The Royal
Canadian Artillery Museum
The Best of
Military History
Shilo, MB
July 14, 2000
While 
staying
in Brandon we had an opportunity to visit one of Canada's more
celebrated military museums. Just 20 minutes east of Brandon is
the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum, which has dedicated itself
to presenting the history of the Artillery Regiments which have
come and gone over the years. It is the home to a unique
collection of artillery and related artifacts. The history of
artillery in Canada goes back to the beginning of Canada's
military history, with the creation of both Canada's regular
Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The museum
displays over 10,000 items from its inception, right up to
present day. A multitude of exhibits offer a look into every
major conflict involvingCanadians since Confederation. Starting
with the Canadian Rebellion of the 1880s when Louis Riel led the
Metis people in protest against the establishment of Canadian
authority over land the government had recently acquired from the
Hundson's Bay Company, resulting in Riel's exile to the US. He
later returned to Canada to lead the Metis and aboriginal people
in open rebellion against the Canadian authority in northern
Saskatchewan and Alberta. Hostilities began in March of 1885, as
a band of Metis led by
Gabriel Dumont
clashed with North West Mounted Police at Duck Lake. The call
went out to "A" and "B" batteries of the
newly formed Canadian Artillery and soon the Gunners were moving
westward. The newly completed Canadian Pacific Railway allowed
rapid movement of the troops, but gaps along the shores of Lake
Superior had to be negotiated on horseback and foot. The climate
and terrain made this passage the most trying ordeal of the
campaign. By April, the two batteries had joined General
Middleton's forces assembled at Fort Qu'Appelle. Here the
batteries separated, one battery each assigned to the two main
bodies surrounding Riel's forces. "A" Battery joined a
detachment that moved eastward from Edmonton to engage the Metis
at Frenchmen's Butte. After sporadic fighting , Riel surrendered
on the 7th of May 1885. His chief lieutenants, Pondmaker, Dumont
and Big Bear soon 
followed. Riel was hanged for treason
at Regina on November 16, 1885, despite protest from native
people and petitions from French Canadians to commute his
sentence. Members of "A" and "B" Batteries
remained in the West until 1886 to help the Police re-establish
order. The Gunners had made their contribution to the North West
Campaign, supporting the infantry by bringing direct fire on the
enemy. They did this out in the open, exposed to hostile fire
"over open sights". This style of fighting prevailed in
the artillery in the years following the campaign. The outcome of
the North West Campaign continues to effect Canadian society to
the present day. There were displays on Canada's coastal
batteries. In the earliest days, the Artillery was divided into
two groups. Mounted or Field Artillery and Dismounted or Garrison
Artillery. The Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, assumed
responsibility for coastal defense, garrison and siege artillery.
As garrison life could be monotonous, competitions sponsored by
the Dominion Artillery Association proved a welcome relief from
militia training and guard duty. Gunners competed fiercely for
positions on teams representing Canada at the National Artillery
Associations Competitions at Shoeburyness, England. Conversely,
aid to the civil power or "strike duty", while
necessary was considered much less appealing. It was the
unpleasant duty of the 
Garrison Artillery to remain behind
to defend Canada's borders during two world wars. They helped
train the men who were destined for the front lines of Europe,
and longed to join their comrades overseas. Most never saw
action. In July 1914 the RCGA was ordered to forts on both coasts
to help local militia units defend against possible attack. Most
would spend the war training troops for overseas duty and
endlessly watching the sea. A few were sent to St. Lucia, a
British garrison in the Lesser Antilles where, if the duty was no
more exciting then the Atlantic watch, at least the weather was
amenable. In 1924 the RCGA dropped the word "Garrison"
from its title and its companies became batteries of the Royal
Canadian Artillery. The inter-war years brought other changes to
"Garrison" artillery; new roles such as Anti-Aircraft,
Heavy and Super Heavy Artillery had developed during the First
World War. Coastal defenses assumed renewed importance during the
Second World War. Submarine and air warfare had advanced greatly.
Japan's entry into the war increased the threat to Canada's West
coast. New coastal defense installations sprang up. Guns were in
short supply. Every available gun was pressed into service,
including 6 pounders that had not been in service since the last
century. Most of the guns available to Canada throughout its
artillery existence are represented somewhere within the
building.
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