Cannon dug up on PNE grounds believed to be from WWI

Construction crews were in for a surprise when they stumbled across a large weapon, believed to be a war trophy, while working at Vancouver’s PNE.

An artillery piece discovered on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver last week is believed to be a trophy weapon from the First World War.

PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance told reporters that members from the construction crew working on a new amphitheatre came across the weapon by chance last Thursday.

“The team was excavating and actually found, hit something. They were able to pick it up (and) lift it with a crane,” said Balance.

“This is certainly an exciting find,” she said.

James Calhoun, the curator for the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment Museum says all signs point towards the weapon being brought home to Canada by soldiers sometime during WWI.

“What used to happen was, as German positions were overrun during the First World War, the guns would be collected in a central area, and eventually they came back to Canada as war trophies,” he said.

Calhoun said the weapons were brought to different parks and buildings around the city, before the Park Board had them moved to Hastings Park during the Great Depression.

“Eventually they got sold for scrap during the Second World War,” he said.

“There’s always been rumors that some of them were buried at the park, and this discovery proves that some have.”

The Canadian Military and Hastings Park do have a history, as the grounds were used for training soldiers who were heading off to war from 1914-1918.

Discussions have now begun between the city, Seaforth Highlanders and the PNE about potentially attempting to uncover more weapons at the park.

“I think this is just another reminder of the importance of this site in our collective history,” said Ballance.

She says the PNE is now working with archeologists to assess the artifact, which will likely be returned to the military as a museum piece.