Photos at archives depict Cobourg's military history
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Posted 3 months ago
From approximately 1866 to 1969 Cobourg was home to the 10th Heavy Battery, commonly known as the Cobourg Heavy Battery or sometimes as the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA). The term "heavy battery" refers to an ordnance system (historically a company of cannons) that can be used in an artillery action. Batteries usually encompass a combination of cannons, howitzer's, mortars, or other fixed, "heavy" type guns. Currently these units can be equipped with the traditional mortars, guns and howitzers, as well as newer specialty weapons, such as rockets and missiles.
In modern days, this term refers to a sub-unit working to support an artillery
unit/branch, air defence, or anti-tank defences. Artillery was a very important element in Canadian warfare, particularly during the First World War, which is when they were first groups together to form these heavy batteries. Since then these supporting units have been expanded to include trades other than artillery, such as intelligence and surveillance, as well as target acquisition and reconnaissance.
Batteries can be grouped in battalions or squadrons, which make up regiments and brigades, which in turn make up units. In the First World War these batteries were sometimes called "artillery divisions". The Cobourg Heavy Battery was called upon several times over the course of its time in Cobourg, most notably for service in the Fenian Raids, the Boer War, the Great Wars and in Korea. For practice they used to float barrels in Lake Ontario and shoot at them from Weller's Hill (the south end of
Tremaine St.), they also practiced in what used to be a wooded area just behind where Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East is located today.
The motto of the RCA was "Ubique quo fas et Gloria ducunt: Everywhere where right and glory lead". Since Confederation these gunners have served in most national conflicts, and have always held a vital role in peacekeeping operations, approximately 130,000 Canadians served in the RCA units during the Great Wars. Cobourg should be proud of its past military history, particularly of the members of its Heavy Battery, which served our country in the Great Wars, many of whom paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
For more information, or a look at some photographs illustrating Cobourg's military history, please visit the archives. The Cobourg and District Historical Society Archives are open Monday to Wednesday at 2 p. m. to 5 p. m. and Friday at 1 p. m. to 4 p. m. We are located in the C. Gordon King Centre at 200 Ontario Street, Cobourg. We can be reached by telephone at 905-377-0413, by e-mail at archives.cobourg@bellnet.ca and through our website at www.cdhsarchives.org.
Ciara Ward is archivist for the Cobourg and District Historical Society Archives.
