By Andy Wong

Canadian Military Engineers serve virtually every Canadian Forces (CF) establishment. First and foremost Regular and Reserve Engineer units exist to provide close and general combat engineering support to their affiliated Army brigades. In addition, each CF base and station has a construction engineering section which forms an integral part of the infrastructure services team.

This is the first of a series of articles on Engineering 2 Field Engineer Regiment (2FER), a Reserve Combat  unit located here in Toronto. The Regiment holds the unique distinction, being the oldest Military Engineering unit in Canada. Militia Order No. 1 dated 14 January 1876 authorized the formation of the Toronto Engineer Company, and soon after the name was changed to the 2nd Military District Engineer Company. The establishment of the Company called for 5 officers and seventy other ranks.

The Company's first commanding officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Scoble, but it was not easy starting out. With no engineer stores and no trained instructors, his problems were numerous. LCol Scoble located a retired Royal Engineers Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in Toronto, made him the unit training NCO of the company, and then paid from his own pocket for the equipment necessary to train his men as Sappers, the basic rank of the Canadian Engineers. The term Sapper is derived from the French word "Sapeur", to undermine, which points to the original role of sappers - that being demolitions. Back in the days of fixed fortifications and defensive positions, sappers and miners were employed to tunnel right under the enemy's walls which were then breached by the use of explosives. This advancing of trenches for the purpose of reaching the enemy's positions was known as sapping, and the men consequently as Sappers.

The Regiment's proud history includes a significant role as the 2nd Divisional Engineers supporting the First World War's Canadian Corps. Sappers of the Regiment deployed in 1919 as part of the Canadian Contingent to Siberia. The Regiment again found themselves overseas as the 2nd Divisional Engineers during World War II and fought at Dieppe, where they then went on to distinguish themselves in the European Campaign following the Normandy Landings.

Following the War, the Regiment was designated 2FER, and under that name was called out in 1954 to aid the civil power in the aftermath of Hurricane Hazel. Thirty years later, the Regiment became the one and only unit to ever receive the Freedoms of six Cities and the Borough that formed what is now the City of Toronto.

The Regiment has since seen many of its personnel deploy on overseas peacekeeping operations. Some of the missions that members of the Regiment have participated in include the Canadian Contingent United Nations Forces in Cyprus, United Nations Transitional Authority Cambodia, United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, United Nations Protection Force Former Yugoslavia, United Nations Somalia. The Non-UN peace missions that 2FER members have participated in include Intervention Force-Bosina, Sustainment Force-Bosina and Kosovo Force.

2FER members have long provided assistance to Canadians across the country. Most notably, during the Winnipeg flood of 1997, the Ice Storm in Eastern Ontario of 1998 and the Toronto Snowstorm of 1999. The unit has been very active in the local communities constructing many bridges for the Trans Canada Trail in the Caledon and Bolton Conservation Area.

After bedding down in numerous locations throughout Toronto, the unit is now at home in the new LCol Denison III Armoury located near Allen and Sheppard, where recruiting and training of the next generation of sappers continues today. The unit boasts a strength of 25 officers and 120 non-commissioned members and will continue to grow to meet the requirement for new capabilities and missions.

Members of 2FER are proud of their roles and traditions, and maintain a keen "esprit de corps" in the best tradition of the Sappers. The Branch motto is "UBIQUE" meaning "everywhere". The motto serves in lieu of Battle Honours, since Military Engineers have participated in every significant campaign for the past 300 years.

As the Canadian Forces continue to adapt to new challenges so will 2 Field Engineer Regiment. Stay tuned for future articles to learn more about what Military Engineers do today.