CHAPTER FOUR

BETWEEN THE WARS
1919 - 1939

In 1919 a Cable Censorship Section, Corps Reserve, Corps of Guides was added to the Canadian Army establishment. On 31 March 1929 the Corps was disbanded and personnel were absorbed into the Canadian Corps of Signals.

On 15 January 1919, the advance party of 6 Signal Company CE arrived in Vladivostok Russia as part of the multinational Siberian Expeditionary Force. By 18 August 1920, the unit had returned to Canada.

On 1 April 1919, General Order 27 established Signals as part of the post-war Permanent Force as a result of efforts of then Lieutenant-Colonel Elroy Forde, DSO, VD who had become Chief Signal Officer of the Canadian Corps overseas. The establishment was 5 officers and 150 men and it was known as the "Canadian Signalling Instructional Staff". This date, then, became the official birthday of the new Permanent Force corps.

During the 1920s many officers were detailed for signal duties but were unable to join the Corps until increases in establishment occurred. Captain J.E. Genet and Lieutenant A.W. Hunt were Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Captain S.A. Lee was RCMGB (cavalry) and Capt A.R. St Louis was Royal Canadian Engineers. When Capt Lee was finally transferred to Signals his appointment was backdated eight years. 

Canadian Engineers telegraph and wireless detachments were ordered disbanded by General Order 55 of 15 April 1920. As the transfer of responsibilities from CE to CSC progressed effective dates often were published in arrears or post dated. General Order 233, for example, authorizing CSC to assume CE signals duties, was not published until 1 August 1921.

General Order 56 of 15 April 1920 reorganised the CSC (the militia component). The new CSC establishment was set at 11 battalions of 3 companies each, 2 signals fortress companies, 7 signal troops and 6 special units. General Order 217 of 15 July 1921 completed the change.

In the fall of 1920 the first "Royal" school was held. This temporary "Royal Canadian School of Signals" was held at Ottawa Armouries and Rockcliffe Rifle Range as Corps officers and instructors gathered to familiarize themselves with recent changes in techniques and equipment. Subjects included infantry drill, radio telegraphy, line telegraphy and visual signalling. Graduates then dispersed across the country to pass on their newly acquired knowledge.

In 1920 military aviators of the newly formed Canadian Air Force (CAF) began using pigeons for aircraft to ground communications. Pigeons served in the RCAF until May 1946.

On 15 November 1920 General Order 210 authorized disbandment of all Canadian Expeditionary Force Signal Service units (except 6th Signal Company which had gone to Siberia. This unit's disbandment was authorized by General Order 215 of same date).

On 15 December 1920 General Order 248 amended the title "Signals Instructional Staff" to "Canadian Permanent Signal Corps". This order actually amended the General Order of 1 April 1919 in that it amended the name from "Canadian Signalling Instructional Staff" to "The Canadian Permanent Signals Corps". There were 4 officers and 14 other ranks. 

Forty instructors and students attended the 1921 "Royal" school held at Rockcliffe (Ottawa).

On 15 June 1921 His Majesty the King granted, in General Order 174, the title "Royal" to the permanent force element which then became the "Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" (RCCS). The reserve component was not granted the title until 1936.

In General Order 233 of 1 August 1921 Signals responsibilities were completely divorced from CE. On 1 August 1921 Signal units were formed in the NPAM in centres across Canada. These were known collectively as the Canadian Corps of Signals and took over duties previously the responsibility of Canadian Engineers telegraph and wireless detachments which were then disbanded by General Order 55 of 15 April 1920. At this time many General Orders had retroactive or post dated effective dates, often authorizing events well in arrears of their implementation.

In November 1921 Signals provided a 120 watt wireless link between Camp Borden and Canadian Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa. The Canadian Air Force had requested this to avoid high telegraph and telephone costs. This was Signals" first peace time traffic circuit and a direct fore runner to the Canadian Army Signal System and later strategic communications systems.

