Talk:8 Field Engineer Regiment
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Hello
Please do not place No in front of the number of the regiment or any squadrons as it is not used in the Canadian Forces and is not correct formating.
Thank you.
Sapperbdl (talk) 02:50, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] 41 Combat Engineer Regiment
Please note that is area is being used as a Sandbox in preparation for the page to be moved to 41 Combat Engineer Regiment in September when the name of the unit will be changed.
| 41 Combat Engineer Regiment | |
|---|---|
| 175px Cap badge of the Canadian Military Engineers |
|
| Active | 1948– |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Military Engineers |
| Type | Combat engineers |
| Size | two squadron |
| Part of | Land Force Western Area |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ - Edmonton 25 Engineer Squadron - Edmonton |
| Motto | Ubique Quo fas et gloria ducunt |
| March | Wings |
| Mascot | Sapper Bentley F. Beaver (25 Sqn only) |
| Anniversaries | 4 December, St. Barbara's Day |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | LCol TBA |
| Honourary Colonel | Col J. R. McDougall |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HM The Queen |
| Abbreviation | 41 CER |
The 41 Combat Engineer Regiment (41 CER) is the reserve (militia) unit of the Canadian Military Engineers in Alberta, Canada. The unit is located in both Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta. The unit parades Wednesday evenings and Saturdays at the Lieutenant-Colonel Philip L. Debney Armoury, in Edmonton and at the Northeast Armouries in Calgary. It is assigned to 41 Canadian Brigade Group, part of Land Force Western Area. The unit is currently commanded by LCol TBD, with Master Warrant Officer TBD as the unit's regimental sergeant major.
[edit] History
The Regiment traces its lineage to 9th Army Troops Company (Canadian Engineers). In 1937, following a reorganization of the militia in Canada, 9th Army Troops Company was activated to serve in the local militia. During the Second World War 9th Army Troops Company served as part of 1st Battalion Army Troops (Royal Canadian Engineers). Through most of the war, they served as construction troops supporting First Canadian Army.
In 1948, 8 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, was created as the engineer component of the Alberta Militia District. Throughout its post-war history the regiment has had squadrons in Edmonton, Brooks, Calgary, and Lethbridge, Alberta; Kimberly, B.C., as well as Yellowknife, N.W.T.
By the late 1980s the regiment had two remaining field squadrons, 25 Field Squadron in Edmonton and 33 Field Squadron in Calgary. 33 Field Engineer Squadron was zero-manned for several years and was reactivated as an independent unit in 1991.
On 6 Sept 2008 8 Field Engineer Regiment was re-designated 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, and 33 Field Engineer Squadron was brought under the Regimental Headquarters. This was keeping with the restructuring of the reserve units of the Canadian Military Engineers which began three years earlier. 8 FER was the last Field Engineer Regiment in Canada, with both 2 FER and 3 FER having been converted in the previous two years.
[edit] Training
As a reserve unit, 41 Combat Engineer Regiment continues to train in skills to support the Canadian Forces abroad and at home. In recent years the regiment has conducted exercises in a variety of places, including.
- CFB Wainwright, Alberta
- Vegreville, Alberta
- Chilliwack, British Columbia
- Dundurn, Saskatchewan
- Drayton Valley, Alberta
- CFB Suffield, Alberta
- CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
- Outlook, Saskatchewan
- Hinton, Alberta
- Fort Lewis, Washington
[edit] Deployments
Personnel from the unit have also been deployed on United Nations and NATO peacekeeping missions including:
- Cyprus (UNFICYP, Operation Snowgoose),
- Croatia (UNPROFOR, Operation Harmony),
- Cambodia (UNTAC, Operation Marquis),
- Bosnia (SFOR, Operation Palladium),
- Afghanistan (Operations Athena and Archer).
[edit] Relationship with Town of Vegreville
41 Combat Engineer Regiment has fostered a relationship with the Town of Vegreville, Alberta, which is located 103 km east of Edmonton. This is due in large part to their yearly Remembrance Day parade of 25 Engineer Squadron. As well, the regiment (under their old name of 8 Field Engineer Regiment) is the only unit of the Canadian Forces to hold Freedom of the Town.
A great deal of the relationship is owed to former Commanding Officer LCol Dan O'Keefe. His success allows the Regiment to hold exercises within and around the Town. In 2007 the Regiment built a new bridge in the park containing the town's famous Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg). For his efforts the Town Council voted to name the bridge after LCol O'Keefe, and was officially announced on 7 May 2008, the day he relinquished command of the Regiment.
[edit] Mascot
Due in large part to their natural construction abilities and their presence in the Canadian wilderness, the beaver has long been the symbol of military engineers in Canada. The official mascot of 8 FER was Sapper Bentley F. Beaver, a stuff toy beaver who is dressed with a beret, dress uniform and identity discs. It is yet to be seen whither Sapper Beaver will continue to be a regimental mascot or solely the mascot of 25 Engineer Squadron.
Some members of the unit claim that Bentley is the most decorated beaver in the world. This is because he has accompanied members of the unit for short periods of time while on tour, and therefore he would be eligible for the medals for his presence on the deployment.
[edit] Re-organization
The reserve units of the Canadian Military Engineers have recently completed a re-organization that is seeing field engineer regiments converted to combat engineer regiments like those in the Regular Force. This resulted in 8 FER being renamed 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, as well as being amalgamated with 33 Field Engineer Squadron in Calgary.
The Regimental Headquarters and 25 Engineer Squadron continue to be in Edmonton, with 33 Engineer Squadron based in Calgary, Alberta. A third squadron, 17 Engineer Squadron, has been added into the unit's Supplementary Order of Battle.
