Remembering Stanley Park In Wartime

Re-posted from Vancouver’s Stanley Park in wartime

Vancouver, British Columbia — Stanley Park Battery was the first of Vancouver’s Second World War coastal defence batteries: defensive positions specially prepared for heavy guns armed and ready to repel a German or Japanese intrusion into Canada’s Pacific coast. It was located in Stanley Park, a 400 hectare coastal forest on a peninsula within the city boundaries of Vancouver.

E.J. Hughes (1913-2007) Image Courtesy of 15 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Museum and Archives.

Although the peninsula had been reserved for the defence of the First Narrows and Burrard Inlet in the 19th century, this federally-owned land had been leased to the city for a nominal sum since 1887. Most people knew the peninsula only as a public park.

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, the point of land near Siwash Rock was occupied by a temporary gun battery when an attack by Germany’s East Asia naval squadron was considered likely. During the Second World War, the Japanese navy was regarded as the greatest threat. A concrete, two-gun battery emplacement with supporting structures on Ferguson Point was planned in February 1938, after Parliament approved construction of permanent coast defences for the harbour in early 1937. Vancouver’s role as Canada’s principal Pacific Coast port and as the transcontinental railway’s terminus justified extra protection from hostile warships.

Vancouver’s Town Planning Commission did not approve of the use of Ferguson Point for the battery, calling it “a favourite beauty spot in the park.” The Vancouver Sun joined the opposition, stating that the gun battery could become “a permanent blot on the scenic beauty of the area.” However, the Parks Board had consented to the new installation and the land was federal government property. Federal authorities deemed the battery “essential” for strategic reasons and construction began in mid-February 1938. The fort was completed in November 1939.

Vancouver’s fixed coastal defences were to be manned by the 15th Coast Brigade of Artillery, a local militia regiment. In anticipation of war, the brigade’s 31st Battery occupied the site on August 27, 1939. The Fire Commander’s Orders of October 1942 stated that the Stanley Park Battery was to guard “English Bay and the First Narrows entrance to Burrard Inlet,” and also to act as a detaining battery for ships awaiting inspection and clearance before entering the Port of Vancouver.

An aerial view of the Stanley Park battery depicting late-war concrete housings over the 4.7-inch guns. Photo courtesy 15 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Museum and Archives.

Like the smaller battery on the north side of the First Narrows, the Stanley Park Battery was authorized to fire on ships that refused to submit to inspection or that sailed into the port without stopping. An examination vessel (X-Vic) was stationed two kilometres west of Ferguson Point to inspect incoming ships. After Point Atkinson’s signal station had identified arriving vessels, they proceeded to the X-Vic to be cleared for entry into the port. Large ships flew recognition signals that identified them as friendly vessels.

The Stanley Park Battery was originally armed with two breech-loading, 6-inch-calibre guns on circular, concrete pedestal mounts. In 1942, they were replaced with 4.7-inch-calibre guns placed forty metres in from the cliff’s edge. Overhead protection and a back wall were added later.

Ammunition was stored in an underground magazine behind the guns and a concrete three-storey battery observation post (BOP) directed the guns’ fire. Personnel in the BOP also maintained communications with other batteries and co-ordinated three searchlights, two of which were placed close to the water, illuminating English Bay at night.

The searchlights and power generators were maintained and operated by the 1st Searchlight Regiment’s 3rd Battery and by military engineers, with a camp for 140 men sitting on the present Third Beach parking lot. All buildings and emplacements were camouflaged, including the BOP, which had an evergreen tree was painted on its front.

With the destruction of most of Japan’s major warships in 1942-43, the threat of an attack by surface vessels on Vancouver diminished. Although Japanese submarines still torpedoed ships and shelled sites along the West Coast, Vancouver’s defences were reduced to maintenance status in 1944.

Stanley Park’s guns and most of the wooden buildings were removed in September 1945; however, The Vancouver District’s army commander continued to occupy the former officers’ mess as his home.

Following the war, the Vancouver Parks Board demanded Ferguson Point’s complete restoration to parkland. In April 1948, the board won this battle and the gun emplacements were levelled and buried. The BOP was demolished later.

These 6-inch guns were installed in Vancouver’s Stanley Park in early 1938 and later relocated to Yorke Island. While many residents, and a local newspaper, objected to the plan, federal authorities deemed the site strategically “essential.” Photo courtesy 15 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Museum and Archives.

Remnants of the battery still exist today in Stanley Park, but are not obvious to most. The one remaining searchlight position at Siwash Rock is now the base for a viewing platform. On Ferguson Point, only the old officers’ mess survives as a part of today’s Teahouse in Stanley Park Restaurant, a bustling venue with a breathtaking view of the coast.

By Major (Retired) Peter Moogk, PhD, retired Professor Emeritus of history at UBC, and Curator of the Museum and Archives of the 15th Field Regiment, RCA.

Canadian Military Deployment History

This is a copy from a page of my other Blog - www.cafwatch.blogspot.ca


A comprehensive list and short history of Canadian Military Deployments

*Arranged by chronologically by mission/operation/exercise end date

Pre-Confederation Military Conflicts in British/French North America

• The Beaver Wars (17th Century) 
• King William's War (1688-1697) *Part of the Nine-Years War
• Queen Anne's War (1702-1713) *Part of The War of Spanish Succession 
• Father Rale's War (1722-1725) 
• King George's War (1744-1748) *Part of The War of Austrian Succession
• Father Le Loutre's War (1749-1755)
• The French Indian War (1754-1763) *Part of the Seven-Years War & The British Conquest of Canada
• The War of 1812 (1812-1815) 
• The Crimean War (1853-1856) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Indian Rebellion (1857) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• The American Civil War (1861-1865)

Post Confederation Military Conflicts/Operations/Exercises

The Fenian Raids (1866 and 1871)

Andaman Islands Expedition (1867) *Victoria Cross Awarded

The Red River Rebellion (1869-1870)

The North West Rebellion (1885)

The South African War (1899-1902), (The Second Boer War) *Victoria Cross Awarded

The Great War (1914-1918)

