64th Field Battery, RCA

Last updated

64th Field Battery, RCA
64e Batterie de campagne, ARC (French)
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Army
TypeField artillery
SizeOne battery
Part of 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Garrison/HQ Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Motto(s)Ubique (Latin for 'everywhere')
ColorsThe guns

The 64th Field Battery, RCA (French: 64e Batterie de campagne, ARC) is a sub-unit of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve artillery battery, under command of the 38 Canadian Brigade Group Artillery Tactical Group, and a component of 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA.

Contents

Lineage

The 64th Field Battery traces its ancestry back to the 1920 reorganizations of the Militia and the creation of The Yorkton Regiment on 15 May 1924. [1]

During the 1936 reorganizations, The Yorkton Regiment was redesignated the 64th (Yorkton) Field Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery on 15 December 1936.

History

The 64th (Yorkton) Field Battery did not initially mobilize for the Second World War.

In 1941, an active service unit was raised, which saw service with the 6th Canadian Infantry Division on the west coast. The battery later travelled to the United Kingdom, where it was broken up for reinforcements. Concurrently, a reserve battery continued its part-time service in Saskatchewan. Both batteries bore the designation "64th (Yorkton)".

After the Second World War, the battery was briefly designated as a heavy anti-aircraft battery, before converting back to field artillery in the mid-1950s. Originally a sub-unit of the 53rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, the battery was reassigned to the 10th Field Regiment in 1968.

Yorkton Armoury

Yorkton Armoury Yorkton Armoury.JPG
Yorkton Armoury

Early in the twentieth century, Yorkton men who had served in the Boer Wars of the 1880s and 1890s began planning for the establishment of a local militia. They approached Dr. E. L. Cash, Federal Member of Parliament for the constituency in hopes that he could influence the Dominion Government to erect military headquarters in Yorkton. With his influence, and the added encouragement of both the Board of Trade and the Town Council, authorization to organize was granted. One veteran of the last of the Boer Wars, Major Francis Pawlett was appointed officer in command of "B" Squadron, 16th Light Horse, and recruiting began.

It was decided to renovate the former Immigration Hall located across the railroad tracks, on Front Street South, between Tupper and Second Avenue. It housed 75 men and was equipped as a training centre. The drills consisted of both foot and mounted exercises.

As it happened, not long after they were organized, the First World War was declared. Sixty men of "B" Squadron headed for more training at one of Canada's largest camps at Valcartier, Quebec. The local armoury kept on being used as a recruiting centre and for basic training.

In 1920, when Yorkton's courthouse was constructed on Darlington Street, the courthouse on Livingstone became the second site for the Armoury. By 1922, it was outfitted for all units of Yorkton's militia, with officers' rooms, other ranks' rooms, drill hall, recreation centre, gymnasium, and a rifle range in the basement.

Beginning around 1929, local politicians began lobbying for a new building for the 64 (Yorkton) Field Battery, the First Yorkton Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battery, and the 16th Canadian Light Horse, which had been amalgamated with the Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles. The old building was inadequate, and so was the Highways warehouse that was being used for extra manoeuvres. With the help of the Federal Member of Parliament, George W. McPhee, they began plans for a new building.

It took several more years before the project could be completed. The original designs called for the main entrance to be facing south on Smith Street. By October 1938, the final plans were out. The architect was David Webster and the builder, Shoquist Construction Company, both from Saskatoon. The two-storey building, with the façade on First Avenue North was constructed of brick and Tyndal stone. Subcontracts went to local businesses: Plumber, E. H. Carter, Beck's Electric, and MacKay's Paint Shop. The total cost amounted to $32,000. The official opening took place in October 1939, one month after World War II was declared. Because of new security concerns, a ball planned for the occasion was cancelled. Only one person at a time, accompanied by a soldier could visit the premises.

Large-scale recruitment began. The main training took place at Regina and other camps. It did not take long for the soldiers to be sent to England for further mobilization. [2] [3]

Current service

The battery operates as part of the 38 Canadian Brigade Group's Artillery Tactical Group (ATG) and operates the C3 105 mm howitzer. The armoury houses the Reserve unit of the 64th Battery of the 10th Field Regiment, RCA. The building is utilized for the general operation of the unit, with offices, a drill hall where simulated artillery training takes place, and a few classrooms. It is the home of the 2834 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps, as well. There is a lounge, with a fireplace for social events. No military weaponry is on exhibit, save for General Alexander Ross' sword, and a pair of pikes from the 16th Light Horse. One full-time staff is in charge of the administration and training.

Equipment

Guns
Gun Tractors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery</span> Artillery branch of the Canadian Army

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is the artillery personnel branch of the Canadian Army.

