Military Memory - the General

Military Memory - the General

In May 1972, I was a young Radio Operator serving with 723 (Halifax) Communications Squadron, Reservist attached to Canadian Forces Communications Command Headquarters (CFCCHQ), Ottawa, Ontario on a Militia callout job. I had arrived at the airport in Ottawa in 90°F heat, wearing my very hot and heavy wool battledress, boots and puttees, and carrying a duffle bag. The weather was quite a change from Nova Scotia. I was billeted at the barracks in Rockcliffe, but later moved to Beaver Barracks downtown to be closer to my workplace at CFCCHQ. The unit quickly issued me a tropical worsted (TW) uniform at the Reserve Signal unit in Ottawa.

One day, I was detailed to run some documents to NDHQ which at that time consisted of wooden buildings in the park across from the Lord Elgin Hotel (where the new City Hall now stands). As I marched down the hall, General Jacques Alfred Dextraze CC, CMM, CBE, DSO & Bar, KStJ, CD (August 15, 1919 – May 9, 1993) who served as Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada from 1972–1977, strolled past me. Somewhat in awe of the first 4-star general I had ever seen I marched on - no one wore a hat indoors, so although I started to salute, I checked it and kept on going...one of those things your remember, from when you were fairly new to the service ;o)

As a Brigadier-General, Jacques Dextraze had acted as the UN Chief of staff, from 1963 to 1964. During this time, ran many successful rescue operations in the Congo. These missions targeted the safe return of non-combative hostages that were being held in combat zones. Due to the success of these missions, Dextraze was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire, with an Oak leaf for his bravery.

(DND Photo)

Jacques Alfred Dextraze CC, CMM, CBE, DSO & Bar, KStJ, CD (August 15, 1919 – May 9, 1993) who served as Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada from 1972–1977.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3397131)

Normand Eaves, at the mike, and Norman McBain, at the controls, interviewing Lieutenant Colonel James Dextraze, commanding officer of the Royal 22nd Regiment, 21 Oct 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950811)

NDHQ, Ottawa, 1947.

(Author Photo)

Radio Operator (Rad Op) Harold Skaarup, 723 (HalifaRCCS x) Communications Squadron, attached to Canadian Forces Communications Command Headquarters (CFCCHQ), Ottawa, Ontario, May 1972.

Although I did not know it at the time, this is how the RCCS collar dogs should have been worn.

Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) collar dog.

Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) cap badge.  The badge of The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals consisted of a circle, with a Tudor Crown on top with the text Royal Canadian Corps of Signals around the edge.  At the centre of the circle is the Roman God Mercury.  At the bottom is a ribbon with the text "Velox, Versutus, Vigilans" and eight maple leaves.

Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established a militia (Non-Permanent Active Militia) component of signallers under the designation "Signalling Corps" on 24 October 1903, making it the first independent signal corps in the British Empire.  It was redesignated "The Canadian Signal Corps" on 4 June 1913.  On 1 April 1919 as part of the restructuring based on experiences during the First World War, a regular (Permanent Active Militia) component was established as the "Canadian Signalling Instructional Staff".  This was redesignated "The Canadian Permanent Signal Corps" on 15 December 1920.  Shortly thereafter, on 15 June 1921, King George V, the Canadian monarch, bestowed on the permanent force portion of the organization the title "The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals".  On 1 August 1921, the militia component was re-titled "Canadian Corps of Signals"; redesignated "Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" on 29 April 1936 (as part of the larger military restructuring that year); and finally aligned in nomenclature with the regular component as "The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" on 22 March 1948, after the conclusion of the Second World War.

When the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy were unified in 1968 to form the Canadian Forces, the RCCS was amalgamated into the Canadian Forces' Communications and Electronics Branch.

On 19 April 2013, Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, announced that the historical designation of "Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" would be restored for the army component within the Communications and Electronics Branch.

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