Regimental Headquarters

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26th Field Artillery Regiment &
26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA Pipe Band
Brandon, Manitoba

The 26th Field Regiment RCA perpetuates a number of units and can be traced to the 99th Manitoba Rangers, which were organized in April 1908. The Manitoba Rangers, a rifle regiment, consisted of several companies located throughout communities in Southwestern Manitoba. During the First World War the regiment raised the 45th, 79^th and 181st Battalions of the CEF for overseas duty.

On 2 February 1920, the 37th, 59th, 70th and 71st Batteries CFA were authorized. These batteries were originally to be located at Portage la Prairie, Fort Williams and Kenora. Following several redesignations and relocations during the inter-war years, the 37th Field Battery RCA, Portage la Prairie, the 59th and 70th Field Batteries RCA in Brandon and the 71st Field Battery (How) also in Brandon were “brigaded” to form the 26th Field Brigade RCA on 15 December 1936. Of the four batteries, only the 59th was already organized. The others were organized from personnel from the Manitoba Rangers, which were disbanded the day before.

During the Second World War all four batteries were mobilized with; the 37th serving in the Italian campaign as a sub-unit of 17th Field regiment RCA; the 59th serving in a home defence role in Pacific Command as part of 21^st Field Regiment RCA; the 70th converting to light anti-aircraft and serving as part of the 8th LAA Regiment RCA in North-west Europe; and the 71st serving in the Italian campaign as part of the 8th field Regiment (SP) RCA. On 1 April 1943, the brigade was redesignated 26th (Reserve) Field Regiment RCA. On 1 April 1946, the regiment was further redesignated 26th Field Regiment (Self-propelled) RCA and organized with the Headquarters, 71st and 159^th Field Batteries (SP) RCA in Brandon and 70th Field Battery (SP) RCA in Fort Francis later relocated in Dauphin.

On 1 October 1954, 26th Field Regiment was reorganized with RHQ and 71st Field Battery (SP) RCA in Brandon, 38th Field Battery (SP) RCA in Portage la Prairie (reallocated from 48th Anti-Tank Regiment (SP) RCA) and 70^th Field Battery (SP) RCA in Dauphin.

On 12 April 1960, “Artillery” was added to the unit designation and on 1 November 1964 (SP) was removed from it. 31 January 1965 saw 26th Field Artillery Regiment expand to five field batteries with the additions of 13th Field Battery RCA in Virden and 19th Field Battery RCA in Neepawa. Both batteries were relocated to Winnipeg where they had been part of the 39th Field Regiment RCA, which had been placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle along with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons in Virden, and Neepawa became the cadre for both batteries. On 31 May 1968, 19 Field Battery RCA was relocated to Brandon. On 1 April 1970, 19th, 38th and 70th Field Batteries RCA were transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle. 13th Field Battery RCA was transferred to Portage la Prairie. 

26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA Pipe Band

In the spring of 1947, Captain W. Manson and Captain B. MacKay were appointed by the Commanding Officer, LCOL S.C. McLennan, to form a band. Captain Manson approached several former members of the Brandon Boys Pipe Band. The band had since become defunct and many accomplished pipers and drummers readily accepted Captain Manson’s invitation to form the Regimental Band. Authority was sought and received from King George VI to officially form the band. On 21 March 1949, 26th Field Regiment (SP) RCA became the first artillery unit in the British Commonwealth to have an authorized pipe band. The 26th Field Regiment RCA Pipe Band remains in Brandon and enjoys a solid reputation for the fine quality of music it provides.