Celebrating 100 Years of Military Communications Excellence and Innovation: The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Branch
The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Branch's mission is, "To lead the development of information professionals to meet the needs of the Canadian Forces." The Branch envisions, "A community of professionals leading in the achievement of information superiority for command and control in Canadian Forces Operations."
With its home station located in Kingston, the C&E Branch greatly enriches our community. The Branch is home to experts in areas of information technology, communications, and electronics. Throughout its distinguished history, the Branch and its founding elements have been leaders in the development and use of new technologies that have enhanced the communications and operational capability of the Canadian Forces, in operations overseas and in service at home. The Branch's record of excellence has made Kingston a central location for the training and support of some of the most exceptional military communications specialists in the world.
The C&E Branch is led by Brigadier General Don Banks, CMM, Colonel Commandant, Colonel John Alfred Palmer Thomson, CD (Ret'd), Honorary Colonel, Colonel M.J. Gallant, CD, Branch Adviser, and Chief Warrant Officer J.A.S. Berthiaume, CD, Branch Chief.
Exercise Mercury Trek 2003
In the spirit of the wartime dispatch riders and as part of their contribution to the Centennial, twenty-one regular and reserve force members, supported by an 8-person logistics team from Canadian Forces’ signal units, cycled 8000 kilometers across Canada, between April 16, 2003, and July 1, 2003.
The primary aim of the cycling trek, dubbed Exercise Mercury Trek 2003, was to increase Canadians’ appreciation of the contribution made to all Canadians by the men and women military communicators over the last 100 years.
The team cycled through each province, carrying an heraldic proclamation outlining the significant contributions made by military communications to Canada’s development. The proclamation was signed by each Lieutenant-Governor in a public ceremony at a local cenotaph or memorial. Peter Milliken, M.P., had the opportunity to inspect the Team during its stop in Ottawa on June 4, 2003.
Kingston’s Military Communications and Electronics Museum
The remarkable accomplishments of the Branch and its founding elements over their 100 years are documented at the local Military Communications and Electronics Museum. The Museum is open from 8 AM to 4PM, Monday to Friday, and from 11 AM to 5 PM on weekends and holidays (between May and September). For more information or instructions on how to get to the museum, call 613-541-4675.
To read more about events marking the Communications and Electronics Branch’s centennial celebrations, including those being held in Kingston, please visit:
The Birth of the
Canadian Signalling CorpsCaptain W. Bruce M. Carruthers, a Kingston native and hero of the Boer War, had noted that, in South Africa, signalling inadequacies had severely limited the efficiency of British Empire forces. 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. Its stated function was to supervise signal training of the cavalry, artillery and infantry signal sections and to ensure uniform methods of instruction and standards of qualification. Its authorized establishment was 18 officers and 60 other ranks and there was no Permanent Force counterpart. Provision of actual formation level signalling was the responsibility of the Canadian Engineers (CE) signalling service.
To read more about the History of the Signalling Corps and the Communications and Electronics Branch, please visit:
http://www.img.forces.gc.ca/commelec/brhistory/history_e.htm