WW1 CEF 61st Overseas Field Battery RCA Canadian Lethbridge Sweetheart STERLING
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:127258 |
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Up for auction is a rare WW1 sweetheart pin, to the 61st Overseas Field Battery (from Lethbridge, Alberta.) WW1 Canadian numbered artillery badges are hard to find, especially as sweetheart pins! The badge is in beautiful condit...ion, with a nice aged silver patina, beautiful enamel work and a attractive front design. The badge depicts a artillery cannon with "61" in the centre wheel, with beautiful red enamel work. The Scroll "QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT" (or "Everywhere where right and glory lead") is on the lower section of the badge in blue enamel, with "Canada" on the top blue enamelled scroll below the Kings Crown (in red enamel). Reverse is nicely maker marked "SSR" on top section (I have had many Canadian WW1 Sweetheart badges from this maker), with a clear "Sterling Silver" mark in the centre. The lower section originally had a small pin which has since come off, this can easily and inexpensively be replaced at most jewelers. Please see my other auctions for the 61st Overseas Field Battery cap badge, which was purchased from the same estate and is being sold from my private collection.
I purchased this badge with another 61st Lethbridge Overseas Field Battery cap badge (also listed) years ago at an estate in Lethbridge, Alberta! These have been some of my favorite badges in my collection but it is time to let them go, I hope they are displayed and enjoyed!
A rare piece of Lethbridge history, this would be an excellent addition to any WW1 Alberta, Canadian or military badge collection! While the unit was disbanded, Lethbridge currently has the 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA
This would look great in any WW1 CEF badge, commonwealth cap badge or general militaria display!
Some History on the Lethbridge 61st Overseas Field Battery:
The 61st Battery was mobilized February 26, 1916 as the 61st Overseas Depot Battery CEF. They stayed briefly at the Lethbridge (Alberta) Exhibition grounds, and then moved to Petawawa (training camp) in Ontario at the end of May 1916. The Cameronia took the 61st men to Liverpool, England, where they arrived on September 23rd, 1916. Their first stay was at Witley Camp. At this point they numbered 195 all ranks. They trained in England about one year, and arrived in France on August 21st, 1917 under the command of Major G. S. Brown.
It was designated the 61st Overseas Field Battery on April 3, 1916, and on September 11, 1916 as the 61st Battery CFA, CEF. (Kilford, pg. 42)
Lethbridge ArmouriesLethbridge was home to the 1st artillery armoury on the western prairies.
On 1 February 1908 Major (later Brigadier General) Stewart formed and took command of the 25th Field Battery, which at the time had the unique honour of being the further west battery of field artillery in the British Empire. The Stewart home was the first armoury in Lethbridge and, thus, the 1st artillery armoury on the western prairies.
John Stewart noted this about the original Armoury as well as the equipment used by the original battery:
“As there was no Armoury in the town, equipment for the battery, along with the guns, was kept in my horse barn and a certain amount of the training was done on the vacant lots near the barn at 631 - 8th Street South. [The horse barn, now used as a storage shed, still stands behind the Stewart residence at 631 - 8th Street South, Lethbridge.] The Oath of Allegiance was administered and the battery Roll signed in the back yard where an old packing case was used as a desk for the occasion.
The armament consisted of four 12-pounder Mark 1 guns along with one wagon and limber for each gun. The guns were kept in the open with only breech and muzzle covers for protections. The harness and the gun stores were kept under cover in the barn. We retained this equipment and used it at the camps held in the sunmiers of 1910 and 1911. Each gun and each wagon was drawn by four horses, each driver having to manage a team. The camps were first held at East Calgary and then moved to the Sarcee camp on the Indian Reserve
For the first two years we used the 12-pounder guns and the old type harness with neck collars and rope traces. The greatest difficulty with this type of harness was getting a proper fit for the horses' collars. As Calgary camp was 140 miles away it was necessary to transport the horses and equipment by C, P, R, train consisting of two flat cars and four horse cars. Camps were held in the month of June, and all were home in time to take part in the hay harvest commencing on June 26, The time of the camp was 12 to 14 days for which a man received 60 cent; per day and an allowance of 25 cent for food. The allowance for a horse was a dollar per day and 35cent provided for his food….