In 1922, radio networks were established to support military aviation forestry operations. The first station opened at High River, Alberta initially using 120 watt sets of wartime vintage. In 1925 the Winnipeg station handled 4,700 messages in a six month period. By 1931 The RCAF Communications System had grown to 3 networks and 15 stations manned all by Army Signals.

On 1 May 1922 General Order 71 authorized wear in modified form of the badge of the newly formed Royal Corps of Signals (British Army). Modifications to the British badge, an oval surrounding a Mercury figure and surmounted by a crown, included the title change, addition of maple leaves and a ribbon with the corps motto. This modified badge replaced the original CSC cap badge (crossed flags) introduced by Major Bruce Carruthers in 1908. The CSC cap badge in slightly revised shape continued to be worn as collar badges until the 1970s. This change of badge began the Canadian affiliation with the mythical messenger god Mercury (Roman) or Hermes (Greek). Use of this symbol for military communications traces its roots to the unofficial use of Mercury, nicknamed "Jimmy" by the soldiers, by the Royal Engineer Signal Service in early 1880s England. By 1904 the drum major of that service's band paraded with the figure Mercury mounted on his mace. 

On 1 June 1922 General Order 104 changed the title on the badge for the permanent force only from Canadian Corps of Signals to "Royal Canadian Corps of Signals".

On 30 August 1922 the first home of the Corps was established at Camp Borden in tar paper huts. Throughout June, July and August 1922 this third "Royal Canadian School of Signals" was held after which a nucleus of instructional staff remained at Borden. This began the Signals association with Borden which continued until the move to Vimy Barracks, Kingston, in August 1937. In 1923 it became "The Depot, RC Signals" and was established for centralized Signal training. Signalmen were trained in intensive eighteen month courses which also included three months of soldierly skills with a standard requirement of 20 words per minute operating speed. Depending on aptitudes the last three months of the training qualified him as a "Operator Signals" (signal office), "Operator Radio" or as "Operator Airways" (similar to the operator radio but with the addition of radio beacon operation). Other specialist training included horsemanship and short rein riding for men on telephone and cable wagons. Draughtsmen, clerks, mechanics and drivers however all had to qualify in signals subjects before learning the other trades.

On 1 November 1922 General Order 190 authorized establishment in Ottawa of the "Signals Inspection and Test Department". It was created to do the overhaul of wireless equipment returning from overseas. This depot later undertook development and manufacture of the improved wireless equipment that made expansion of the Corps possible. One notable achievement was the 500 watt sets developed for the RCAF Forestry Service control stations at Winnipeg, Cormorant Lake and Norway Lake.

By 1922 operating costs of the Department of Public Works' Yukon Telegraph Service had become excessive for the services provided. The 1000 mile line from Hazelton British Columbia through Yellowknife to Dawson City alone cost $200,000 to maintain that year. Iron and copper transmission lines then in use ran through wilderness and the harshest weather from summer heat with its swamps and soft going to minus 50 degree winter storms which could snap trees and poles by frost action alone. By this time many lines were being maintained by the expedient of having linemen stationed every 10 miles and doing daily foot patrols along critical lines. Many linemen fell victims to bears or weather. At the same time the Department of the Interior began calling for faster communications in order to administer the vast area under its control and therefore turned to the RCCS for a cost effective alternative. High frequency radio was the answer and, with the signing of a formal inter-department agreement in 1923, the RCCS began planning installation of stations for this new commercial role.

In January 1923 light blue, dark blue and green colours of the Royal Corps of Signals were adopted for the RCCS replacing the single colour, French gray, used by the Corps since the early years. The original French gray often replaced the light blue for Canadian purposes with either colour often being authorized and used. In 1954, at the initiative of Colonel Peck the then Commandant of the School, the French gray colour was changed to light blue on the Corps flag (flag only as Corps colours remained unchanged).

In the Summer of 1923 Major W.A. Steele and eight signalmen left Vancouver aboard the SS Princess Louise. From the Alaskan port of Skagway then proceeded via the White Pass and Yukon Railway to Whitehorse then by riverboat to Dawson City and Mayo to set up the first North West Territories and Yukon Radio System (NWT&Y) stations. Sergeant Bill Lockhart was chief operator at Mayo and Sergeant Heath was his counterpart at Dawson. The stations used 120 watt transmitters which were set up in rented accommodation.

