CFS Debert
Encyclopedia
Canadian Forces Station Debert (also CFS Debert) was a Canadian Forces station
located in Debert
, Nova Scotia
. It was most recently used during the Cold War
as a communications facility and was home to a "Regional Emergency Government Headquarters" (REGH, nicknamed "Diefenbunker") complex.
Originally this facility was developed with an airfield and army training centre, however these facilities were decommissioned in the 1970s and ownership transferred to the Government of Nova Scotia
to be operated as the Debert Air Industrial Park. Following decommissioning of the REGH and removal of the last military presence at CFS Debert in the 1990s, this facility was transferred to the Government of Nova Scotia and then the Colchester Regional Development Authority to operate as Colchester Park.
in the fall of 1939, the first Canadian units began shipping through the port of Halifax
however the end of the Phoney War in the spring of 1940 required a massive ramp-up in Canada's land forces in Europe
. The sheer volume of soldiers who would be embarking through Halifax required staging facilities for training and marshalling combat units before embarking on the troopship
s.
To meet this requirement, the government announced that existing facilities at Camp Aldershot
near Kentville, Nova Scotia
and Camp Sussex
near Sussex
, New Brunswick
would be upgraded to handle the requirements of housing and training brigade
-size units. In spring of 1940, the government also began purchasing additional land in Debert for a division
-size training and marshalling facility adjacent to those lands previously purchased in 1938 by the Royal Canadian Air Force
for an aerodrome.
Located on the Montreal
-Halifax main line of Canadian National Railway
s, the flat plain surrounding Debert Station were considered ideal for an army staging facility in addition to an aerodrome. The additional benefit that it was located only 100 km (62.1 mi) north of Halifax.
On August 9, 1940, the 6th Field Company Canadian Engineers arrived at the site and began work at clearing the forests and laying out what would become the Debert Military Camp (also referred to as Camp Debert). Employing 6,000 civilians and thousands more military members, the engineers cleared the trees and burnt the plain before building streets, sewer and water services, electricity, and buildings over an area of 80 km² (30.9 sq mi). The camp was bisected with named avenues and numbered streets having innumerable quonset huts
, mess halls, warehouses, canteens, and other buildings. At one point during its construction period, the camp housed more troops than the population of neighbouring Truro
at the time.
The surrounding community of Debert grew rapidly with movie houses, restaurants, bars and other businesses being set up and the economic effects spilling over into Truro.
Camp Debert was the final staging area for units embarking from Halifax and was the location where the majority of troops received and trained with their personal weapons. For these purposes a large ammunition depot
was built as well as extensive firing ranges
. Component units arrived at Camp Debert from across Canada and were organized into larger formations before being carried by trains to troopships at Halifax, usually at night in black-out conditions
.
All five divisions of the First Canadian Army
were housed (all, or in part) at Camp Debert prior to departure for the European Theatre
during the Second World War. In addition, the 7th Canadian Infantry Division
of Atlantic Command
was formed at Camp Debert, although its volunteer troops went overseas as reinforcements rather than an intact combat unit
.
Following the war, Camp Debert was used in the repatriation of troops returning from Europe before undergoing significant downsizing with the majority of training and marshalling areas being decommissioned. In 1948, Camp Debert was reactivated and hosted several active army units during the 1950s.
on the north shore of Cobequid Bay
near the farming community of Debert.
Construction of the aerodrome, which would be named RCAF Station Debert, began in the fall of 1940 and was completed in April 1941, coinciding with the construction of the army's adjoining Camp Debert. The airfield itself consisted of three 4200 ft (1,280.2 m) runways arranged in an overlapping triangle.
RCAF Station Debert was one of several similar facilities constructed in the Maritime provinces
in support of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
and operational coastal patrol requirements.
Following the war, RCAF Station Debert underwent some downsizing but continued to support active flight operations as a training, refueling, and maintenance base until 1954 even though no operational squadrons were stationed there.
