History

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This page is a collection of articles of historical interest for the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, its predecessors and successors. The subjects vary from Corps History to Unit Histories to ... well ... almost anything! If you have written a historical article of any length that you would be willing to have published on this site, please email me at webmaster@rcsigs.ca If you know of articles by others please encourage them to contact me or provide me with their contact information and I will seek permission to post their work here. VVV.

General History

90 Years and Counting
The History of Canadian Military Communications and Electronics. by Maj John A. MacKenzie
Semaphore to Satellite
The story of Canadian Military Communicatoins
History of Canadian CESM
A history of Canadian Communications Electronic Support Measures
The Work of The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in the Field of Radio Communication in Canada
An article written by Major Steel published in Canadian Defence Quarterly in 1924/25.
Radio, Forestry and Aircraft in Northern Saskatchewan
An article written by Major Steel and Capt St Louis published in Canadian Defence Quarterly c1929.

Great War / Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) History

Wireless Telegraph Communications in the Canadian Corps
A period report on the use of Wireless Telegraph in the Great War, 1915-1918
Notes on Communications - 1st Canadian Division - 6 March to 5 May 1917
A period report on communications during the period of the attack on VIMY RIDGE
Notes on Communications - 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade - Attack on FRESNOY - 3 May 1917
A period report on communications during the period of the attack on VIMY RIDGE
Notes on Communications - 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade - Attack on ARLEUX - 28 April 1917
A period report on communications during the period of the attack on VIMY RIDGE
Notes on Communications - 2nd Canadian Division - 1 April to 15 May 1917
A period report on communications during the period of the attack on VIMY RIDGE
Notes on Communications - 3rd Canadian Division - 9 April to 9 May 1917
A period report on communications during the period of the attack on VIMY RIDGE
Report on Conversations Picked Up by Wireless Intelligence - 2nd Canadian Division - 6 August 1917
A period report on the conversations picked up while policing communications
Communications - 4th Canadian Divisional Signal Company - 7 to 14 August 1918
A period report on wireless communications from the start of the 100 days
Wireless Communications Operations East of ARRAS - 1st Canadian Division - Aug 27 to Sept 4 1918
A period report on wireless usage from the start of the 100 days
The Signal Service in the European War of 1914 to 1918
An account of the Signal Service of the British Expeditionary Force
With the Signal Corps Service at the Front
An article from the April 1916 edition of The Wireless Age Magazine
W/T RE - An Account of the Work and Developments of Field Wireless Sets with the Armies in France (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)
A four part article from the July, August, October & November 1919 editions of The Wireless World Magazine

Second World War History

Signallers behind enemy lines 1939-1945
The story of Signallers operating as agents behind enemy lines in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
No 1 Special Wireless Group - A Brief History
A Brief History - A brief history of this unique unit extracted from their souvenir booklet.
1st Canadian Special Wireless Section (Type B)
An article on 1 Canadian SW Sect (Type B) written by Col C.J. Weicker with material from Mr. Ron Gates.
2nd Canadian Special Wireless Section (Type B)
Second World War Canadian Army Signal Intelligence Experiences of Major R.S. Grant, MBE, CD. Compiled and Edited by Captain Norman A. Weir, CD
1 Canadian Radio Location Unit and Radar Specialists in Britain
Cracking the Code
Canadian Army SIGINT in the Second World War by Maj Rob Martin
The Royal Dutch Canadian Signal Company
An article by By Lt-Col H.B. Dean, OBE, ED published in the Royal Canadian Signals Quarterly, December 1951
Operation Husky and Canadian Signals
Signals related information about Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily
Operation Jubilee and Canadian Signals
Signals related information about Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe
Operation Gauntlet and Canadian Signals
Signals related information about Operation Gauntlet, also known as the Spitzbergen Raid, Special Expedition 111 and Exercise Heather
Canadian German telephone linkup Wageningen Netherlands 5 May 1945
Details, including photos and video, of the linkup between Allied and German telephone systems at the end of the Second World War.
Defence of Hong Kong and Canadian Signals
Signals related information about the Defence of Hong Kong