In 1912, the equipment in guns and harness was completely changed to the most modern quick firing gun, the 13-pounder, and as all the members in the battery were mounted, well over 100 horses were required. Six horse teams were used to draw the guns and enabled us to move at a rapid pace. The harness was changed from the old type to the breast collar pattern. The horses rebelled against this new pattern as we found out in trying to reach camp in 1912 for only one of the guns reached the Sarcee camp, the others being left on the route. These were retrieved the following morning when the guns and wagons were brought into camp, the men leading the horses.”
Soon a more permanent armoury was constructed. A 23 September 1908 Lethbridge Herald article spoke of a fuss from city council over a misunderstanding related to the armoury site. The city was provided the site to the federal government but misunderstood a letter from the government, thinking they wanted a larger site. The article mentioned that the plans was for the armoury to be a 60 x 80 foot building.
The 1915 fire insurance map shows the Armoury of the 25th Battery at 602 10 Street South right on the SW corner of 6 Av and 10 St South. The location gave the artillery easy access to the barracks square of the Mounted Police where training could take place.
Within a few years, the armoury location according to the Henderson Directory is 536 6 Street South. It will remain here for years.
By 1938 a new armoury was being urged. The 11 March 1938 Lethbridge Herald noted:
“Urge New Armory
Present Building is Inadequate and Expansion of Garrison Said Impossible
Need of a new armory in Lethbridge for the accommodation of the local militia is urgent, the Herald learned today after a survey. The statement of the district officer commanding the Lethbridge batteries were hampered by unsuitable quarters here prompted the survey.
The Herald was informed that the present armory is most inadequate for the needs of the militia and it is impossible to expand the local garrison with present accommodation available.
The armory here has been inadequate since reorganization of the local militia. Now that two batteries are stationed in Lethbridge, there is no space to manoeuvre guns and limbres and permit men to carry on the normal functions of the battery.
The building is old, making cost of maintenance very expensive and then not accomplishing its purpose in heating and lighting as is required. Storerooms are reported to be overcrowded, inadequately protected from fire and have been burglarized on more than one occasion.
Storerooms are very cold during winter months. Orderly rooms and offices are poorly located and are not fireproof. There is no opportunity for the carrying on of indoor sports, owing to available space being cluttered up with guns, limbres and wagons.
The Herald is informed that strong representations have been made by Lethbridge militiamen to the militia department at Ottawa, urging the construction of a new and commodious armory at Lethbridge. The requests will be continued, it is stated.”
With the opening of Kenyon Field in 1939, space at the new airport was available for a new armoury for the artillery.
However, the artillery armoury was not the only one that existed in Lethbridge.
The 6 December 1958 Lethbridge Herald had the following with reqards to various squadrons and regiments in Lethbridge and their respective armouries:
33 Field Squadron
Regimental headquarters and squadron personnel will parade Dec. 10 at 2000 hours in RCE Armory in North Lethbridge according to training orders issued by Major L.A. Jacobson, squadron officer commanding. [The RCE Armoury was at 2129 5 Avenue North]
18 Field Regiment
Training personnel will parade Dec. 8 and administrative personnel Dec. 11 in RCA armory at Kenyon Field according to training orders issued by Capt. T.J. O’Grady, adjutant, for Major P. H. Walker, commanding officer. Fall-in time for parades is 2000 hours.
32 Technical Squadron
All ranks will parade Dec. 9 in RCEME Armory at Kenyon Field at 2000 hours according to training orders issued by Major R.A. Lane, officer commanding. There will also be a parade Dec. 7 at 1300 hours for squadron’s open house program. Squadron equipment and ultra-modern workshop will be displayed to public between 2 and 5 p.m. Christmas tree for families of unit personnel will be held Dec. 15 at the armory situated in the old TCA hangar.
