Regimental Headquarters

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15th Field Artillery Regiment
Vancouver, British Columbia

At a meeting held on December 16, 1919 in the Duke of Connaughts Own Rifles Mess at the Drill Hall on Beatty Street a plan was made for the organization of a militia artillery unit in Vancouver. Soon after, on February 2, 1920, the formation of the 15th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery was authorized. The first Commanding Officer was LCol F. T. Cohglan, D. S. O. The Brigade was organized as follows: HQ Vancouver (15 Jul 20), 31^st Battery CFA, Vancouver (15 July 20), 68th Battery CFA, North Vancouver (15 July 20), 85th Battery CFA, New Westminster (15 July 20), the Ammunition Column, Vancouver (15 July 21), attached, 5th Siege Battery Canadian Artillery, Vancouver (15 July 20), and 58th Battery CFA, Victoria (22 September 20), detached to 5th (BC) Regiment Canadian Garrison Artillery.

The first home of the regiment was the Horseshow Building on Georgia Street just east of the entrance to Stanley Park. After a stay of 12 years in this inadequate facility a new home was built at 2055 West 11th Avenue in 1932-33. The armory architect, LCol R. T. Perry, was also the Commanding Officer. Named after the Earl of Bessborough, then Governor General of Canada, the armory was formally opened by him on March 27, 1934. The first annual summer camps were held at Hastings Park (present PNE grounds), Vancouver and Sarcee, Alberta in 1921. The second camp took place at Sarcee, Alberta and saw the Brigade’s 31st Battery win the Governor Generals, Stradbrooke and Hurdman Trophies. The guns of the brigade were the 18-pounder, 60-pounder, and 4.5” Howitzer.

1932 saw a change of camp location to Camp Hughes (near Shilo) in Manitoba. On June 3, 1935 the brigade dropped the designation Canadian Artillery and became the 15th Field Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery. A major change in role took place in April 7, 1938 when the brigade was converted to coast artillery and became the 15^th Coast Brigade RCA, with “Vancouver” being added to its title on July 15, 1938. Summer camps for 1938 and 1939 were held at Fort Macaulay Esquimalt, British Columbia.

The camp of 1939 was to be the last for several years as war clouds gathered. On August 26, 1939 the brigade was ordered to man the partially readied coast artillery forts defending Vancouver and the northern approach between Vancouver Island and the mainland of B.C. These forts were armed with 18-pounders, 12-pounders, 4.7 inch and 6 inch guns. By August 29, 1939 all forts at Point Grey, Ferguson Point, Narrows North, and Yorke Island were manned and ready for action as best they could be. Following the War the 15th Coast Regiment RCA was formed on April1, 1946 and continued in this role until February 5, 1948 when the regiment was converted to field artillery, a role which has continued to the present date. It was equipped with the 25-pounder and for a short time the 85^th Battery was equipped with the 155mm medium howitzer. The present equipment is the 105mm howitzer.