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1989 Edited Version of EARLY HISTORY of 5 (British Columbia)

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1989 Edited Version of EARLY HISTORY of 5 (British Columbia) © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added ELECTRONIC DRAFT VERSION of 1989 Edited Version of EARLY HISTORY OF 5 (British Columbia) Field Regiment Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery As written by LCol F.A. Robertson 1925 ONLY FOR INTERNAL USE OF 5 RCA Museum & Archives - new pictures and more info telling the early story of the 1861 formation of artillery to be included at a later date. Page 1 of 194 © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added FOREWORD This publication is based on a document originally produced by Lieut-Colonel Francis Arthur Robertson, DSO, at the close of his tenure as the Commanding Officer of the 5th B.C. Regiment of British Columbia. He produced three copies of this unpublished manuscript, entitled,5th (B.C.) Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery and Early Defences of the B.C. Coast: Historical Records by lieut. Colonel F. A. Robertson. One copy is located in the Public Archives of Canada, one copy is held in the Provincial Archives of British Columbia and the third copy, originally presented to the Officers Mess of the 5th, is presently in the care of a former officer of the unit. Where possible we have reproduced the original manuscript but have included material and added specific dates which subsequent research has revealed. The EdItorial Committee: Mr. Robert L. Clapp, Mr. D. W. Falconer, August26,1989 MajorPhilipA.Sherwin Page 2 of 194 © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Editorial Committee would like to express its appreciation to the following people whose dedicated support and contribution made the completion of this project possible: The Regimental Board of Trustees for access to the original documents; Lieut. Colonel David I. Smith, Commanding Officer and R.S.M. L. B. Woolven, for their enthusiasm and support; Corporal Jean Marsh (nee Dowler) for her endless hours of typing; and the former members of the Regiment who contributed their memories. Page 3 of 194 © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added PREFACE The Fifth (BC) Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery , with headquarters at Victoria, has the honour of being the oldest continuous serving militia unit now existing in Western Canada. Although the Canadian Militia List shows that this Regiment was organized on October 12th, 1883 it should be remembered that the organization of the Regiment was an amalgamation of several military units which had been formed many years earlier. The various units which were united in a single Regiment in 1883 included The Victoria Battery, formed in 1878; the Seymour Battery of New Westminister, formed as a Volunteer Company in 1866; and one company of Victoria Rifles, first organized as a volunteer unit in 1862. Citizens of Victoria have reason to be proud of their Artillery Regiment which during the last sixty-three years has included in its membership a great number of the most prominent and respected men in the District, and has had for Commanding Officers such distinguished men as General Sir Arthur Currie, Lieutenant Colonel E. G. Prior, late Lieutenant Governor of British Co|umbia; Lieutenant Colonel F. B. Gregory, Judge of the Supreme Court; and other men of note in civic life. There are still a number of men living who were actively ident- ified with military activities in the early days, and with the valuable assistance of some of these "old timers" I have spent much of my spare time in collecting and arranging the material for this historical record in order that the traditions of the Regiment may be preserved for future generations. In presenting a copy to the Officers' Mess as a souvenir on my retirement as Commanding Officer I wish every success to those who remain to carry on the good work. Although the Militia should train men to fight, the chief importance of this training is that it ensures, to a certain extent, a guarantee for peace. To be prepared for any eventuality is often the best means of preventing its occurrence. It is hoped, therefore, that the story of the Regiment as told in this book may be an inspiration to present and future officers to hold the standard high and always ensure for the old "5th" a degree of efficiency in keep- ing with the Regimental Motto "Nunquam Non Paratus." (Sgd) F. A. Robertson Lieutenant Colonel Victoria, B.C. January 31st, 1925. Page 4 of 194 © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added Chapter I THE NEW COLONY A gentle breeze rippled the surface of James Bay Harbour where two British man-o-war ships, H.M.S. CORMORANT and H.M.S. DRIVER, rode quietly at anchor. The ship's officers gathered with Hudson's Bay Company officials, employees, and residents in the "big room" of Fort Victoria, where a significant ceremony was about to begin. Attention was focused on a rather young looking man who was reading from a parchment bearing the Seal of Queen Victoria. The man was Richard Blanshard and the document from which he read was his commission as the first Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island. The arrival of the new Governor from England signalled the end of expansionist dreams of a number of nations in the Pacific North-West. Ships of the Spanish fleet had been particularly active along the North-West coast of America from 1774 to 1790 as Spain searched for new areas to expand its empire. In 1774 Juan Perez sailed as far north as the Queen Charlotte Islands and in 1775 Captain Hecate and Captain Quadra, on a further exploration, continued north into Alaskan waters. Manuel Quimper also carried out extensive survey work during 1790. The use of Spanish names on our charts today reflects their early presence in our area. Captain James Cook, in H.M.S. RESOLUTION and Commander Chas. Clarke, in H.M.S. DISCOVERY, arrived on the coast during a voyage of discovery in 1778. Cook's mission was to search for a shorter water route to Europe or to Hudson's Bay, and to take possession of important locations not already claimed. They also made a general survey of the north-west coast from the proximity of 45 degrees latitude to the Arctic regions, including Nootka Sound. The sheltered cove at Nootka on the west coast of Vancouver Island attracted vessels of many nations and served as the focal point of their operations. Nootka, was claimed by both England and Spain with the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. Cook's group remained at Nootka almost a month in order to refit their vessels, then continued north where stormy seas forced them to bear well away from the coastline. The explorers reached the Arctic Circle and then just beyond 70 degrees latitude they encountered a vast expanse of ice which discouraged further progress. The search for a passage to the Atlantic was abandoned at this time and the group set sail for a winter haven in the Sandwich Islands. Shortly after their arrival at the Islands, Cook met his untimely death in an encounter with the natives. Page 5 of 194 © 1989 - The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Foundation, Victoria BC – Only for internal use of 5 RCA Museum & archives – new pictures and info to be added Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish merchant adventurers had established profitable markets across the Pacific Ocean. Spanish control had reached Mexico and California. A shorter N.W. water passage became even more desirable as the British switched their area of commerce from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. Encroachment by the Russians, and the arrival of U.S. vessels added to the deteriorating conditions between nations. In 1789 the Spanish prepared to defend their outpost, and erected a fort at Nootka. The ship's heavy guns were removed and remounted within the fort. This was the first occasion of Vancouver Island being protected by guns in a coast defence role. As tensions eased, equal rights to trade and establish settlements in the new territory were ceded to England by Spain, as specified in the Nootka Convention of 1790. Ships of the Royal Navy however did not return to the N.W. coast of America until 1792. Early in the year, Captain George Vancouver, commanding H.M.S. DISCOVERY, and Lieut. Commander William Broughton in command of H.M.S. CHATHAM, set sail from England on a further voyage of discovery. Captain Vancouver's ships entered Juan De Fuca's Strait on 30 April, 1792, and followed the south shore as far as Port Discovery. Puget Sound was also charted. While surveying in the vicinity of Desolation Sound they met the Spanish explorers, Galiano and Valdez. For a time they worked together with a mutual exchange of charts. Parting company, Vancouver's group continued in a northerly direction and in early August reached the broad expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Upon entering the open sea, Vancouver thus became the first man to prove the coastline they had been exploring for 350 miles was not part of the mainland but was, indeed, an island. Vancouver followed the coast of the mainland to Fitzhugh Sound, then turned south for his historic meeting at Nootka with representatives from Spain.
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