1st Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
Encyclopedia
The 1st Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, is a Canadian Forces
reserve artillery
regiment
. It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the Halifax Armoury
. The unit consists of two batteries
, the 51st and 84th Field Batteries (87th Field Battery existing only on paper since the late 1990's).
The regiment traces its lineage back to the Halifax Volunteer Artillery, which may have been in existence as early as 1776. The unit was officially recognized in 1791 and served into the mid-19th century, when it underwent a series of name changes. In 1885, the unit, then known as the 1st "Halifax" Brigade of Garrison Artillery, sent two batteries with the Halifax Provisional Battalion
to participate in the suppression of North-West Rebellion
. At the onset of World War I
the 1st Halifax, by then designated as the 1st "Halifax" Regiment, CA, was called to active duty. It provided home defence in Halifax and served as a training unit for new artillery recruits throughout the war. It reverted to militia status after the end of the conflict and went through another series of name changes.
In 1939, as World War II
loomed, the unit, by then known as the "1st (Halifax) Coast Brigade, RCA", was again called to active service. As in World War I, the 1st Halifax served in a home defence capacity and trained new recruits. The unit was re-designated as the "1st (Halifax) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA" in 1942 and armed with British-made QF 3.7 inch AA gun
s.
After the end of World War II, in 1955, the unit was re-armed with American-made 90 mm gun
s and re-designated as a Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment. It acquired its current name, the 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, in 1960 when it was issued 105 mm howitzer
s and merged with the 36th Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, from Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia
.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
reserve artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the Halifax Armoury
Halifax Armoury
The Halifax Armoury is a prominent and historic structure in central Halifax Nova Scotia. The armoury was designed in 1895 by Chief Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller, and was opened the next year and work on the structure was completed in 1899. While the exterior is based on a medieval castle, it...
. The unit consists of two batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, the 51st and 84th Field Batteries (87th Field Battery existing only on paper since the late 1990's).
The regiment traces its lineage back to the Halifax Volunteer Artillery, which may have been in existence as early as 1776. The unit was officially recognized in 1791 and served into the mid-19th century, when it underwent a series of name changes. In 1885, the unit, then known as the 1st "Halifax" Brigade of Garrison Artillery, sent two batteries with the Halifax Provisional Battalion
Halifax Provisional Battalion
The Halifax Provisional Battalion was a military unit from Nova Scotia, Canada, which was sent to fight in the North-West Rebellion in 1885. The battalion was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James J...
to participate in the suppression of North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
. At the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the 1st Halifax, by then designated as the 1st "Halifax" Regiment, CA, was called to active duty. It provided home defence in Halifax and served as a training unit for new artillery recruits throughout the war. It reverted to militia status after the end of the conflict and went through another series of name changes.
In 1939, as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
loomed, the unit, by then known as the "1st (Halifax) Coast Brigade, RCA", was again called to active service. As in World War I, the 1st Halifax served in a home defence capacity and trained new recruits. The unit was re-designated as the "1st (Halifax) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA" in 1942 and armed with British-made QF 3.7 inch AA gun
QF 3.7 inch AA gun
The 3.7-Inch QF AA was Britain's primary heavy anti-aircraft gun during World War II. It was roughly the equivalent of the German 88 mm FlaK but with a slightly larger calibre of 94 mm and superior performance. It was used throughout World War II in all theatres except the Eastern Front...
s.
After the end of World War II, in 1955, the unit was re-armed with American-made 90 mm gun
90 mm gun
The American 90 mm family of guns served as primary heavy anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, playing a role similar to the renowned German 88 mm gun. They were the US's primary anti-aircraft guns from just prior to the opening of World War II into the 1950s when most AAA was replaced by missile...
s and re-designated as a Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment. It acquired its current name, the 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, in 1960 when it was issued 105 mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s and merged with the 36th Medium Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, from Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia
Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia
Eastern Passage is a Canadian urban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.Located at the southeastern edge of Halifax Harbour, fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Passage derives its name from the narrow strait separating the mainland from McNabs Island and Lawlor Island, both...
.