History

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C&E Branch History Project

W. Bruce M. Carruthers, a Kingston native and hero of the Boer War. He proposed that a specialist signalling corps be created to ensure standardization of signalling among Canadian army units. His proposal was accepted and on 24 October 1903, General Order (GO) 167 authorized formation of the "Canadian Signalling Corps (Militia)" (CSC) - the first independently organized Signal Corps in the British Empire. On 21 October 1910 Bruce Carruthers died in Kingston and was buried in Cataraqui Cemetery.

Branch History - 90 Years and Counting

The following documents are available for downloading or viewing:

• The History of Canadian Military Communications and Electronics (DOC Version, 6 February 2004, 5,497.00 KB)

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The History of Canadian Military Communications and Electronics

By: Captain John A. MacKenzie
Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum

Table of Contents

• About this History
• Chapter 1 - The Beginning  1867 - 1913
  Early communications requirements and activities, the Yukon Telegraph Service, the Canadian Engineers Signal Service and its development.
• Chapter 2 - The Birth of the Canadian Signalling Corps
  Formation of the Canadian Signalling Corps and developments from 1903 to 1913, the lead up to World War One.
• Chapter 3 - World War One  1914-1918
  The military communications events and important dates during the war.
• Chapter 4 - Between the Wars  1919-1939
  Evolution of early military communications, the North West Territories and Yukon Radio System, the Forestry Service, Mapping and Charting, the birth of RCAF Signals and early RCN shore stations. Preparations for war.
• Chapter 5 - World War Two  1939-1945
  Canadian communications and important events during the war.
• Chapter 6 - The Cold Warriors  1946-1989
  North Atlantic Treaty Organization participation, United Nations operations and Canadian communications development since World War Two, integration of the Canadian Forces, the new C & E Branch.
• Chapter 7 - Toward a new World (Dis)Order  1989 -
  The collapse of the Warsaw Pact, Canadian military downsizing as part of the "Peace Dividend", peace keeping and peace making in a destabilized world.
• Annex A - Peacekeeping Missions
  Summary of United Nations and other related peace keeping missions.
• Annex B - Dieppe Raid Participants
  Summary of Signals participants in the raid of 19 August 1942.
• Annex C - World War II Ground Radar
  Early Developments. Defence of Canada in the Pacific, Atlantic and Saint Lawrence River areas. The Canadian Radar Group in Australia.
• Annex D - Katakana Code
  The phonetic morese code used to send Japanese signals in World War II.
• Annex E - The Khaki Telco
  North West Territories and Yukon Radio System commercial operations 1923-1959
• Annex F - Post World War II Radar in Defence of Canada
  The CADIN-Pinetree, Mid-Canada and DEW Line systems
• Annex G - C & E Events by Month
• Annex H - Passing the Decanter
• Other Recommended Reading