In 1960, the RCAF transferred its aerodrome to the Royal Canadian Navy
(RCN) which used the facility for aircraft carrier
landing practise in support of naval aviation aircraft stationed at nearby Royal Canadian Naval Air Station (RCNAS) Shearwater
. Also in the 1960s, some unused hangar
space at the aerodrome was used to house a medical equipment supply depot which was used by all three branches of the armed forces.
On February 1, 1968, the merger of the three service branches into the unified Canadian Forces
saw the end of flight operations at the Debert aerodrome and in 1971 the Department of National Defence
designated 4800 acres (19.4 km²), consisting of the aerodrome and the majority of the training area used by the former Camp Debert, as surplus. The provincial government purchased this land for development into the "Debert Air Industrial Park" while the aerodrome continues to be used as a municipal airfield, known as Debert Airport
.
threat, Debert was selected as the site for 1 of 6 communication centres and "Regional Emergency Government Headquarters" complexes being located across Canada. The Debert facility would be the only such complex built in the Maritime provinces.
A small part of Camp Debert was proposed to be used for the complex along with supporting surface structures and personnel housing. Construction began in 1960 on an underground 2-storey bunker (approximately half the size of the CEGHQ
, located in Carp
, Ontario
) capable of withstanding a near-hit from a nuclear explosion
(an approximate 1 mile radius). The underground building had blast doors at the surface, as well as extensive air filters (mainly against biological, chemical and radioactive contaminants). Underground storage was built for food, fuel, fresh water, and other supplies for the facility which was capable of supporting several dozen people for weeks. These blast shelter
s, nicknamed "Diefenbunker
s", were administered by the Canadian Corps of Signals
.
Opening in 1964, the Debert facility was already outdated, since ICBM targeting had improved to the point where a direct hit was possible on the bunker, however it persisted as a Provincial Warning Centre (for Nova Scotia), staffed by the 720 Communication Squadron, along with the space for the emergency government. Antenna farms were dispersed from the bunker and were located on the shores of Cobequid Bay in nearby Masstown
as well as in the Cobequid Hills near Londonderry
.
On February 1, 1968, the merger of the three service branches into the Canadian Forces saw the Diefenbunker and support facilities, the last remnants of Camp Debert, change its name to Canadian Forces Station Debert (CFS Debert), in keeping with the naming convention for minor military facilities across Canada.
In the 1970s, CFS Debert, as with most Diefenbunker facilities across the country, was downgraded further as the number of personnel were reduced. Attempts to find other uses for the remaining military facilities took place through the 1980s with militia reserve units training at CFS Debert.
The end of the Cold War and reduction in the ICBM threat, as well as the Diefenbunker's obsolescence, saw all remaining military personnel removed from CFS Debert by the mid-1990s. In 1998 the Department of National Defence finished all environmental assessments and decommissioned the facility, transferring the facility to "Colchester Park", a local development authority.
Today the only remnant of a once-vast military presence in Debert is a small-arms firing range used by militia reserve units from Cumberland
, Colchester
and Pictou
counties.
In 2005, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
used the Diefenbunker for its Regional Gliding School (Atlantic)
Headquarters. Air Cadets ranging in age from 15–18 train there on the ITAC (Introduction to Aviation Course) or Glider Pilot Scholarship programs. These courses are staffed by members of the CIC Reserve component and some Reserve members.
In December 2008 the 64000 ft2 Diefenbunker was sold by the Colchester Regional Development Authority to a private data warehousing and data centre co-location services provider, Bastionhost. Bastionhost is renovating the facility as a high-density, groundwater -cooled secure data centre.
as well as the Cold War
, Vietnam War
and Korean War
. The museum features items donated by members and family members of the Canadian
and British militaries
, including uniforms, decorations, communications equipment and documents. It no longer offers tours of the bunker, while still retaining information and artefacts about it.
