A re-dedicated silver cup from the 1800s, now known as the Francis Cup in memorium to a fallen CFB Shilo soldier, is presented to the A Queens Battery at the 125th-anniversary celebration of 1 RCHA on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag
First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) celebrated 125 years with a first-time memorial cup presentation in honour of a fallen soldier, barbecue lunch and cake cutting after a morning of friendly sports rivalry on Dec. 1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Joe O’Donnell, commanding officer of 1 RCHA, said unique to the celebrations was the inaugural awarding of the new Francis Cup, given to the overall winner of the sports competition day.
“Captain Jeff Francis was a member of this unit who deployed with 2 RCHA out of Petawawa in 2007,” he said.
Francis, born on Remembrance Day, was a member of 1 RCHA who was killed, along with six others, near Kandahar in July 2007 when the vehicle in which they were travelling hit a roadside bomb.
The regiment re-dedicated a silver prize cup from the 1800s in memorium of his life and contributions, now known as the Francis Cup.
“This straddles the history of this regiment, along with the current history of our most recent fallen who was killed in action in Afghanistan,” he said.
Mica Francis, sister of Jeff Francis, attended the ceremony in person, with other family members attending online.
Russ Francis, Jeff’s father, addressed the more than 350 attendees from his home in Nova Scotia and said his family is thankful his son’s contributions are being recognized in such a way.
“You keep him present and alive in minds and memories for many years to come. This cup is a tangible demonstration of the high esteem and level of professionalism that you saw in him,” the senior Francis said.
“He would be proud. For this, Jeff’s family is eternally and profoundly grateful. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and send all our appreciation and best wishes to you.”
Mica Francis told Shilo Stag News that being at CFB Shilo for such an occasion after her last visit 15 years ago was wonderful.
“What an honour it is for us, for Jeff to be honoured this way, 16 years after he lost his life in Afghanistan. It is truly amazing for us that after all these years, he is still not just thought of but is being remembered and honoured in this way.”
Lieutenant-Colonel O’Donnell said Jeff was an avid sports fan.
“He was known for his camaraderie, teamwork and cohesion. He was a fan of martial arts. He was a fan of philosophy in the military. We wanted to recognize him with his own distinct cup for a sports day just because he was such an athlete.”
December 1 is the day the battalion recognizes as its unit birthday.
“Today is 1 RCHA’s 125th birthday,” the commanding officer said.
“Though our history goes beyond 125 years. (The) A and B Batteries are the first two components of the regular force after post-confederation and are actually just over 152 years.”
He said the 150th anniversary for them and the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) was celebrated in 2021.
“We commenced the [125th anniversary] celebrations on May 26, which is Artillery Day, in order to have a series … of events, small in scale, yet meaningful over the past six months.”
Celebrations included elements such as new King of Battles shirts given to troops for continuous wear, shoulder patches to wear on the CADPAT (Canadian disruptive pattern camouflage) uniforms for a limited time, as well as sports days and cakes.
Participants in the Dec. 1 sports day played in volleyball, soccer and outdoor ball hockey, with more physical fitness still to come throughout the month, he said, adding the Kingston Cup, the biggest hockey game on Base, would be played on Dec. 4.
Cups and trophies were presented to the outstanding teams at the birthday barbecue lunch, with the Francis Cup awarded to the A Queens Battery in recognition of outstanding performance on regimental sports day.
The C/Z Battery was presented with the Association Football Challenge Cup for their win in indoor soccer. The Volleyball cup was won by B Battery (Bty).
The A Queens Bty also won the cornhole competition, which is a bean bag toss integrated into the competition to ensure members with medical limitations from injuries had the opportunity to participate in the 125th anniversary sports day.
The Frozen Mukluk, which was last awarded in 2018, was presented to A Bty for their win in outdoor ball hockey.
“It’s been a great day and really enjoyable. It’s great to see gunners who are competitive by nature give it their all. Sports and soldiers go hand in hand. Finishing it with a day like this … is a good way to end a celebration.” LCol O’Donnell said.
A re-dedicated silver cup from the 1800s, now known as the Francis Cup in memorium to a fallen CFB Shilo soldier, is presented by 1 RCHA Command Team and Mica Francis, sister of Jeff Francis at the anniversary celebration of 1 RCHA on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
The five cups ready for awarding after the regimental sports day to celebrate the 125th anniversary of 1 RCHA on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
More than 350 attended the barbecue lunch after the regimental sports day to celebrate the 125th anniversary of 1 RCHA on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
More than 350 attended the barbecue lunch after the regimental sports day to celebrate the 125th anniversary of 1 RCHA on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
It’s all good at the 125th 1 RCHA birthday celebration where more than 350 attended the barbecue lunch after the regimental sports day on Dec.1 Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News