• Retreat from Mons (Aug 1914) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Neuve Chapelle (March 10, 1915) 
• Action at St. Eloi (March 14-15, 1915)
• Second Battle of Ypres 
• Battle of Gravenstafel (April 22-23, 1915)
• Battle of St. Julien (April 24 - May 4, 1915) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Frezenberg (May 8-13, 1915)
• Battle of Bellewaerde Ridge (May 24-25, 1915)
• Second Battle of Artois
• Battle of Aubers Ridge (May 9, 1915)
• Battle of Festubert (May 15-27, 1915)
• Second Action at Givenchy (May-June 1915) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Third Battle of Artois
• Battle of Loss (Sept 25 - 8 Oct, 1915)
• Action of Bois Grenier (Sept 25, 1915)
• Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt (Oct 13-19, 1915)
• Action in the Dardanelles (1915-1916)
• Action in Egypt and Palestine (1915-1916)
• Action at St, Eloi Craters (Mar 27 - Apr 16, 1916)
• Battle of Mont Sorrel (June 2-13, 1916)
• Battle of the Somme 
• Battle of Albert (1916) (July 1 - 13, 1916) 
• Battle of Bazentin Ridge ( July 14 - 17, 1916)
• Battle of Fromelles (July 19, 1916)
• Attack on High Woods (July 20-25, 1916)
• Battle of Pozieres (Sept 1-3, 1916)
• Battle of Guillemont (Sept 3-6, 1916)
• Battle of Ginchy (Sept 9, 1916)
• Battle of Fles-Courcelette (Sept 15-22, 1916) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Thiepval Ridge (Sept 26-29, 1916)
• Battle of Le Transloy (Oct 1-18, 1916)
• Battle of Ancre Heights (Oct 1 - Nov 11, 1916)
• The Ancre (Capture of Beaumont Hamel) (Nov 13-18, 1916)
• Action around the Village of Guyencourt (March 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Arras 
• Battle of Vimy Ridge (Apr 9-12, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• First Scrape (1917) (Apr 9-14, 1917)
• Second Scrape (1917) (Apr 23-24, 1917)
• Attack on La Coulotte (Apr 23, 1917)
• Battle of Arleux (Apr 28-29, 1917)
• Third Scrape (1917) (May 3-4, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Affairs South of the Souchez River (June 3-25, 1917) 
• Capture of Avion (June 26-29, 1917) 
• Battle of Hill 70 (Aug 15-25, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Third Battle of Ypres 
• Battle of Messines (June 7-14, 1917) 
• Battle of Pilckem Ridge (July 31 - 3 Aug, 1917) 
• Battle of Langemarck (Aug 16-18, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Menin Road Ridge (Sept 20-25, 1917) 
• Battle of Polygon Wood (Sept 26 - Oct 3, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Broodseinde (Oct 4, 1917)
• Battle of Poelscappelle (Oct 9, 1917)
• First Battle of Passchendaele (Oct 12, 1917) 
• Second Battle of Passchendaele (Oct 26 - Nov 10, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Cambrai (1917) (Nov 20 - Dec 8, 1917) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Action in Macedonia (1915-1917)
• The German Offensives of 1918 
• First Battle of the Somme (1918) 
• St. Quentin (Mar 21-23, 1918)
• Action at the Somme Crossings (Mar 24-25, 1918)
• First Bapaume (Mar 24-25, 1918)
• Rosieres (Mar 26-27, 1918)
• Action over Albert (Mar 27, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• First Arras (1918) (Mar, 28, 1918)
• Battle of Moreuil Wood (Mar 30, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Avre (Apr 4, 1918)
• Capture of Hamel (July 4, 1918)
• Battle of the Lys 
• Estaires (Defence of Givenchy, 1918) (Apr 9-11, 1918)
• Hazebrouck (Apr 12-15, 1918)
• Messines (1918) Loss of Hill 63 (Apr 13-15, 1918)
• First Kemmel Ridge (Apr 17-19, 1918) 
• Action at Gavrelle (Apr 27-28, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Action of La Becque (June 28, 1918)
• Action around Neuville-Vitasse (June 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Advance to Victory - 1918 
• Battle of Amiens (Aug 8-11, 1918)  *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Action around Parvillers, (Aug13, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Action around Damery (Aug 15-17, 1918)
• Battle of the Scarpe (Aug 26-30, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Advance on the Fresnes-Rouvroy Line (Aug 27-28, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Second Battle of the Somme (1918) 
• Scarpe (1918) Capture of Monchy-le-Preux (Aug 26-30, 1918) 
• Drocourt-Queant Canal (Sept 2-3, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of the Hindenburg Line (1918)
• Havrincourt (Sept 12, 1918)
• Epehy (Sept 18, 1918)
• Canal du Nord (Capture of Bourlon Wood) (Sept 27 - Oct 1, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• St. Quentin Canal (Sept 29 - Oct 2, 1918)
• Beaurevoir Line (Oct 3-5, 1918)
• Cambrai (1918) Capture of Cambrai (Oct 8-9, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Ypres (1918) (Sept 28 - Oct 2, 1918)
• Pursuit of the Selle (Oct 9-12, 1918)
• Battle of Courtrai (Oct 14-19, 1918) 
• Battle of the Selle (Oct 17-25, 1918)
• Action around Canal de L'Escaut (Oct 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of Valenciennes (Nov 1-2, 1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Battle of the Sambre (Nov 4, 1918)
• Passage of the Grande Honnelle (Nov 5-7, 1918)
• Capture of Mons (Nov 11, 1918)
• Mesopotamian Campaign (1914-1918) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Action in Egypt and Palestine (1918)
• West Persia and Caspian Campaign (1918-1919) 
• Murman (1918-1919) 
• Archangel (1918-1919)
• Siberia (198-1919)
• Vladivostok (1918-1919)

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

The Second World War (1939-1945)

