square where soldiers can train.
- The Regimental Museum, full of history.
- Offices for the staff.
- A storage room for military supplies.
- Special rooms called the Officers' Mess and the Warrants' and Sergeants' Mess.
The building used to have a firing range in its basement. Later, a new building was added nearby with a modern training range for small weapons. The Armoury is officially recognized as a Federal Heritage Building, which means it's an important part of Canada's history.
The Royal Westminster Regiment
The history of the soldiers based here goes way back to November 20, 1863. That's when the original group, called the Westminster Volunteer Rifles, was formed. The Armoury has been the main headquarters for these soldiers through big events like World War I and World War II.
During the fighting in Italy in World War II, the soldiers from the Westminster Regiment (M.G.) fought almost constantly. They saw more continuous combat than any other Canadian fighting unit. Because of their amazing service, Queen Elizabeth gave the regiment the special title "Royal" in 1966. This is why they are now called The Royal Westminster Regiment.
Honoring Heroes: Memorials
In front of The Armoury, on 6th Street, you'll see two stone memorials called cairns. They are there to remember important people and events.
- One monument is near the 6th Street doors. It honors the soldiers from the Regiment who received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the British and Commonwealth armed forces. The two heroes remembered here are Major John Keefer Mahony and Acting Corporal Filip Konowal.
- The other monument is on the corner of Queens and 6th Avenue. It is dedicated to The Royal Westminster Regiment itself, celebrating its long history and service.
Originally, these monuments had copper plaques, but they were stolen. Now, they have beautiful marble carvings instead.
You can also see some cool military equipment outside:
- To the right of the Queens Avenue entrance, there's an old artillery gun. It's a large RML 64-pounder gun that came from a British warship! It was sent to Victoria in 1895.
- On the left side of the Queens Avenue entrance, there's a Universal Carrier. This is a small, armored vehicle often called a Bren Gun Carrier.
The Royal Westminster Regimental Museum
The museum inside The Armoury is located in what used to be the original Gun Room. A group started planning the museum in 1969, and it officially opened its doors on April 15, 1973.
The museum's main goal is to keep alive the stories and history of all the military groups that have served in New Westminster for over a century. These groups include:
- The Westminster Volunteer Rifles
- The Seymour Battery of Garrison Artillery
- The 104th Westminster Fusiliers of Canada
- The 47th and 131st Battalions CEF
- The Westminster Regiment
- And, of course, The Royal Westminster Regiment
The museum has many interesting displays that go back to 1863. You can see old uniforms, medals, weapons, and lots of photographs that show the amazing history of these soldiers.
See also
- List of Armouries in Canada