The 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery is a militia regiment of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Field Artillery Regiment (Canada)</span> Military unit

The 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is a Royal Canadian Artillery reserve regiment. It is located in Montreal and shares its headquarters with The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) at the Côte-des-Neiges Armory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment</span> Military unit

The 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, is a Canadian Army reserve artillery regiment. It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 73 Hobson Lake Drive. The unit consists of two batteries, 51st and 84th Field Batteries. There are two units located within 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment. One is in Halifax and the other is the 84th Independent Field Battery located in Yarmouth NS. Both share the same Commanding Officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment</span> Military unit of Canada

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment is part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, one of four brigade groups of 4th Canadian Division. The regimental headquarters and one company are at 187 Pinnacle Street in Belleville and on Willmott Street in Cobourg, with another rifle company in Peterborough. The Peterborough Armoury houses what was traditionally B Company or Moro Company. Moro Company also serves as the headquarters for the regiment’s Assault Pioneer Platoon. Normally, the regiment deploys as a composite, Ortona Company, while the headquarters and administration form Somme Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)</span> Military unit

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Field Artillery Regiment (Canada)</span> Military unit

15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, is a Primary Reserve Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) regiment based in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Bessborough Armoury. 15th Field Regiment is part of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group of 3rd Canadian Division.

Beginning with establishment of Fort Calgary in 1875, the city of Calgary, Alberta, has had some degree of permanent military presence throughout its history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Riding Artillery</span> Military unit

The West Riding Artillery was formed as a group of volunteer units of the British Army in 1860. Its units later formed the divisional artillery of the West Riding Division of the Territorial Force in World War I and World War II. The West Riding Artillery's lineage is continued in a battery of today's Army Reserve

The 30th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is a bilingual Canadian Army artillery regiment located in Ottawa, Ontario, and is allocated to 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division. The unit parades at a new complex at the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) - Uplands Site following the collapse of their former location at CFRB Dows Lake under the weight of snow in 2009. The unit performs ceremonial gun salute duties when required in the National Capital area, and is a field unit equipped with 105 mm Howitzers, C3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd/10th Dragoons</span> Military unit

The 2nd/10th Dragoons was a militia regiment of the Canadian Army, based in the Niagara, Wentworth, and Brant regions of southern Ontario. It was formed in 1936 by amalgamating the 2nd and 10th Dragoons, both of which had served previously as cavalry units in the Canadian militia. After World War II the regiment was converted into an anti-aircraft artillery unit. In 1962 the regiment was converted into a field howitzer unit and in 1968, amid a downsizing of the Canadian Armed Forces, the regiment was reduced drastically before eventually being completely disbanded in the mid-1990s. The regiment is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

The Yorkton Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. It was formed in 1924, when The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924) was reorganized into four separate regiments, and was located in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. In 1936, the regiment was converted from infantry to artillery and currently exists today as the 64th Field Battery, RCA.

The 50th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery was a Canadian Army Reserve artillery regiment based in Peterborough, Ontario. The regiment exists "on paper" on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

The 116th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery is a Canadian Army Reserve independent artillery battery based in Kenora, Ontario, which forms part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group. The battery parades at the Kenora Armoury, 800-11th Avenue North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Expeditionary Force artillery from Prince Edward Island</span> Military unit

A number of militia artillery batteries were raised in Prince Edward Island from 1875. When the First World War broke out, three battery-sized units were raised and deployed from the island as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers and its successor units served in the British Army's Reserve Forces from 1859 to 1961. During World War I it carried out garrison duty in British India but went on to see active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Converting to an air defence role before World War II its units participated in the Norwegian campaign and the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and then the campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and Burma

The 1st Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery from 1860 to 1956. Raised as coastal defence artillery, the unit later served as field artillery in Mesopotamia during World War I, and as anti-aircraft artillery during the Blitz and in the Middle East during World War II.

The Cheshire Artillery Volunteers was a brigade of Volunteer artillery units raised in the county of Cheshire in the mid-19th century. Their successors served as field artillery in Palestine during World War I and as anti-aircraft (AA) gunners in the Middle East in World War II. They continued in the air defence role in the Territorial Army until 1955.

The Saskatoon Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. The regiment was formed in 1924, when The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924) was reorganized into four separate regiments. In 1955, the regiment was amalgamated with The Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers to form The North Saskatchewan Regiment.

The 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is an artillery regiment of the Canadian Army Primary Reserve. Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, the regiment forms part of the 38 Canadian Brigade Group of the 3rd Canadian Division.

References

  1. regiments.org
  2. "Yorkton Armouries". Archived from the original on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  3. "Canada's Historic Places (Yorkton Armoury)" . Retrieved 21 July 2014.

Published histories