In the fall of 2005, the CMRS was contacted to arrange a grouping of World War II vehicles. These were to participate at the head of the parade along with veterans from all over the lower mainland. After 4 weeks of exhausting organization, phone calls and emails, the CMRS arranged to have 19 restored vehicles, 3 trailers and one 25 pounder Field Gun. All of this accompanied by owners and drivers dressed in historically correct period uniforms. In short a $250,000.00 display from as far away as Chilliwack, B.C. Thousands of dollars were spent on behalf of the members who along with the CMRS consisted of Western Command Vehicle Historical Society and the 15th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. This event was to be the final salute to "The Year of the Veteran". Unfortunately, what parade organizers and various other departments promised our section of the parade (honouring the Veterans) was not delivered. Obviously Pamela Anderson takes precedence over our Veterans.
1). Although promised dozens of Veterans to ride in the vehicles, this failed to be and only 6 to 8 Veterans accompanied us along the route.
2). In spite of what was agreed to in meetings and emails, this portion of the parade was started around the corner from the VIP stand and CBC cameras. Thus, the entire country missed out on what could have been and should have been, a final crowning tribute of an appreciative nation in The Year of the Veteran!
Awaiting the veterans |
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| 15 Field Regiment Museum's 1941 Canadian Field Artillery Tractor along with the limber and 25 pounder field gun. | Assisting veteran Keith King of Surrey, BC into the C60L's cab. Keith served in the RCAF on operations in Halifax bombers during WWII. | Keith King standing proud in the observers hatch of the C60L |
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A view of the parade from the Field Artillery Tractor. | |
| On a somewhat lighter note... at the dispersal area for the parade the CMRS was asked to accompany the Field Artillery Tractor back to Bessborough Armoury, along the with 2 jeeps. The final stop was to be the Billy Bishop Legion. Accompanying the author in the 3 Ton C60L was a wonderful gentleman by the name of Harry Hill, Burnaby, B.C. | |
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Canadian
RCAF veteran Harry Hill of Burnaby, BC. Notice his N (Navigator) wing
and "O" Operations wing. Harry served on Halifax bombers
in WWII. After the Grey Cup parade he rode through Vancouver in the
C60L and had his own little parade, waving to people in offices and
on the sidewalks. Harry served with the RCAF as a Navigator on Halifax Bombers during WWII. Having never been in a CMP truck, Harry stood out the observers hatch while our little entourage wound its way through bumper to bumper traffic and bumper to bumper Grey Cup specators. Horns honked, arms, hands waved and saluted and Vancouver was treated to Harry Hill Day, a very close second to the Grey Cup Parade. We treated Harry to his own celebration (plus a couple of beers at the Billy Bishop Legion). Upon dropping Harry off at his home later that afternoon, Harry could not get over his mini parade and told us it was the best day of his life. We were honoured to achieve this for Harry's sake. |
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The famed Gatling gun was used at the Battle of Batoche in May 1885. Legend says that the Gatling gun was knocked into the river when the steamer Northcote hit the ferry cable which the rebels had lowered. In fact, the Gatling gun had been removed from the boat just before the battle and was used in the land battle. Bullet holes from it can still be seen in the Rectory at Batoche, by the upper window. One bullet wounded the priest. The Gatling gun was invented by a Doctor Gatling and who hoped it make war unthinkable due to the carnage that it could cause. http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/Gatling_Gun.htm |
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