15 hvy aa bty rca

[Bill A]

This RCA title had me puzzled for sometime. The title was for 15 Hvy AA BTY, RCA. In WW2, the Royal Canadian Artillery had titles for the various regiments, for example 19 RCA (19 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery), 2 A/T RCA (2 Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery), etc. Batteries were not identified with unique shoulder titles. A bit of research in Falconer's Battery Flashes book enlightened the situation. It was a home defence unit, and according to Falconer, served as air defence at Goose Bay Labrador outside of regimental organization from July 1942 until July of 1943. Being an active unit, but outside of a regiment, it is logical that the title was for the unit during this period of time.
To the best of my knowledge, Canada was the only Commonwealth nation that identified the individual RCA regiments by shoulder titles during WW2.

[boots and saddles]

A nice title Bill(I worked at Goose Air Base in the early 50's with the 6606th Supply Sqdn. USAF.(civilian) Bill you have quite a few Artillery titles,Other than the Field Regiments how many do you have of WW2? Maybe we could see some. I never collected the Home defence units. I would love to get the 57th & the 59th Heavy Artillery (Royal Artillery) also a war time 166th field regt. All three were Newfoundland units (RA). Ray

[Bill A]

Hi Ray, The Newfoundland units served in the Royal Artillery in WW2. As such they did not have regimental titles. They did wear the Royal Artillery shoulder flash, reportedly with the Newfoundland title below. (red on khaki pattern). The 59th wore the 2nd Army formation patch. Again, the 166th Fd would have worn the RA shoulder title and the respective formation patch.

[Voltigeur]

Thanks Bill, for showing this interesting title. If I had seen this in a show, I would have been really puzzled.
Cheers
Jo

[Wyn vdSchee]

Bill and all,
When Newfoundland entered the Canadian confederation in 1949, 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment was reconstituted as a unit of the Canadian Militia. Its cloth shoulder tab read 166 FD. The regiment was amalgamated with The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, an infantry unit on 1 March 1961, and there ceased to be an artillery presence on "The Rock.". Saluting duties are now apparently performed by 56th Field Engineer Squadron.
Wyn

[Bill A]

Another scarce battery title, WW2 Royal Canadian Artillery. 30 AA BTY served as West Coast anti-aircraft defence from the spring of 1942 until the fall of the same year. They were stationed at various times at Prince Rupert, then at the Victoria-Esquimalt Fortress and Yorke Island.

[Voltigeur]

Great items Bill. Two questions for you. Were they locally made (19RCA & 30AA) ? And, why aren't they on the same pattern as the regular RCA title?
Jo