From its founding in 1749, the Royal Artillery had always maintained a presence in Halifax.  It was the 3rd Brigade of the Royal Artillery, veterans of Waterloo, who served there in 1869.  The members of the Regiment were barracked in Royal Artillery Park, Glacis Barracks on the slope of Citadel Hill, and within the outlying fortifications.  The gunners were responsible for more than 2700 guns within the city’s defence complex, a tall order, for the number of artillerymen in Halifax rarely exceeded 350.  To help make up the shortage of trained gunners, Artillery NCOs spent much of their time instructing infantry and militia in the art of artillery drill.

In addition to this training, the Royal Artillery was also responsible for firing the daily noon and evening signal guns from the ramparts of the Citadel, and for manning the Citadel’s Signal Post.  Today, members of the recreated 3rd Brigade, wearing their distinctive blue uniforms, continue this tradition with the year-round daily firing of the noon gun, and the display of commercial and military signal flags during the summer months.