17th Canadian Field Regiment, RCA History

Two fine gentlemen that have been thick as thieves since the age of 10 and served with the 17th Field Regiment RCA from attestation in 1940 until the surrender in May 1945.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/brothers-in-arms-a-friendship-that-has-endured-long-after-their-warended/article27197709/

 

Great story and a nice connection to the regimental saga.

 

interesting description of the commonwealth fire and control of an Artillery regiment in ww2. quite a complicated organization. digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo:31023

 

Here is a link digitized maps of the Italy used during the Italian Campaign Italy Switzerland 1:100k Topographic Maps

 

I just came across this obit today. Gordie served with the 17th Field Regiment RCA from it formation to the end of the war in Holland... he was a great fellow who shared his experiences with all. I had the opportunity to meet him on a couple of occasions over the years. View GORDON BANNERMAN's Obituary on vancouversun.com and share memories
Rest in Peace Gordie

 

Gordie Bannermans Memoir's are published here Biography - Memoirs of Gordie Bannerman - Second World War - Diaries, Letters, and Stories - Remembering those who served - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada

 

Matt
Good stuff!

 

3rd week of May was a tough week for the 17th Field Regiment RCA

 

Can someone please tell me how to access the War Diary for the 17th Field Regiment, RCA, for the period of April 1945? (I'm trying to research my Dad's story with the 17th.) Thanks for any help.

 

Hi Lance,

Looking at the LAC website, there do not appear to be scanned PDFs for that time period.

17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Archives / Collections and Fonds

However, the record does say "RG24-C-3, Volume number: 14529, Microfilm reel number: T-16427, File number: 907"

That means there ought to be a digitized copy of the war diary which was previously turned into microfilm, accessible at this website:
Héritage

Punch in T-16427 and then start looking through the images - it can take a while. Also, sometimes the records of which microfilm reel a file is in, seem to be off by 1. And in fact at the 9th image there is an index sheet which says yes, it's the 17th's war diary, but this reel ends with 1945/01. So I would try T-16428.

Good luck!

 

Thanks to Chris C for his prompt answer to my query. I'm now happily going down the rabbit hole of the 17th's War Diary for the months around Otterlo.

My next goal is to find a map that shows the disposition of the batteries around the town on 17 April 1945!

 

This photo is of a 17th Fld Regiment reunion that I recently found but it doesn't mention a date or place where it was taken. Does anyone have any details that would provide some clarification? Wondering if it was at Port Arthur-Fort William in the 1950's???