A STGNALS CELEBRA

OCTOBER 23. 1953

Island Unifhas Notable Recore GI Achievement

As they join today in celebrating the Fiftieth Anniver- sary of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals it is interest- ing to note that local Signals units have had a long and glorious history of their own.

The story of Signals in Prince Edward Island goes back even further than the birth of the Canadian Signal- ling Corps in 1903. A few years prior to that. just before the Boer War, the roots of Signals were planted here. At that time there was an Engineer unit on the Island and from it a small section was chosen to look after local Army Communications. This section was then commanded by the late Mr. Walter P. Doull, who afterwards became a widely known electrician of the Province.

rm-: (f.pARDlAN.uCHARLOTTETOWN

pointed Honorary Liculcnant Col- onel of the Regiment.

Regarding the material things with which the unit has had to work it is interesting to note the changes which have tu.ken place

down through the years. There was considerable com- munication progress in the First

World War, but as far as the Re- serve Army was concerned it enri- ed there. With one or two excep- tions the equipment used for over 20 years were relics of that war. Flag and lamp signalling taught to all, starting with young cadets. That was usually followed by it somewhat complicated effort to explain the niysterics of the 1Sll7 vintage trench lelr-piioncs.

To lay the telephone lines hor.-'e drawn carts were used at first. but as progress was inevitable the unit later hired :1 truck from a well known transfer operator. Mo- hlle wireless stations freqiieiiilv

were no more than a uhcelharrow 1

was I

PAGE

TETHEIR 5011. ANNlVEliSARlf

ducing, a continuous supply all new equipment much of which is available for Reserve Force train- ing shortly after its invention.

one class- and om: and wire-

In comparison to the room. one storeroom combined orderly room less station, which all that was available for 35 years, this regi- mqnt now occupies three large and three small classrooms, four storerooms. four offices of var- ious sizes and has a.complete radio station” containing transmitter"-" capable of working to points 1,000 miles distant.

Present Equipment

Coinparecl to the wheelbarrow and borrowed truck of pre-wai ways the unit now has several 15 cwt. Vehicles, a large command wireless Vehicle, a cable laying vehicle and A smaller panel truck. These vehicles and the classrooms

call returned to their homes non:-tin Victoria Park. and occasionally

It was just two years utter the E5,-mat officer in Halifax during g ' Th H Y I , are equipped with modern twov formation of the Signalling Corps the war gm-1 becgme ,, cgpujn m ' it s g . ' I g I wi tree or our men Sltivlrlzl ,,.,,,. ,.,,d,,,,;' ,,,,,,,h "93 d ,9” shat; word was received for the 1915, Meanwhile No, 12 signgmng Fl'0l'lt row, left to right: SQMS J. P. Bolger, W0 2 E. VV. Martin, W0 2 A. E. Richard, W0 1 J. In Smith, NVO 2 E. or heaving it across the ficlrl I phnne swiu:iihoaiid.:, cubiizl layeis authorization of en independent Section performed a valuable iiei'- A. Stanley, M.M., W0 2 J. B. Gallant, SQMS A. W. Wellner. Second row: Sgt. W. Johnson, Sgt. P. J. Smith, SQMS. P. WM” II”: 5" W”I'l'I, ll” ”'”'Wl”I and much other associated equip- stignnlkllllglvtvinI.a0:'nl:I:dniIIi'l'1Slgakigznkhi: Vice lfnv recruiting olflcerll. 5nd J.- A. MacDonald, Sgt. R. W. MacNeill, Staff Sgt. George W. Schleyer, Staff Sgt. W. D. Jorgcnson, Sgt. A. Woolridge, ”",;'h::i 9:3 M "H I tncntt. All'of. it ensuiiltiesbihatntiinirlz ih"n';”sPcmn ,;(,Ca,,S,, ,,,,'n;,,, hid, Cgglnfailjgffonierljnfisg" 5' Sgt. J. H. Gallant. Sgt. F. Welsh. Back row: Corporals G. J. F. Ross. E. I. Lund. B. L. Miller, J. Meredith, J. L. mm exercise-S M-my MN M” "L. .(:ii-ytiheinheS:ai;:n:n;;gA e iii ze- ward Island was t.Iteii Milit-dry A 1-901-ganizatjon took place 1,, DesRoches, D. A. MacKay, J. I. L. Lafferty, J. H. E. Mac Donald and J. J. Bolger. ways enjoyed, ltnwevei. In PVFI , - V District Number 12. The first. 1920-1921 and the unit became - one and were consideied the hi: I Th” S"".V 0-5 SISTIRIS is R 51011)” commnndinx officer. with the known as Number 8 Signal Com- ed to training courses in which, while I local Nova Scotia Unit unit strength at this time. Col. Conrad and Lieut. Col. K. S. light of the summer camps. The , "I, a 5tF'ad.V fight. to forge ahead rank of lieutenant, was the late puny with Captain K. S. Rogers for example, all officers were re- was being recruited and trained Since then there have been two Rogers, all of whom were former trainees liked them evcn if com-' hi hard WOFR and 80011 equip- W. K. ROEOTS- II? had lt1fPV10U5I.V again the Commanding officer but quired to qualify in line and wire- for the task. t the same time. changes in command. Lieut. Col. commanding officers of the unit. munlcatlons were not quite as re-, Hjcnt.-Down through the YEIFF served as a trooper with -11"? now with the rank of major. The less telegraph): Each summer a,and for a similar purpose, :1 Bell retired in June. 1947 and was The other commanding officers liable as they are tWIH.V- I-i'""" "5 I”""3”0" Ill! 10”” 381' Prince Edward island Light growth of the unit is shown in number of officers and N.(.'.O.'s,smaIIcr detachment of Lieut. Bow-,siic(-ceded hy Lieut. Col. F. J. who starter! with Sips were Brig. . nlfflinl, Itl-35 DIS.V0CI tag! Llgteralllhg Horse and at one time hail hecn,thc fact. on successive summers attended the School of Signals sit ness a d 19 men went to Mul-VStorey, E.D., who conimandud G. G. K. Peak:-, D 8.0., E.D., Capt. Equipment (Fliitnges ,3” 111 Crest? D” Y1 CHI 0 J a IPIESTHDIICF h.V l)F0I"5'-tI0”- ifrom 1921 the annual camp at Camp Borden and later at Vimy graye, . S. the unit. until June, .1949 when he J. .I. ffonnolly. 1'.lJ., R.(i.N.: Col. ilhe C0mml1nltY- The celebration Of