• Asian and Pacific Theatre
• Battle of Hong Kong (Dec 8-25, 1941) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• North West Europe 
• Dieppe Raid (Aug 19, 1942) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Sicily 
• Landing in Sicily (July 9-12, 1943) 
• Grammicele (July 15, 1943) 
• Valguarnera (July 15-20, 1943)
• Piazza Arminera (July 16-17, 1943)
• Assoro (July 20-22, 1943)
• Leonforte (July 21-22, 1943)
• Agira (July 24-28, 1943) 
• Adrano (July 29 - Aug 7, 1943)
• Catenanuova (July 29-30, 1943) 
• Regalbuto (July 29 - Aug 3, 1943)
• Centuripe (July 31 - Aug 3, 1943)
• Troina Velley (Aug 2-6, 1943)
• Pursuit to Messina (Aug 2-17, 1943)
• North Africa
• Kiska (Aug 7, 1943) 
• Italy
• Landing at Reggio (Sept 3, 1943)
• Potenza (Sept 19-20, 1943)
• Motta Montecorvino (Oct 1-3, 1943)
• Termoli (Oct 3-6, 1943)
• Monte San Marco (Oct 6-7, 1943)
• Gambatesa (Oct 7-8, 1943)
• Campobasso (Oct 11-14, 1943)
• Baranello (Oct 17-18, 1943) 
• Colle d'Anchise (Oct 22-24, 1943)
• Torella (Oct 24-27, 1943)
• Monte Camino (Nov 5 -  Dec 9, 1943)
• The Sangro (Nov 19 -  Dec 3, 1943)
• Castel di Sangro (Nov 23-24, 1943)
• Monte la Difensa and Monte la Remetanea (Dec 2-8, 1943)
• The Moro (Dec 5-7, 1943) 
• San Leonardo  (Dec 8-9, 1943) 
• The Gully (Dec 10-19, 1943)  
• Casa Berardi (Dec 14-15, 1943) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Ortona (Dec 20-29, 1943) 
• San Nicola - San Tommaso (Dec 31, 1943)
• Torre Mucchia: Point 59 (Dec 29, 1943 - Jan 4, 1944)
• Monte Majo (Jan 3-8, 1944) 
• Anzio (Jan 22 - May 22, 1944)
• Cassino II (Ma 11-18, 1944)
• Gustav Line (May 11-18, 1944)
• St. Agnelo in Teodice (May 13, 1944)
• Pignataro (May 13-15, 1944)
• Liri Valley (May 18-30, 1944) 
• Hitler Line (May 18-24, 1944)
• Aquino (May 18-24, 1944)
• Capture of Rome (May 22 - June 4, 1944)
• Advance to the Tiber (May 22 - June 4, 1944) 
• Melfa Crossing (May 24-25, 1944) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Ceprano (May 26-27, 1944)
• Torrice Crossroads (May 30, 1944)
• Trasimene Line (June 20-30, 1944)
• Sanfatucchino (June 20-21, 1944)
• Arezzo (July 4-17, 1944)
• Advance to Florence (July 17 - Aug 10, 1944)
• Gothic Line (Aug 25 - Sept 22, 1944)
• Monteciccardo (Aug 27-28, 1944) 
• Montecchio (Aug 30-31, 1944) 
• Point 204 (Aug 31, 1944)
• Monte Luro (Sept 1, 1944) 
• Borgo Santa Maria (Sept 1, 1944) 
• Tomba di Pesaro (Sept 1-2, 1944)
• Misano Ridge (Sept 3-5, 1944)
• Coriano (Sept 3-15, 1944)
• Rimini Line (Sept 14-21, 1944)
• San Martino - San Lorenzo (Sept 14-18, 1944)
• San Fortunato (Sept 18-20, 1944)
• Casale (Sept 23-25, 1944)
• Cerrone (Aug 25-31, 1944)
• Sant'Angelo in Salute (Oct 11-15, 1944)
• Bulgaria Village (Oct 13-14, 1944)
• Monte la Pieve (Oct 13-19, 1944)
• Cesena (Oct 15-20, 1944)
• Pisciatello (Oct 16-19, 1944)
• Monte Spaduro (Oct 19-24, 1944)
• Savio Bridgehead (Oct 20-23, 1944) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Lamone Crossing (Ded 2-13, 1944)
• Capture of Ravenna (Dec 3-4, 1944)
• Naviglio Canal (Dec 12-15, 1944)
• Fosso Cecchio (Dec 16-18, 1944)
• Fosso Munio (Dec 19-21, 1944) 
• Conventello-Comacchio (Jan 2-6, 1945)
• Granarolo (Jan 3-5, 1944)
• Southern France (Aug 1944)
• Iles d'Hyeres
• Grasse
• Villeneuve-Loubet
• Vence
• Drap
• L'Escarene
• La Tubie
• Mentone
• Franco-Italian Border
• North West Europe 
• Normandy Landings (June 6, 1944)
• Authie (June 7, 1944)
• Putot en Bessin (June 8, 1944)
• Bretteville-L'Orgueilleuse (June 8-9, 1944)
• Le Mesnil Patry (June 11, 1944)
• Caen (July 4-18, 1944)
• Carpiquet (July 4-5, 1944)
• The Orne (July 8-9, 1944)
• Buron (July 8-9, 1944)
• Bourguebus Ridge (July 18-23, 1944)
• Faubourg de Vaucelles (July 18-19, 1944)
• St. Andre-sur-Orne (July 19-23, 1944)
• Ifs (July 20-23, 1944)
• Maltot (July 22-23, 1944)
• Verrieres Ridge (July 19-25, 1944)
• Tilly-la-Campagne (July 25, 1944)
• Falaise (Aug 7-22, 1944)
• Falaise Road (Aug 7-9, 1944)
• Racquancourt (Aug 6-8, 1944)
• Quesnay Wood (Aug 10-11, 1944)
• Clair Tizon (Aug 11-14, 1944)
• The Laison (Aug 14-17, 1944)
• Dunkirk (1944) (Sept 8-15, 1944)
• Dives Crossing (Aug 17-20, 1944)
• Chambois (Aug 18-22, 1944)
• St. Lambert sur Dives (Aug 19-22, 1944) *Victoria Cross Awarded
• Seine (1944) (Aug 25-28, 1944)
• Foret de la Londe (Aug 27-29, 1944)
• Moerbrugge (Sept 8-10, 1944)
• Le Havre (Sept 10-12, 1944)
• Moerkerke (Sept 13-14, 1944)
• Boulogne (1944) (Sept, 17-22, 1944)
• Calais (1944) (Sept 17-22, 1944)
• Wynghem (Sept 21-22, 1944)
• Antwerp-Turnhout Canal (Sept 24-29, 1944)
• Battle of the Scheldt (Oct 1 - Nov, 8, 1944)
• Woensdrecht (Oct 1-27, 1944)
• Leopold Canal (Oct 6-16, 1944)
• Savojaards Plaat (Oct 9-10, 1944)
• Breskens Pocket (Oct 11 - Nov 3, 1944)
• The Lower Maas (Oct 20 - Nov 7, 1944)
• South Beveland (Oct 24-31, 1944)
• Walcheren Causeway (Oct 31 - Nov 4, 1944)
• Kapelsche Veer (Dec 31, 1944 - Jan 31, 1945)
• Battle of the Ardennes/Bulge (Jan 16-31, 1945)
• The Rhineland (Feb 8 - Mar 10, 1945)
• The Reichswald (Feb 8-13, 1945)
• Waal Flats (Feb 8-15, 1945)
• Moyland Wood (Feb 14-21, 1945)
• Goch-Calcar Road (Feb 19-21, 1945)
• The Hochwald (Feb 24 - Mar 4, 1945) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Mooshof (Feb 25-26, 1945) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Veen (Mar 6-10, 1945)
• Xanten (Mar 8-9, 1945)
• The Rhine (Mar 25 - Apr 1, 1945) *Victoria Cross Awarded 
• Emmerich-Hoch Elten (Mar 28-Apr 1, 1945)
• Twente Canal (Apr 2-4, 1945)
• Zutphen (Apr 6-8, 1945)
• Deventer (Apr 8-11, 1945)
• Liberation of Apeldoorn (Apr 11-17, 1945)
• Liberation of Groningen (Apr 13-16, 1945)
• Friesoythe (Apr 14, 1945)
• Ijsselmeer (Apr 15-18, 1945)
• Kusten Canal (Apr 17-24, 1945)
• Wagenborgen (Apr 21-23, 1945)
• Delfzijl Pocket (Apr 23 - May 2, 1945)
• Bad Zwischenahn (Apr 25 - May 4, 1945) 
• Oldenburg (Apr 27 - May 4, 1945)
• Leer (Apr 28-29, 1945)

