MALAHAT MARAUDERS OF VICTORIA, BC 1970s

mauser

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I'm converting our old photo albums to digital format. And I ran across a lot of old photos taken back in the 1970s and '80s when we lived in BC. We spent 18 years on and around Vancouver Island and its North Island Area. Lots of fond memories.

Pictured below is a photo of an event you probably may never witness again in downtown Victoria! The first photo shows a few of the Malahat Marauders in vintage costume, equipped with front-stuffing rifles, pistols, the odd HUGE bowie knife, and/or tomahawk, even a sword or two. It was B.C. Pioneer Day celebration at the waterfront, out in front of the Hudson Bay Company's staid, old, and elegant Empress Hotel.

Shortly after this photo was taken we all trooped inside to visit the Empress Pub for a few cold ones. Long guns were leaned against the beautifully panelled walls, while the handguns, knives and other blades stayed on their owners. We caused a bit of a stir to say the least. Word of our presence got around so more and more festival goers came to see close-up the insane bunch who had just tried to forcefully board the HBC's replica sailing ship, Nonsuch, peacefully docked out front, the crew watching the log rolling contests in the harbor waters in front of the Paliament Buildings.

We had been invited by the city fathers to fire a salute as each speaker was introduced. Lined up along the top of the Inner Harbor retaining wall, we were prepared for 10 speakers, but only 9 showed up. We ended up with loaded weapons! So.... we decided to attack the ship Nonsuch. What a commotion!!!

Our gunfire, to empty the guns as we rushed the ship's gangplank was answered by the Nonsuch's berthside cannon! Multiple explosions boomed across the harbor and echoed back and forth! I've always wondered how those surprised guys in the log rolling contest fared...

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Left to right:Trav Custance; Gary Kangis; Barry Beazley, Keith King, ME, Royce Newman, and Bill Harding.

The Marauders were the BP contingent of the Vancouver Island Arms Collectors Association (VIACA).

The Marauders held annual Mountain Man Rendezvous up in the Coastal Range above Victoria on Vancouver Island. Below is a typical firing bench made from local materials. Note the ladies also participating. These were alway weekend events lasting overnight, camping out in the wilds.

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I keep running into more and more of these old Marauder photos and will share them when I can get time to add to this thread again.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser
 
Photos are much appreciated. Royce died a couple or three years ago but Keith King is still alive and well and has a table at the Victoria gun show. Gary Kangis is active in cowboy shooting. I don't think I have met the rest of them

cheers mooncoon
 
Do me a favor, please.

mooncoon, your reply is much appreciated. If you wouldn't mind, and you see any of these guys, please give them my email address. It's been nearly 30 years since I had contact with these guys. Here's my email: JACKJAN32119@Clearwire.net

And, if you can copy these photos posted here, print out a copy and show them. Here's another item they probably haven't seen for a while.

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Thanks again.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser
 
I love the first pic and story! I would be down there on the waterfront in a moment if I was told I could do an attack on a tall ship that would be fighting back!
 
H Wally, that part about fighting back was a total surprise. Not only to the gathered crowd at the waterfront, but to the attackers as well. Evidently one of the ship's crew had seen us mustering at the foot of the stairs going down the wall, and let their crewmates know we were up to something. When the "attack" began with a war whoop from the participants, and when the first moccasined foot hit the gangplank of the Nonsuch, the little cannon roared right in the faces of the rushing Marauders!

Once all concerned were over that initial rush, the ship's crew gave everyone a guided tour of their ship. And good time was had by all.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

Nonsuch docked at Victoria's Inner Harbor, just after the Malahat Marauders' attack.

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Any of you guys ever read any of Royce's WW II stories he used to write for my VIACA newsletter? He was a fantastic story teller about military men and their firearms! Quite a guy! Sorry to hear he's no longer with us. RIP

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

Surprisingly, my hair has stayed pretty much the same color! Just a LOT less of it... :redface:

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Any of you guys ever read any of Royce's WW II stories he used to write for my VIACA newsletter? He was a fantastic story teller about military men and their firearms! Quite a guy! Sorry to hear he's no longer with us. RIP

I've heard a few of Royce's exploits, former RAF, former RCAF, shooting an officer off his horse , across a canyon.
Thanks for sharing these with us.

Cheers nessy.
 
Nessy357, my favorite Royce story was about the East Indian fellow leaning with his arm on the muzzle of his big bore musket when it went off! It was a very bloody tale, but with Royce's talent you were laughing when you finished reading it.

And, Steppenwolf, the "MORE" you were talking about mainly refers to nose, ears and butts - I assume?

Just as an aside, below is a photo of my lovely spouse holding the charcoal burner she used to win that Buck knife and trophy she's holding in her hands. That was First Place in the Women's Muzzle Loading Rifle event at one of our up-island Rendezvous.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

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