6th Canadian Divisional Signal Company
| 6th Canadian Divisional Signal Company | |
|---|---|
| Active | August 1918 – June 1919 |
The 6th Canadian Divisional Signal Company was raised for service with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force (C.S.E.F.), a Canadian military force sent to Vladivostok, Russia, during the Russian Revolution to bolster the allied presence, oppose the Bolshevik revolution and attempt to keep Russia in the fight against Germany.
The unit was organized at the Engineers Training Depot, St-Jean Quebec Canada in August 1918 under the command of Major W. McIntosh[1] but moved in September to Rockcliffe in Ottawa where they were joined by members of the then closed Ottawa Signal Depot. The other officers in the unit were Capt A.B. Fennell, MC, and Capt T.C. McGill who had been sent back from France for the unit as well as five other officers, all without overseas experience, Lts Bell, Hyam, Fleming, Prickett, and Thom.[2]
An advance party consisting of Capt McGill and 23 signallers sailed from Vancouver on 11 October 1918 and arrived at Vladivostok on the 26th.[2][3] The unit was billeted at "East Barracks".
Lt Thom and the 23 Signallers of the 16 CIB Signal Section arrived on 15 January 1919[4]. On 22 February the unit moved to Monaco Barracks and were joined on 27 February by Maj McIntosh and the remainder of 6 Div Sigs, 5 officers and 152 men.
The first members of the unit departed for Canada on 21 April aboard S.S. Monteagle, Major McIntosh, Captain Fennell, MC, Lieuts Fleming, Hyam and Bell, 1 W.O. and 106 O.R.s (12 as Hospital Unit patients).
On 19 May 1919 a further group departed aboard S.S. Empress of Russia, Lieut Thom and 19 O.R.s of No. 2 Section and 24 O.R.s of HQs. Remaining four O.R.s from No. 2 Section reported to Signal Headquarters for transfer to British Railway Mission at a later date. On 22 May, orders were received that Lieut H.E. Prickett and 10 O.R.s of the unit would report on the 23rd to British Railway Mission for duty. On 31 May, 2 O.R.s were discharged in Siberia at their own request.
The unit returned to Canada in June[2] and was disbanded by General Order 215 of 15 November 1920.[1]
Commanding Officers
- Major W. McIntosh, August 1918 to 15 November 1920
Related Pages
- No related pages at this time
Related Items
6th Canadian Divisional Signal Company Advance Party Rockcliffe September 1918
Signalling Instructor on horseback c1918
Third Signal Training Depot Ottawa November 1918
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Library and Archives Canada, Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Signal Service, Canadian Engineers
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Semaphore to Satellite page 64.
- ↑ Forces Headquarters, Siberia war diary for October 1918 states unit strength of 1 Officer, 1 Sergeant and 16 Other Ranks. For November 30th it is 20 all ranks. December 31st, 1 Offr, 19 OR at Vladivostok and 2 OR at Omsk.
- ↑ Force HQ War Diary states unit strength of 2 Officers, 5 N.C.O.s and 38 O.R.s at Vladivostok and 2 N.C.O.s at Omsk for a total strength of 47 all ranks.