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THE ANVIL SALUTE

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AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 25 May 2010 21:53

Thank you Sylvia, I knew nothing of this and found it really interesting.

What an informative site this is!!

Researching:
Photo spring Researching Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Derbyshire, Staffs, Devon, Glamorganshire. Ingram, Masters, Tamblyn, Knight, Warner, Bate, Allen, Riggs, Dominey, Duffin

Susan10146857

Susan10146857 Report 25 May 2010 06:32

Thanks for that Sylvia. Fascinating!. I have to admit to knowing nothing of it before now.

Edit: I can't seem to get Youtube to play it for some unknown reason :-(

Researching:
Member since 2003

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 25 May 2010 04:09

Monday May 24 was a statutory holiday in most of Canada (not Quebec)

It is commonly called Victoria Day ....... and commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria. Her birthday was on May 24, but the holiday is now held on the Monday before that date.

There is a 21 gun salute in Ottawa, and in every provincial capital (except in Quebec). There are also parades. Plus the Union Jack has to be flown from all federal buildings, military estabishments etc ....... provided that there are 2 flagpoles, as the Union Jack cannot fly higher than nor replace the Maple Leaf.



This is a special ceremony that is held in the city next to Vancouver that has been held every year since 1860, bar one year.


THE ANVIL SALUTE


The first capital of British Columbia was a town called New Westminster. They had a cannon which they used to give the 21 gun salute to Queen Victoria on her birthday.

The government decided in 1859 that New Westminster would no longer be the capital of the Province, and named Victoria on Vancouver Island as capital.


They also decreed that only the city of Victoria would be allowed to give the 21 gun salute to Queen Victoria on her birthday.


To make sure that this was the case, the authorities took away New Westminster's cannon.


Not to be outdone, the then-mayor of New Westminster devised a new methhod of saluting the Queen

He was a blacksmith, who had one anvil in his smithy.

He found a second anvil

Got a load of black powder.

Put a charge of powder on top of one anvil, then placed the second one on top of the powder.

They lit a charge on the end of a long pole, and pushed it towards the powder


BANG!


Top anvil goes flying


Repeat 21 times




This ceremony is still performed on Victoria Day in new Westminster ............ with the men all dressed in the garb of 100+ years ago.


They have only missed doing the anvil salute once since it began in 1860 ........ that was the year Victoria died.


If you want to see a video of it I found this one:-


www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYxVDW9SBOY






sylvia

Researching:
My brother, photo taken in September 1991 just a couple of weeks before he died. ............................................................ To help us and to get better results, please post as much detail as you can, especially name, date(s) and place. Also say what you already know.