Canadian Forces base
A Canadian Forces Base or CFB is a military installation of the Canadian Forces. For a facility to qualify as a Canadian Forces Base, it must station one or more major units .Minor installations are named Canadian Forces Station or CFS A Canadian Forces Base or CFB (French Base des forces...
located in Debert
Debert, Nova Scotia
Debert is an unincorporated farming community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located approximately 20 km west of the town of Truro. The Village of Debert is home to two churches, Baptist and United, plus a Fellowship Center, as well as a gas station and two garages. There are...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It was most recently used during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
as a communications facility and was home to a "Regional Emergency Government Headquarters" (REGH, nicknamed "Diefenbunker") complex.
Originally this facility was developed with an airfield and army training centre, however these facilities were decommissioned in the 1970s and ownership transferred to the Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia refers to the provincial government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
to be operated as the Debert Air Industrial Park. Following decommissioning of the REGH and removal of the last military presence at CFS Debert in the 1990s, this facility was transferred to the Government of Nova Scotia and then the Colchester Regional Development Authority to operate as Colchester Park.
Debert Military Camp
Following the outbreak of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the fall of 1939, the first Canadian units began shipping through the port of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
however the end of the Phoney War in the spring of 1940 required a massive ramp-up in Canada's land forces in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The sheer volume of soldiers who would be embarking through Halifax required staging facilities for training and marshalling combat units before embarking on the troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
s.
To meet this requirement, the government announced that existing facilities at Camp Aldershot
LFAATC Aldershot
Land Force Atlantic Area Training Centre Aldershot is a training facility for Land Force Atlantic Area of the Canadian Army. It is located in Kings County, Nova Scotia....
near Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville is a town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is one of the main towns in the Annapolis Valley, and it is the county seat of Kings County. As of 2006, the town of Kentville had a population of 5,815 people....
and Camp Sussex
Sussex Military Camp
The Sussex Military Camp, frequently shortened to Camp Sussex, was a training facility for the Permanent Active Militia and Non-Permanent Active Militia, later known as the Canadian Army...
near Sussex
Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex is a Canadian town in Kings County, New Brunswick.Sussex straddles the Kennebecasis River, 70 km northeast of Saint John, and is a major dairy products producer in the province...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
would be upgraded to handle the requirements of housing and training brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
-size units. In spring of 1940, the government also began purchasing additional land in Debert for a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
-size training and marshalling facility adjacent to those lands previously purchased in 1938 by the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
for an aerodrome.
Located on the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-Halifax main line of Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
s, the flat plain surrounding Debert Station were considered ideal for an army staging facility in addition to an aerodrome. The additional benefit that it was located only 100 km (62.1 mi) north of Halifax.
On August 9, 1940, the 6th Field Company Canadian Engineers arrived at the site and began work at clearing the forests and laying out what would become the Debert Military Camp (also referred to as Camp Debert). Employing 6,000 civilians and thousands more military members, the engineers cleared the trees and burnt the plain before building streets, sewer and water services, electricity, and buildings over an area of 80 km² (30.9 sq mi). The camp was bisected with named avenues and numbered streets having innumerable quonset huts
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
, mess halls, warehouses, canteens, and other buildings. At one point during its construction period, the camp housed more troops than the population of neighbouring Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
at the time.
The surrounding community of Debert grew rapidly with movie houses, restaurants, bars and other businesses being set up and the economic effects spilling over into Truro.
Camp Debert was the final staging area for units embarking from Halifax and was the location where the majority of troops received and trained with their personal weapons. For these purposes a large ammunition depot
Ammunition dump
An ammunition dump, ammunition compound, ammunition depot, bomb dump, ammunition supply point or ammo dump, is a military storage facility for live ammunition and explosives....
was built as well as extensive firing ranges
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
. Component units arrived at Camp Debert from across Canada and were organized into larger formations before being carried by trains to troopships at Halifax, usually at night in black-out conditions
Blackout (wartime)
A blackout during war, or apprehended war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to navigate to their targets simply by sight, for example during the London...
.
