6 Field Engineer Squadron
Encyclopedia
6 Engineer Squadron is a Primary Reserve Canadian Military Engineer unit of the Canadian Forces
. 6 Engineer Squadron is part of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group
(39 CBG), headquarters for all Primary Reserve units in British Columbia
. 6 Engineer Squadron is a sub unit of 39 Combat Engineer Regiment.
6 Engineer Squadron is headquarterd at the Lieutenant Colonel James Pemberton Fell Armoury in North Vancouver, British Columbia
.
On 3 May 2008, 6 Engineer Squadron, 44 Engineer Squadron in Trail, British Columbia
and 54 Engineer Squadron in Chilliwack, British Columbia, joined together to form 39 Combat Engineer Regiment (39 CER). 6 Field Engineer Squadron became 6 Engineer Squadron within 39 CER.
The unit was reorganized on 30 July 1921. In the mid 1930s the unit was renamed the 6th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers. It was mobilized on 1 September 1939 and initially tasked with a number of military construction projects in British Columbia.
In August 1940, the unit was sent to Camp Debert in Nova Scotia where it joined the other engineer units of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (3rd CID)in constructing the camp. Once the camp was complete they were joined by the rest of the divisional troops. In the spring of 1941 they sailed for England where they spent the rest of 1941 building more camps and the next two years on assault training and on field exercises.
On 6 June 1944 the unit landed with the 3rd CID as part of Operation Overlord
, the Allied invasion of German occupied Europe. Their 2nd platoon landed in the first wave and sustained over 50% casualties. The Company remained in support of the 3rd CID for the rest of the war seeing action during the clearing of the Channel ports, the Battle of the Scheldt, the Rhine Crossings and the final Liberation of Holland. The majority of this work consisted of the construction of bailey bridges and the clearance of mines and boobytraps. On 4 May 1945 the unit was preparing for an attack on the town of Aurlich when they received the ceasefire order ending the war. By this time 30 unit members had been killed due to enemy action. Elements of the unit remained in Europe for nearly a year, rebuilding and repairing roads and bridges damaged or destroyed during the war, with the last of their troops leaving Germany on 21 April 1946.
The Company returned to its armoury in North Vancouver and was redesignated as 6th Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers in 1946 and became part of the 7th Field Engineer Regiment (7FER). In the 1960s, 7 FER was disbanded and 6 Field Squadron became an independent unit once more and its name was changed to 6 Field Engineer Squadron.
Starting in 1969 the unit began supplying individual augmentees to NATO and the UN. Unit members have since served in Egypt, Israel, Germany, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan. During the summer of 2008 eight unit members were on active duty in Afghanistan.
, CHIN
, OMMC
and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
units across British Columbia
which are affiliated to the 6 Engineer Squadron. Cadets
are not soldiers; they are part of an organization dedicated to developing citizenship and leadership among young men and women aged 12 to 18 years of age with a military flavour, and are not required to join the Canadian Forces
.
Cadet units affiliated to the 6 Engineer Squadron receive support and also are entitled to wear traditional regimental accourtments on their uniforms.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. 6 Engineer Squadron is part of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group
39 Canadian Brigade Group
The 39 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is composed of Canadian Forces Primary Reserve units which are based in British Columbia. No. 39 CBG is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Jericho Garrison on West 4th Avenue...
(39 CBG), headquarters for all Primary Reserve units in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. 6 Engineer Squadron is a sub unit of 39 Combat Engineer Regiment.
6 Engineer Squadron is headquarterd at the Lieutenant Colonel James Pemberton Fell Armoury in North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
.
On 3 May 2008, 6 Engineer Squadron, 44 Engineer Squadron in Trail, British Columbia
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
and 54 Engineer Squadron in Chilliwack, British Columbia, joined together to form 39 Combat Engineer Regiment (39 CER). 6 Field Engineer Squadron became 6 Engineer Squadron within 39 CER.
Mission
6 Engineer Squadron's mission as a Canadian Military Engineering (CME) unit is to provide operational engineer support for the other units of 39 CBG, during domestic operations and provide individual augmenttees for overseas operations of the Canadian Forces. The unit is responsible for the construction of bridges and installations, demolition of obstacles, clearance of booby traps, mines and unexploded ordnance and general engineer support.History
6 Engineer Squadron was authorized by General Order on 18 February 1911 as the 6th Field Company Canadian Engineers. During the First World War the company remained in Canada where its primary function was to establish and operate an engineer training centre. The first draft left North Vancouver on 26 August 1914 and contained many of the original unit members, including the unit's first commanding officer, Major James Pemberton Fell. Over the next four years the unit trained, and dispatched for overseas service 3670 soldiers. Of the original unit members and graduates of their training programs 210 died on active duty. The majority of these men saw service on the Western Front, but a small contingent of 34 was also sent to Siberia in 1918. The unit also provided numerous work parties constructing military structures and defences in British Columbia as well as providing the crews for the searchlights in Esquimalt Harbour. On 30 December 1918, at the end of the First World War, the unit was temporarily disbanded.The unit was reorganized on 30 July 1921. In the mid 1930s the unit was renamed the 6th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers. It was mobilized on 1 September 1939 and initially tasked with a number of military construction projects in British Columbia.
