This Day in History

This date marks the beginning of Indigenous Awareness Month.  

On this day in 2009, a roadside bomb exploded killing Maj. Yannick Pepin and Cpl. Jean-François Drouin of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment deployed with the 2^e Batallion, Royal 22^e Régiment Battle Group in the Dand district southwest of Kandahar city.

On this date in 2009 a roadside bomb killed Maj. Yannick Pepin and Cpl.Jean-François Drouin of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment stationed in Valcartier, in the Dand district, southwest of Kandahar city, Afghanistan.

On this date in 2006, Cpl Clinton John Orr put himself at great risk to rescue soldiers trapped by enemy fire. He was awarded the Medal of Military Valour.

On this day in 2006, Corporal Clinton John Orr of 23 Field Squadron, won the Medal of Valour while rescuing fellow soldiers during Operation Archer in Afghanistan while under fire.

On this date in 2002, 12 Field Engineer Squadron of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment destroyed 11,340 kg of enemy ammunition and weapons in Afghanistan.

On this day in 2001, the CFB Chilliwack Historical Society was incorporated to preserve the heritage of the CME family in and around the base.

On this date in 1997, 1 CER constructed a 60 metre Acrow bridge over the Battle River at Auburndale AB to replace one damaged during the previous summer.

On this date in 1992, Sgt C.M. Ralph from 22 Field Squadron, UNPROFOR killed by a mine in the former Yugoslavia.

On this date in 1992, Sappers from 4 CER were engaged in mine clearing at Ilok, Croatia.

On this day in 1991, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment provided medical treatment and refuge to 1,200 American soldiers after an explosion in a U.S. Army ammunition depot in Kuwait. The Regiment received a Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation for its actions.

On this date in 1991, 1 CER deployed to Kuwait. This was the first complete combat engineer unit deployed since the Korean War.

On this date in 1990, 45 Field Engineer Squadron completed building a Load Class 20 Non-Standard Bridge for the local school board on Beechmont Road, Cape Breton.

On this date in 1989, Sgt Dan MacPhee of 45 Field Engineer Squadron was chosen as the only Militia member of the Canadian Military Engineer team sent to Pakistan to instruct on mine clearance.

On this date in 1988, 56 Field Engineer Squadron completed a suspension bridge over Wallace Creek in Gros Marne National Park.

On this date in 1986, 56 Field Engineer Squadron completed an Acrow bridge over the Dyke's River in Labrador in support of Air Command.

On this date in 1981, 56 Field Engineer Squadron completed a Bailey bridge leading to a Boy Scout Camp at Northwest River near Port Blandford, NF.

On this date in 1978, Lt-Col C.N. Mitchell passed away in Mount Royal QC.

On this day in 1944, Lt John Gourley Pierce of the 12^th Field Company RCE started a two-night reconnaissance into enemy territory of crossing sites over the Gari River during the Gustav Line battle. For this, he was awarded the Military Cross.

On this day in 1976, an advance party of Canadian Forces personnel departed Lahr, Germany for an earthquake zone around Fruili, Italy. The operation involves the medical corps, a squadron of field engineers, and helicopters and their crews.

On this date in 1972, the RCE Museum was redesignated as the Canadian Military Engineer Museum and in July 1973 was granted official museum status by National Defence Headquarters.

On this date in 1972, The Trans-Canada Highway bridge over the Petawawa River collapsed. In a short period, 1 Field Squadron constructed a detour route including a two-span Bailey bridge.

On this date in 1971, following two years of work by 3 Field Squadron and 1 Construction Engineering Unit, the Ogilvy River bridge on the Demster Highway was handed over to the Yukon Territory.

On this date in 1971, the statue of Lt-Col John By, RE, was unveiled in Major Hill's Park, Ottawa.

On this date in 1969, the Canadian Military Engineers were assigned the responsibility to train and maintain Combat Diving resources for the Army.

On this date in 1969, the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering was renamed to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.

On this date in 1968, 5e Escadron de Genie du Canada was formed to be part of 5e Groupement de Combat in Valcartier, QC.

On this date in 1968, 1 Airborne Field Squadron was established as part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment.

On this date in 1968, Bill C-243 was passed - formalizing the restructuring of the Canadian Forces into a single, unified force. Three years later the Military Engineer Branch emerged.

The personnel and organization of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force were unified into a single organization, the Canadian Forces.

On this date in 1967, 2 Field Squadron demolished the Hawkshaw Bridge over the Saint John River in New Brunswick at the request of the Province.

On this date in 1967, 56 Field Engineer Squadron completed the restoration of the Quidi Vidi Battery as a Centennial project.

On this date in 1966, 3 Field Squadron began work on 40 miles of road improvement and the construction of a bridge to provide access to the Nemaiah Valley, BC.

On this date in 1966, the Army Survey Establishment was redesignated the Canadian Forces Mapping and Charting Establishment.

On this date in 1966, the Chief of Technical Services, Lt-Gen LGC Lilley (former RCE), announced that the base Construction Engineering organizations of all three Services would be realigned in accordance with a standard organization.

On this date in 1965, Regional Construction Engineers Offices were established in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.

On this date in 1963, Sergeant Major Walter Leja of 3^rd Field Engineer Regiment, Montreal, was maimed while defusing a mailbox bomb in Montreal, making him the first victim of the FLQ's (Front de Liberation du Quebec) ongoing terrorist campaign.

On this date in 1961, the works section of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) completed an extensive renovation program at Sharm El Sheikh.

On this date in 1958, Engineer elements fighting forest fires threatening Whitehorse were stood down as the fires died down.

On this date in 1958, Military Engineer personnel were employed fighting a forest fire that threatened Whitehorse, YK. Several fires also occurred in other locations.

On this date in 1958, Ripple Rock, a shipping hazard in Seymour Narrows between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland just north of Campbell River, was removed as a result of the world's largest non-nuclear explosion to date. The Project Manager was a retired RCE officer.

On this day in 1958, firefighters from Camp Borden and RCAF No. 13 [Explosive] Depot in Angus, ON fought a fire started by an explosion in the Receipts & Issues building. Six civilians and one airman were killed in one of the worst peacetime munitions explosions in Canada.

On this date in 1957, the 2,130- foot long suspension bridge over the Peace River collapsed. Prompt action by Northwest Highway System personnel opened a detour route within days.

On this date in 1957, Brig J.L. Melville officially opened the RCE Museum at Camp Chilliwack.

On this date in 1956, the United Nations authorized an emergency peacekeeping force (UNEF) for employment in Egypt. 53 Engineer personnel were included in the initial Canadian unit.

On this date in 1956, Sgt D.E. Stevenson, an RCAF firefighter, was awarded the George Medal for his efforts in quelling a fire in a NATO fuel dump in France.

On this date in 1956, elements of 2 Field Squadron were deployed to Creston, BC to work on the dykes that were threatened by the flooding Kootenay River.

On this date in 1955, 26 helicopter-transported field crews were involved in survey for the Mid-Canada Radar Line sites.

On this date in 1954, 2 Field Engineer Regiment was placed on active service to build bridges and other activities due to the damage from Hurricane Hazel in the Toronto area.

On this date in 1954, the Army Survey Establishment became involved with the RCAF in the survey of the Mid-Canada Radar Line.