All five divisions of the First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
were housed (all, or in part) at Camp Debert prior to departure for the European Theatre
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
during the Second World War. In addition, the 7th Canadian Infantry Division
7th Canadian Infantry Division
The 7th Infantry Division of the Canadian Army was mobilized in the spring of 1942 and assigned for home defence within Atlantic Command.At the time is was assumed it would consist of volunteers and proceed overseas...
of Atlantic Command
Atlantic Command (Canadian Army)
Atlantic Command was a formation of the Canadian Army created during the Second World War to strengthen and administer home defence facilities on Canada's Atlantic Coast.A second major function was to train reinforcements to be sent to...
was formed at Camp Debert, although its volunteer troops went overseas as reinforcements rather than an intact combat unit
Military organization
Military organization is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer military capability required by the national defence policy. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation's armed forces...
.
Following the war, Camp Debert was used in the repatriation of troops returning from Europe before undergoing significant downsizing with the majority of training and marshalling areas being decommissioned. In 1948, Camp Debert was reactivated and hosted several active army units during the 1950s.
Regiments formerly serving in Camp Debert
- North Nova Scotia HighlandersThe North Nova Scotia HighlandersThe North Nova Scotia Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.Founded in 1936 as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders by the amalgamation of the Cumberland Highlanders, The Colchester and Hants Rifles, and 'C' Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, it acquired its present title in...
(August 1939) - 6th Field Company Canadian EngineersCanadian Military EngineersThe 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...
(1940–1941) - 16th Field Company, RCE (1940–1941)
- 22nd Field Ambulance (1940)
- 44th Field Battery, RCA (1940–1941)
- The Canadian Grenadier GuardsThe Canadian Grenadier GuardsThe Canadian Grenadier Guards is the second most senior and oldest infantry regiment in the Reserve Force of the Canadian Forces. Located in Montreal, its primary role is the provision of combat-ready troops in support of Canadian regular infantry...
(1940) - 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish RegimentThe Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)The Canadian Scottish Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based on Vancouver Island British Columbia.The regiment is located in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Courtenay, British Columbia...
(June 1940 – August 25, 1941) - Royal Winnipeg Rifles (July 1940 – August 1941)
- The Regina Rifle Regiment (September 1940 – August 25, 1941)
- 12th Field Regiment, RCA (January 16, 1941 – July 19, 1941)
- 13th Field Regiment, RCA (January 16, 1941 – July 19, 1941)
- 14th Field Regiment, RCA (January 16, 1941 – July 19, 1941)
- 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA (January 16, 1941 – July 19, 1941)
- The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry HighlandersThe Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry HighlandersStormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.They have served in the War of 1812, the Great War and World War II....
(January 1941 – July 18, 1941) - Highland Light Infantry of CanadaHighland Light Infantry of CanadaThe Highland Light Infantry of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Founded in 1886 as the 29th Waterloo Battalion of Infantry it went through several name changes including, in 1900, the 29th Waterloo Regiment and in 1915, the 29th Regiment . It acquired its present title in 1920...
(February 1941 – July 18, 1941) - 16th Anti-Aircraft Battery (February 9, 1941 – April 5, 1941)
- North Nova Scotia HighlandersThe North Nova Scotia HighlandersThe North Nova Scotia Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.Founded in 1936 as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders by the amalgamation of the Cumberland Highlanders, The Colchester and Hants Rifles, and 'C' Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, it acquired its present title in...
(May 14, 1941 – July 18, 1941) - Halifax RiflesThe Halifax Rifles (RCAC)The Halifax Rifles is a Canadian Army regiment that served between the years of 1860 and 1965 before being placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, which meant that they were reduced to nil strength. The regiment was reactivated on May 10, 2009, as a reserve force unit performing the role of...
(July 18, 1941 – August 7, 1941) - 1st Battalion, The Grey and Simcoe ForestersThe Grey and Simcoe ForestersThe Grey and Simcoe Foresters is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group...