United Nations History

UNEF Signals 1957-58
An article on the experiences of Jean Alphonso while assigned to UNEF in 1957-58
73 Canadian Signal Squadron
An article on the Canadian Signals unit assigned to UNEFME. Written by Major John Dicker
73 Canadian Signal Squadron support to UNFICYP - July 1974
An article about 73 Canadian Signal Squadron's response to CAR Loss of Secure-Rear-Link Communications, UNFICYP - July 1974. Written by - LtCol Mac Savage
644 Signal Troop - UNFICYP 1973-74
An article on the experiences of Will Norton while assigned to 644 Signal Troop in 1973/74
Airborne Signals CYPRUS 1974
An article on the Airbone Headquarters and Signal Squadron's tour in Cyprus in 1974 written by Lt J.I. Holsworth
UNIFIL CANSIGS Unit
An article on the UNIFIL mission background and specifically the UNIFIL Canadian Signal Unit. Written by LCol G Lackonick, Maj RP Bonner, and MWO G Burtoft
881 Signal Squadron Deployment
A description of the 881 Signal Squadron deployment to Iran as part of the United Nations Iraq Iran Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) mission
881 Signal Squadron - Chowl Zari Detachment
Description of the deployment of the Chowl Zari Detachment of 881 Signal Squadron as part of the United Nations Iraq Iran Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) mission

Unit History

Northwest Territories and Yukon Radio System
A combination of research material for the NWT&Y Radio System and a project to get more. A project of Michael Martin.
History of the Northwest Territories Yukon and Radio System
History of the NWT&Y Radio System on this site.
UNIFIL CANSIGS Unit
An article on the UNIFIL mission background and specifically the UNIFIL Canadian Signal Unit. Written by LCol G Lackonick, Maj RP Bonner, and MWO G Burtoft
No 1 Special Wireless Group - A Brief History
A Brief History - A brief history of this unique unit extracted from their souvenir booklet.
1st Canadian Special Wireless Section (Type B)
An article on 1 Canadian SW Sect (Type B) written by Col C.J. Weicker with material from Mr. Ron Gates.
2nd Canadian Special Wireless Section (Type B)
Second World War Canadian Army Signal Intelligence Experiences of Major R.S. Grant, MBE, CD. Compiled and Edited by Captain Norman A. Weir, CD
OP SCALPEL Signal Troop War Journal
A "war jounal" kept by the members of 1 Cdn Fd Hosp Sig Tp during their depolyment to the Persian Gulf in 1991.
RCSigs perspective on CAFATTT
A Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Perspective on The Canadian Armed Forces Advisory and Training Team Tanzania (CAFATTT)
881 Signal Squadron Deployment
A description of the 881 Signal Squadron deployment to Iran as part of the United Nations Iraq Iran Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) mission
Where It Began
721 Communication Regiment and its Antecedents, 1904-2004
1 Canadian Radio Location Unit and Radar Specialists in Britain
Cooperative Effort - The History of the Line Trade - 77 Line Regiment History Paper
History paper produced by 77 Line Regiment

Corps Personnel

Major Bruce Carruthers
The founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps
Colonel Elroy Forde DSO, OBE, VD
Led the Corps between the wars and established the Corps' permanent home in Barriefield.
Brigadier J.E. Genet MC
Led the Corps in Europe during the Second World War.
Colonel F.A. Lister DSO
Gave new life to the Signal Corps after the death of Major Carruthers and led the signallers of the 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company.

Other History Topics

The Untold Story of STRAD and TARE
A story of STRAD and TARE messaging systems provided to the Satellite to Semaphore project.
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Diamond Jubilee
Events marking the 60th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Princess Royal Visit 1955
Events surrounding the visit to Canada in 1955
Princess Royal Visit to Kingston 1962
Events surrounding the visit of the Princess Royal in 1962
Princess Royal Visit to Lahr 1978
Events surrounding the visit of the Princess Royal in 1978
Canada 150 - C and E Battlefield Study
As part of the Canada 150 events, the C&E Branch organized a Battlefield Study in 2017 to France and Belgium entitled "Jimmy Returns to Vimy".
HCapt Langford and her Little Blue Jacket
The story of a seven-year-old Honoury Captain during the Second World War.