Marching with Matsimus | CAPTURED GERMAN ARTILLERY

Gunnery Point (First World War German Cannons)

Henderson Lake Park, east end

Many people do not know the history behind two cannons at the far east end of the lake, in position as if they are shooting out across the lake. Many assume that these are Canadian military cannons. Instead, these are German cannons, captured at the end of the First World War as war trophies.

On 11 November 1918 – the day the war ended – coincidentally the City of Lethbridge received a letter from the Minister of Militia and Defense offering war trophies to those towns and cities who wanted them.

The following summer, on 13 August 1919, Mayor W.D.L. Hardie visited Ottawa and put in Lethbridge’s request: eight cannons (four to be captured German guns and four Canadian) and an aeroplane. The city had grand plans for the cannons. Already in 1919 the city (particularly the IODE and veteran’s groups) was making plans for a war memorial (see Cenotaph). The original plan was grand. The plan was to bring in a 10’ x 10’ x 10’ block of Frank Slide rock upon which would be placed a statue of Britannia with British lions crouched at her feet. The four captured German cannons would placed at the four corners of the cube – literally being towered over by Britannia.

Mayor Hardie asked for the aeroplane as a result of a conversation with Captain Ernest C. Hoy. Just a few days prior, on 9 August 1919, Captain Hoy completed the first ever air flight through the Canadian Rockies (see National Historic Events).

It is unclear what the plans were for the four other cannons -- the Canadian ones.

In the end, Lethbridge did not receive everything requested by the mayor. On 12 July 1920 two German guns reached the city: a 75 mm field gun, familiar to veterans as a Whizz Bang, and a 150 mm howitzer. They were placed temporarily in front of City Hall, which was then located at the corner of 4 Ave and 7 St S, then in the RCMP Barracks square (now Civic Centre). The cannons were later moved to Henderson Lake, eventually finding their way to the east end where they have sat for decades.

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