Canadian Military Engineers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Canadian Military Engineers (CME) is the military engineering branch of the Canadian Forces.

Contents

[edit] Mission

The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces. Their roles are to conduct combat operations, support the Canadian Forces in war and peace, support national development, provide assistance to civil authorities, and support international aid programs. Engineers serve wherever the need arises and few other organizations can claim to have contributed as much to the defence and development of this nation as have the Canadian Military Engineers.

Military engineers’ responsibilities encompass the use of demolitions and land mines, the design, construction and maintenance of defensive works and fortifications, lines of communications, and bridges. They also provide water, power and other utilities, provide fire, aircraft crash and rescue services, hazardous material operations, and develop maps and other engineering intelligence. In addition, military engineers are experts in deception and concealment, as well as the design and development of equipment necessary to carry out these operations.

For authoritative reference, see "Customs and Traditions of the Canadian Military Engineers" at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/admie/dgcps/CME_customs_e.htm

Canadian Military Engineers
Canadian Military Engineers

[edit] History

[edit] Creation

Following the Boer War the Canadian Government realized that more the defence of Canada required more than just a single infantry battalion and a few artillery batteries as part of the permament defence force. In 1903 The Royal Canadian Engineers were founded as the basis of the permanent military engineers, while the militia had the Canadian Engineer Corps created.

[edit] World War I

One of the first tasks completed by the Engineers after the declariation of war upon Germany in 1914 was for the rapid development of the Valcartier training site in Quebec. At its peak size 30,000 men where stationed here before 1st Canadian Division was deployed to England.

When the 1st Division arrived on the front in Belgium they were accompanied by field companies of the Canadian Engineer Corps (as since men recruited into the service after the start of the war were part of the Milita branch and not the regulars.) This troops were responsible for construction of defences, sanitation systems, water supplies, bridging, and assisting with Trench raids.

One of the most important functions of the Sappers during the war was to dig tunnels underneath enemy trenches, with which to plan explosives to destroy them. At the Battle of Vimy Ridge, several such mines were used to win the battle.

During the war the one and only Victoria Cross the Royal Canadian Engineers ever received was earned by Captain C. N. Mitchell for actions on 8 October 1918.

In total, more than 40 000 canadians served as Engineers during the war, 14 000 on the front on the last day of the war.

[edit] Between Wars

Upon demoblization, the permanent force of Engineers was changed to 38 officers and 249 other ranks.

On 29 April 1936, the Milita and Permanent components where jointed to form the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers. Until then the Milita and regulars had had separate cap badges, but then adopted the one used by the regulars.

[edit] World War II

[edit] Korea

[edit] Unification and the Cold War

On 1 February 1968 The Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force were official unified under the Canadian Armed forces (now Canadian Forces). As such the Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Navy Civil Engineers and Royal Canadian Air Force Consturction Division were amalgamated. However, the new branch went under the name Royal Canadian Engineers until 1973. At that point the branch was officially named as the Canadian Military Engineers.

[edit] 21st century and beyond

The role of the Canadian Military Engineers has been expanding. The regular force component has been expanding the size of their units, due to the current missions of the Canadian Forces.

As well, the reserve component of the CME is about to begin a reorgization. Current speculation is that each reserve Brigade will have a single "Combat Engineer Regiment" like their regular force components. This had already been done for 31 Canadian Brigade Group when The Elgin Regiment (RCAC) was converted to Engineers as 31 Combat Engineer Regiment. At the same time this would essential recreate units that previously existed. An example of this is 7 Field Engineer Regiment, which up until the 1960's was the higher authority for 6 and 44 Field Engineer Squadrons in British Columbia. This reorgization would theoretically create 38 Combat Engineer Regiment, with the same componenet units.

[edit] Customs and Traditions

[edit] Colonel-in-Chief

HM Queen Elizabeth II is the Colonel-in-Chief of the CME. She had previously been Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Engineers unit unification in 1967. On the occasion of her Silver Jubilee she was re-affirmed as Colonel-in-Chief. King George V, Edward VIII (albeit briefly), and George VI have all served as previous Colonels-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Engineers.

[edit] Mottos

Due to their associate with the Royal Engineers, King George V granted the RCE the same mottos as the Royal Engineers.

Ubique (Latin, "Everywhere") serves as a substitution for the battle honours the Corps would have obtained if they were a line regiment.

Quo fas et gloria ducunt (Latin, "Whither right and glory lead")

[edit] Cap Badge

From shortly after their creation until 1967, the Royal Canadian Engineers had a nearly identical cap badge as that of the Royal Engineers. This consisted of the Cipher of the Reigning monarch, surrounded by the Garter, surrmounted by the crown with the words Royal Canadian Engineers on the scroll at the bottom, and surrounded by maple leaves instead of laurels.

The current cap badge came to its current form after unification. Since the Royal Canadian Engineer cap badge was representative only of the army, a new one was developed. In bilingual format, the words Engineers and Genie appear on the current cap badge indicating the bilingual nature of the CME. The word Ubique also appears, confirming that the Engineers are present everywhere the Canadian Forces goes.

[edit] CHIMO

The CME greeting, toast and battlecry is "Chimo" - pronounced CHEE-mo. This expression is also often used as a closing on correspondence between Engineers. The word itself is derived from the Inuktitut greeting saimo, and rought translates as "hello," "goodbye," "peace be with you". The current spelling and pronunciation is based on a Caucasian adaptation of the native language. The greeting was introduced during the time of unification to create a common tradition to the CME. As well, the corps was also heavy involved with the development of Canada's North at the time.

From the CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE CME

[edit] Engineer Prayer

The Engineer Prayer was created for 2 Field Engineer Regiment by Major Hugh Macdonald, the unit's Padre. It goes as follows:

Almighty God, we pray thee to bless the Canadian Military Engineers. May our bridges always stand, and our charges never fail, our members be ever loyal, and our officers worthy of their loyalty. May we work diligently in all our purposes and be skilled in our trades; steadfast for Queen and Country everywhere. Amen.

From the CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE CME

[edit] Patron Saint

The Canadian Military Engineers have no patron saint but Engineers often participate in artillery celebrations honouring St. Barbara, the patron saint of the artillery. Engineers, along with the Artillery and miners, celebrate her feast day on December 4th.

[edit] Units

[edit] Regular Force Units

[edit] Reserve Force Units

[edit] Order of Precedence

Preceded by:
Royal Canadian Artillery		 Canadian Military Engineers Succeeded by:
Communications and Electronics Branch


 
Canadian Forces Personnel Branches
Air Operations Branch | Band Branch | Cadet Instructors Cadre | Canadian Forces Medical Service | Canadian Forces Military Police | Canadian Military Engineers | Chaplain Branch | Communications and Electronics Branch | Dental Branch | Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch | Intelligence Branch | Legal Branch | Logistics Branch | Naval Operations Branch | Personnel Selection Branch | Public Affairs Branch | Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Royal Canadian Infantry Corps | Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Training Development Branch
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/a/n/Canadian_Military_Engineers_edf0.html"