Material Type

Mixed Media

Date Range

[1954-1968]

Physical Description

1 Hardcover book 39 digital photographs

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

The 33rd Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) had its beginning as the 6th Field Park Company RCE when the unit was formed in Lethbridge in February 1940. The first Officer Commanding was Captain S.E. McKenzie. Other officers were Lieutenant Lawrence A. Jacobson and Lieutenant J.S. Webster. By the fall of 1940 recruiting had increased enlistment in the 6th Field Park Company RCE to 250 men. Two more officers were appointed to the unit: Lieutenant R. Donald Livingstone and Lieutenant Andrew (Addie) G. Donaldson. Between the fall of 1941 and spring of 1942 the unit experienced a high turnover of men as many enlisted in the active forces. In May 1941 the 6th Field Park Company RCE was mobilized as part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The unit trained on the Mounted Police barracks square in Lethbridge until it was sent to Camp Petawawa, Ontario in late August 1941. In June 1942 the 6th Field Park Company RCE sailed for England, where they trained until embarking for Arromanches-les-Baines, France on 16 July 1944. From France, the unit advanced through Belgium, the Netherlands and into Germany. On 5 May 1945, three days before the end of World War 2, the 6th Field Park Company RCE was in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The unit returned to Lethbridge in March 1946, and on 1 April 1946 was reactivated as the 33rd Field Park Squadron RCE, with Major R. Donald Livingstone as Officer Commanding. The unit was housed in a hangar building at the former Lethbridge Municipal Airport on 28 Street and 5 Avenue North. In March 1947 a recruiting drive was held to bring the unit up to 200 men. In October 1948 the 33rd Field Park Squadron RCE was called upon to dispose of a Japanese balloon bomb near Coleman, Alberta. The bomb, launched against Canada during World War 2, carried about 23 kilograms of high explosives and incendiary sticks. The unit detonated the bomb, creating a crater 2.5 metres deep by 9 metres in diameter. In the early 1950s much of the training done by the 33rd Field Park Squadron RCE was at Chilliwack, British Columbia and immediate area. A field exercise of note was Operation Turkey held at Park Lake Provincial Park. Nearly 300 reservists assembled a 21 metre-long Bailey Bridge, a 5 metre-high Bailey Pier and a 58 metre-long floating bridge. In 1952 the name of the unit changed to 33rd Field Squadron RCE. In the late 1950s the unit became the nucleus of the 22/3 Mobile Survival Column, with ‘national survival’ responsibilities. The 1960s saw reductions in the strength of the Militia. In 1968 the 33rd Field Squadron was disbanded, ending the presence of military engineers in Lethbridge. Sources: Kilford, Major Christopher R. Lethbridge at War: The Military History of Lethbridge from 1900 to 1996. (Lethbridge, 1996), pages 170-172. Archives file 19961011001. A.W. (Joe) Schandor enlisted in the 33rd Field Park Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) in 1954. The 33rd Field Squadron RCE was part of the 8th Field Engineer Regiment that included units from Lethbridge, Brooks, Kimberley, Creston, Cranbrook, Calgary, Edmonton and Whitehorse. Mr. Schandor completed a junior Non Comissioned Officers (NCO) course and became a Corporal in the 33rd Field Squadron RCE. He then completed a field engineering course and became a Group (2) Field Engineer, one of only five in his regiment. Mr. Schandor earned steady promotion through the ranks, rising from Sapper to Master Warrant Officer / Squadron Sergeant Major. During every year of his service, Mr. Schandor spent from two weeks to a month training at bases in Chilliwack, Sarcee or Wainwright: bridge building, demolition, live fire exercises, leadership, wireless and other skills. Mr. Schandor served with the 33rd Field Squadron RCE for 14 years, 265 days. During those years the 33rd Field Squadron RCE was the largest engineer squadron in Canada, with slightly more then 400 members. He was still serving with the unit when it was disbanded in 1968. Source: Donor

Language

English

Scope and Content

History of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, of which the unit was a part. Also, 39 photographs showing the men and activities of the 33rd Field Park Squadron RCE in the years after World War 2.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20081079000

Collection

Archive

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