In 2001 the Armoury at Kenyon Field was renamed to the Vimy Ridge Armoury. The 10 November 2001 Lethbridge Herald read:
“Dedication Unites City with Famous Battlefield
Lethbridge residents may feel little connection with a First World War battlefield in France.
But from now on, the home of Lethbridge’s 18th Air Defence Regiment will serve as a reminder of this city’s strong ties to one of themost famous events of the Great War – the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Armoury, located at Kenyon Field south of the city, was officially re-dedicated Friday as the Vimy Ridge Armoury. [9 Nov 2001]
The new name pays tribute to the 20th and 39th Batteries from Lethbridge which took part in the 1917 battle for the strategic piece of real estate – and to the eight local soldiers who died there.
‘Lethbridge’s contribution was very significant, ’ said Major Pierre Lepine, commanding officer of the 18th Air Defence Regiment, noting two complete batteries of 139 soldiers teach took part in the critical conflict.”
Good luck and Happy bidding! I combine shipping on ALL purchases!!!
Please see my other auctions for great militaria!
If you have any questions, additional photo requests comments or further information on this item, please contact me and I will get back to you asap!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R U S S E L L M I L I T A R I A is proud to bring you new militaria every month!
Information:
-Customer satisfaction is very important to us- if you have any questions, comments or information please let me know before leaving feedback and I will work hard to make sure you are satisfied!
-We reserve the right to end all auctions at any time!
-All items shipped outside of Canada and U.S. (with some minor exceptions) MUST be insured and tracked to avoid theft and loss! This protects both the buyer and seller and ensures the safety of the item.
------------------
Shipping
------------------
-We work hard to find the most affordable and safe rate for you! Please wait until AFTER I have sent you an invoice before paying for your item, especially for bidders outside of Canada and U.S. as shipping rates vary widely.
Thank you and happy bidding!! :)
Up for auction is a rare WW1 sweetheart pin, to the 61st Overseas Field Battery (from Lethbridge, Alberta.) WW1 Canadian numbered artillery badges are hard to find, especially as sweetheart pins! The badge is in beautiful condit...ion, with a nice aged silver patina, beautiful enamel work and a attractive front design. The badge depicts a artillery cannon with "61" in the centre wheel, with beautiful red enamel work. The Scroll "QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT" (or "Everywhere where right and glory lead") is on the lower section of the badge in blue enamel, with "Canada" on the top blue enamelled scroll below the Kings Crown (in red enamel). Reverse is nicely maker marked "SSR" on top section (I have had many Canadian WW1 Sweetheart badges from this maker), with a clear "Sterling Silver" mark in the centre. The lower section originally had a small pin which has since come off, this can easily and inexpensively be replaced at most jewelers. Please see my other auctions for the 61st Overseas Field Battery cap badge, which was purchased from the same estate and is being sold from my private collection.
I purchased this badge with another 61st Lethbridge Overseas Field Battery cap badge (also listed) years ago at an estate in Lethbridge, Alberta! These have been some of my favorite badges in my collection but it is time to let them go, I hope they are displayed and enjoyed!
A rare piece of Lethbridge history, this would be an excellent addition to any WW1 Alberta, Canadian or military badge collection! While the unit was disbanded, Lethbridge currently has the 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA
This would look great in any WW1 CEF badge, commonwealth cap badge or general militaria display!
Some History on the Lethbridge 61st Overseas Field Battery:
The 61st Battery was mobilized February 26, 1916 as the 61st Overseas Depot Battery CEF. They stayed briefly at the Lethbridge (Alberta) Exhibition grounds, and then moved to Petawawa (training camp) in Ontario at the end of May 1916. The Cameronia took the 61st men to Liverpool, England, where they arrived on September 23rd, 1916. Their first stay was at Witley Camp. At this point they numbered 195 all ranks. They trained in England about one year, and arrived in France on August 21st, 1917 under the command of Major G. S. Brown.
