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Pacific Coast Militia Rangers of the Second World War

11/6/2020

11 Comments

 
​We would like to welcome military historian Stu McDonald for a guest column about the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers on the Sunshine Coast during World War II
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Remembrance Day is a day to think about those who served in defence of our freedom and the freedom of others around the globe.  We often think about those Canadians on other days of the year, as well as on November 11th. When doing so, here on the Sunshine Coast, many of us are not aware of a little known group of military volunteers who served right here in our communities from 1942 to 1945.
Picture
Local chapter of PCMR training on the Sunshine Coast
These volunteers were members of the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers (P.C.M.R). All of them were members of Canada’s Reserve Army. They were equipped with weapons and uniforms and trained in the evenings and on weekends. Many of the Rangers would have preferred to join the overseas Canadian military forces but they were employed locally in essential work, such as logging, fishing, farming and mining and were not permitted to leave those jobs.
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PCMR Hat Badges
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Examples of brassards (arm bands) for regional PCMR chapters
The mission of the P.C.M.R. was to provide surveillance along the coast of British Columbia and Yukon and to help to defend our country against possible Japanese attacks. They also watched for suspicious activity, located Japanese balloon bombs and assisted the Regular Army as guides and scouts.
 
How many were there in B.C.? Far more than you would probably think. There was a 25 to 50 man company in the Sechelt to Pender Harbour area, another in the Gibsons to Robert’s Creek area, another company in Gambier - Port Mellon – East Bay and a fourth in the Woodfibre area. 
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Firearms training for local PCMR chapter
There were 132 companies in BC and Yukon, with a total strength of over 14,000 Rangers. If you were a Ranger, or know someone who was, please post a comment below, or contact the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives.

                            Many thanks to guest author Stu McDonald!
Picture
Local PCRM target practice
11 Comments
Dave Conner
1/17/2021 09:11:25 am

GREAT PICTURES IF YOU WANT SOME MORE PICTURES OF RANGER ITEMS LET ME KNOW. I HAVE A CONSIDERABLE COLLECTION OF MEMORBILIA ..THAK YOU DAVE.

Reply
Allie
9/10/2022 11:41:54 am

Hello Dave, I am putting together an exhibit about the PCMR for our Remembrance Day display here at the Museum. Please contact me through my email scm_a@dccnet.com for more information.

Reply
Barney Taylor
3/12/2021 11:17:31 am

Good afternoon Dave,
PCMR 273, Now known as the Spirit of Anavets is alive and well on Gambier Island.
To continue our quest please contact me.
Many thanks,
Barney Taylor 6048863400

Reply
Mike
3/20/2021 09:19:39 pm

Is it possible to find what company a known member was registered to?

Reply
Sunshine Coast Museum
3/24/2021 10:31:10 am

Hi Mike, give us a call at the Museum and we can conduct a research request for you in the member was located on the Sunshine Coast. All the best. SCMA PHONE - 604-886-8232

Reply
donald yerxa
11/11/2021 12:12:15 pm

yes I was a member while I was still in Lord Bing High school and we were given old rifles from the WWW1 along with ammo but I only dicovered that that I was regular army about 20 years ago and then I got a small pension and hearing aids. I tried to get more medical assistanse but was turned down. I am now almost 93

Reply
Gregory Owen Jones
11/26/2021 01:50:49 am

I am researching the Woodfibre PCMR, particularly my dad, cpl. Raymond Owen Jones.

Reply
Sunshine Coast Museum
2/1/2022 03:07:49 pm

Hi Gregory,

Give us a call at the Museum and we can conduct a research request for you in the member was located on the Sunshine Coast. All the best. SCMA PHONE - 604-886-8232

Reply
steve b
1/30/2022 07:51:44 am

HI do you sell those PCMR Hat badges in your gift shop as i would like one

Reply
Sunshine Coast Museum
2/1/2022 03:09:17 pm

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately, we do not sell PCMR hats in the giftshop. Thanks for reading this blog post!

Reply
Keenan
7/18/2022 08:27:45 am

Hey I have a PCMR grouping of pay book, discharge papers and gun license/ gun document and a general service badg document. I'm not sure how to price them, I can't find any info.

Reply

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