33 Combat Engineer Regiment
Encyclopedia
33 Combat Engineer Regiment (33CER) is the Primary Reserve (Militia) unit of the Canadian Military Engineers
in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada. It is assigned to 33 Canadian Brigade Group
, part of Land Force Central Area
.
33 CER honours the history of 3rd Field Engineer Squadron and 5th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE). 3rd Field Engineer Squadron was established as the Ottawa Company of Engineers on 1 July 1902. In its early years the unit helped Ottawa deal with emergencies and stage public ceremonies. During the World War I, 181 of its members received 26 decorations serving with units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Company spent the war training Engineer officers.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, 3rd Field Company, RCE was mobilized as part of the First Canadian Division Engineers and embarked for Scotland. A Reserve company remained in Ottawa.
3rd Field Company RCE, made its operational debut in a 1941 demolition operation in Spitzbergen, Norway. It began its main war effort with the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. As the Canadians fought through Sicily, Italy, then France and Holland, the Engineers reconnoitered the ground over which the armies advanced, crossed rivers, built roads and bridges, located and disarmed mines and booby-traps, built communications networks and constructed field defences.
The 5th Field Squadron, RCE originated in Kingston, Ontario on 1 April 1910, when the formation of the '5th Field Company, CE' was authorized. It was re-designated: '5th Field Company, RCE' on 29 April 1936; '5th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE' on 24 February 1942; '5th Field Company, RCE' on 15 January 1946; and '5th Field Squadron, RCE' on 19 June 1947.
During World War II the 5th (Reserve) Field Company mobilized the '5th Field Company, RCE., CASF' for active service on 24 February 1942. The company landed at Normandy as part of 1st Canadian Army Troops in June 1944. It fought in the North West Europe theatre of operations. The overseas company was disbanded on 15 January 1946.
In peacetime, 33 CER trains to conduct demolitions, water supply, bridging, route maintenance, obstacle emplacement, mine awareness and geomatics/mapping support. It has also performed road and bridging operations for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Hydro and land management tasks such as the environmental clean-up of Upper Duck Island in the Rideau River.
33 CER provides 33 CBG with military engineering advice and operational support. Members of the unit have also served with the United Nations and NATO missions around the globe, most recently in Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Pakistan, Cambodia, Cyprus and the Golan Heights.
Canadian Military Engineers
The Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. It is assigned to 33 Canadian Brigade Group
33 Canadian Brigade Group
33 Canadian Brigade Group commanded by Col Duane Waite, is part of Land Forces Central Area of the Canadian Forces. It encompasses the eastern and northern portions of Ontario.- Brigade Units :...
, part of Land Force Central Area
Land Force Central Area
Land Force Central Area is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Army in the province of Ontario, from the Quebec border to the northern Lakehead region...
.
33 CER honours the history of 3rd Field Engineer Squadron and 5th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE). 3rd Field Engineer Squadron was established as the Ottawa Company of Engineers on 1 July 1902. In its early years the unit helped Ottawa deal with emergencies and stage public ceremonies. During the World War I, 181 of its members received 26 decorations serving with units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Company spent the war training Engineer officers.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, 3rd Field Company, RCE was mobilized as part of the First Canadian Division Engineers and embarked for Scotland. A Reserve company remained in Ottawa.
3rd Field Company RCE, made its operational debut in a 1941 demolition operation in Spitzbergen, Norway. It began its main war effort with the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. As the Canadians fought through Sicily, Italy, then France and Holland, the Engineers reconnoitered the ground over which the armies advanced, crossed rivers, built roads and bridges, located and disarmed mines and booby-traps, built communications networks and constructed field defences.
The 5th Field Squadron, RCE originated in Kingston, Ontario on 1 April 1910, when the formation of the '5th Field Company, CE' was authorized. It was re-designated: '5th Field Company, RCE' on 29 April 1936; '5th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE' on 24 February 1942; '5th Field Company, RCE' on 15 January 1946; and '5th Field Squadron, RCE' on 19 June 1947.
During World War II the 5th (Reserve) Field Company mobilized the '5th Field Company, RCE., CASF' for active service on 24 February 1942. The company landed at Normandy as part of 1st Canadian Army Troops in June 1944. It fought in the North West Europe theatre of operations. The overseas company was disbanded on 15 January 1946.
In peacetime, 33 CER trains to conduct demolitions, water supply, bridging, route maintenance, obstacle emplacement, mine awareness and geomatics/mapping support. It has also performed road and bridging operations for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Hydro and land management tasks such as the environmental clean-up of Upper Duck Island in the Rideau River.
33 CER provides 33 CBG with military engineering advice and operational support. Members of the unit have also served with the United Nations and NATO missions around the globe, most recently in Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Pakistan, Cambodia, Cyprus and the Golan Heights.