A story of Canadian Military Communications 1903 2013 bgen William J. Patterson omm, cd (Ret’d)



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1920, and even four in 1921 as the ravages of war took more victims as the result of wounds, injuries, and health issues from time in the trenches as assessed by the Department of Veteran Af- fairs. There were 24 deaths




the rum jar and their somewhat uncertain

British War Medal

during these 3 years:


repose.

Never was the courage of the section (W/T) more severely tried than in the almost helpless struggle to keep up communica- tions in this position. A slough of mud, a hail of shells, sleepless nights, and anxious days - toil, danger, and physical discomfort found the limits of human endurance.

Never have we felt more deeply the satis- faction of a task accomplished, than when we bid adieu to Passchendaele.

It took an enterprising genius as exchange operator, by heck – an SOS King rather than one who would wring his hands and wail, “Cheeses, cheeses, now I am up shin creek.” He required marvelous self-con- trol. If he reported in reply to an urgent call for CJB during a shoot, “Line out, Sir” it was not his to reason why at the com- ment, “Out! well, who took it out?” When doing expedient work in busy hours, in- quiring “Finished here, Sir,” he was de-

Lt R. Brown; Sgts W. J. Dwyer, H. Jones, and

C.S. Shaw; Cpls T.A. Johnston and R.H. King; LCpl J.F. Norton, DCM; Sprs M.L. Aikin, R. J. Ashworth, G. Atkinson, E.O. Benson, C.H. Brand, H.E. Davis, M.J. Fulton, A.H. Hellyer,

E. H. Kenty, F.A. Knowles, T.C. Lockwood,

H.E. McRitchie, C.A. Millen, J.L.B. Murdock,



  1. Ryan, W.A. Shergold, H. South, and L.A. Stokes.

Canada’s contribution to the First World War was outstanding. With a population of about eight million, and only a million and half men of military age, Canada raised 619,636 men for the CEF. In addition, about 10,000 served in the naval forces and 24,000 in the British air forces, although many of them came from CEF. Fatal casualties num- bered 60,661, of which 59,544 were members of the CEF, including 143 signallers. There were 172,950 non-fatal casualties, of which 531 were signallers.

The CCSS was a tiny force within the CEF. At




most, 2,500 served in France out the CEF’s total of 418,000 serving overseas, in France and elsewhere. Signallers made up less than one per cent of the CEF in France, yet their contribution to Canadian achievements was far greater. The British acknowledged that the Canadian insistence that communication ca- bles be buried at least six feet down and the persistent use of wireless were two of the most important reasons for Canada’s success on the battlefield. Both in the attack and in the de- fence, the ability to bring down artillery fire on the inevitable German counter-attack and to seek out and destroy enemy gun positions by counter-bombardment fire were funda- mental to the success of the CEF, beginning with Vimy and culminating in the victories of the “One Hundred Days.”

The gallantry decorations and awards for service over and above the call of duty given to members of the CCSS were far in excess of their share based on its strength. Their record of 686 awards, to 567 individuals, as detailed in Appendix 7, speaks for itself:



  1. There were 857 awards of the DSO, six Sig- nal officers were recipients. Only 70 officers were awarded both the DSO and the MC, Maj P.E. Earnshaw was one;

  2. There were 3,195 awards of the MC, 51 sig-

nal officers were recipients. Only 294 offi-

24 awards of the DCM and Bar, Sgt H.J. Faulkner and Cpl J. Winters were two. There were 255 awards of the DCM and the MM, 9 were signallers. There were 42 awards of the DCM and the MM and Bar, 3 were signallers. There were five awards of the DCM and the MM and two Bars, Sgt A.



  1. Hibbert and A/Sgt G.J. Oliver were two;

  1. There were 12,345 awards of the MM, 375 signallers were recipients. There were 237 recipients of the MM and Bar, 37 were sig- nallers. There were 38 recipients of the MM and two Bars, 10 were signallers;

  2. There were 1,372 recipients of the MSM, 34 were signallers;

  3. There were 5,149 recipients of a MiD, 79 were signallers of which 9 were mentioned twice, and one was mentioned three times.

While it is difficult to choose two individuals amongst so many deserving signallers, two do deserve special notice. Two signallers were awarded the DCM and the MM with two Bars, Sgt H. K Hibbert and A/Sgt G. J. Oliver. Both were outstanding signallers and their citations attest to it.

Oliver’s DCM citation is differ-


cers were awarded a Bar to their MC, 7 were signal officers. Only 15 officers were awarded the MC and the OBE, Capt W. H.

ent, however, from all of the signallers’ citations:

Victory Medal

with MiD



McMurray was one. Only 8 officers were awarded the MC and Bar and were holders of the DCM, Lt F. Barber was one. There were only two officers awarded the MC and Bar and the MM and Bar, Lt E.G. Weeks was one. There were only eight officers awarded the MC and Bar and the MM, Lt M.R. Mc- Cracken was one. There were 45 officers awarded the MC and the DCM, Lts H.S. Quigley and Capt C. Shergold were two. There were 73 officers awarded the MC and the MM, Lt B. Faughnan, Lt R.B. Gibson, Capt F.S. McPherson, and Lt H.K. Wyman were four;

3. There were 1,984 awards of the DCM, 48 signallers were recipients. There were only

For marked gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack east of the Canal du Nord from 27th to 30th September 1918. He was the NCO i/c of the party of sig- nallers. Shortly after starting forward he found that the infantry had passed over a machine gun nest which was sweeping the western bank of the canal. Immediately he telephoned his brigade, and artillery fire was directed on the nest and all but one machine gun was put out of action. He then got in rear of the machine gun and rushed it single-handed, shot four of the crew with his revolver, and took the fifth prisoner. He did splendid work.


Whether the members of the CCSS were teleg- raphers, runners, visual or wireless operators, linemen, transport men, DRs, or switchboard operators, they set a standard of professional- ism that carried them from a minor militia unit before the war to permanent army status in 1919. Once again the writers of 4 Div Sigs Coy history said it best:
Many and varied are the duties of signallers. They exist, in small numbers, throughout every branch of army organization. No unit, however small, is complete without them. No formation, however powerful, is either safe or effective unless the signaller and his precious means of communication be continuously at its service. Though never unimportant, he is usually an incon- spicuous part, often unobserved and more often unrecognized. Yet none have learned better than he the futility of mere “eye service,” and the conscious joy of duty well done.

The same anonymous signallers signed off with a poem to their comrades who would not be going home. It was written in Morse Code:


And when the last VE is sounded, And the angel sends CI,

Let’s hope you’ll be found RD sapper For there’ll be no IMI
A rough translation might be:
And when the last message is sent, And the angel says come home,

Let’s hope you’ll be found all right sapper For there’ll be no second call.
Amen!
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