March 8, 1942
On this date in 1942, No 2 Tunneling Company was commended by the British CRE for breaking all records for drilling in Gibraltar by 36%. The average age of these sappers was 35.
March 7, 1719
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.
March 6, 1943
On this date in 1943, Lt C.F. Blair of 4 Field Park Squadron was actively engaged in Italy in that Engineer specialty of “scrounging material” - eventually acquiring 65 truckloads.
March 5, 1813
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.
March 4, 1942
On this date in 1942, Spr F.P. Hutchinson returned to 1st Field Company two years after being left behind in France after Dunkirk in 1940. He was awarded the first Military Medal to a Canadian in WW II.
March 3, 1941
On this date in 1941, No. 2 Tunneling Company arrived in Gibraltar to begin work on the tunnels and defensive works in The Rock.
March 2, 1946
On this date in 1946, 23rd Field Squadron (stationed at Camp Chilliwack) was authorized as part of the Active Force field component.
March 1, 1946
On this date in 1946, 1st Field Company was re-designated 23rd Field Company RCE and located at Camp Chilliwack as the permanent RCE unit of the Active Force after WW II.
February 28, 1948
On this date in 1948, Lt-Gen M.A. Pope (Former RCE) retired from the Army to become Canadian ambassador in Bonn. Later he served as ambassador to Belgium and Spain.
February 28, 1925
On this date in 1925, an earthquake in Quebec and Eastern Ontario damaged many old military masonry buildings - requiring extensive repairs.