This Day in History

On this day in 1944, the Battle of the Scheldt began with divisional engineers of the 2^nd Canadian Division clearing mines and building bridges over the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal to prepare the approaches for Operation VITALITY and the clearing of South Beveland in Holland. M L/Sgt William Hurd Gunness of the 11^th Fd Coy was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry under fire.

On this day in 1944, the Battle of the Scheldt began.  Fifty-five Sappers were killed and many more wounded in what was considered to be some of the hardest fighting the Allies faced in Northwest Europe.

On this date in 1944, 3rd Field Company, in support of the New Zealanders, built a 80-footTriple-Single Bailey bridge and a 90-foot Triple-Single Bailey in one day.

On this date in 1944, the 20^th and 23^rd Field Companies were instrumental in evacuating some 1500 paratroopers from the Arnhem bridgehead.

On this date in 1944, the Gothic Line in Italy had been broken at the cost of 41 officers and men of the Royal Canadian Engineers..

On this date in 1944, while conducting a reconnaissance for the assault on San Fortunato Ridge, Spr Roy Whelan, MM cleared a German position and took five prisoners while under intense enemy mortar and machine gun fire.

On this date in 1944, L/Sgt Glen Finch of Winnipeg, MB won a Military Medal while leading a sapper party 100 yards in front of advancing infantry removing mines and demolition charges from a culvert blocking their way to the Rimini Airport while under direct and indirect fire.

On this date in 1944, Headquarters RCE 1st Canadian Corp Troops had under command 3100 all ranks, belonging to 23 different units.

On this date in 1944, L/Sgt Ken Henderson won a Military Medal leading a sapper party in removing charges from a bridge over the Marano River while under accurate sniper fire.

On this date in 1944, armoured D-7 bulldozers came into use with 1 Canadian Corps.

On the night of 12/13 September 1944, the 11^th Canadian Infantry Brigade attacked Coriano Ridge supported by the 10^th Field Squadron. Lt Doug Graham, MC and Sgt Dennis McLauglin, MM were both decorated for Gallantry.

On this date in 1944, 4th Field Survey Company was reorganized as 1st Air Survey Company, RCE and augmented by 1st Map Photo Section

On this date in 1944, Major D.W Cunnington was sent to the US Command and General Staff Course in preparation to a posting in the Pacific Theatre.

On this date in 1944, A/Maj Sharon and Lt Rollefson were awarded the Military Cross and Sgt Burlton the Military Medal, for their role in building a bridge over the Ghent Canal.

On this date in 1944, 31 Field Company occupied a former German billet near Samer and found a joint of beef cooking in the oven.

On this date in 1944, the 9^th Field Squadron erected three Bailey bridges over the Somme River: a 60-foot Double-Single by 0430 hrs; a 40-foot Single-Single by 0730 hrs, and a 70-foot Double-Single by 0945 hrs.

On this date in 1944, several officers and 750 sappers were transferred to the Infantry – an action that would later cause operational problems.

On this date in 1918, Captain Coulson Mitchell of the 4^th Battalion, Canadian Engineers, C.E.F., saved the bridge over the Canal de l’Escaut near Cambrai, France, to earn the Victoria Cross.

On this date in 1944, every Canadian field and park squadron and company in 1^st Canadian Army (some 20 units), used bridges, rafts, and storm boats to get the divisions of the 2^nd Canadian Corps across the Seine.

On this date in 1944, Group Headquarters and two Railway Operating Companies embarked for Normandy. No 1 Railway Workshop Company followed on 19 Nov 1944.

On this date in 1944, No 2 Platoon of 7th Field Company had 6 killed, 10 wounded, and 9 missing in action while part of a "Jock" column with the Black Watch of Canada.

On this date in 1944, I Canadian Corps assaulted the Gothic Line. The 3^rd Field Company used three Sherman bulldozers for the first time to successfully build two crossings over the Metauro River. Bailey bridges followed.

On this date in 1944, Spr C.H. Kreuger of the 1st Mechanical Equipment Company, having cleared 24 miles of road with his D-7 dozer, won the Military Medal for work under fire.