(August 7, 1941 – February 7, 1942) - Lake Superior Regiment (August 11, 1941 – February 5, 1942)
- The Irish Regiment of CanadaThe Irish Regiment of Canada2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in Sudbury, Ontario. The 1st Battalion was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplemental Order of Battle on 31 December 1964....
(August 14, 1941 – December 1, 1941) - 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division4th Canadian (Armoured) DivisionThe 4th Canadian Division was created by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. The division proceeded overseas in 1942, with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October....
(October 4, 1941 – August 21, 1942) - The Fort Garry HorseThe Fort Garry HorseThe Fort Garry Horse is a Canadian Army Reserve Armoured Regiment based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is currently part of Land Force Western Area's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.- History :...
(October 1941 – November 9, 1941) - 16th/22nd Saskatchewan Horse (November 20, 1941 – April 9, 1942)
- The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles)The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)The British Columbia Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces; the regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group of Land Force Western Area. Established in 1883, it is the oldest military unit in Vancouver, British Columbia...
(November 1941) - Princess Louise Fusiliers (January 30, 1942 – April 6, 1942)
- The South Alberta RegimentSouth Alberta RegimentThe South Alberta Regiment was a Canadian infantry regiment which served in the Second World War. The unit was created in 1924 and mobilized in 1940 as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division...
(January 1942 – August 1942) - The Elgin Regiment31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)31 Combat Engineer Regiment , is currently a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Forces, supporting 31 Canadian Brigade Group. It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario. The Elgins existed before the Confederation of...
(March 18, 1942 – August 20, 1942) - 14th Anti-Aircraft Battery (April 9, 1942 – June 1942)
- 18th Anti-Aircraft Battery (April 20, 1942 – June 28, 1942)
- 24th Anti-Aircraft Battery (April 28, 1942 – June 2, 1942)
- 27th Anti-Aircraft Battery (April 28, 1942 – June 22, 1942)
- 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons) (June 1942)
- Lake Superior Regiment (June 24, 1942 – August 20, 1942)
- The Princess of Wales' Own RegimentThe Princess of Wales' Own RegimentThe Princess of Wales' Own Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.The regiment was created on 16 January 1863 as the 14th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada from the amalgamation of Kingston, Ontario’s seven independent rifle companies...
(June 1942) - Princess Louise Fusiliers (August 9, 1942 – October 26, 1942)
- Le Régiment de Québec (August 26, 1942 – August 7, 1943)
- Le Régiment de Montmagny (Augest 28 1942 – September 30, 1943)
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Winnipeg RiflesThe Royal Winnipeg RiflesThe Royal Winnipeg Rifles are a Primary Reserve one-battalion infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Nicknamed the "Little Black Devils", they are based at Minto Armouries in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
(September 27, 1942 – August 15, 1943) - 3rd Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of CanadaThe Queen's Own Rifles of CanadaThe Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve...
(September 28, 1942 – June 16, 1943) - 2nd/10th Dragoons2nd/10th DragoonsThe 2nd/10th Dragoons was a militia regiment of the Canadian Army, based in the Niagara, Wentworth and Brant regions of southern Ontario...
(September 30, 1942 – January 4, 1943) - Les Fusiliers de SherbrookeLes Fusiliers de SherbrookeLes Fusiliers de Sherbrooke is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with a sub-unit in Granby.-Armourial description:...
(September 30, 1942 – October 13, 1943) - The Windsor RegimentThe Windsor Regiment (RCAC)The Windsor Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment, which was founded in 1936 as The Essex Regiment , is based in Windsor, Ontario. During World War II, the regiment was designated as the reconnaissance regiment for the 7th Canadian Infantry Division...
7th division (October 1942) - 7th Canadian Infantry Division7th Canadian Infantry DivisionThe 7th Infantry Division of the Canadian Army was mobilized in the spring of 1942 and assigned for home defence within Atlantic Command.At the time is was assumed it would consist of volunteers and proceed overseas...