It was designated the 61st Overseas Field Battery on April 3, 1916, and on September 11, 1916 as the 61st Battery CFA, CEF. (Kilford, pg. 42)
Lethbridge ArmouriesLethbridge was home to the 1st artillery armoury on the western prairies.
On 1 February 1908 Major (later Brigadier General) Stewart formed and took command of the 25th Field Battery, which at the time had the unique honour of being the further west battery of field artillery in the British Empire. The Stewart home was the first armoury in Lethbridge and, thus, the 1st artillery armoury on the western prairies.
John Stewart noted this about the original Armoury as well as the equipment used by the original battery:
“As there was no Armoury in the town, equipment for the battery, along with the guns, was kept in my horse barn and a certain amount of the training was done on the vacant lots near the barn at 631 - 8th Street South. [The horse barn, now used as a storage shed, still stands behind the Stewart residence at 631 - 8th Street South, Lethbridge.] The Oath of Allegiance was administered and the battery Roll signed in the back yard where an old packing case was used as a desk for the occasion.
The armament consisted of four 12-pounder Mark 1 guns along with one wagon and limber for each gun. The guns were kept in the open with only breech and muzzle covers for protections. The harness and the gun stores were kept under cover in the barn. We retained this equipment and used it at the camps held in the sunmiers of 1910 and 1911. Each gun and each wagon was drawn by four horses, each driver having to manage a team. The camps were first held at East Calgary and then moved to the Sarcee camp on the Indian Reserve
For the first two years we used the 12-pounder guns and the old type harness with neck collars and rope traces. The greatest difficulty with this type of harness was getting a proper fit for the horses' collars. As Calgary camp was 140 miles away it was necessary to transport the horses and equipment by C, P, R, train consisting of two flat cars and four horse cars. Camps were held in the month of June, and all were home in time to take part in the hay harvest commencing on June 26, The time of the camp was 12 to 14 days for which a man received 60 cent; per day and an allowance of 25 cent for food. The allowance for a horse was a dollar per day and 35cent provided for his food….
In 1912, the equipment in guns and harness was completely changed to the most modern quick firing gun, the 13-pounder, and as all the members in the battery were mounted, well over 100 horses were required. Six horse teams were used to draw the guns and enabled us to move at a rapid pace. The harness was changed from the old type to the breast collar pattern. The horses rebelled against this new pattern as we found out in trying to reach camp in 1912 for only one of the guns reached the Sarcee camp, the others being left on the route. These were retrieved the following morning when the guns and wagons were brought into camp, the men leading the horses.”
Soon a more permanent armoury was constructed. A 23 September 1908 Lethbridge Herald article spoke of a fuss from city council over a misunderstanding related to the armoury site. The city was provided the site to the federal government but misunderstood a letter from the government, thinking they wanted a larger site. The article mentioned that the plans was for the armoury to be a 60 x 80 foot building.
The 1915 fire insurance map shows the Armoury of the 25th Battery at 602 10 Street South right on the SW corner of 6 Av and 10 St South. The location gave the artillery easy access to the barracks square of the Mounted Police where training could take place.
Within a few years, the armoury location according to the Henderson Directory is 536 6 Street South. It will remain here for years.
By 1938 a new armoury was being urged. The 11 March 1938 Lethbridge Herald noted:
“Urge New Armory
Present Building is Inadequate and Expansion of Garrison Said Impossible
Need of a new armory in Lethbridge for the accommodation of the local militia is urgent, the Herald learned today after a survey. The statement of the district officer commanding the Lethbridge batteries were hampered by unsuitable quarters here prompted the survey.
The Herald was informed that the present armory is most inadequate for the needs of the militia and it is impossible to expand the local garrison with present accommodation available.
