This Day in History

On this date in 1914, the Survey Division reported that it had completed 23,417 square miles of survey covering 73 map sheets.

On this date in 1913, the Director General Engineers Services (responsible for works services to the military) came under the Master-General of the Ordnance.

On this date in 1912, Field Marshall Viscount Kitchener became the first Honorary Colonel of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

On this date in 1912, James McCurdy, a member of 2nd Field Company, piloted the "Silver Dart" at Petawawa on the first ‘military flight’ of an aircraft in Canada.

On this date in 1912, Militia Order 212 dated 20 April 1912 authorized formation of the Military Engineers' Association of Canada (MEAC).

On this date in 1910, 1st Field Troop CE was authorized to serve with the cavalry.

Six Nations Onondaga marathon runner Tom Longboat wins the 11^th Boston marathon in a record time of 2:24:24. In 1909 he wins the title of Professional Champion of the World. 

Prior to the Great War, Tom Longboat was arguably one of the most famous athletes in the world at the time. He served as a Sapper in the 107^th Pioneer Battalion as a Dispatch Runner on the Western Front. He was wounded twice and once was wrongly reported killed. He would survive the war. 

After the war, he lived and worked in Toronto until 1944, when he retired to the Six Nations reserve near Brantford. He died in 1949.

On this date in 1904, the Corps was renamed the Royal Canadian Engineers and His Majesty authorized the Royal Cypher surmounted by the Imperial Crown.

On this date in 1903, the formation of a Signaling Corps (Militia) was authorized. Until post-WW I they were part of the Engineers.

On this date in 1903, the Canadian Engineer Corps was officially authorized. Lt-Col Weatherbee was the first Commander. One year later, the organization was re-named the Royal Canadian Engineers.

On this date in 1899, the liner Sardinian, having been refitted by the Engineers, sailed for South Africa loaded with troops. Four more ships followed.

On this date in 1897, Lt-Gen Edson Louis Milliard (Tommy) Burns was born in Westmount, QC.

On this date in 1893, Edwin Albert Baker was born at Collins Bay, ON. As Lieutenant in the Canadian Engineers, he was wounded during WW I and lost his sight. He was later instrumental in founding the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB).

On this date in 1889, Lt-Col C.N. Mitchell was born in Winnipeg, MB. Lt-Col Mitchell won a VC in WWI. 

On this date in 1885, the "Engineers Gzowski Challenge Cups" were instituted for annual competition among Engineer units by Colonel Casimir Stanislas Gzowski.

On this date in 1884, the Canadian Nile Voyaguers begin the mission to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum Egypt.

On this date in 1884, an Engineer Branch was established at Military Headquarters in Ottawa and the care of all military buildings and fortifications was transferred from Public Works.

On this date in 1880, the Brighton Company of Engineers was formed in New Brunswick. This was the last Engineer unit formed before 1900 and the only such one to be perpetuated to the present day.

On this date in 1877, Maj G.R. Walker was appointed the first Professor of Military Engineering at the Royal Military College.

On this date in 1876, the Toronto Engineer Company was authorized. Its name was later changed to the 2nd Military District Engineer Company in October of that year.

On this date in 1874, Lt-Col Casimir Gzowski was appointed Staff Officer for the Engineer Force of the Dominion.

On this date in 1870, the Red River Expedition left Toronto with 20 Royal Engineer members.

On this date in 1862, the Province of Canada Militia Act was amended to include Engineer companies as corps liable to serve in peacetime.

On this date in 1858, Lt-Col Moodie and his Sappers were present at the founding of British Columbia. They had worked for five years to develop the colony.

On this date in 1858, the steamer La Plata arrived in British Columbia with 20 Royal Engineers. This was the first of four parties of Royal Engineers sent to help develop the area.

On this date in 1858, the British Boundary Commission commenced the survey of the boundary between the United States and British Columbia.

On this date in 1855, Cornelius Krieghoff, a renown Dutch-Canadian painter, was listed on the nominal roll of a Volunteer Militia Company of Engineers in Lower Canada as a lieutenant.

On this date in 1853, the Rideau Canal was turned over to Canada West (Ontario). Imperial troops withdrew.

On this date in 1836, Royal Engineers Lt-Col John By, builder of the Rideau Canal, died in Frant, East Sussex, England.

On this date in 1832, Lt-Col John By, RE officially opened the Rideau Canal.

On this date in 1827, Admiral John Franklin laid the first stone in the Rideau Canal Locks after his return from the Arctic.

On this date in 1827, the 15th Company of Royal Sappers and Miners arrived to build the Rideau Canal.

On this date in 1827, John Robertson was designing the lock structures on the Rideau Canal.

On this date in 1826, Sappers Bridge was under construction in Ottawa over the Rideau Canal.

On this date in 1826, the Earl of Dalhousie was returning to Quebec City after he turned the first sod for the Rideau Canal in Entrance Valley.

On this date in 1826, Lt-Col John By set off to Wrightville to build the Rideau Canal.

On this date in 1824, Samuel Clowes finished the engineer route survey for the Rideau Canal and reported to Governor Maitland.

On this date in 1813, Sir Casimar Stanislas Gzowski was born in St. Petersburg Russia. He became staff officer to the Engineer Force of the Dominion and Superintendent of Public Works Canada.

On this date in 1787, the title Royal Engineers was granted to the British Corps of Engineers.

On this date in 1783, 183 Militia members began construction a road from the Saint Lawrence River to Lake Temiscouata.

On this date in 1757, Engineer officers in the British Army were granted military rank as engineers and no longer had to seek line commissions.

On this date in 1749, the earliest locally raised "Canadian" artificer unit on record was raised in Halifax with 3 officers and 70 other ranks.

On this date in 1749, Lord Cornwallis landed in the newly formed garrison town of Halifax. His engineers immediately began the layout of the town and its defences.

On this date in 1747, Etienne Verrier, Chief Engineer of Fortress Louisburg, died.

On this date in 1719, construction began on Fort Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island. The fortress took 25 years to build. In 1961, the Government of Canada started a two decade long project to refurbish the site.

On this date in 1713, the French took possession of Cape Breton Island and started construction of the fortress at Louisbourg.

On this date in 1683, Etienne Verrier was born. He was to become Chief Engineer of Fortress Louisburg from 1724-45.

Count Frontenac, on Sieur de La Salle's advice, orders military engineer Raudin to begin construction of Fort Frontenac at Cataraqui, in present day Kingston, Ontario.

On this day in August 25, 1665, French engineers started building Fort Chambly and to rebuild Fort Richelieu (Fort Sorel). These were two of a series of five forts along the Richelieu River to protect travellers from Iroquois attacks.

US Army Corps of Engineers cut the ribbon on the 2451 km long Alcan Highway, running from Dawson Creek, BC, through the Yukon and on to Fairbanks, Alaska.