90 Years and Counting
THE HISTORY OF CANADIAN MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS
Major John A. MacKenzie
Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum
UPDATED: 17 May, 1996
That their accomplishments may never be forgotten
and
That the lessons they learned may always be remembered.
This history, still under development, is produced as an abbreviated record of the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces, its predecessors and related defence electronics industries. It has been designed as a ready reference and to support other, more detailed, histories pertaining to specific areas of military C & E history.
It has been compiled by:
Author:
- Maj J.A. MacKenzie
Contributors:
- Capt D.M. Brien, Former C & E Home Station Adjutant
- Sgt K.W. Brown, C & E Branch Kit Shop Supervisor
- CWO J.C. Browne, 1 CMBG HQ & Signal Squadron
- Mrs M.F. Chambers, Former CFSCE Chief Librarian
- Maj F. Fillion, Former C & E Branch Secretariat
- Mrs L. Grantham, Directorate of History Ottawa
- MWO D.R. Hildebrand, Curator C & E Museum
- Mrs C. Imeson, LaSalle Secondary School
- WO J. Juteau, SSF Signal Squadron Historian
- Mrs C. Kellins, LaSalle Secondary School
- Sgt R.A. Koopman, Air Force Telecommunications Association
- Pte J.A. MacKenzie, Reserve Electronic Warfare Squadron
- Mrs E.S. McArthur, LaSalle Secondary School
- WO1 S.A.E. Reading, (Retired)
- MCpl E.A. Sketcher, Former 1 CDHSR Historian
- Col P.H. Sutton, C & E Museum Senior Researcher
- Mrs C. Wartman, CFSCE Librarian/Archivist
- Cpl L.A. Watson, Reserve EW Squadron
Use of this history is subject to the following conditions:
- this history may be used, copied or reproduced in its entirety or in part for educational purposes without further permission of the author;
- this history may not be copied, reproduced or published in its entirety or in part for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author; and
- the Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum must be given credit as the source of the information in any copy of this history.
CHAPTER 1: IN THE BEGINNING 1867 - 1913
- Early communications requirements and activities, Yukon Telegraph Service, Canadian Engineers Signal Service and its development.
CHAPTER 2: THE BIRTH OF THE CANADIAN SIGNALLING CORPS
- Formation of Canadian Signalling Corps, developments from 1903 to 1913, lead up to World War One.
CHAPTER 3: WORLD WAR ONE 1914 - 1918
- Military communications events and important dates during the war.
CHAPTER 4: BETWEEN THE WARS 1919 - 1939
- Evolution of early military communications, North West Territories and Yukon Radio System, Forestry Service, mapping and charting, birth of RCAF Signals, early RCN shore stations and preparing 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 and the new C & E Branch.
CHAPTER 7: TOWARD A NEW WORLD (DIS)ORDER 1989 -
- Collapse of the Warsaw Pact, Canadian military downsizing as part of the "Peace Dividend", peace keeping and peace making in a destabilized world.