On this date in 1944, "Monty's Bridge," constructed by 20th Field Company was opened in Caen. This Bailey Bridge consisted of two 70-foot Triple-Single spans and one 40-foot Double-Single span.

On this date in 1944, a section of 1st Drilling Company was employed restoring the water supply to the city of Florence.

On this date in 1944, 1st Field Park Company successfully completed the firing of a German rocket motor that they had rebuilt.

On this date in 1944, No. 2 Drilling Company arrived in Normandy and proceeded to quarry rock for roads and airports near Caen.

On this date in 1944, Engineer units in France were involved in repairing roads, sweeping for mines, lifting redundant bailey bridging, and similar tasks.

On this date in 1944, during Op TOTALIZE, US Army Air Force bombers dropped bombs several miles short of their target killing 10 RCE surveyors and wounding 15 others. An addition seven sappers were killed and 21 wounded in other RCE units.

On this date in 1944, 6th Field Park Squadron constructed "Phoney" a fake 100-ton tank to confuse the enemy. 1st Field Park Company produced fake guns.

By this date in 1944, one in eight soldiers in Normandy were Engineers. This represented 13% of the strength of deployed British and Canadian forces.

On this date in 1944, 1 Field Park Company was able to develop a cable layer from a plough that that very much pleased the Signals.

On this date in 1944, 10th Field Park Company completed emergency repairs of the printing presses to enable "The Maple Leaf" to print its first edition.

On this date in 1944, Headquarters 1st Canadian Army became operational and took up the left flank of the Allied Armies where it remained for the rest of the war.

On this date in 1944, 7 Field Company experienced difficulties in Italy with infantry support during night laying of mines.

On this date in 1944, Engineers of the 2nd Division opened a water point near Fleury, France. It dispensed over 100,000 gallons of treated water the first day of operation.

On this date in 1944, during in Operation ATLANTIC, Engineers won three DSOs, three MCs and two BEMs while conducting bridging operations on the Orne River in Normandy,

On this date in 1944, the first elements of 2nd Field Survey Company arrived in Normandy. The last survey units set up near Caen on 19 Aug 1944.

On this date in 1944, the 2^nd and 3^rd Canadian Infantry Divisions, along with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and all associated Engineer units formed the II Canadian Corps as part of the 21^st Army Group.

On this date in 1944, Engineers began the task of clearing the rubble from the streets of Caen that had been created by the many collapsed buildings.

On this date in 1944, 18 Field Company found themselves involved in filling pot holes, clearing ditches, and other maintenance tasks in Italy.

On this date in 1944, 10 Field Squadron organized a "Get Ahead Course” to acquaint officers of other arms on how to solve problems and relieve Engineers of a workload.

On this date in 1944, RCE personnel showed great gallantry supporting the assault of the 3^rd Canadian Division on Juno Beach.

On this date in 1944, RCE personnel suffered 18 killed and over 40 wounded supporting the assault of the 3^rd Canadian Division on Juno Beach.

On this date in 1944, between 8 May and 5 June, the RCE in Italy had built 31 bridges totalling 2300 feet in length. The longest was 170-foot Triple-Single Load Class 9 Bailey bridge.

On this date in 1944, assault trained Sappers began embarking at Southhampton for the invasion of Normandy.

On this date in 1944, 14 Field Company erected a 110 foot Double-Single Bailey bridge across the Liri River near Ceprano to provide an urgently needed crossing.

On this date in 1944, Lt J.W. Bailey was sent back to organize and train 1 Cdn Assault Troop with the Armoured Corps.

On this date in 1944, based on past experience, the Engineer component of 5th Armoured Division was increased to three Field Squadrons. 14 Field Company thus joined 1 and 10 Field Squadrons.

On this date in 1944, troops of the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division drove forward to force a crossing of the Melfa River, the last major obstacle on the Road to Rome. Three armoured regiments with 10^th Field Squadron sappers mounted in Honey reconnaissance ("Honey") tanks led the charge.