Operation Poland 1945 (Oct-Nov 1945)

Operation TOKYO - Japan (Jul-Sep 1947)

Operation India & Pakistan 1947 (Oct-Nov 1947)

Operation ORIENT - China (1949)

Operation Jamaica 1951 (Aug-1951)

Operation Italy 1951 (Nov 1951)

Operation WET FOOT - Netherlands (Feb 1953)

The Korean War (1950-1953)

Operation LEAP FROG - West Germany (1952-1953)

Operation NIMBLE BAT - West Germany (1952-1953)

Operation Guatemala 1954 (Jun-Jul 1954)

Operation India 1954 (July-1954)

Operation India & Pakistan 1955 (Dec 1955)

Operation Greece 1956 (Jul-1956)

Operation Hungary 1956 (Oct-Nov 1956)

Operation India 1956 (1956)

Operation MAGNIFICENT - West Germany (Feb 1957)

Operation Ceylon 1957 - Ceylon (Sri Lanka pre-1972) (1957-1958)

Operation JUMP MOAT - Belgium (1957-1958)

Operation WESTERN WEAR - Europe (Sept-Oct 1959)

Operation Morocco 1959 (1959-1960)

Operation Morocco 1960 (Mar-1960)

Operation Chili 1960 (May-Jun 1960)

Operation Congo 1960 (Jul-Aug 1960)

Operations des Nations Unis au Congo (ONUC) -  Republic of Congo (1960-1964)

Operation MALLARD - Republic of Congo (1960)

Operation WESTERN WEFT - France (Apr-Aug 1962)

Operation WESTERN WEAL - Greece (May-Aug 1962)

Operation Belize 1961 - (Nov-1961)

Operation Haiti 1963 (May 1963)

Operation East Pakistan 1963 - (Jun-1963)

Operation Belize 1963 - (Sept-1963)

Operation India & Pakistan 1965 (Sept-1965)

Operation NIMBLE - Zambia (1965-1966)

DOMREP - Dominican Republic (1965-1966)

Operation PELI PELI - Republic of the Congo (Nov-1967)

Operation Nigeria 1968 (Aug-1968)

Operation BLUENOSE - Nigeria (Oct-Dec 1968)

Operation Nigeria 1969 (Nov-1969) *Operation planned, never deployed for unknown reasons

Operation Peru (Jun-Jul 1970)

Operation Pakistan 1970 (Nov 1970)

Observer Team Nigeria (1968-1970)

Operation India 1971-I (Jun-Jul 1971)

Operation India 1971-II (Jul-Aug 1971)

Operation India 1971-III (Oct 1971)

Operation Caribbean 1972 - (June-1972)

Operation Guyana 1972 ( June-1972)

Operation Nicaragua 1972 (Dec-1972)

Operation CANAMIGO - Venezuela (1972)

Operation PEACE WINGS - United States and Canada (1970-1972)

Operation Ecuador 1973 - (Apr-1973)

Operation Grenada 1974 (Jan-Feb 1974)

Operation Grand Turk Island 1974 (Jun-1974)

Operation Honduras 1974 (Sept-Oct 1974)

Operation Guam 1975 (May-1975)

The Vietnam War (1954-1975)

• ICSC Laos-I (1954-1958)
• ICSC Cambodia (1954-1969)
• Operation GALLANT (1973)
• Operation WESTPLOY (1973)
• ICSC Vietnam (1954-1973)
• ICSC Laos-II (1961-1974)

Operation Lebanon 1975 (Oct-Nov 1975)

Operation Guatemala 1976 (Feb-Mar 1976)

Operation DOLOMITE - Italy (May-Jun 1976)

Operation Guyana 1977 (Jul-1977)

Operation ANGORA - Lebanon (1978) *UNIFIL

Operation MAGNET-I - Vietnam (Nov-Dec 1978)

Operation BATON - Iran (1978-1979)

Operation ABALONE - St. Vincent (Apr-1979)

Operation OXIDE - Rhodesia and Zimbabwe (1980)

Operation MAGNET-II - Vietnam (1979-1981)

Operation MAGNET-III - Vietnam (Jan-Apr-1981)

Operation Grenada 1983 (Oct-1983)

Operation Ethiopia 1985 (Feb-1985)

Operation Mexico 1985 (Sept-1985)

Operation Columbia 1985 (Nov-1985)

Operation Ethiopia 1985 (1985)

Operation Libya 1986 (Apr-1986)

Operation DRAGON BREATH - China (June 1987)

Operation BANDIT - Haiti (Jan-Feb 1988)

Operation NILE - Ethiopia (Jun-Sep 1988)

Operation Jamaica 1988 (Sept-Oct 1988)

Operation MACEDOINE - Armenia (Dec-1988)

Operation China 1989 (Jun-1989)

Operation Dominica 1989 - Commonwealth of Dominica (Jul-1989)

Operation Dominican Republic 1989 - (Apr-Jun 1989)

Operation HUGO - Montserrat and Nevis (Sept-Oct 1989)

Operation Jamaica 1989 (1989)

Operation Haiti 1989 (1989)

