This Day in History

On this date in 1918, the Canadian Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company was authorized and came under Commander [Canadian] Royal Engineers, Canadian Corps troops.

On this date in 1918, to overcome the lack of adequate transport, the Canadian Mechanical Transport Company was formed to support the Engineers.

On this date in 1918, in recognition of the greater mobility of operations, sappers were transferred to specialized bridging units.

On this date in 1918, the personnel of 107^th Pioneer Battalion, which included Tom Longboat (the famous Onondaga long distance runner), were distributed amongst 1^st Divisional Engineers. Longboat served as a dispatch runner.

On this date in 1918, Sappers in France were able to incorporate wine barrels into an improvised bridge at a rate of 50 feet in 8 minutes.

On this date in 1918, the formation of the Corps of Canadian Railway Troops, effective 23 April was announced - combining five previously independent railway units.

On this date in 1918, 2nd Battalion Canadian Railway Troops were required to operate as infantry during the German advance and earned 12 decorations for their actions.

On this date in 1918, the Engineer units of the 1st Canadian Corps were reorganized as a “brigade of engineers” under the Chief Engineer to achieve better efficiency.

On this date in 1918, the Canadian Railway Operating Company reported that it was dispatching 150 trains a day - transporting 200 tonnes of supplies plus troops and wounded.

On this date in 1918, Cpl Robert Clark from 1st Field Company was serving with 40 other Canadians in Mesopotamia to train a guerilla army from the Kurds

On this date in 1917, 3rd Canadian Labour Battalion (renamed 11 Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops), commenced building their first railway construction task.

On this date in 1917, the Canadian Signals Company ran courses to train Artillery officers in the use of wireless for observation and fire direction.

On this date in 1917, 2 Canadian Labour Battalion was reorganized as 12 Battalion Canadian Railway Troops and employed on light railway construction.

On this date in 1917, the Canadian Light Railway Operating Company was formed and was operating tramways as near the front lines in France as possible.

On this day in 1917, the 2nd Battalion Canadian Railway Troops repaired 175 rail line breaks caused by enemy shellfire.

On this date in 1917, most of the light railway construction and maintenance in the British sector was being handled by Canadian Railway Troops.

On this date in 1917, Tunnelling Companies were being employed as extra Field Companies due to their expertise in explosives.

On this date in 1917, one million pounds of high explosive was exploded in 19 locations at St. Eloi. This was the last large-scale mining operation of the war.

On this date in 1917, Engineer units were responsible for the layout of simulation of the German trench system in the Vimy area so that units could rehearse for the attack.

On this date in 1917, in preparation for the Vimy Ridge assault, the Chief Engineer had under command six Army troop companies, five tunneling Companies, four entrenching battalions.

On this date in 1917, the Permanent Base Company, Canadian Engineers was established at le Havre. This unit was a forerunner of the Field Park units that appeared in later years.

On this date in 1916, Lt G.A. Johnson of 11th Field Company won the Military Cross for capturing an enemy patrol of an officer and seven men.

On this date in 1916, Lt W.B. Pennock was instrumental in producing a camouflage model of tank to confuse the enemy.

On this date in 1916, following the advance after the battle of Courcelette, the Engineers were fully committed in preparing defensive works, tramways, and trenches for Canadian forces.

On this date in 1916, five officers and 23 other ranks from the 1st Overseas Canadian Pioneer Details were sent to operate steam boats on the River Tigris.

On this date in 1916, at the request of the British Government three sections of Skilled Railway Employees, Canadian Expeditionary Force, were authorized.

On this date in 1916, the 1st Tunneling Company raised a warning of an enemy mine about to be detonated and saved many casualties among the allied defenders.

On this date in 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion (the “Black Battalion”) was authorized and was attached to the Forestry Corps in France.

On this date in 1916, while working on a tunnel, both exits were collapsed by enemy fire. Upon digging themselves out, the tunnellers found themselves behind German lines and were taken prisoner.

On this date in 1916, 239th Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Battalion was authorized to carry outwork on the Western front.

On this date in 1916, the Canadian Corps Tramways Company was formed to construct and operate lightrail tramways in the Corps area.

On this date in 1916, the explosion of six ‘mines’ at St Eloi, while very successful, created a morass of mud that resulted in a massive engineer task.

On this date in 1916, the first of seven Canadian Pioneer Battalions arrived in 1st Division in France. These units helped alleviate the shortage of skilled labour.

On this date in 1916, due to the shortage of engineer personnel, work parties from other units were attached on a temporary basis - an arrangement that was not very satisfactory.

On this date in 1915, Cpl A. McI. Morrison was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for carrying out demolitions in the German lines.

On this date in 1915, No 1 Canadian Forestry Party formed at Hautot Remount Depot and began work in the Foret de Rouvey near Rouen, France.

On this date in 1915, the 1st Tunneling Company was formed at Petawawa and the 2nd Tunneling Company was formed at Calgary.

On this date in 1915, two sappers from 1st Divisional Signal Company built two receiving sets and initiated wireless communication in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On this date in 1915, L/Cpl R.J. Casement of 1st Field Company won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for leading a party under fire to rescue a wounded Royal Engineer officer behind enemy lines.

On this date in 1915, Engineer companies with 1st Canadian Division were engaged in action as infantry as well as the usual engineer tasks at the First Battle of Ypres.

On this day in 1915, Lieutenant Duncan Bell-Irving, 6 Fd Coy, CE, was killed by a sniper while working with his men in the front lines

On this day in 1915, the 2nd and 3rd Field Companies were under heavy attack by the German’s first use of chlorine gas in combat. 2nd Field was ordered to withdraw to the Yser Canal to prepare for its defence while 3rd defended as infantry.

On this date in 1915, the three field engineer companies engaged in construction of entrenchments near Armentieres, France encountered enemy fire for the first time.

On this date in 1915, Engineer and Signal units of the 1st Canadian Division embarked for St. Nazaire France.

On this date in 1914, the organization of a signal company for 2nd Division (a totally Engineer unit} was begun in Ottawa.

On this date in 1914, all ranks of Canadian Engineers in England were employed in the erection of hutments for the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On this date in 1914, the first units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force arrive at Plymouth including 33,000 men, 7,000 horses and 144 guns and field companies of the Canadian Engineers.

On this date in 1914, 38 officers and 721 other ranks of the Canadian Engineers sailed for Europe. Sapper signals personnel were in addition to these.

On this date in 1914, the establishment of a Field Company included 17 riding horses, 35 draught horses, 4 pack mules, 4 Royal Engineer wagons, 8 tool carts, 75 feet of medium bridge, 2 wooden pontoons, and 2 trestles.

On this date in 1914, five officers and 144 other ranks from 5th Field Company arrived at Valcartier to prepare the camp for the training of the Expeditionary Force