This first FCfZllIfll' Unit CMWIIWI Victoria Park had a strength of Barracks, Kingston, Ont. On two Later in the fall.lhe remaining retired in favor of Lieut., Col. K. J. H. Shaw l1i).; Lieut. Col. A. The change is noticcnhlc nnwtinl the anniversary is a fitting tri- each summer at Victoria Park over 225 officers and men. A occasions the company attended officers and men were sent to M. Johnston, ED. It was another W. R0!-ZOTS. I” : and Major L. E. that since 1939 the Canadian SI:-' ltute to R. C. Signals and through from 1905 until 1913. Meanwhile mounted unit, its officers and Signals concentrations at Vimy augment the Fortress Signals at achieviampnt, to note that Linux, W:-liner, (7.17. nals Research and Dhiaclnnnltni it to all the regiments which command of the Unit t'It-'mi,'NI "I5 men received is thorough training where training on Divisional Sydney and Halifax. They remain- Col. Storey, who served on the -Last fail Col. Conrad W8! 311- Centre ha! Pf0dUC9dv 5" I5 l"'0'l "lake UP 1" ITEM !U'9l181h- in 1911 Lieutenant Rogers JPIIFPA in equitatlon. During that same Signals level was carried out. ed there until they joined tl1r2,.:taif of the Chief Signal Officer, , gin”, 7 . to be succeeded by his 50". LiNlI- period cable carts were received On his retirement from t-nm- Third Divisional Signals in Bur-ll-Iii-st. Canadian Arniy. during Ihn WTTTT .-

K. S. Rogers. At lhflt lit"? U1" and training in the laying and mand of the Company in I938 riefield, Ont., in the summer of war, is a past president of the strength of the unit was lesythan maintaining of telephone lines fol- Major Conrad was promoted to 1940. In the meantime 23 other Canadian Signals Association. 15 all ranks. , lowed. lieutenant colonel in recognition offiders who had received their

In July. 1914 Ntinihler ii Sig-I wink” Tnmhu Revived of his untiring efforts to bring initial militalry tgaining hwith the 5th Sllinlll RPEIITICIII5 nailing Section campe in .usscx. his unit to a higher state of effi- company eftiste in 0! Pr units! 1 M, h 5 1950 H, d 3 ., NAB" and it is iniorpmng m'nni" As ezirlv as 1911 in the old No Ciency year by 5'93" i" 1939' "Ml fl ""m.h” M ””l”5it.iorii of qtrlile Ll(IllI. was again that the senior seri:-eant nt that 1.2 Signamng Section the Prlncg He was succeeded in command were commissioned in the R.C.N.lm ,0 5m Sigma, Rpgimenh Ru”, ramp was 53!. E 5- lV'"”'f-5 wh" Edward Island unit had its own by Mai" W" .A' S"?"h' M "W 3”” R.'CtA'F' Iffanadian Sisnals- This vast sums "mde the Army 3 mrppr and is wireless station with A special ex- time mher oumers "lauded Capt Dimng the 5069"? World wnrlmcr the regiment had 11 strength now a retired major general. N. Bell, second-in-Command; a signals reserve unit under com-'0f ,9 omega. 35 Ngcofsi 121 men