Operation MATADOR - Namibia (1989-1990) *UNTAG

Operation HERRITAGE - Haiti (Dec-1990) *Electoral Observers and Security

Operation SALON - Oka, Quebec (1990) *Oka Crisis Response

Operation VEGABOND  - Iran and Iraq (1988-1991) *UNIIMOG

Operation ANCHOR GUARD - Turkey (1990-1991)

Operation UNIQUE - Goose Bay (1989-1991) *Security from Anti-NATO flight Training Protesters

Operation Peru (Jun 1991)

Operation PRESERVE - Ethiopia (1991)

Operation Mexico 1991 (Mar 1991)

The First Gulf War (1990-1991)

• Operation FRICTION - Kuwait, Iraq, Persian Gulf (1990-1991)
• Operation SCALPEL - Field Hospital (1990-1991)
• Operation SCIMITAR - Kuwait, Iraq, Persian Gulf (1990-1991) *RCAF Contribution

Operation REGARD - Iraq, Turkey, and Iran (Apr-Jun 1991)

Operation ASSIST - Iraq, Turkey, and Iran (Apr-Jun 1991)

Operation TEMPEST - United States (Sept-Oct 1992)

Operation ESCORT - Haiti (1991-1992)

Operation MARQUIS - Cambodia (1991-1992) *UNAMIC

Operation Mexico 1992 (Apr 1992) *Repeat of Mexico 1991 Mission

Operation SULTAN - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (1989-1992)

Operation Mexico 1993 (Apr 1993) *Repeat of Mexico 1991 & 1992 Missions

Operation FIREFLY - Eritria (Sept-Oct 1993)

Operation DENY FLIGHT - Bosnia-Herzegovina (1993)

Operation RELIEF - Somalia (1992-1993)

Operation PASTEL - Angola (1991-1993) *UNAVEM II

Operation CAULDRON - Haiti (Oct-1993) *UNMIH

OSGAP - Afghanistan and Pakistan (1990-1993)

Operation DELIVERANCE - Somalia (1992-1993) *Somalia Affair

Operation MARITIME GUARD - Former Yugoslavia (1992-1993)

Operation Mexico 1994 (Apr 1994) *Repeat of Mexico 1991, 1992, & 1993 Missions

Operation PYTHON - Western Sahara (1991-1994) *MINURSO

Operation MATCH - El Salvador (1991-1994) *ONUSAL

Operation BOLSTER - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina (1991-1994)

Commonwealth Peacekeeping Assistance Group - South Africa (1994)

Operation Nepal 1994 (Feb 1994)

Operation CADENCE - Dominican Republic (Sept 1994)

Operation DIALOGUE - Haiti (Sept-Oct 1994)

Operation FORWARD ACTION - Haiti (1993-1994)

Operation LANCE - Uganda and Rwanda (1993-1994) *UNOMUR

Operation HARMONY - The Balkans (1992-1995) *UNPROFOR & UNPF

Operation CAVALIER - The Balkans (1992-1995) *UNPROFOR & UNPF

Operation MANDARIN - The Balkans (1992-1995)

Operation SHARPE GUARD - Naval Blockade of Former Yugoslavia (1992-1996) *NATO

Operation CONSONANCE - Mozambique (1993-1995) *ONUMOZ

Operation COBRA - Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (1994-1995)

Operation Mexico 1995 (Mar-Apr 1995) *Repeat of Mexico 1991, 1992, 1993, & 1994 Missions

Operation Costa Rica 1995 (Jun-1995)

Operation DELIBERATE FORCE - Former Yugoslavia (Aug-Sept 1995)

Operation PROVIDE COMFORT - Iraq (1991-1996)

Operation ALLIANCE - Former Yugoslavia (1995-1996)

Operation NYLON - Austria (1995-1996)

Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR - Former Yugoslavia (1995-1996)

Operation LEGATION - Zaire (Nov-Dec 1996)

Operation ASSURANCE - Rwanda and Zaire (Nov-Dec 1996)

Operation STANDARD - Haiti  (Jun-Sept 1996) *UNSMIH

Operation PREVENTION - Persian Gulf (Feb-Aug 1997)

Operation STABLE - Haiti (1996-1997) *UNSMIH

Operation CONSTABLE - Haiti (Jul-Nov 1997) *UNTMIH

Operation MIRADOR - Former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina) (1997)

Operation VISION - Guatemala (1997) *MINUGUA

Operation ASSISTANCE (1997) - Red River Floor Relief, Alberta

Operation PERSISTENCE - Atlantic Ocean (Sept 1998) *SwissAir Flight 111

Operation CENTRAL - Honduras (Nov-Dec 1998) *DART Deployment

Operation  DETERMINATION - Persian and Arabian Gulf (1998)

Operation PRESERVATION - Kosovo (1998)

Operation DESERT THUNDER I & II - Iraq (1998)

Operation DELIBERATE GUARD - Former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina) (1996-1998)

Operation CONNECTION-I - Kenya (1997-1998)

Operation BISON - Italy (1997-1998)

Operation RECUPERATION - Eastern Canada (1998) *Ice Storm Assistance

Operation PRUDENCE - Central African Republic (1998-1999) *MINURCA

Operation TANGO - Western Sahara (1998-1999)

Operation GUARANTOR - Kosovo (1998-1999)

Operation PANDA - Papua New Guinea - (1998-1999) *Deployment Planned and Cancelled

Operation Haiti 1999 - (Jan-1999)

Operation PYRAMID - British Columbia (1999) *Snow Storm Assistance

Operation KAYAK - Kosovo (Jan-Mar 1999)

Operation MIKADO - Albania and Macedonia (Apr-1999)

Operation CONTACT - Croatia (Jul-Aug 1999)

Operation PARASOL - Kosovo (1999)

Operation ALLIED FORCE - Kosovo (1999) *NATO Air Campaign

Operation TORRENT - Turkey (1999) *DART Deployment after Earthquake

Operation CONNECTION-II - Albania (1999)

Operation CHARITABLE - Caribbean (1999) *Deployment Planned and Cancelled

Operation ABACUS (1999-2000) *Y2K Preparations

Operation RECONFIGURATION (1999-2000) *Y2K Migration from Banyan to Windows

Operation FORUM - Iraq (1991-2000) *UNSCOM

Cambodian Mine Operation Centre (1993-2000)

Operation ECHO - SFOR and KFOR (1998-2000)

Operation QUARTZ- Guatemala (1998-2000)