In August 1940, the unit was sent to Camp Debert in Nova Scotia where it joined the other engineer units of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (3rd CID)in constructing the camp. Once the camp was complete they were joined by the rest of the divisional troops. In the spring of 1941 they sailed for England where they spent the rest of 1941 building more camps and the next two years on assault training and on field exercises.
On 6 June 1944 the unit landed with the 3rd CID as part of Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, the Allied invasion of German occupied Europe. Their 2nd platoon landed in the first wave and sustained over 50% casualties. The Company remained in support of the 3rd CID for the rest of the war seeing action during the clearing of the Channel ports, the Battle of the Scheldt, the Rhine Crossings and the final Liberation of Holland. The majority of this work consisted of the construction of bailey bridges and the clearance of mines and boobytraps. On 4 May 1945 the unit was preparing for an attack on the town of Aurlich when they received the ceasefire order ending the war. By this time 30 unit members had been killed due to enemy action. Elements of the unit remained in Europe for nearly a year, rebuilding and repairing roads and bridges damaged or destroyed during the war, with the last of their troops leaving Germany on 21 April 1946.
The Company returned to its armoury in North Vancouver and was redesignated as 6th Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers in 1946 and became part of the 7th Field Engineer Regiment (7FER). In the 1960s, 7 FER was disbanded and 6 Field Squadron became an independent unit once more and its name was changed to 6 Field Engineer Squadron.
Starting in 1969 the unit began supplying individual augmentees to NATO and the UN. Unit members have since served in Egypt, Israel, Germany, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan. During the summer of 2008 eight unit members were on active duty in Afghanistan.
"Lest We Forget"
- Maxwell Gilder ADAMS - 6th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. From Toronto, Ontario, killed in action 6 June 1944 on MIKE RED, Juno Beach, Courselles-Sur-Mer, France while brigaded to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Buried in Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers, France.
- Arthur Thomas JACKSON - 6th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. Born in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, killed in action 6 June 1944 on MIKE RED, Juno Beach, Courselles-Sur-Mer, France while brigaded to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Buried in Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers, France.
- Alfred James Leslie MARTIN - 6th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. From Chilliwack, British Columbia, killed in action 6 June 1944 on MIKE RED, Juno Beach, Courselles-Sur-Mer, France while brigaded to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Buried in Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers, France.
- Clifford Henry William Marchment - 6th Field Sqd. Royal Canadian Engineers. From Toronto, Ontario, killed in action 27 August 1944, France. Buried BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE Canadian War Cemetery.
6th Field Engineer Squadron Museum
The mission of the Museum is to collect, preserve, research and photograph material relating to the history of the 6 Engineer Squadron, its former members and its site, and, through the appropriate display of such items, to convey this history to the currently serving members, the broader Canadian Forces community and the public. The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, OMMC
Organization of Military Museums of Canada
The Organization of Military Museums of Canada is a national organization for the promotion of military museums in Canada.The OMMC was established in 1967 by a group of military museums, historians, and military history enthusiasts. It has over 40 individual and 60 institutional members including...
and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.
Cadet Units
There are four Royal Canadian Army CadetsRoyal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
units across British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
which are affiliated to the 6 Engineer Squadron. Cadets
Royal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
are not soldiers; they are part of an organization dedicated to developing citizenship and leadership among young men and women aged 12 to 18 years of age with a military flavour, and are not required to join the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
.
| Corps | Location |
|---|---|
| 1725 RCACC | Chilliwack |
| 2573 RCACC | North Vancouver |
| 3067 RCACC | Lillooet |
| 1746 RCACC | Creston |
Cadet units affiliated to the 6 Engineer Squadron receive support and also are entitled to wear traditional regimental accourtments on their uniforms.
See also
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
- Canadian Military EngineersCanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- Land Force Western AreaLand Force Western AreaLand Force Western Area is one of four operational commands of the Canadian Army. LFWA is responsible for all Canadian Army administration and operations in western Canada from the Pacific Ocean to Thunder Bay, Ontario...
- 39 Canadian Brigade Group39 Canadian Brigade GroupThe 39 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is composed of Canadian Forces Primary Reserve units which are based in British Columbia. No. 39 CBG is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Jericho Garrison on West 4th Avenue...