(1943) - Le Régiment de Joliette (January 6, 1943 – February 1943)
- The Algonquin RegimentThe Algonquin RegimentThe Algonquin Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces comprising two companies. A Coy is located in North Bay, Ontario and B Coy is located in Timmins.-Early period:...
(February 1943 – June 10, 1943) - No. 2 Port Company, RCASC (March 18, 1944 – November 30, 1944)
- No. 2 Transit Camp (August 1, 1944 – March 31, 1946)
- 1st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battery (August 7, 1944 – September 21, 1945)
- No. 1 Ordnance Ammunition Depot (October 1, 1946 – November 16, 1947)
- No. 31 Ordnance Ammunition Depot (November 17, 1947 – June 1965)
- 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryRoyal Canadian Horse ArtilleryThe Royal Canadian Horse Artillery is the name given to the regular field artillery units of the Canadian Army. RCHA units are the senior units of the Canadian land field force, with a history dating back to the birth of Canada as a nation...
(1948–1958) - 12th Regional Ordnance Depot (1948–1958)
- 31st Ordnance Ammunition Depot (1948–1965)
- Royal Highland Regiment of CanadaThe Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of CanadaThe Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Plourde...
(1950–1952) - 720 Communication Squadron (1964 – October 3, 1985)
RCAF Station Debert
In the fall of 1938 the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) purchased land for constructing an aerodromeAerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
on the north shore of Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and the easternmost part of the Minas Basin, located in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The bay was carved by rivers flowing into the eastern end of the Bay of Fundy....
near the farming community of Debert.
Construction of the aerodrome, which would be named RCAF Station Debert, began in the fall of 1940 and was completed in April 1941, coinciding with the construction of the army's adjoining Camp Debert. The airfield itself consisted of three 4200 ft (1,280.2 m) runways arranged in an overlapping triangle.
RCAF Station Debert was one of several similar facilities constructed in the Maritime provinces
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
in support of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
and operational coastal patrol requirements.
Following the war, RCAF Station Debert underwent some downsizing but continued to support active flight operations as a training, refueling, and maintenance base until 1954 even though no operational squadrons were stationed there.
In 1960, the RCAF transferred its aerodrome to the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
(RCN) which used the facility for aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
landing practise in support of naval aviation aircraft stationed at nearby Royal Canadian Naval Air Station (RCNAS) Shearwater
CFB Shearwater
Canadian Forces Base Shearwater , commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater, was a Canadian Forces Base located in Shearwater, Nova Scotia on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality....
. Also in the 1960s, some unused hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
space at the aerodrome was used to house a medical equipment supply depot which was used by all three branches of the armed forces.
On February 1, 1968, the merger of the three service branches into the unified Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
saw the end of flight operations at the Debert aerodrome and in 1971 the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
designated 4800 acres (19.4 km²), consisting of the aerodrome and the majority of the training area used by the former Camp Debert, as surplus. The provincial government purchased this land for development into the "Debert Air Industrial Park" while the aerodrome continues to be used as a municipal airfield, known as Debert Airport
Debert Airport
Debert Airport is located near Debert, Nova Scotia, Canada and has three runways.It was established in 1941 as RCAF Station Debert and was used during World War II as a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facility for training aircrew....
.
Maritime "Diefenbunker"
In 1958, at the height of the Cold War and the infancy of the ICBMIntercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
threat, Debert was selected as the site for 1 of 6 communication centres and "Regional Emergency Government Headquarters" complexes being located across Canada. The Debert facility would be the only such complex built in the Maritime provinces.
A small part of Camp Debert was proposed to be used for the complex along with supporting surface structures and personnel housing. Construction began in 1960 on an underground 2-storey bunker (approximately half the size of the CEGHQ
CFS Carp
Canadian Forces Station Carp is a former Canadian military facility located in the rural farming community of Carp, Ontario, approximately 30 km west of Ottawa....
, located in Carp
Carp, Ontario
Carp is a large village west of urban Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.The village takes its name from the Carp River which runs through the village.The main street was formerly a section of the Trans-Canada Highway and carried much of the traffic coming from the west into Ottawa...
