Artillery in Canada (4) Manitoba: Churchill, Fort Prince of Wales Fort, National Historic Site of Canada

Churchill, Prince of Wales Fort, National Historic Site of Canada

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5139097)

Prince of Wales Fort, 28 Aug 1958.

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document every historical piece of artillery preserved in Canada.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these guns to provide and update the data found on these web pages.  Photos are by the author unless otherwise credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Guns and Artillery in Canada would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

For all official data concerning the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, please click on the link to their website:

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Website

Note: Back in the day, artillery in Canada was referred to by its radio call sign "Sheldrake".  It is now referred to by its "Golf" call sign.  (Acorn sends)

Churchill, Prince of Wales Fort, National Historic Site of Canada

(Ansgar Wal Photo)

(Diagram courtesy of Parks Canada)

Diagram of Prince of Wales Fort.  Inner numbers designate cannon calibre, outer numbers cover 40 guns mounted on the inner walls of the fort, plus two outside the fort.

The Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada near Churchill in Northern Manitoba was built in the early 18th century by the Hudson’s Bay Company to support the fur trade.  The Fort stands at the mouth of the Churchill River and encompasses a massive fortification along with installations at Cape Merry, a defensive battery situated on a point of land across the river opposite the fort, and Sloop Cove, which was the HBC’s winter harbour.  Built between 1731 and 1771, the 12-metre thick walls of the fortress protected the HBC’s major supply route through Arctic waters until it was surrendered by Samuel Hearne to the French in 1782.

Queen Anne of Great Britain (1665-1714, r. 1702-1714).  (Wikipedia)

King George II and his Royal cypher, reigned from 11 Jun 1727 to 25 Oct 1760.  (Wikipedia)

Each of the 40 guns mounted on the ramparts of Prince of Wales Fort is positioned at a gun port and located on a stone plinth.  24 of the guns bear the Royal cypher of King George II (1727-1760), six of the guns bear the Royal cypher of Queen Anne (1702-1714), and 12 guns do not have a visible cypher.  Gun weights and data courtesy of Parks Canada, Henry Unglik and Alex Barbour,  A Metallurgical and Corrosion Study of the 18th Century Cast Iron Cannons from Fort Prince of Wales, Manitoba, prepared for Kathryn Roll, Chief, Historic Resource Conservation, Prairie Region, Winnipeg.  Laboratory Nos. : 89-2193 to 89-2215.  (Historic Resource Conservation, National Historic Sites, Environment Canada, Parks Service Canada; and Heritage Conservation Program, Architecture and Engineering Services, Public Works Canada, Ottawa, March 1992).  Gun weights from pp. 28-34.  

Historical Note: Although the rose and crown cypher has traditionally been interpreted as representing Queen Anne, it was used not only by the rest of the Stuart Royal family, but, confusingly, also by King George I for iron guns.  King George II guns are recognized by the GR2 cypher.  The difference is between bronze and iron guns.  The bronze guns had monograms for all the different kings and queens.  But most of the cast-iron guns of this period just had a rose and crown, right up to the 1720s.  Some Charles and some William and Mary guns did have a simple monogram, but most British iron guns for government use before 1726 all used the rose and crown.  (Ruth Rhynas Brown)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3304052)

Cast Iron Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun within the ruins of Fort Prince of Wales, before restoration, c1950s.

(TravellingOtter Photo)

All Guns listed are mounted on wood Naval Gun carriages.

Gun No. 1, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 22-2-7 (2,527 lbs), no Royal cypher, ca. 1710, 8’5.4” long, 3.7” bore.

Gun No. 2, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 32-0-1 (3,585 lbs), King George II cypher, ca 1740, 8’11.3” long, 4.4” bore.

Gun No. 3, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 24-0-0 (2,688 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’0.3” long, 3.7” bore.

Gun No. 4, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-17 (3,741 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’11.8” long, 4.3” bore.

Gun No. 5, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-5 (3,701 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.7” long, 4.4” bore.

Gun No. 6, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-14 (3,710 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’11.8” long, 4.8” bore, .

Gun No. 7, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-3 (3,727 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.8” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 8, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, 49-3-26 (5,598 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.2” long, 5.8” bore.

Gun No. 9, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 48-0-21 (5,397 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.2” long, 5.9” bore.

Gun No. 10, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 32-0-1 (3,585 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.8” long, 4.8” bore.