The armory here has been inadequate since reorganization of the local militia. Now that two batteries are stationed in Lethbridge, there is no space to manoeuvre guns and limbres and permit men to carry on the normal functions of the battery.
The building is old, making cost of maintenance very expensive and then not accomplishing its purpose in heating and lighting as is required. Storerooms are reported to be overcrowded, inadequately protected from fire and have been burglarized on more than one occasion.
Storerooms are very cold during winter months. Orderly rooms and offices are poorly located and are not fireproof. There is no opportunity for the carrying on of indoor sports, owing to available space being cluttered up with guns, limbres and wagons.
The Herald is informed that strong representations have been made by Lethbridge militiamen to the militia department at Ottawa, urging the construction of a new and commodious armory at Lethbridge. The requests will be continued, it is stated.”
With the opening of Kenyon Field in 1939, space at the new airport was available for a new armoury for the artillery.
However, the artillery armoury was not the only one that existed in Lethbridge.
The 6 December 1958 Lethbridge Herald had the following with reqards to various squadrons and regiments in Lethbridge and their respective armouries:
33 Field Squadron
Regimental headquarters and squadron personnel will parade Dec. 10 at 2000 hours in RCE Armory in North Lethbridge according to training orders issued by Major L.A. Jacobson, squadron officer commanding. [The RCE Armoury was at 2129 5 Avenue North]
18 Field Regiment
Training personnel will parade Dec. 8 and administrative personnel Dec. 11 in RCA armory at Kenyon Field according to training orders issued by Capt. T.J. O’Grady, adjutant, for Major P. H. Walker, commanding officer. Fall-in time for parades is 2000 hours.
32 Technical Squadron
All ranks will parade Dec. 9 in RCEME Armory at Kenyon Field at 2000 hours according to training orders issued by Major R.A. Lane, officer commanding. There will also be a parade Dec. 7 at 1300 hours for squadron’s open house program. Squadron equipment and ultra-modern workshop will be displayed to public between 2 and 5 p.m. Christmas tree for families of unit personnel will be held Dec. 15 at the armory situated in the old TCA hangar.
In 2001 the Armoury at Kenyon Field was renamed to the Vimy Ridge Armoury. The 10 November 2001 Lethbridge Herald read:
“Dedication Unites City with Famous Battlefield
Lethbridge residents may feel little connection with a First World War battlefield in France.
But from now on, the home of Lethbridge’s 18th Air Defence Regiment will serve as a reminder of this city’s strong ties to one of themost famous events of the Great War – the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Armoury, located at Kenyon Field south of the city, was officially re-dedicated Friday as the Vimy Ridge Armoury. [9 Nov 2001]
The new name pays tribute to the 20th and 39th Batteries from Lethbridge which took part in the 1917 battle for the strategic piece of real estate – and to the eight local soldiers who died there.
‘Lethbridge’s contribution was very significant, ’ said Major Pierre Lepine, commanding officer of the 18th Air Defence Regiment, noting two complete batteries of 139 soldiers teach took part in the critical conflict.”
Good luck and Happy bidding! I combine shipping on ALL purchases!!!
Please see my other auctions for great militaria!
If you have any questions, additional photo requests comments or further information on this item, please contact me and I will get back to you asap!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R U S S E L L M I L I T A R I A is proud to bring you new militaria every month!
Information:
-Customer satisfaction is very important to us- if you have any questions, comments or information please let me know before leaving feedback and I will work hard to make sure you are satisfied!
-We reserve the right to end all auctions at any time!
-All items shipped outside of Canada and U.S. (with some minor exceptions) MUST be insured and tracked to avoid theft and loss! This protects both the buyer and seller and ensures the safety of the item.
------------------
Shipping
------------------
-We work hard to find the most affordable and safe rate for you! Please wait until AFTER I have sent you an invoice before paying for your item, especially for bidders outside of Canada and U.S. as shipping rates vary widely.
Thank you and happy bidding!! :)