On 20 October 1923 RCCS radio stations opened at Dawson City and Mayo Landing at the request of the Department of the Interior heralding the coming of the North West Territories and Yukon Radio System (NWT&Y). It cost $1.50 to send a ten word day message or fifty word night message between the two communities. Fifty messages were sent the first day alone. This system provided vital communications in the Canadian North West until finally closing in 1960.

On 1 April 1924 the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was born. All ground communications were provided by army signalmen. Formation of the RCAF was unique in that all members of the earlier Canadian Air Force were released the previous day and those who wished to continue with the new RCAF were enrolled in the new force and began service under the new common terms and conditions of service. This solution was not employed in 1968 when vested rights and multiple service and retirement plans carried over into the new unified force.

In 1924 one officer and four wireless operators were attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to provide communications for the RCAF at Jericho Beach, Vancouver. They provided wireless services and a pigeon loft of 36 birds. Between July and September 1924 the RCAF HS2L flying boats were equipped with wireless. After extensive air - ground - air trials, wireless supported coastal patrols became routine.

In October 1924 a North West Territories and Yukon System (NWT&Y) radio station opened in Fort Simpson and a terminal radio station opened in Edmonton. Telegrams from the north could now travel by radio to Edmonton where they were switched to the Canadian National or the Canadian Pacific telegraph systems. The NWT&Y system rapidly replaced the Yukon Telegraph Service land line as Dawson City's main link to the world.

In the summer of 1924 four signalmen under Lieutenant H.A. Young (later Major-General and Canada's Minister of Public Works) traveled via the MacKenzie River to Herschel Island to set up a NWT&Y radio station. Their equipment was dispatched separately via Vancouver in the Hudson's Bay Company ship, the LADY KINDERSLEY, which sank enroute in early August (this was unknown to the Herschel Island crew until they were advised by Inuit travelers in late December). A relief shipment sent from Edmonton in August 1924 also met with disaster on Great Slave Lake and was lost. After a 290 kilometre (180 mile) trip by dog sled Lieutenant Young and Corporal Frank Riddell finally arrived in Aklavik in April 1925 to discover the "official" news of both disasters in their winter mail. Herschel Island finally opened as a summer station in 1926.

During the early years Signals was called upon to provide commercial services where other communications did not exist. This generated revenues making the Corps one of the few military financial successes. In 1924 profits amounted to $4,861.70.

In late summer 1925 the NWT&Y radio station at Fort Smith opened after considerable delays. The equipment destined for Fort Smith had been diverted to the Hudson's Bay Company schooner SS DISTRIBUTOR to provide floating communications for the Governor General, Lord Byng, during his tour of the MacKenzie River that summer.

On 6 October 1925 Aklavik opened as a NWT&Y radio station. It provided the only direct communication between the MacKenzie Delta and Southern Canada for the next 35 years.

In 1925 profits from commercial communications activities amounted to $18,993.93.

Amendment No.10 to Regulations for the Clothing of the Canadian Militia, Part I, Permanent Active Militia 1924, and amendment No.27 to Regulations and Instructions for the Clothing of the Non-Permanent Active Militia 1926, lay down the following instructions for the wearing of the blue and white armlet.

The blue and white signal armlet will be worn only by the following on active service, during training or manoeuvres:

(i) Royal Canadian Signals and Canadian Corps of Signals officers, regimental signal officers and N.C.O.s in charge of battery signalers.

(ii) Dispatch riders and signalers of all arms while employed as motor cyclist orderlies.

(iii) N.C.O.s of all arms in charge of or employed in, signal offices.

(iv) Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and Canadian Corps of Signals personnel engaged in the construction or maintenance of Lines.

The armlet will be worn on the right arm above the elbow.

On 15 February 1926 General Order 8 authorized an alliance between the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and the Royal Corps of Signals.