Operation MEMORIA - France (1998-2000) *Repatriation of the Unknown Soldier

Operation KINETIC - Kosovo and Macedonia (1999-2000)

UNCMAC - South Korea (1953-2000)

Operation MEGAPHONE - Atlantic Ocean (2000)

Operation Mozambique 2000 (Mar-2000)

Operation COMPLIMENT - Haiti (1997-2000) *MIPONUH

Operation TOUCAN - East Timor (1999-2001) *UNTAET

Operation CHAPERON - Croatia (1996-2001) *UNMOP

Operation ARTISAN - Albania (2000-2001)

Operation CONNECTION-III - Kenya (2000-2001)

Operation ECLIPSE - Ethiopia and Erithia (2000-2001) *UNMEE

Operation RECORD - Iraq and Kuwait (1991-2001) *UNIKOM

Operation El Salvador 2001 (Jan-2001)

Operation HUMBLE - Haiti (May 2001)

Operation SUPPORT - Canada (Sept-2001) *Post 9/11 actions

Operation AUGMENTATION - Persian Gulf  (1999-2001)

Operation FORAGE - Macedonia (2001-2002)

Operation AMBER FOX - Macedonia (2001-2002)

Operation IMAGE - Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo (2001-2002)

Operation EAGLE ASSIST - North America (2001-2002)

Operation QUADRANT - Kosovo (1999-2002)

Operation Belize 2002 - (Feb 2002)

Operation TAY BRIDGE - United Kingdom (Mar-Apr 2002)

Operation GRIZZLY - (2002) *G8 Security

Operation SUDAN - Sudan (Mar-Apr 2003)

Operation IRAQI FREEDOM  - Iraq (Mar-May 2003) *Logistical Support For US Operation IRIS

Operation IRIS - Iraq (Jun-2003)

Operation CARAVAN - Democratic Republic of Congo (2003)

Operation LIANE - Liberia (Sept-Nov 2003) *UNMIL

Operation PEREGRINE - British Columbia (2003) *Forest Fire Assistance

Operation FUSION - Macedonia (Mar-May 2003)

Operation ADDITION - Ethiopia and Erithia (2000-2003) *UNMEE

Operation NORTHERN WATCH - Iraq (1997-2003)

Operation SOLITUDE - West Africa (2003-2004)

Operation DISTINGUISHED GAMES - Greece (2004 Olympics)

Operation GLAUDUS - Greece (2004 Olympics)

Operation PRINCIPAL - Haiti (Feb-Mar 2004)

Operation HALO - Haiti (2004) *MINUSTAH

Operation PALLADIUM - Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995-2004)

Operation SIRIUS - Mediterranean (2004-2005)

Operation STRUCTURE -Sri Lanka (2004-2005) *DART Deployment

Operation HUDSON SENTINEL (Aug-2005)

Operation UNISON - United States (Sep-2005)

Operation PLATEAU - South Asia (2005) *DART Deployment

Operation REPTILE - Sierra Leone (1999-2005) *UNAMSIL

Operation CANOPY - Kashechewan, Ontario (2005)

Operation DANACA - Golan Heights (1974-2006) *UNDOF

Operation LANCASTER (Aug-2006)

Operation LION - Cyprus and Lebanon (2006)

Operation CHABANEL - South Atlantic (Apr-May 2006)

Operation NORWHAL (Apr-2007)

Operation Jamaica 2007 (Aug-2007)

Operation BOREAS - Bosnia-Herzegovina (2004-2007)

Operation IOLAUS - Iraq (2004-2007) *UNAMI

Operation HURRICANE (1982-2007) *Monthly Exercise, to high Arctic (renamed OP NEVUS)

Operation AUGURAL - Sudan (2005-2008) *AMIS

Operation UNIFY (Aug-2008)

Operation HORATIO - Haiti (2008)

Operation ALTAIR - Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea (2004-2008)

Operation TATOU - Trinidad and Tobago (2009)

Operation SEXTANT - Mediterranean Sea (2006-2009)

Operation HESTIA - Haiti (2010)

Operation CADENCE (II) (Jun-2010) *G8 Summit Security

Operation LAMA - Newfoundland (Sep-2010) *Hurricane Assistance

Operation PODIUM (2010 Vancouver Olympics)

Operation BRONZE -Bosnia-Herzegovina (2004-2010)

Operation LUSTRE - Manitoba (May-2011) *Flood Assistance

Operation LYRE (Jul-2011)

Operation FORGE - Ontario (Jul-2011) *Forest Fire Assistance

Operation LOTUS - Quebec (2011) *Lake Champlain and Richelieu River Flood Assistance

Operation SAFARI - Sudan (2004-2011)

Operation JAGUAR - Jamaica (2011)

Operation MOBILE - Libya (2011)

Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR - Mediterranean (2011-2012)

Operation SAIPH - Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea (2009-2012)

Operation SCULPTURE - Sierra Leone (2000-2013)

Operation LENTUS - Alberta (Jun-2013) *Flood Assistance

Operation RENAISSANCE - The Philippines (2013)

Operation IGNITION - Iceland (2011 & 2013)

Operation LENTUS-14 - Kashechewan and Fort Albany, Ontario (May 2014) *Flood Assistance

Operation LENTUS-14-2 - Kashechewan, Ontario (May 2014) *Flood Assistance

Operation LENTUS-14-3 - Attawapiskat, Ontario (May 2014) *Flood Assistance

Operation LENTUS-14-5 - Manatoba (July 2014) *Flood Assistance

Operation SERVAL - Mali (2012-2014)

The War in Afghanistan (2001-2014)

• Operation APOLLO (2001-2003)
• Operation ACCIUS (2002-2005) *UNAMA
• Operation ARCHER (2006)
• Operation KEEPING GOODWILL (2007) *Also known as Operation KHAR KHOWHAI
• Operation ARGUS (2005-2008)
• Operation ATHENA (2003-2011) *ISAF
• Operation ATTENTION (2011-2014)

Operation OPEN SPIRIT - Latvia (May-2014)

Operation BOXTOP - CFS Alert (1950- Present) *Biannual replenishment Operation

Operation NIJMEGEN - Netherlands (1952-Present) *Annual Memorial March

Operation JADE - UNTSO - Middle East - (1954- Present)

Operation SNOWGOOSE - Cyprus (1964-Present)

Operation PROTEUS - Jerusalem (1960s?)-Present)

Operation PALACI - Rogers Pass, British Colmbia (1965?-Present) *Assistance to Parks Canada

