24 Pounder Field Howitzers
New Westminster, British Columbia

The Seymour Artillery Company was formed on 16 July, 1866 due to perceived threats from Fenian Groups in the United States of America. The Fenians were groups of Irish Americans who believed that there was a possibility of invading Canada and using it for a negotiated trade for a free Ireland. Composed of many former Civil War veterans, the Fenians staged several unsuccesful attempts in the Niagara peninsula. Several battles were fought between the Fenians and the British Regulars and Canadian Militia. On the West Coast, a force of Fenians arrived in San Francisco and unsuccessfully tried to hire a boat to sail North.

The two bronze field howitzers arrived on 15 September 1866 on board Her Majesties Ship Sparrowhawk and were used for training and local defence until 1873.

The unit was very poorly equipped with the government only providing the guns, rifles and ammunitions. The troops were unpaid volunteers. Many of the uniforms were made by a local tailor in New Westminster and the accoutrements formerly belonged to the Royal Engineers that had previously been stationed in the city.

There is also a tale that the Hyack Battery, which provides a 21 "gun" ceremonial salute by igniting gunpowder placed between two anvils, was created to replace the ceremonial function of the Seymour Artillery Company when the guns were in such disrepair that a salute was deemed unsafe.

The two guns are mounted in front of the New Westminster City Hall. They were restored in 2004 by the Royal Westminster Regiment Historical Society. A plaque provides a short history and thanks the major sponsors, the City of New Westminster and the Millenium Committee.

The cannons both bear an ornate cipher of the reigning British Monarch at the time of their production, what appears to be a production cipher and a date stamped in the trunnion of 1858. Further text on ciphers will be posted in the future.

Additional information on the Seymour Battery can be found at Seymour Battery

Please note: The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is seeking additional enhancements to this article. If you have higher quality photographs or additional historic facts, please do not hesitate to contact us through the Heritage board on our discussion forum.

Information provided by LCol L. Jensen