The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

"Horse Artillery, and these had only two guns each, with horses and men inproportion. The only field batteries in the whole service kept equipped were inCanada. At Woolwich there was material and horses for three field batteries ofinstruction; companies took them over in turn for a few months for drill, whenthey were handed over to other companies. It was not until 1852, three yearsonly before the organization of the Montreal Battery, that an impetus was givento field artillery in the British Army by the horsing of 104 guns and theirorganizations into permanent batteries.In view of the then so recent establishment on a permanent basis of thisbranch of the service, the acknowledged efficiency of the Battery in the first yearsof its existence is all the more remarkable and creditable.The Battery, under command of Major Costigan, took part in the big reviewheld on Logans Park on Jubilee Day, 1897. The Battery was at the time encampedon St. Helen s Island. They were embarking on the steamer when an overturnedboat was noticed drifting down the swift current, some distance out from shore,with several men clinging to the bottom. A terrific wind storm was raging, andthe surface of the St. Lawrence was very rough. There was a small boat near thewharf, but the spectators on the Island appeared afraid to put out in it. With themen of the Batteryit was different. Sergeant-Major Kendal and TrumpeterBishop jumped into the boat and put out for the drowning men. It was hard workto force the skiff against the sea, and the frail craft was almost swamped. But theysucceeded, and, with great risk to their overladen boat, brought those who had beenin the water to land. The rescue was a gallant one, and largely through therepresentations and efforts of Lieutenant-Colonel Stevenson, the act was acknowledged by the Royal Humane Society of Canada, which bestowed medals uponKendal and Bishop.The present officers and men of the Battery certainly have every reason to beproud of the past record of their corps from its very earliest existence and in the;official commendations which have been elicited by its efficiency, no less than inthe honourable traditions which have been handed down by successive officers,non-commissioned officers and men, in the natural loyalty of Her MajestysCanadian subjects, and in their determination to keep the Union Jack flyingfor all time over this broad Dominion, they draw an inspiration which shouldresult in keeping their splendid corps for all time true to its goodAlways on Hand ".old motto