In 1926 Herschel Island commenced operations as a NWT&Y seasonal sub-station of Aklavik.

On 26 October 1926 the Canadian Signals Association was formed.

On 17 November 1926 a RCCS short wave hand speed CW radio circuit to the United Kingdom was officially inaugurated by MacKenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada. By 1927 a national radio network became possible as units received new equipment and by 1928 20 NPAM stations were active. During the day the network was operated by regular RCCS while at night it was used for training by NPAM Signal units.

In 1926 profits from commercial communications activities amounted to $25,649.60.

In 1927 a nationwide system of radio beacons was established by the RCCS for the guidance of air mail planes. The first was operational at St Hubert in 1928.

In 1927 radio stations at Wakeham Bay (July 1927), Nottingham Island and Port Burwell were built by RCCS to support a mapping and charting expedition by the RCAF. Three RCCS operators and seven RCAF aircraft with crews were involved and the work that was done for the Department of National Defence and the Department of Marine to provide accurate shipping data for the opening of Hudson's Strait to shipping. Work was completed and the party returned in July 1928. Interestingly, the RCCS provided Air to Ground communications were one way only as the aircraft lacked receivers. Civilian Department of Marine and Fisheries operators provided the rear link communications to Ottawa. As a major safety feature the air crews were, in February 1928, ordered to remain within gliding distance of the coast at all times.

By 31 March 1927 the RCAF establishment had grown to 468 all ranks plus 44 Army personnel (including 4 officers and 32 other ranks of RCCS who manned radio systems) paid from RCAF funds. By 1928 Army personnel employed on RCAF signal duties numbered 78.

In 1927 profits from commercial communications activities amounted to $28,684.90.

On 1 July 1928 by General Order 104 the establishment of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was amended to include a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM). While the duties had probably been carried out for many years by a SMI (WO1) (Sergeant Major Instructor, Warrant Officer Class 1) this amendment to the establishment was the first actual authorization for an RSM within the Corps. WO1 T.J. Wallis who replaced SMI (WO1) Bill Harrop on 27 March 1927 was technically therefore the first RSM of the Corps. At the time the Corps was established for 22 WO1s but only one was an RSM.

In 1928 profits from commercial communications activities amounted to $36,051.44. There were 23 RCCS radio stations in operation, eight in the NWT&Y System (Edmonton, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Herschel Island, Dawson City and Mayo) and 15 operated for the RCAF including 12 for the forestry patrols (Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet, Winnipegosis, Pelican Narrows, Berens River, Norway House and Cormorant Lake Manitoba; Ladder Lake, Ile à la Crosse, Waskesieu, Prince Albert and Lac la Ronge Saskatchewan). By 1930 six officers and 67 men of RCCS were involved in supporting RCAF forestry patrols. In 1931 the Federal Government relinquished its responsibility for natural resources to the Prairie Provinces and the RCCS operators left the forestry stations.

In 1929 the RCCS began routine broadcasting of weather information at the request of RCAF and commercial airlines. The first experimental station opened at St Hubert, Quebec in February 1929. Weather data from 75 selected eastern radio stations was tabulated, broadcasted and also passed to Camp Borden and Ottawa. This provided useful information for pilots from the Great Lakes in the west to Rimouski in the East. In 1930 work on radio beacons started and within two years six stations (Winnipeg, Forest, Regina, Maple Creek, Red Deer and Lethbridge) were in operation.

By 1929 the strength of the Signal Corps had grown to 45 officers and 286 other ranks.

In 1929 Signals participated in an extensive aerial search for the lost McAlpine party of the North American Mineral Exploration Company. All were eventually rescued from the Cambridge Bay area.

On 31 March 1929 the Corps of Guides was disbanded and personnel were absorbed into the Canadian Corps of Signals.

On 13 December 1929 the first RCSIGS Corps Officers' Mess opened at Camp Borden. Prior to this RCSIGS officers had used the RCAF Officers' Mess.

By the end of the 1920s Fort Resolution, Fort Norman, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Rae, Cameron Bay, Camsell River had been added to the NWT&Y radio system.