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The DCOR 1900 - 1914 The Steveston riots in July 1900 provided the Regiment with its second call to arms as Aid to the Civil Power. At the time of the incident, Steveston was probably the world's largest salmon fishing centre. The white and native fishermen had gone on strike, whilst the Japanese fisherman decided to keep on selling to the cannery. Though there had been no violence, the Reeve, with two justices of the peace, read the Riot Act to the strikers. When they did not disperse, he took the step of requesting military protection. At 11:45pm Col Worsnop received his orders. As only one in five home had a telephone at that time, Buglers rode around Vancouver calling assembly from trolley cars. Within a short time, four companies were assembled and were aboard the CPR Steamer Comox bound for Steveston. Ten rounds of ball cartridge and twenty were held in reserve. The men were told that in the event of action being called of them that they were to shoot to kill. Fortunately, the strikers got word of the army being on their way, and the Regiment disembarked to a quiet town. They set up camp nearby for a couple of weeks until things settled down.
In 1904 a private of the DCOR, Sam Perry, became the top shot of the entire Empire, winning the King's Prize at Bisley, and became the first native born Canadian to win.
At 600 yards he scored 18 Bullseyes and two inners and at 1,000 yards he scored 48 out of 50. This was the start of an amazing record of shooting proficiency which saw us win the Gordon -Highlander's Musketry Trophy, and two Captains, W.H. Forrest and J. Duff Stuart both shot on the Canadian team which won the Kolapore Cup. Many other trophies and cups were won by Regimental shooting teams over the years.
Just before the untimely and sudden death of Col Whyte permission was granted to organize a Maxim Gun School. Lt J.S. Matthews, who later became city archivist, was put in charge of the school, which was the first of its kind in British Columbia. His pupils formed the machine-gun section of the 7th Bn CEF in 1914.
Another interesting incident in the Drill Hall occurred on 16th March, 1908, when a gala event was staged to recreate the Battle of Paardeberg. The "British" troops were formed out of our South African veterans and the "Boers" out of the other soldiers of the Regiment. Stands had been built within the Drill Hall to accommodate the guests. Through the North doors streamed the Boers towing wagons which they quickly formed Into a Laager. Then in rushed the British to storm the Boer position. Rifles blazed. The cries of the wounded British were remarkably lifelike. "My God! I've been shot!" The 18th field Ambulance, who were taking part in the pageant found real blood coming from the wounded, one of whom, had been shot through the shoulder. The Regimental MO Captain McTavish GAMC and his stretcher bearers looked after the "fake" wounded. Apparently an ever-eager young "Boer" managed to get a hold of an extra supply of ammunition and had secretly distributed it. He had procured real bullets by mistake and they had been shot around the Drill Hall. Fortunately, no one died and there was no Court of Inquiry. Major Hart-McHarg, who had organised the event must have been relieved. The local Press, who were present, kept sensibly quiet about the affair. In 1908 and again in 1913, Major W.F.R. Hart-McHarg won the Governor-General's Medal at Ottawa for shooting. Later In 1913, at Camp Perry, Ohio, he won the world's long distance championship and received the Palma Trophy, and brought home the Cup presented by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany for this event. This Cup may be viewed In our Regimental Museum. Major Hart-McHarg started as a Private soldier and had reached the rank of Sergeant during his Boer War Service. Many of the officers of the Regiment spent time in the Ranks and then took their commissions at the time they were sergeants. Many of our current serving officers have done the same. Many people have forgotten that from 1902 - 1922 Britain and Japan had a mutual defence treaty, where they would come to each others aid if involved in a war with more than one country at the same time. Britain was talked out of renewing the treaty for another twenty years in 1922 by Canada. When a Japanese Cruiser Squadron visited Vancouver in May, 1909, the Regiment was presented a commemorative Cup by the Japanese citizens of the City. In September 1912, HRH the Duke of Connaught, Governor-General of Canada, visited Vancouver. On 12th September, 1912, HRH the Duchess officially renamed the Cambie Bridge in honour of the Duke, as The Connaught Bridge. This photo was taken the following day, HRH The Duke of Connaught Is 5th from the left. In the middle of 1913 came another call to arms in Aid of the Civil Authority. The call out for the Nanaimo Coal strike was the longest in our history. When Chinese and Japanese strikebreakers were brought into the Nanaimo Coal Mines, one thousand striking miners went on the rampage. They took possession of the town, looting, burning, fighting and destroying property. Many innocent families, including women and children, took to the woods for their safety. The Premier, Sir Richard McBride was away, but W.J. Bowser, Attorney General and Acting Premier quickly called out the Militia. On the evening of May 13th,1913, a thousand man force including the 6th DCOR, under the command of Lt-Col A.J. Hally sailed for Nanaimo. "We were ordered out about midnight, put on board SS Charmer, a CPR vessel, and given two rounds of .303 ammunition. We were told to avoid forcible action by all possible means (Maj Hulme, commanding the DCOR detachment indicated that the ammo was blank). On arrival at Nanaimo we were bedded down in railway cars without blankets. Next evening the miners held a meeting in the Athletic Hall. While it was in progress, we quietly surrounded the building. A number of motor cars were so placed that their lights would play on the exits as the men came out....... I shall never forget the look of blank amazement on the first man's face as he emerged from the hall with the car lights full upon him, and the soldiers still as rocks standing without. In groups of ten the strikers were marched between guards with fixed bayonets to the courthouse where the Riot Act was read."
By this means the strike was brought under control. Most of the troops returned home a month later, but a small guard was maintained for many years. The next incident was in 1914 when a steamer, the Komagata Maru, arrived in Vancouver harbour May 24th. On board were 378 Sikhs and their leader, Gurdit Singh, who hoped to immigrate to Canada. Although 34 were allowed ashore as "returning immigrants", the remainder were refused entry as the number of Sikh immigrants to BC was restricted by order-in council. When ordered to leave they seized the ship and violently repelled police and immigration officers. On July 23rd, men from the DCOR and lrish Fusiliers stood by as HMCS Rainbow sailed into harbour, trained its guns on the Komagata Maru, and escorted it out of Vancouver Harbour thus ending the incident. As soon as the Regiment became affiliated with the Rifle Brigade a bugle band was formed. Light lnfantry and riflemen were directed in the field by bugle calls and whistles, rather than by drum rolls, as they were quite often well spread out over the battlefield. We were fortunate in having two capable bandmasters who turned the Bugle Band into a crack formation, Mr F. T. Hatfield ran the band from 1902 until 1907, and then Captain McManus took over in 1908. In 1909 they played at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, and they were so well received that they went on a tour and gave concerts in Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, and in towns of importance as far south as San Diego. The following photo was taken in the spring of 1914 and is the only photo we have of the band wearing peaked caps and crossbelts. The crossbelts did not have a badge or lions head and whistle, and had a leather pouch on the back which was large enough to carry one standard sized book of music.
"Up The Dukes!"
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