CHAPTER THREE

WORLD WAR I
1914 - 1918

In 1917 radio transmitters were first mounted and used in aircraft. A pilot, acting as the artillery observer, would transmit his orders to the ground station blindly as no receiver was mounted in the aircraft. The transmitter filled the cockpit space normally used by the observer and a trailing wire antenna was used which had to be reeled in prior to landing. A new system, "Popham panels", was developed for ground to air signals. Cloth panels laid out on the ground provided visual confirmation of radio signals from the aircraft. This system later became a common ground to air signalling system for front line units.

By 1917, Signals in France (including CE and CSC personnel) had grown to four divisional signal companies, two artillery signal companies and one corps signal company. That year they constructed a line grid system involving some 7000 miles of forward area buried cable and 43,000 miles of overhead cable. During the Battle of the Somme this was supplemented in the forward areas by runners, visual signalling and pigeons.

During 9 - 12 April 1917 the Canadian Corps was victorious at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This was the only significant allied victory of 1917 but it cost the Canadians 10% casualties including 3598 killed in action or dying of wounds. While wireless had made significant strides in development use was restricted by the lack of spare tubes. As the United States began preparations for its active entry into the war the source of DeForest vacuum tubes (or thermionic valves as they were then known) dried up while the only alternate supply, Western Electric tubes, were not adaptable to mass production.

On 3 May 1917, Canadians captured Fresnoy in a new attack by British forces on a front of 12 miles from south of Loos to south-west of Lens.

In the month of June, 1917, Canadians fought in a number of actions in the area of Lens.

On 8 June 1917 Captain Elroy Forde was promoted to major, the third officer to hold that rank in the Canadian Signal Corps. The other officers previously promoted major were D.E. Mundel, and T.E. Power 18 May 1914. Major Bruce Carruthers (unattached list) and Major F.A. Listor (Royal Canadian Regiment), although virtually running the corps, remained members of their parent corps).

On 12 June 1917, to overcome confusion about the parent corps of Canadian signal units, the Canadian Corps Headquarters issued Routine Order 1283 which stated that Signals, from that date, would be known as "Canadian Signals, Canadian Engineers". Since the Chief Engineer felt that members of the pre-war Signal Corps should be allowed to wear their own badges if they so desired, the Corps Commander ruled that change of badges would be left to the discretion of divisional commanders.

By July 1917 wireless was in place between corps and divisions. These were spark gap sets originally however continuous wave (CW), made possible by the invention of the vacuum tube, rapidly superseded them.

Wireless was first used by the Canadians to register heavy artillery fire at Hill 70 at the end of July 1917. One set was initially on Vimy Ridge and used by the forward observer officer while the rear set was at the artillery telephone exchange, from which corrections were passed by telephone to the guns. For the actual attack in August 1917 two sets of radios were used with forward sets moving forward as the battle dictated. They were particularly useful as cables were frequently damaged. By November 1916 wireless was in common use.

On 12 October 1917 recruiting of signals personnel ceased. Future needs were met by personnel of the 5th Divisional Signal Company which was disbanded in early 1918.

On 6 November 1917 Canadians took Passchendaele on the crest of the ridge dominating the Flanders Plain. Canadians held Passchendaele against a strong enemy attack on 7 November 1917, advanced 600 yards on a 300 yard front and took 140 prisoners on 7 November 1917, held Passchendaele again on 14 November 1917, and captured a farm at Passchendaele on 17 November, 1917.

By 1 December, 1917 the Dominion Victory Loan subscriptions in Canada had reached $416,000,000.

On 6 December, 1917 a terrific explosion took place at Halifax caused by the collision of the French munitions ship Mont Blanc and the Belgian Relief Ship, the Imo. Nearly 1,300 people were killed and thousands were injured. Damages to the city of Halifax cost approximately $25,000,000. The British, United States and Dominion governments each subscribed $5,000,000 for relief while various cities donated lesser sums.

On 17 December, 1917 the Union Government, led by Sir Robert Laird Borden won the federal Canadian election.

The second Canadian, as opposed to Imperial (or British controlled), flying service was the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service, a component part of the Royal Canadian Navy, used for defence of Canada's east coast beginning in March 1918 It was disbanded in December 1918.

On 14 May 1918 the Canadian Corps Survey Section was authorized. It was formed from the Corps Topographic Section and the Intelligence Observation Section and had five officers and 172 other ranks, many of them including the commanding officer were CE. This new unit was often listed as a Canadian Engineers Signals Unit since it was administered by Corps Signals and utilized wireless equipment. Its function, however was flash spotting of enemy fire and survey, the accurate setting of artillery battery positions. It was a fore runner of later artillery survey sections.

On 15 June 1918 a Canadian Corps Signal School for wireless training began operation at Aubin St Vaast, France.

During allied advances beginning on 8 August 1918 wireless became the primary communications for the Canadian Corps. The deep penetrating Canadian Independent Force (based on the Machine Gun Brigade) found that wireless was all that it required. During the 11 days of action Canadians passed 1,400 wireless messages.

By September 1918 the Canadians were involved in highly, for the period, mobile fighting. With the extensive use of wireless and increasing amounts of equipment provided mobility needs began to outstrip the resources needed to move the equipment. Light radios traveled in the few light cars or lorries available without too much difficulty however a trip in standard conveyances such as Royal Engineer limbers invariably meant an extensive overhaul after each move.

During September 1918 Canadian Corps wireless stations received an average of 118 messages a day with divisional stations averaging 42 per division (4th Division was busiest at 74 per operational day). Most transmissions were in code with operators doing all enciphering and deciphering. While some attempts had been made during the allied advance to utilize captured German lines it was soon found that it was faster and easier to roll out new cable.