, 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....
) capable of withstanding a near-hit from a nuclear explosion
Nuclear explosion
A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
(an approximate 1 mile radius). The underground building had blast doors at the surface, as well as extensive air filters (mainly against biological, chemical and radioactive contaminants). Underground storage was built for food, fuel, fresh water, and other supplies for the facility which was capable of supporting several dozen people for weeks. These blast shelter
Blast shelter
A blast shelter is a place where people can go to protect themselves from bomb blasts. It differs from a fallout shelter, in that its main purpose is to protect from shock waves and overpressure, instead of from radioactive precipitation, as a fallout shelter does...
s, nicknamed "Diefenbunker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
s", were administered by the Canadian Corps of Signals
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
.
Opening in 1964, the Debert facility was already outdated, since ICBM targeting had improved to the point where a direct hit was possible on the bunker, however it persisted as a Provincial Warning Centre (for Nova Scotia), staffed by the 720 Communication Squadron, along with the space for the emergency government. Antenna farms were dispersed from the bunker and were located on the shores of Cobequid Bay in nearby Masstown
Masstown, Nova Scotia
Masstown is a farming community located approximately 17 kilometers from Truro, Nova Scotia.-Historic background:Masstown has its beginnings with French settlers, known as Acadians. They first settled in this area near the Cobequid Bay in 1705. The Acadian culture consisted primarily of farming...
as well as in the Cobequid Hills near Londonderry
Londonderry, Nova Scotia
Londonderry is an unincorporated community located in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada, formerly called Acadia Mines. A bustling iron ore mining and steel making town of some 5,000 in the late 19th century, the present population stands at around 200.-History:Londonderry saw the pouring of...
.
On February 1, 1968, the merger of the three service branches into the Canadian Forces saw the Diefenbunker and support facilities, the last remnants of Camp Debert, change its name to Canadian Forces Station Debert (CFS Debert), in keeping with the naming convention for minor military facilities across Canada.
In the 1970s, CFS Debert, as with most Diefenbunker facilities across the country, was downgraded further as the number of personnel were reduced. Attempts to find other uses for the remaining military facilities took place through the 1980s with militia reserve units training at CFS Debert.
The end of the Cold War and reduction in the ICBM threat, as well as the Diefenbunker's obsolescence, saw all remaining military personnel removed from CFS Debert by the mid-1990s. In 1998 the Department of National Defence finished all environmental assessments and decommissioned the facility, transferring the facility to "Colchester Park", a local development authority.
Today the only remnant of a once-vast military presence in Debert is a small-arms firing range used by militia reserve units from Cumberland
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Cumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
, Colchester
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
and Pictou
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Pictou County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 46,513 people in 2006, which represents a decline of 6.3 percent from 1991. It is the sixth most populous county in Nova...
counties.
In 2005, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...
used the Diefenbunker for its Regional Gliding School (Atlantic)
Air Cadet Gliding Program
The Air Cadet Gliding Program is a youth gliding program operated by the Canadian Forces and the Air Cadet League of Canada for the benefit of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets....
Headquarters. Air Cadets ranging in age from 15–18 train there on the ITAC (Introduction to Aviation Course) or Glider Pilot Scholarship programs. These courses are staffed by members of the CIC Reserve component and some Reserve members.
In December 2008 the 64000 ft2 Diefenbunker was sold by the Colchester Regional Development Authority to a private data warehousing and data centre co-location services provider, Bastionhost. Bastionhost is renovating the facility as a high-density, groundwater -cooled secure data centre.
Debert Military Museum
The Debert Military Heritage Society maintains Debert's military history with a thirteen-room museum located in "Colchester Park". The Debert Military Museum is currently run independently and has a diverse collection of military memorabilia from both World WarsWorld war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
as well as the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The museum features items donated by members and family members of the Canadian
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and British militaries
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, including uniforms, decorations, communications equipment and documents. It no longer offers tours of the bunker, while still retaining information and artefacts about it.