_THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS._
The Corps of Canadian Engineers has no local connection with any
Province in the same way that Infantry Regiments and Battalions have. At
the end of the War in France it consisted of some twelve Battalions,
together with other small Engineering Units with Administrative Staffs,
etc., which Units were recruited from all parts of Canada, and no
particular Engineering Unit was sent from the Province of Nova Scotia.
A great many individual officers and men were sent to the Engineers from
this Province, and did very excellent work, but were posted to various
Overseas Units, hence the impossibility of describing particularly the
work and services of Nova Scotia Sappers.
As far as service in Canada is concerned the defence of the Fortress of
Halifax was a very important matter, and the services of a very large
number of officers and other ranks of the R.C.E. Permanent Force and
Canadian Engineers, Active Militia, were employed at this Fortress
throughout the War. Their strenuous duties and long hours in connection
with the continual operation of electric lights and maintenance of
fortifications were carried out untiringly and most conscientiously.
Practically every officer and other rank in these two Corps not only
volunteered for Overseas service, but also took very strenuous measures
to get to France, by hook or by crook, and a great many of them were
successful. Others unfortunately were retained in Halifax for the
defence of that Fortress.