,perimcntal license, using the call F-Int 5,9," W," llctters XAR. Following -the First Great War wireless training was It. was on Auizust I7 of thifllrcvived and it drew many into" your that a detachment from this the unit in the days when radio unit was the first group in IEUVC was first gaining popularity. - PrQog.,Edward Island fnr over-I Major Rpgers retirgd in 1928 was Igrvlce in the First Grentlnnd command was taken over by lVnr...sAmong them were S:l.IMajor F. B. Conrad, M.M., E.D. Weeks. CDI- Ht 17' S”'""” ""'l.He retained his post for 10 years Sighlillmcll ii. Nvlllilfitlx, if It. rlurini: which there were many Large, V. MocLcorl. C. Scott nniI,t-lianges in the designation of the G. Gardiner. lunil. It became successively No. They lerved with OliISIan(IIi13i3 Signal Company, No. 2 Companv distinction from 1914 until l9I9!nI' 6th Divisional Signals. No. 6 and were the recipients of 9 dc-,Cnmposlte Company and No. 6 eorations for service in the flcl4IlDisirict Signals. with four of these being Avon hyi Capt. W. A. Smith was second- the then Sgt. Weeks. Scvcrnl oflin-command and Capt. D. N. Bell them were Mentioned in Des-twas the ndjutant during those patches, two were wounded, and yours. Training camps were held

the worse for wear but richer iniin Aidershot. N.S., and Sussex. experience. N B.

Lieut. Rogers served as Fortress The winter months were devot-

Capt. C. G. Plckard, quartermas- tar; Ma,ior' W. H. Worth, payinas- ter; Lieut. F. J. Storey. arljutant; Capt. L. F. MacDonald and Lieut- enants K. M. Johnston, F. S. Jen- kins, G. S. Bovvness and C. S. Chandler.

Second World War

Another proud mark was cslnh-I llshed when mobilization orders were received, prior to the Sep-, tember 10 declaration of war by Canada. On September 1, 1939. there was one hundred percent bf unit. strength reported for active duty.

Two weeks later on September 15 a detachment headed by Capt. Bell and Lleutenanis Jenkins and Johnston went with 40 men to Sydney. N.S.. where they took over Fortress cnmmilnications

mand of Lieut. Col. K. S. Rogers.I V.D., was formed in Charlotte- town. This unit trained and pro- vided a number of officers and many tradesmen for active force duty.

Another re-organization took place following the war and it hccnme the .'ith Divisional Signals. with Lieut. Col. D. N. Bell. E.D.,? as commandin: officer. Major F. J. Storey, E.D.. was sccond-in- command. and Majors K. M. John- ston and F. S. Jenkins were squadron commanders. All offi- ccrs and men who first joined the reorganized unit were veter- ans.

The number in the unit grew and in the summer of 1948 there were 13 officers and 60 men at- tending summer camp at the Roy- al Canadian School of Signals.

representing about half of the

and five officer cadets.

The regiment took an active part during the Royal visit in 1951 when the Guard of Honour from the Charlottetown Garrison included a good representation of 5 Signal Regiment. In addition nearly the entire halance of the men turned out. to lend invaluable lllfl in controlling crowds and traf- fic during the visit.

During November of that same year the regiment held a par- ticularly successful celebration of Signals Day with over 100 in at- tendance. It was interesliniz to note at the gathering four former commanilini: officers of the unit and five coininanding officers of other units each of whom had started their military career as it

siiznalman. The officers were Lieut. Col. Storey, Lieut. Col. Bell, Lieut.

Front row, left to right: Jenkins, E.D., Lieut. Col. Dumont, Capt. K. A. MacEachern. Carmody. C. D.,

EB

Capt. H. L. Hennessey, recdon, Lieut. Stanley Lancaster, Officer Cadet J.

Cat. J. L. F. Br K. M. Johnston,

g .

Back row: Capt. R. Capt. W.

ge, Capt. H. B. Chandler, E.D., Major E. A. McCarey,

L. MacKinnon, Officer Cadet A. E. Green.

Major 1'-'.””s. Major R. G. L. B..Champion, Capt. E. W.

Late Licut. w. K. ROGERS go. 1905-1911

-.

R. 0.

SIGNALS I

. TAKES PRIDE IN CELEBRATING THE, 50th ANNIVERSARY

OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

. ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS or SIGNALS

ONE OF THE OLDEST SIGNAL

UNITS IN CANADA. SIGNALS IN CHARLOTTETOWN COMMENCED IN 1905.

t Lt.-Col. K. s. Rooms, v.1). - c.o. 1911-1914, 1920-1923

Lt.-Col. F. B. CONRAD, M.M., E.D. C.O. 1928-1938 jionorary Lieut.-Colonel

Major W. A. SMITH, E.D., ' 0.C. 1938-1940

,Lt.

-Col. D. N. B , ED.

O.C. 1945-19

LI.-Col. F. J.

O.C.

Li.-Col. K. M. JOHNSTON, E D

19119.; Present Commanding Officer

STOREY, E.D., 1947-49