History
Cyphers date cannons, plus feature pertinent manufacturing, ownership information
January 31, 2023
Upon entering the RCA Museum’s artillery gallery, visitors pass two small cannons standing guard solemnly. If they examine the pair, museum goers will notice some elegant-looking crests decorating the barrels. These markings, called monograms or cyphers, hold information about the ownership, manufacturing, and date of the cannons.
Gen Tanding inspects soldiers at South Camp
January 30, 2023
I received your welcome letter and also one from Berta Prette last evening so yesterday was not to bad at all, that is right as you said keep writing all along for a letter from Manitoba is better than a day of drill.
Army targets private for sniper training
January 26, 2023
Well hear (sic) is the old boy again feeling the same as usual and hoping you all are the same. The mail this week has been pretty good, there were two letters for me on Wednesday one from Annie and Lucy Prette and the other from Annie then this morning there were two more one from Annie and Lucy and from you too.
Searching for peacekeeping artifacts, RCA Museum discover LCol Bert Leggett’s white patrol dress uniform
January 20, 2023
For a recent temporary exhibition, RCA Museum staff combed the archives in search of artifacts connected to Canadian peacekeeping. Staff found a white patrol dress uniform belonging to LCol H.F. ‘Bert’ Leggett, who wore it while serving with the International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) in the former French Indochina in the late 1950s.
Canada’s Airborne Regiment born as non-artillery roles during Second World War in summer 1942 — served in significant campaigns like D-Day Landing
January 12, 2023
Canada first went airborne with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and the First Special Services Forces in non-artillery roles in July 1942.
These soldiers served in significant Second World War campaigns, including the D-Day Landing. In June 1944, Canadian Gunners assumed artillery roles with 1, 2 and 3 Forward Observation Units in the British Airborne Division. Their primary purpose was to direct ground artillery fire and assist with counter-mortar operations.
What do you know about Canoe River Memorial Park monuments?
January 11, 2023
The RCA Museum is responsible for three monuments at Canoe River Memorial Park, with the artifacts on our registry. We also have signage at the park — located in the middle of the Base and open to the public year-round — for each artifact for those stopping to take photographs or explore what’s on display. In the museum’s archives, we have references to the park dating back to the 1950s.
Dusty photo album holds 35th Battery treasures for RCA Museum
January 8, 2023
Who were the Canadian volunteers which served overseas during the First World War? By chance, I located in the museum archives an old album containing hundreds of First World War photographs belonging to Capt George A. Downey. The collection includes excellent photos of the 35th Battery with 4.5-inch Howitzers in liberated Mons, Belgium, dated November 1918.
Rare photographs depicting Camp Shilo in 1930s found in museum archives
January 6, 2023
I recently found a collection of rare photographs depicting Camp Shilo in the 1930s. The photos represent snapshots of the early history of this Army training Base, with militia units from across Manitoba participating in summer training camp showcasing canvas tents, summer dress uniforms, and a few permanent buildings.
BComd Col Francis appalled by amount of vandalism, petty thievery on Base
January 5, 2023
I am very pleased to have been appointed to command Canadian Forces Base Shilo and the Royal Canadian School of Artillery. I first came to Shilo 28 years ago as a gunner in the militia; since then as a regular army artillery officer, I have been resuming regularly on postings and courses. My family and I lived here from 1949 to 1951. My first recollection of Shilo is of a flat plain containing a water tower, three or four buildings, and acres of bell tents.
Private in France writing less letters home due to constant movement on front lines
January 4, 2023
Hello Teddy and how are you anyway feeling jake a loo I hope and ready for a tussle any old time eh? I am getting worse instead of better at this letter writing am I not, you are thinking by this time that I am beginning to not care wheather (sic) I write or not but that is not the case, I have been shifted around so much latley (sic) that I really never was long enough in any one place to start letter writing properly and then I had got no mail for a whole month untill (sic) last night when I got seventeen letters dated all the way from November 18th to January 3rd, two of them were from you Nov 25th and Dec 16th.