Operation CALUMET - Sinai Peninsula (1981-Present)

Operation QUESTION - Eastern Europe (Former Warsaw Pact Countries) (1992-Present)

Operation VERIFY - Eastern Europe (Former Warsaw Pact Countries) (1992-Present)

Operation REDUCTION - Eastern Europe (Former Warsaw Pact Countries) (1992-Present)

Operation DRIFTNET - Various Locations (1993-Present) *Support to Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Operation OPEN VIEW - Various Locations (1997-Present)

Operation MENTOR - Former Yugoslavia and Region (1997-Present)

Operation VIKING - Denmark (1997-Present)

Operation KOBOLD - Kosovo (1999-Present) *Part of NATO Operation JOINT GUARD

Operation CROCODILE - Democratic Republic of Congo (2000-Present)

Operation FOUNDATION - Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Djibouti (2002-Present)

Operation NOBLE EAGLE (One) - North America (2001-Present)

Operation ACTIVE SKIES - Canada (2002-Present)

Operation HAMLET - Haiti (2004-Present)

Operation GLADUS - Golan Heights (2006-Present)

Operation SATURN - Darfur (2007-Present)* Ongoing but no current Deployments

Operation NUNALIVUT - Arctic (2007-Present) *Annual Sovereignty Operation

Operation NEVUS - High Arctic (2008-Present) *Annual Monthly Operation

Operation SOPRANO - South Sudan (2011-Present)

Operation METRIC - Mediterranean Sea (2012-Present) * Ongoing but no current Deployments

Operation SIRONA - Sierra Leone (2014-Present)

Operation ARTEMIS - Arabian Sea (2014-Present)

Operation REASSURANCE - Eastern Europe (2014-Present)

Operation IMPACT - Iraq (2014-Present)

Operation POSEIDON - Canadian Boarder (Ongoing)*Support to CBSA and RCMP

Operation CANTON - Ontario (Ongoing) *Emergency Support to EMO

Rededication of the Canadian National War Memorial

Just as many other nations in the world, Canada has a long and honoured Military tradition. Our great Nation, has an extremely long military history - much of that storied history took place before Canada was officially a country/dominion of the British Empire. Canada has always celebrated Remembrance Day, remembering all those who served and died for Canada during war time. During the 2014 Remembrance Day ceremonies Princess Anne helped rededicate the National War Memorial for the third time in its history. Adding two new sets of Dates. 1899-1902 (The South African War) and 2001-2014 (The War in Afghanistan)

The British North America Act of 1867 officially created the Dominion of Canada, and within forty years, Canada would send its first troops overseas to fight in a conflict for the British Empire. Canada would send more than 7,000 troops to South Africa to fight the Boers, descendants of the regions first Dutch immigrants.  Between 1899 and 1902 Canadians fought the Boers, who were not expected to last long against the worlds foremost military power, but the Boers, using what can only be described today as Guerrilla warfare tactics. By the end of the conflict 267 Canadians had paid the ultimate sacrifice, and  many more were injured. Over the past century, there are smaller local monuments commemorating their sacrifice, as well the names of the dead are listed in the Book of Remembrance in Ottawa. The war itself divided Canadians, mainly along language lines, similarly to the Great War in Canada. Remembrance has always been a difficult issues when it came to the South African War. It became part of the National War Memorial this year, and will now always be remembered as part of Canada's fight for freedom and equality around the world.

The South African War dates are added to the side of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada (Photo courtesy of http://blogs.canoe.ca/davidakin/?p=108461)

The second set of dates added to the National War Memorial, are those of Canada's participation in the War in Afghanistan. Starting in 2001 following the attacks of September 11th 2001, Canada sent troops as part of the NATO and UN International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and originally deployed to Kabul, in a non-direct combat roll. Later Canada would redeploy to Kandahar and take part in a direct combat rolls between 2006-2012, before redeploying to Kabul to help train the Afghan National Army. By the official end of the mission - 158 Canadians had paid the ultimate sacrifice and thousands more injured and are facing PTSD, something Canadians have not dealt with on this level through its more "Peacekeeping" operations since the end of the Korean War. When Canada ended official combat operations in 2012, many Canadians called for the government to add the Afghan War dates to the monument, but they were met with restraint, as the deployment of Canadians to Afghanistan had never been officially labelled as a "declared War" - except by the media and historians alike. Members of the government began describing the conflict as a War, but it officially its status remained in limbo - Until this Remembrance Day - when the dates were added to the National War Memorial. It is fitting, as Canada's longest lasting combat operation, and single military operation, lasting thirteen years, and seeing more than 40,000 Canadians see active duty in Afghanistan, the War in Afghanistan deserves to be remembered on a National scale. 

The Afghan War dates added to the side of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada with three members of the Canadian forces who served in Afghanistan standing in front of the newly added dates. (Photo courtesy of http://blogs.canoe.ca/davidakin/?p=108461)

The Nurse and the Thorn of the Mediterranean

While visiting the Islands of Malta and Gozo today, you will find a mix of Middle Eastern and Western cultures living together. The small Island nation of 316 square kilometres, you might not think much of this dot of three islands as they appear on World Maps. In fact, in most cases, the Capital of Valletta is often all you can make out on a Map. The small nation is 96 km south of Sicily, and 290 km North of Northern Africa, putter her right smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.  

Throughout history, Malta was an important trading post for the Mediterranean, ships from all over would come and trade goods. from around the known world. The island became known for its massive limestone fortifications under the Knights Templar, who later became known as the Knights of Malta, and it was from the Capital of Valletta, that the Knights defeated the Turks in 1565. 

Like many other areas of the world Malta has succumb to the interests of many world powers, due to her strategic positioning. In 1800 it became part of the British Empire, and Britain would largely use the Island as a coaling depot for its growing Navy, and base of its Mediterranean fleet. 

It would become a major player, for very different reasons during the two World Wars. 

Rev'd Albert Mackinnon, appropriately titled Malta, the Nurse of the Mediterranean in his 1916 work that described what he witnessed while in Malta during World War One. (The Book can be viewed online, or PDF here:  https://archive.org/details/maltanurseofmedi00mackuoft) 

During World War One, twenty seven hospitals and medical camps were established on the small island - and when there were only four military hospitals at the outset of the war in 1914, that is a massive number. 