By early November 1918 the rate of allied advance was far outstripping telephone services capabilities. Cable supplies were becoming exhausted and dispatch rider services were stretched to the limit. Then relieve came! On 10 November a wireless broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in Paris gave the first definite warning of the end of hostilities and the following morning First (British) Army wireless confirmed the news. Canadian Corps wireless then passed the following message to all stations on the morning of 11 November:

G 121

Hostilities will cease at 1100K on 11th November
Troops will stand fast on the line reached at
that hour which will be reported to Corps
HQ aaa

Defensive precautions will be maintained
There will be no intercourse of any description
with the enemy
Further instructions follow
Divns GOCRA CCHA CMGC CE
Repeated all concerned
Acknowledge
Can. Corps 0605K

On 18 November 1918 the Canadian divisions began moving into Germany and to cross the Rhine River. Communications were provided by new British "Tyrell" wireless sets mounted in Crosley box cars. Corps Signals which had concentrated at Mons on 16 November departed for Germany on 24 November.

On 20 - 25 November 1918 two all Canadian units of the Royal Flying Corps, Canada formed as Squadrons 1 and 2 of the Canadian Air Force. These Canadian Air Force squadrons were Imperial units formed in response to the British decision to form the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1916. As such, the personnel were Canadians seconded to the Royal Air Force but the squadrons did not report to any Canadian military chain of command nor to the Canadian Government. Ignoring this and the Royal Air Force redesignation Canada continued to attach Canadian personnel to the Royal Flying Corps. Too late to see fighting, the squadrons disbanded in 1920.

On 9 December 1918 the Wireless Telegraphy Report Centre was at Bonn, Germany and by the 11th the Wireless Section was established at Ippendorf and Corps Signals arrived at Bonn. On 14 December 2nd Divisional Signals arrived at Bonn and 1st Division Signals reached Marienburg-Koln on 15 December.

Repatriation began in the new year as 3rd Divisional Signal Company departed for England in mid February 1919. It arrived in Witley, England on 19 February and departed for Canada on the Baltic on 12 March. 1st Divisional Signals and portions of Corps Signals left the continent at the end of March, departing for Canada on the Scotian on 6 May enroute to Toronto. 2nd Signal Company, the Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop and further portions of Corps Signals left for Canada on the Cedric on 19 May. the 4th, and last, Divisional Signal Company reached Witley on 10 May and departed on the Mauritania on 31 May. The remnants of Corps Signals sailed from England in June 1919. All Canadian Expeditionary Force signals units were officially disbanded by General Order 210 of 15 November 1920.

During World War I communicators (both signalmen and sappers) won the following honors and awards:

CB - 2, CMG - 4, DSO - 6, DSO/Bar - 1, OBE - 2, MBE - 1, MC - 51, MC/Bar - 1, DCM - 43, DCM/Bar - 1, MM - 335, MM/Bar - 34, MSM - 33, MID - 88 and foreign awards - 17.

To The Assistant Director of Signals,
Canadian Corps, in the Field

We are aware of the fact that joint representations for improved conditions are viewed with disfavor in the army, but having often been told by the press and by ministerial orators that the Canadian Corps is really a democratic force, and having heard the statement reiterated by our own officers (though seldom borne in mind), we are taking this step to call attention to the present anomalous rate of pay for telegraphists serving in the field. We do this, not only as Canadian soldiers, but as Canadian citizens, and for this reason are forwarding copies of this memorial to the civilian authorities interested.

At present Canadian telegraphists are paid at the general rate of one dollar ten cents per day. We submit that this should be increased to three dollars per day for all telegraphists employed as such and working the regular commercial "sounder" instruments, for the reasons stated below. The case of army-taught buzzer operators is on a different basis and might call for separate consideration.

1. The principle of higher remuneration for skilled and technical workers is recognised in the Canadian forces

(a) for other combatants acting as orderly-room clerks, stenographers, chauffeurs, cooks and in other semi-skilled capacities;

(b) for non-combatants employed in the Forestry Corps, in the Railway Construction Corps, in the pay-office and elsewhere.

It is suggested that a qualified telegraphist is at least entitled to the same pay as a lumber-jack. Many of the latter are already in receipt of three dollars per day.

2. Every other military force in the world of equal size to the Canadian Corps pays telegraphists at a superior rate. The British Royal Engineer Signals and the American Signal Corps may be mentioned as particular cases, in each of which telegraphists received approximately double the general rate.

3. Canadian telegraphists are giving - and have been giving for nearly four years - the benefit of their lifelong civilian experience toward the Dominion's military effort, and it is felt that they are more entitled to recognition for their special skill and technical ability than many other classes who now receive it. Telegraphy is not a profession that can be picked up in a ten-days "course", but requires some years of continuous practice for the attainment of proficiency. In this way it contrasts strongly with stenography, cooking, and other occupations for which the superior rates of pay are already in force.

4. Definite promises of higher rates of pay were made by responsible officers to many of the undersigned at the time of enlistment. Practically the whole of the First and Second Canadian Division operators were recruited on this understanding, and the patriotic considerations alone have until now prevented them from pressing their case. But the unexpected duration of the war and the consequent financial loss to all of us impels us to call attention to what we feel is a glaring anomaly.

We respectively request that you will forward this memorial through proper channels to the Minister of Militia for his consideration.

Signed by all the telegraphists in the Canadian Corps.

It is interesting to note that similar complaints came from those members of the Canadian Army who were seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force. These Canadians were, as a matter of Canadian Government policy, denied flying and related allowances paid to their British counterparts. At the same time, many of these same Canadians were denied opportunities for promotion as a matter of British policy. The "colonials" were just too rough and ready for the sensitivities of the British air element hierarchy.