Cityscape Two Bombardiers fire Halifax's Noon Day Gun

Two Bombardiers fire Halifax's Noon Day Gun · 12:55 AM

Fort George (named after King George II of Great Britain) is a National Historic Site of Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and was established during Father Le Loutre's War to protect the protestant settlers against raids by the French, Acadians, and Wabanaki Confederacy (primary the Mi'kmaq). A series of four different defensive fortifications have occupied the summit of Citadel Hill since this time, with the construction and leveling resulting in the summit of the hill being dropped by ten to twelve meters. The first fort was simply a small redoubt which stood near the summit with a flagstaff and guardhouse. No traces of any regular or permanent fortification appear on Citadel Hill until the commencement of the American Revolution.

Today the fortress is restored to the Victorian period and there are re-enactors of the famed 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot and the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) Pipe Band who were stationed at Halifax for almost three years (1869-1871).

The firing of the noon day gun was timed for vessels in the harbour to set their chronometers by sight of the puff of smoke rather than the noise of the report, which took time to carry. For a bird's eye picture of Citadel Hill: [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Citadel_hill.jpg"]

A tradition of observing a silence on Christmas day continues to this day.

**southlander** · 03-07-2013, 06:16 AM

You keep on keeping those Americans at bay!

normhead · 03-07-2013, 07:02 AM

Hmmmm... a canon used as a time piece, sounds very Canadian.

Sparkle · 03-07-2013, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Hmmmm... a canon used as a time piece, sounds very Canadian.

It was a British Idea. They also created a time piece used as a cannon. James Bond had one I believe.

The practice of firing a gun at noon was widespread in European garrisons, but particularly port garrisons. At one time, the signal was made from a man o'war and only later taken over by the military garrison. According to written records, the Halifax gun was fired from the ramparts of the third citadel. The present citadel was declared complete in 1856 and it was from this year that tradition holds the signal came from the Garrison artillery.

Check out Google if you are curious, quite the stories and pictures. The replica gun now in use was sent to Ontario (Collingwood and Lanark by times) to be reconditioned and modified with a steel liner. The testing afterwards went off with a bang.

calculator01 · 03-07-2013, 04:52 PM

Vancouver does this as well

Also, I definitely read that as Bombardier... as in airplanes

Sparkle · 03-07-2013, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by calculator01

Vancouver does this as well

Also, I definitely read that as Bombardier... as in airplanes

Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal.

Thanks for looking and your comment.

Sparkle
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03-07-2013, 03:46 PM	#4
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521 Original Poster	The Noon Cannon Originally posted by normhead Hmmmm... a canon used as a time piece, sounds very Canadian. It was a British Idea. They also created a time piece used as a cannon. James Bond had one I believe. The practice of firing a gun at noon was widespread in European garrisons, but particularly port garrisons. At one time, the signal was made from a man o'war and only later taken over by the military garrison. According to written records, the Halifax gun was fired from the ramparts of the third citadel. The present citadel was declared complete in 1856 and it was from this year that tradition holds the signal came from the Garrison artillery. Check out Google if you are curious, quite the stories and pictures. The replica gun now in use was sent to Ontario (Collingwood and Lanark by times) to be reconditioned and modified with a steel liner. The testing afterwards went off with a bang.

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03-07-2013, 06:16 AM	#2
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	You keep on keeping those Americans at bay!

03-07-2013, 07:02 AM	#3
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Hmmmm... a canon used as a time piece, sounds very Canadian.

03-07-2013, 04:52 PM	#5
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Vancouver does this as well Also, I definitely read that as Bombardier... as in airplanes

03-07-2013, 06:19 PM	#6
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521 Original Poster	Originally posted by calculator01 Vancouver does this as well Also, I definitely read that as Bombardier... as in airplanes Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal. Thanks for looking and your comment.