THE BRITISH OVERSEAS RAILWAYS HISTORICAL TRUST   A UK Registered Educational Charity

Reference Sources for Royal Canadian Engineers Military Railways

Following on from the earlier reference sources this document is to assist in research on Royal Canadian Engineers Military Railways. You are encouraged to look at the other research pages for further ideas, as there may be some duplication of material, and those pages will also give an overall history of the railway. Also, please look at the general research page as that contains many sources that may be of assistance.

A Brief History of The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

There had been local militia engineering companies between 1855–1903. The passing of the Militia Act of 1855 meant that volunteer militia engineering companies formed within local militia units. These compromised of:

1. Halifax: two companies
2. Montreal: one company (1st Volunteer Militia Engineering Company)
3. Ottawa: one company
4. Quebec: one company

The Government of Canada realised after the Boer War 1899-1902 that the defence of Canada could nor rely upon one infantry battalion and a few artillery batteries as part of the permanent defence force. The Military Engineering Branch originated on 1 July 1903, when the 'Canadian Engineers Corps' of the Permanent Active Militia was authorized to be formed. It was redesignated 'The Royal Canadian Engineers' on 1 February 1904. Non-Permanent Active Militia engineer companies had existed at least as early as 1860, and they were collectively referred to as 'Canadian Engineers' from 1 August 1904. The Permanent component was redesignated 'The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers'; and the Non-Permanent component 'The Corps of Canadian Engineers' on 1 March 1932. The Non-Permanent component was redesignated, and the entire corps designated as 'The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers' on 29 April 1936. It was redesignated 'The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers' on 29 September 1952. The Corps was amalgamated after Unification with Royal Canadian Air Force construction engineer personnel to form the 'Military Engineering Branch' on 27 August 1971.

Canadian Railway Troops in WW1

It should be noted that the Canadian Railway Troops in WW1 were not part of the Canadian Engineers. See https://cmea-agmc.ca/canadian-railway-troops-brief-history See also https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/insignia/brookerpdfs/Part%206b%20railway%20troops.pdf

Canadian Railway Troops in WW2

Rob J. E. Bayliff, Honorary Chairman of the Military Railway Study Group, provided additional references for Royal Canadian Engineers' Activities in WW2:

• List of War Diaries kept in the Canadian National Archives
• Operations of Canadian Railway Troops, 1943-45 by the National Defence Headquarters, Department of History.

Army Museums

There are three museums of interest.

Firstly, Library and Archives Canada. https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng This is the Canadian National Library the main location is Ottawa, but there are limited services in other cities. They do hold the Unit War Diaries, some of which have been digitised and can be downloaded. In particular see https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Documents/canadian%20railway%20troops.pdf

The Canadian Military Engineering Museum is located within the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, Mitchell Building J-10 at 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, Oromocto, New Brunswick. Curator Sandra F. Johnson Penney. The CME Museum website is: www.cmemuseum.ca

The Canadian War Museum is at 1 Vimy Pl, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 https://www.warmuseum.ca/

The Canadian Military Engineers Association is https://cmea-agmc.ca/history-canadian-military-engineers and are responsible for publishing the corps History.

Royal Canadian Engineers Bibliography

No. 1 Railway Operating Company, No. 1 Railway Workshop Company.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3356107 Sappers of No.1 Railway Workshop Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE), preparing to repair damaged locomotives, Vaucelles, France, 23 July 1944.

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