Gun No. 11, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-24 (3,720 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’0.2” long, 4.8” bore.

Gun No. 12, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 48-1-21 (5,425 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.5” long, 5.9” bore.

Gun No. 13, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 48-2-0 (5,432 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.7” long, 5.8” bore.

Gun No. 14, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 32-2-4 (3,756 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1720 (TBC), 9’0.3” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 15, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-17 (3,741 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.5” long, 4.8” bore.

Gun No. 16, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-2-17 (3,769 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.5” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 17, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, 9’0.2” long, weight 33-0-0 (3,696 lbs), 4.7” bore, King George II cypher, ca. 1740.

Gun No. 18, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-21 (3,745 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’11.5” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 19, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 49-3-14 (5,586 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.0” long, 5.9” bore.

Gun No. 20, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 49-3-21 (5,593 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.4” long, 5.9” bore.

Gun No. 21, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight ?-?-24 (>5,500 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.0” long, 5.7” bore.

Gun No. 22, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 49-3-21 (5,593 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.1” long, 5.8” bore.

Gun No. 23, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 49-3-21 (5,593 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.0” long, 5.8” bore.

Gun No. 24, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 21-2-21 (2,429 lbs), no Royal cypher, ca. 1710, 8’5.7” long, 3.5” bore.

Gun No. 25, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-21 (3,717 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’10.7” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 26, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 35-1-0 (3,948 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’5.8” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 27, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-2-0 (3,752 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.3” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 28, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 23-3-0 (2,660 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’11.4” long, 3.7” bore,

Gun No. 29, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-2-21 (3,773 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.2” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 30, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-17 (3,713 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’0.1” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 31, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-2-4 (3,756 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1740 (TBC), 8’11.7” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 32, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-14 (3,738 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 8’11.5” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 33, Cast Iron 24-pounder 50-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 48-1-14 (5,418 lbs), King George II cypher, ca. 1740, 9’6.3” long, 5.8” bore.

Gun No. 34, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 22-1-0 (2,492 lbs),  no cypher, ca. 1710 (TBC), 8’5.9” long, 3.6” bore.

Gun No. 35, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-18 (3,742 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1740 (TBC), 8’11.8” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 36, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-0 (3,724 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1740 (TBC), 8’11.8” long, 4.7” bore.

Gun No. 37, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-1-11(3,735 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1740 (TBC), 8’11.7” long, 4.6” bore.

Gun No. 38, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 22-0-21 (2,485 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1710 (TBC), 8’5.4” long, 3.8” bore.

Gun No. 39, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, no cypher, ca. 1710, weight 22-0-11 (2,475 lbs), 8’5.8” long, 3.8” bore.

Gun No. 40, Cast Iron 6-pounder 22-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 22-0-7 (2,471 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1710 (TBC), 8’5.7” long, 3.7” bore.

Gun No. 41, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun,, weight 32-1-3 (3,615 lbs), Queen Anne cypher, ca. 1710, 8’11.8” long, 4.6” bore.  Outside the Fort at Cape Merry.

Gun No. 42, Cast Iron 12-pounder 34-cwt Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, weight 33-0-14 (3,710 lbs), no cypher, ca. 1740 (TBC), 9’0.2” long, 4.7” bore.  Outside the Fort at the Eskimo Museum, Churchill.

(Peter Fitzgerald Photo)

Churchill

(Peter and Gloria Photos)

Cast Iron 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloader mounted on a wood naval gun carriage.  This gun likely came from Fort Prince of Wales, and now stands in front of the Eskimo Museum at 242 La Verendrye Avenue.

Cape Merry Battery

Opposite the fort across the mouth of the Churchill River is Cape Merry Battery. The battery was named for former HBC Deputy Governor (1712-1718) Captain John Merry (1656-1729). The fixed battery was built three times. The first was built sometime after 1718 and featured a wall protected by cannon(s) and powder magazine. The only remaining parts are the ruins of the door of the magazine and parts of the wall. A second battery was built in 1747 further south and away from the river due to concerns that the first battery could be used to attack the fort. A third was rebuilt in 1959-1960 from second as a restoration process. The battery today has a single cannon. (Wikipedia)

(Gordon Goldsborough Photo)

Cannon on the reconstructed second battery at Cape Merry, with Prince of Wales Fort on the horizon in the left background (July 2018).