Casualties started  to arrive on May 4th 1915 - from the Battle of Gallipoli, when 600 casualties arrived. The men were unloaded onto barges and brought through the quayside outside Valletta's ancient Sacra Infirmaria hospital (which was established by the Knights of St. John in the early 1500s - and can still be visited today) The Sacra Infirmaria was the longest hospital ward in Europe until the nineteenth century. 

Over the course of the next two years, more than 64,500 casualties were sent and treated in Malta, the vast majority of these recieved in the summer and autumn of 1916.  Post-war estimates are as follows: 

Casualties treated between May 1915-1919 from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force: 58,000

Casualties treated between May 1916-1919 from the Solonika Expeditionary Force: 78,000 

* Not all patients survived treatment or injuries 

War dead, nurses and doctors who died of diseases while treating causalities are buried at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta. 

The Second World War 

During World War Two - Malta's roll was different - she again played a small part in nursing war casualties, but she became know as the Thorn in the side of Rommel in his War in North Africa. 

Convoys were being shipped across the Mediterranean from Greece and Italy to support the Nazi March across Africa, and for a while went unchecked by the Allies. Britain choose to base a handful of outdated Hawker Hurricane aircraft on the island for defence from Nazi bombers, and as a very small 'deterrent' for invading the island. These Hurricanes, quickly became useful in attacking the Nazi supply convoys reaching North Africa. 

Nazi Germany began to understand the strategic importance of Malta, and began constant bombing of the island, and for a period, it became the most bombed place on Earth between June of 1940 and November of 1942. More than 15,000 tonnes of explosives were dropped over that period and close to 11,000 buildings destroyed or extensively damaged. King George awarded the Islands of Malta for "bear[ing] witness to the heroism and devotion of its people during the great siege it underwent in the early parts of World War Two'

By the end of the campaign, the handful of Hurricanes, numbered in the hundreds and nearly completely destroyed the convoys to North Africa, cutting Rommel off from his supplies, and allowing the Allies a victory in Africa. 

Following the African campaign the Larscaris War Rooms (Which can be visited today), located underneath the Lascaris Battery in Valletta, which were dig into the Limestone during the bombings were used to plan, and coordinate the Allied Invasion of Sicily 1943. The complex is located 150 feet bellow the surface. 

Remembering History - Giving Malta the credit which is due - as a Nurse to our Allies, and a Thorn to our Enemies. 

The Second Battle of Copenhagen 1807

Unlike the Battle of Copenhagen of 1801, which is famously remembered for Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson holding his telescope to his blind eye to miss Admiral Sir Hyde Parker's signal to withdraw, the Second Battle of Copenhagen (1807) saw the British Fleet blockade Copenhagen to capture the Danish-Norwegian Fleet anchored in port.

This post - comes after reading Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell, it is the fifth novel in the series. Following the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Napoleon lost not only the French Navy, but also the Spanish Navy, forcing him to delay his plans to invade the British Isles. The only country with a navy large enough to challenge that of the British, was Denmark-Norway. Denmark-Norway had the largest merchant fleet in Europe, as a result had the second largest navy to protect that fleet.  In July of 1807, Napoleon signed the Treaty of Tilsit with Tsar Alexander I of Russia, where Russia secretly agreed that Napoleon could invade the neutral state of Denmark-Norway and seize the Danish Fleet and use it to invade the British Isles.

British intelligence agencies had learned of the secrete between Napoleon and Alexander, and send political aids to Copenhagen to try and persuade the Crown Prince to loan the Danish Fleet to Britain to keep it safe from Napoleon. The Crown Prince refused as he believed Denmark neutrality would protect it from Napoleon's wrath.

The British believing that the Baltic Sea was of strategic importance for both defence and trade, assembled a force of 25,000 troops and 22 Battle and Bomb Ships set sail for Copenhagen. 8 other Battle and Bomb ships would sail and arrive later.

A small British force landed south of Copenhagen, commanded by General Sir Arthur Wellesley, defeated a larger force of Danish Regulars and Militia at the Battle of Koge, which allowed the British to establish Mortar pits on Danish soil. With the city surrounded, the British sent a request to General Ernest Peymann, who was in command of Copenhagen's defence force to surrender the Danish fleet or suffer the consequences. Peymann and others around him had prepared the city to endure a long British Siege, stockpiling food and supplies. Peymann believed that the British who were not barbarians like Napoleon, would never bombard the city, especially because they knew women and children were still in the city.

When the Danes refused to surrender the fleet, on September 2nd, the British opened up their mortar teams from both the ground and the sea.  The British also used Congreve Rockets during their bombardment, which were specifically used as incendiaries, causing major fires in the city. Some 5,000 bombs and rockets fell on Copenhagen the first night. During the day, the Danes went about their business as if the British siege was not taking place. Following a clean up, and burying their dead, things went on like normal. For the next two nights the British resumed bombing, but using less and less bombs and rockets, which led Peymann to believe the British were running low on munitions, and would have to wait for replenishment from Britain, so he refused to hand over the Danish fleet.

The Crown Prince, and the mass of the Danish-Norwegian Army was in the South of Denmark preparing to defend against a French invasion. Defending against an invasion for the same purpose, to protect the Danish Fleet.  The Crown Prince, fearing a worse wrath of the British fleet, and perhaps a Breach attempt of Copenhagen's walls by General Wellesley, send word to burn the Danish fleet, so that it could not fall into the hands of either Britain or France.

Shelling of Copenhagen Sept 4th 1807

On the night of September 5th, the British released a fire-storm of more than 7,000 bombs and rockets on Copenhagen, targeting a new section of the city. Perhaps it was because of the confusion of that night, the Prince's order to burn the Danish Fleet was never followed, and the Danes sued for peace. Close to 200 civilians were killed and close to 800 were injured. Much of the city was burned, and would take a generation to rebuild.

The British captured 24 Battle Ships, 17 Frigates, 11 Brigs, and 3 Gunships. Because they were not handed over, but captured during a 'war' the British treasury paid out small fortunes in Prize money for capturing enemy vessels. In doing so, it ensured that Napoleon could not invade Britain, but forced Denmark to ally itself with France.

The British left Copenhagen in October 21st 1807, but would become more involved in the war against Napoleon, which would last until 1814.

Perhaps it is because the British Navy bombarded a largely civilian population, or perhaps it is because they basically stole a neutral countries fleet to protect itself, the Second Battle of Copenhagen is largely forgotten - well today it is remembered.

For a great Historical Fiction perspective on it - read Sharpe's Prey.

Remembering History - The Second Battle of Copenhagen 1807