J.P. Fell Pipe Band
The J.P. Fell Pipe Band was formed in 1993 by Alex Chisamore, Rob Thompson & Allan McMordie because they wanted to have a pipe band located on the North Shore. At the time the band was started Rob was the Commanding Officer of the Army Cadet Corp that has the J P Fell Armouries as its’ home base. Alex and Rob approached the Six Engineer Squadron, Canadian Military Engineers to inquire if the band could use the armouries and become the association pipe band for Six Engineer Squadron, Canadian Military Engineers.
Since its inception, the J.P. Fell Pipe Band has provided opportunities for youths and adults to learn to play either the bagpipes or drums in a non-competitive, constructive atmosphere. Our band is one of a very few that will teach adults or youths to play the pipes or drums and include them as members of the band while they are learning. A significant percentage of the Pipe Bands’ members have learned to play the pipes or drums with us.
The band has participated in parades, ceremonies and community events around BC, NW Washington State, Scotland and New York. We perform concerts for seniors’ centers and community groups in North and West Van as well as multi-cultural events in the Greater Vancouver area. The band or members have participated in fundraising events for the Marie Curie Cancer Care Charity in the U.K., West Vancouver Fire-fighters, SPCA in West Vancouver, Canadian Cancer Society to name a few.
We have been honored to play for the Lieutenant Governor at Government House in Victoria and have hosted the Lieutenant Governor at our annual Burns Supper. The band has also been honored as the “Official Pipe Band of the North Shore”. Because of the camaraderie of the members, the band currently enjoys a membership of 49 members.
J P Fell Pipe Band Events
Jan 7 Installation of Officers, RCL Branch 114 • Jan 21, Installation of Officers, RCL Branch 118 • Jan 27 Burns Supper, the pipe bands major fundraising event • Feb 18 Installation of Officers Unit 45 ANAVETS • Feb 18 Annual Dinner Richmond Chinese Society • Mar 17 St Patrick’s Day, ANAVETS Unit 45 • Mar 17 St Patrick’s Day, Legion Br 118 • Mar 18 St Patrick’s Day Vancouver Parade • Apr 14 Support Troops Rally Chilliwack • Apr 21 Youth Softball Opening N. Vanc. • Apr 22 Senior Center Concert
Silver Harbour • May 6 Battle of the Atlantic Legion Br #118 • May 13 City N Van 100th Opening Ceremonies • May 14 VE & Decoration Day Parade & Service • May 22 Annual Inspection Army Cadet Corp Annual Review • May 26 Lynn Valley Community Days Parade • Jun 2 West Van Community Days Parade • Jun 9 Canadian Cancer Society Walk for Life • Jun 16 West Van Bagpipe Festival By The Sea • Jun 24 City of North Van Moodyville Trek • Jun 30 City N Van 100th Birthday at the Pier • Jul 1 Canada Day Community Days Parade • Jul 1 Canada Day Perform after the Parade • Jul 1West Van Celebration at Ambleside • Jul 4 Oak Harbour, Washington Parade with LM Color Party • Jul 14 Birch Bay Parade with LM Color Party • Jul 21 Caribbean Days Festival Parade • Aug 5 Squamish Days Parade • Aug
25 Band Picnic Annual Picnic • Sep 8 Candlelight Service Annual Veterans Service • Sep 9 West Van SPCA Paws for Cause • Nov 3 BC Lions Game Halftime show @ BC Place • Nov 11 Remembrance Day North Shore Legions/Veterans Clubs • Dec 18 Installation of Officers, RCL Branch 60 • Dec 31 Legion Br #118 Concert • Piping official party including the Vice-President of Taiwan • Pipers supplied for Numerous Weddings, Memorial Services, Official parties and Community Events • Music requirements for 6 Engineer Squadron, Canadian Military Engineers •
Lt. Col. JAMES PEMBERTON FELL, CD OBE (1872-1960)
J.P. Fell was born in Staffordshire England in 1872. Educated at Harrow School, it was here his life-long interest in the military emerged. He joined the Territorial Army rising to the rank of Captain with the Yorkshire Artillery Regiment.
After moving to North Vancouver in 1897 he helped layout what is today the City of North Vancouver. Pemberton and Fell Avenues are both named after this early pioneer. On 11 February 1911 approval was given to establish 6 Field Company, Canadian Engineers and Major J.P. Fell was appointed to command the company.
In August 1914 he led the first contingent from North Vancouver overseas. He subsequently commanded both the 1st and 7th Field Companies of the Canadian Engineers on the Western Front and had his horse shot out from under him at the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Upon completion of his battlefield duties he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the Canadian Engineer Training Depot in England.
In 1919 he returned to North Vancouver, and between 1921 and 1926 he served as the Commander Royal Canadian Engineers for 11 Military District (BC). Between 1926 and 1946 he served as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 6 Field Company and from 1946 to 1960 as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 7 Field Engineer Regiment.
J.P. Fell was one of the founders of the BC Corps of Commissionaires and served as its chairman from 1931 to 1954. He was also provincial chairman of the National Canadian War Services Fund in 1941 and the president of the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Club in 1946. In 1920 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire and in 1960 he received the Canadian Forces Decoration, with two clasps, in recognition of more than 50 years service with the Canadian Army.
6 Field Squadron
February 1, 1911 the Headquarters of Military District No. 11 in Victoria duly authorized the formation of the 6 Field Company Canadian Engineers.
August 4, 1914 Canada entered the First World War. Two days later 6 Field was activated. During the First World War, 6 Field operated an Engineer Training Depot. In all, the depot trained 4176 recruits and sent 3876 of them overseas in 100 drafts. Most went to the Western Front but one of the last drafts in 1918 found itself headed to Vladivostok as part of 16 Field Company, Siberian Expeditionary Force Soldiers of 6 Field served in virtually every Canadian Engineer unit and battle of the First World War. They were at Ypres, Mount Sorrel, Vimy, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Canal du Nord,Cambria
and the final victorious Pursuit to Mons.
September 1, 1939 Major Tom Jermyn, the Commanding Officer of 6 Field, received orders to mobilize the unit. On September 7, 1940, with much fanfare and absolutely no secrecy 6 Field boarded a train to Debert, Nova Scotia to join the 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Infantry Brigade. They were placed in support of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Regina Rifle Regiment and Canadian Scottish Regiment and continued to do so for the next five years.
The 3rd Division was to be the assault division in the first wave on D-Day. The first to land at Courseulles-sur-Mer at 0740 hrs on D Day from 6 Field were the thirty-eight men of 2 Platoon with the lead companies of the Regina Rifles and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, they took twenty-two casualties, before they even got off the beach.
6 Field has been involved or completed a number of tasks on the North Shore such as excavating the swimming pool for St. Christopher School in 1947, constructing Bailey bridges over the Capilano and Seymour Rivers and completing trails to names a few.
1969 saw the first two unit members, since World War Two, go on duty to an active unit in Europe. Members also served in Egypt, Syria and Israel. By the end of the 1990’s over 40 unit members, both men and women had served either with the United Nations and/or NATO in the Balkans. Members of the unit continue to serve with distinction on deployments overseas.
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