Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury

Description of the Historic Place

The Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury building is a large two-storey brick building that was named in honour of Saskatoon’s Victoria Cross recipient Hugh Cairns. Located in the Central Industrial area of the city at 930 Idylwyld Drive North, the building sits on a large lot with a compound at the rear of the property. A well preserved World War I German model L/40 artillery gun sits on permanent display in front of the Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury building.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury building lies in its association with Hugh Cairns, and the sacrifice made by Canadian soldiers in World War I. Cairns was born in 1896 in England but was raised in Saskatoon. Cairns was an apprentice plumber, and a member of the Christ Church football team and choir. He began his military service at age 19 in 1915 when he joined the 65th Battalion.  He later transferred to The 46th Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment, where he attained the rank of Sergeant.

In the summer of 1917, Cairns was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.  He had led his machine gun crew against a German position, captured enemy gun emplacements and then stayed behind to cover the retreat of his men.  He incurred thirteen pieces of shrapnel in the encounter but recovered. Sergeant Hugh Cairns led three skirmishes during the advance at Valenciennes in Northern France; he was wounded on a fourth skirmish and died the next day, November 2, 1918. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in 1919 for his extraordinary efforts, an honour which has only been bestowed on six Saskatchewan Soldiers. 

The Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury was named in Cairns’ honour. Built in 1958, it was the headquarters for local military training, replacing a previous building that was located at Spadina Crescent and Third Avenue. Its opening in 1960 was officiated by Prime Minister Diefenbaker. Today the building is home of the North Saskatchewan Regiment, the successor of the Saskatoon Light Infantry that served during the Second World War.

The WWI German model L/40 artillery gun located in the building’s front yard was presented to the City of Saskatoon by the Government of Canada in 1919. The weapon’s history traces back to 1917 when the German Army was desperately short of artillery of all types. The German Navy on the other hand was not short of surface vessels and a number of large calibre barrels were deemed surplus to requirements by the Navy. The army took these barrels and mounted them on wheels. It is unclear whether this weapon system was confiscated or seized by the Allies when Germany surrendered.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Those features that contribute to its historical value, evident in:  its form; massing and brick facade;
• The artillery gun located at the front of the property; and
• The ‘Sgt. Hugh Cairns V.C. Armoury’ signage located on the front façade.