By the
terms of reference for "The Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian
Army Militia,"110
the roles of the Militia were defined as: (1) support the Regular Army, (2)
provide a training force, (3) conduct internal security operations, and (4)
fulfill National Survival responsibilities.
It was estimated that a strength of 30,000 members was required to
meet these tasks.111
The Commission (more popularly known by the name of its chairman,
Brigadier E.R. Suttie) was expected to recommend to the Minister of National
Defence the best means of meeting these requirements and "... the changes
which should be made in the organization of the Militia to carry out its
revised roles more efficiently and realistically".
One of
the Commission's leading recommendations was that the 25 Militia group
headquarters should be replaced by much leaner headquarters which would "
advise units in all G, A and Q matters" with "no responsibility for
administrative paperwork" and "Direct communication should exist between the
Area Headquarters and the unit."
It was recognized that in some localities a full headquarters was not
required, and that a "Militia Advisor" in the rank of Colonel could provide
advice to local units.112
On this basis, 27 Militia Group Headquarters was disbanded,113
and in its place a "BC Interior Militia Advisor" was to be established in
Vernon.
For the five Militia
units in Southeastern British Columbia there would be many changes,114
the least significant of which was the proposed move115
of the Regimental Headquarters of The British Columbia Dragoons from Kelowna
to Vernon. Effective November
9, 1966, however, it was back in Kelowna!116.
The 24th Field Artillery
Regiment was reduced to nil strength in February 1965 and placed on the
"Supplementary Order of Battle"
117 - as were its two Field Batteries (the "109th" and
"111th"). It was planned that
its personnel were to be absorbed by the 44th Field Engineer Squadron, and
its armoury in Trail was to be used by that unit.
Furthermore, the members of the 111th Field Battery in Nelson were to
be absorbed by a new Field Troop, of the 44th Field Engineer Squadron, that
was to take over that battery's accommodation.118
The 7th Field Engineer
Regiment in Vancouver was also placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle,
and the 44th Field Engineer Squadron became an independent unit with a new
field troop in Nelson, as described above.
The Squadron's establishment also included a brass band.
The 8th Field Engineer Regiment continued to exist, and for the 17th Field Engineer Squadron it was planned that the Field Troop located in Creston would be relocated to Kimberley and its presence in Cranbrook eliminated.119 Furthermore, ‘absorbing’ and re-training members of the 31st Technical Squadron, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers would establish a new troop in Blairmore, Alberta - but this apparently did not take place.120 While the 17th became an independent squadron on 1 July 1, 1967,121 this change in status was relatively short-lived because the unit was transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle effective December 31, 1968.122
Proposed changes to The
Rocky Mountain Rangers were relatively minor, with platoons in Quesnel and
Armstrong relocated to the appropriate companies ("B" in Kamloops and "C" in
Salmon Arm). After 1965 this
unit would be organized as follows:
|
Headquarters |
Kamloops |
|
A Company |
Prince George |
|
B Company |
Kamloops |
|
C Company |
Salmon Arm |
|
D Company |
Revelstoke |
|
Support Company |
Kamloops (with Mor Pl in Merritt123) |
|
Regimental Band |
Prince George124 |
|
|
MAP: 'BC Units circa 1965' |
