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_---- 36 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July Nn, 1989 Going home to Halifax Farewell party for Court House cannons by Rob Streich A send off was held in front of the Durham Regional Offices in Whitby for two historic dig- nitaries - the RML (Rifled Muz- zle Loading) Cannons. Representatives from all levels of government, the may- ors of Whitby and Halifax and the Major in charge of the Hali- fax Citadel were on hand to of- ficially "share a piece of histo- ry," as the cannons are being prepared to return home. A full hour of activities be- gan with a tribute by the local Scott and McCormick Pi Band. This was followed by brief show of arms by the 78th Highlanders, the honour guard from the Halifax Citadel as well as the local Ontario Regiment. The honour guards were inspected by the dignitaries. Following which greetings and gifts were exchanged. vou PB ~~ Ld - Mayor Attersley, of Whit- by, exclaimed that the silent sentinels would be missed b the people of Whitby and all Durham Region. He mentioned that members of Regional Council would no longer be able to joke about firing them at the Chairman, Gary Herrema. Chairman Herrema spoke on behalf of the Region, sug- gesting that the winner on this occasion was all of Canada. That we have all regained a lit- tle bit of our joint heritage. Major Tom Bell, Com- mander of the Citadel in Hali- fax presented Chairman Herre- ma with a picture of the citadel and a plaque thanking the Re- gion for returning the cannons after 87 years of care. Major Bell said," We know that you cherished these can- nons. We would like to let you RIAA. Lp Uxbridge Mayor Gerri Lynn O'Connor and Scugog May- or Howard Hall came by to bid adieu to the Silent Sentinels which have guarded our Region for 87 years. * FEATURES <7 * POLITICAL We Deliver The | * SPORTS * LOCAL * EDITORIAL Keep yourself informed... Read the Star weekly! \ know that we will look after them carefully and maintain them. And we welcome you to come to view them in Halifax at any time." How did it get here anyway? In 1901, through the ef- forts of Lt. Col. John E. Fare- well, Ontario County Clerk and Crown Attorney, permis- sion was gained from the hali- fax Citadel to ship two obsolete cannons to Whitby to be placed on the lawn of the Ontario County Court House, Centre Street South. The cannons had never been fired in battle only for practice. They were made in Woolwich, England in 1866 and became part of the Citadel's de- fencesin 1879. The seven ton cannons were moved via train from Hali- fax to Whitby for $46.85. They were moved by horse and car- riage to the Court House, and placed upon the concrete bases through the use of a stump- pulling machine. In 1942, the guns were al- most lost when it was proposed that they be melted down for munitions for the Second World War, but it was vetoed by County Council. In 1964, the cannons were moved far more easily to the new Court House on Rossland Road by the use of trucks and cranes. For a total of 87 years the RML cannons have guarded Ontario County headquarters - now the Region of Durham. In 1989 they return to Hal- ifax to be part of a restoration of the Citadel as a national histor- ic park. Of the many guns re- moved from the Citadel, they are the only two to be rediscov- ered and returned. The two 123 year old can- nons will be making their way home to Halifax, and will stand there for centuries to come as a monument to this gesture of friendship between the two cit- ies. "Hear ye, Hear ye." Halifax's finest town-cryer was on hand to carry the thanks of the Nova Scotians to us for the return of their cannons. The 78th Highlanders and Royal Artillery of the Halifax Citadel Foundation National Historic Park Is their name. They were in Whitby on the weekend to form an honour guard and escort the RML Cannons home back to Halifax - the sunrise area of Canada.