History
Over the top RCA Museum exhibit
Brayden Sutherland is a summer student working at the RCA Museum at CFB Shilo. He is seen holding the "Over the Top: Canada and the First World War" historic needlepoint on display. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)K-J MillarShilo Stag Media, with files from...
80th Anniversary of D-Day – Largest Military invasion in history
Photo: SUPPLIED: Canadian Press war correspondent Ross Munro typing a story in the field in Italy, August 1943 (Library and Archives Canada).Submitted by RCA Museum, By: Johnathon Ferguson, First Published in Gunner 2021 The 80th anniversary of D-Day is commemorated...
Historic uniforms, outward symbol of commitment, identity and ethos at RCA Museum
Colonel D.T. Irwin's tunic is held in the RCA Museum at CFB Shilo. (Photo: Supplied)Shilo Stag SubmissionBy: Venessa Léger, RCA Museum Uniforms to the Canadian Army are considered an "outward symbol of its commitment, identity and ethos" that members should wear...
Lieutenant-General marks Women’s History Month
More than 50, 000 women joined CAF in Second World War
RCA Museum’s growing collections requires larger locations since opening in 1962
The origins of the RCA Museum started well before its official opening in 1962. After the Second World War, senior officers in the Canadian Artillery wanted a centralized museum to honour the service of the more than 200,000 Canadian Gunners who had served in peace and war since 1855.
SSgt served in two wars, wife donated photographs to RCA Museum
Occasionally, RCA Museum staff are lucky enough to find artifacts which tell a complete story. Such is the case with a collection of old photos and records donated years ago by Mary Bennett, wife of the late SSgt Albert Thomas Bennett. The documents tell the story of a man who chose to dedicate most of his life to military service and found a home within the Army.
Letters from France ceased after Pte Cecil Minary was killed on Aug. 28, 1918
During the First World War, Pte Cecil Minary served in the CEF, beginning his military training at Camp Hughes before being sent to England for further training. He saw his first action in France shortly after Canada participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. His great-great-grandniece Kendra Minary, of Souris, spent the COVID pandemic examining the letters originals he wrote from England and France before he was killed on Aug. 28, 1918.
Despite commitment to war effort, Black soldiers faced racism at home, overseas
On July 5, 1916, the Department of Defence and Militia authorized the formation of No. 2 Construction Battalion. It was the largest Black unit in Canadian history. Its members continued the proud tradition of service to king and country that went back to the American Revolution and continued through the War of 1812 and the Rebellions of 1837–38 to the start of the First World War.
Italian Campaign starts — Defence, Veterans Affairs Ministers mark the 80th anniversary of invasion of Sicily
Eighty years ago, the Allied invasion of Sicily marked the start of the Italian Campaign in the Second World War. Code named Op Husky, the invasion of Sicily marked one of the largest seaborne operations in military history. Canadians were critical to its success.
1RCHA’s history started 125 years ago
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment what is now known as 1RCHA, originally based on A and B Batteries – the first “full-time” or “regular” elements of the post-Confederation Canadian Army. This is a significant Canadian military and Gunner milestone.
