Bay Street Armoury
The Bay Street Drill Hall was completed in 1915. It was created to provide training facilities for local militia units such as the Fifth Regiment of artillery, as well as to provide a home for two newly formed units, the 50th Gordon Highlanders of Canada and HQ Military District No. 11. The Armoury was designed by architect William Ridgway Wilson, (1863-1957).
In its earlier years the armoury had more extensive use for public events as modern public facilities in Victoria had not yet been built.
It was designated a historic building in 1989. it is a two-storey drill hall with Tudor Revival elements, built during the 1896 to 1918 period when over 100 drill halls and armouries were erected across Canada; its scale reflects the dramatic increase in military participation following Canada's performance during the Second Boer War.
Units
The units stationed at the Bay Street Armoury are the 89th Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's).
Units that formally worked at the Bay Street Armoury included 11 (Victoria) Service Battalion (renamed 39 Service Battalion), 11 (Victoria) Medical Company (renamed 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance), and 11 (Victoria) Military Police Platoon (renamed 12 Military Police Platoon). These units moved to Ashton Armory in 1994.
5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum
The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum is located in the armoury. The museum's artefacts reflect the history of 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and associated units from 1861 to the present day. Exhibits include field artillery and cannons, uniforms, band instruments, medals, weapons, insignia, photographs and more. The museum is open on Tuesday evenings.
See also
References
- ^ Bay Street Drill Hall. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ "William Ridgway Wilson". Dictionary of architects in Canada. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ Bay Street Armoury marks 100th anniversary
- ^ "Bay Street Armoury". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ https://www.ashtonarmourymuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/11-Field-Ambulance-History-v2.pdf
- ^ "Official site". 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
External links
- 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum
- Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) and Regimental Museum
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48°26′6.75″N 123°21′50.16″W / 48.4352083°N 123.3639333°W