1st Canadian Tunneling Coy, Canadian Expeditionary Force

   No.1 Canadian Tunnelling Company was formed in eastern Canada and served on the Western Front from early 1916 onwards.

26th February 1916 Visit

1st March 1916 Instruction
No.1 Section of 1st Canadian Tunnelling Co. attached to 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Coy for instruction reported to our H.Q. about 8 am from Ste. Marie Cappel.
3rd Canadian Tunnelling Coy war diary

1st Mar 1916 Instruction

2nd Mar 1916 Instruction

3rd Mar 1916 Instruction

4th Mar 1916 Instruction

5th Mar 1916 Rations

8th Mar 1916 Instruction Ends

9th Mar 1916 Recce

10th Mar 1916 Reliefs

15th March 1916 Reliefs

27th Mar 1916 Shelling

3rd May 1916 Reliefs

6th May 1916 Reliefs

8th May 1916 Explosion

15th May 1916 Hard Clay

30th Jun 1916 Pumping

3rd Jul 1916 Tunneling

12th Jul 1916 Tasks Completed

20th Jul 1916 Shelling

24th Aug 1916 Heavy Shelling

22nd Sep 1916 Prisoner

23rd Sep 1916 Accomodation

6th Oct 1916 Orders

6th Oct 1916 Mines Exploded

10th December 1916 Operational Order No.123

11th December 1916 Enemy were fairly quiet during the day

30th Apr 1917 Fire

1st June 1918 Operational Order.

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.

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There are:29 items tagged 1st Canadian Tunneling Coy, Canadian Expeditionary Force available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
1st Canadian Tunneling Coy, Canadian Expeditionary Force
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Anderson Wilfred Laurier. Spr. (d.8th Aug 1918)
Arundel Robert. Spr. (d.8th Nov 1917)
Barclay DCM. John. Cpl. (d.11th Aug 1917)
Barclay DCM. John Findlay. Cpl. (d.11th Aug 1917)
Barclay DSO and Bar John Findlay. Sgt. (d.11th August 1917)
Bates . Lt
Bell Gordon Thomas. Spr.
Binnion T.. Spr. (d.2nd Oct 1917)
Bishop E.. Spr. (d.27th Aug 1918)
Bland . Spr.
Bland Wilfred Henry. Spr. (d.31st Jul 1917)
Bradbury Horace Frederick. Spr.
Brown . Lt
Buchanan . Lt
Buchanan Thomas Russell. Lt.
Carey . Spr.
Clark G. A.. L/Cpl. (d.20 Aug 1918)
Clarke R.. Spr. (d.3rd May 1917)
Clegg R.. Spr. (d.31st Aug 1918)
Cleworth W.. Spr. (d.7th Oct 1917)
Davis J.. Spr. (d.2nd Dec1917)
Delvaux ArsÃƒÆ?Ã?Â¨ne Joseph. Pte. (d.27th Aug 1918)
Deveaux Hector. Spr. (d.7th Oct 1917)
Doucette MM James Thomas. Spr.
Duthie . Lt
Duthie Leroy John. Lt.
Essig Ernest Albert. Spr.
Foster E. B.. Spr. (d.7th Apr 1917)
Gabriel F.. Spr. (d.4th Dec 1917)
Gabriel Frederick. Spr. (d.4th Dec 1917)
Gaines Benjamin. Spr. (d.8th Aug 1917)
Gillis A. Sjt. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
Godas Matt. Spr. (d.29th Aug 1917)
Goldsworthy W.. Spr. (d.6th Jan 1917)
Graham Murdo Matheson. Pte. (d.23rd Feb 1917)
Gray Roy Cooper. Spr.
Hancock Thomas Richard. Sgt.
Hatch Henry. Spr.
Hawes C. H..
Healey Harry. Pte.
Humphrey Thomas William. Spr. (d.10th Sep 1917)
Hutt Robert Edward. Pte. (d.8th Aug 1917)
Livingstone Claude. Spr. (d.9th Aug 1917)
MacPherson . Lt
Mainville William. Pte.
McKay Robert Finlayson. Spr. (d.2nd Oct 1917)
McLean J. L.. Spr. (d.28th Jun 1917)
McLeod . Sjt.
McNeil . Spr.
McQuarrie . Sjt.
Metcalfe . 2nd Cpl.
Mills Blair Wilfred. L/Cpl. (d.26th Mar 1917)
Mitchell VC. Coulson Norman. Capt.
Mitchell VC MC Coulson Norman. Capt
Mitchell Robert Ernest. Sjt. (d.9th Sep 1918)
Montgomery Wiliam Edwin. L/Cpl. (d.27th Jun 1917)
Moore D. B.. Spr. (d.18th Aug 1917)
Moriaty Patrick. Spr. (d.7th Apr 1917)
Moyer Norman. Pte.
Nichol P.. Cpl.
Nicholson John. Spr. (d.25th Mar 1917)
O'Riley . Lt
Oakley Arthur Edward. L/Cpl. (d.10th Aug 1917)
Oates A.. Sgt. (d.21st Apr 1918)
Penfold A.. (d.19th Jul 1917)
Peskyr James. Spr. (d.30th Nov 1917)
Pixton H.. 2nd Cpl. (d.2nd Jan 1917)
Poisson G.. Spr. (d.8th Oct 1917)
Powell . Sjt.
Rattray J. N.. Capt.
Reynolds A. H.. Spr. (d.11th Sep 1917)
Robertson . Lt
Rogers Blise Herbert. Spr. (d.7th Oct 1917)
Ryan Leonard. Spr. (d.6th Jun 1917)
Seale W. G.. Spr. (d.7th Aug 1917)
Sim L. H.. Spr. (d.24th Sep 1917)
Slade W.. Sjt. (d.23rd Jul 1917)
Smith John Montague. Spr. (d.1st Jun 1916)
Sphynda Harry. Spr.
Steele . Sjt.
Surtees Harold Roy. Pte.
Tanner Frederick Andrew. Spr. (d.3rd Nov 1917)
Taylor Edgar. L/Cpl.
Thom James. Sjt. (d.18th Aug 1917)
Thom James Fraser. Sgt. (d.18th Aug 1917)
Thorne . Capt.
Thorne CDG. Stuart M.. Mjr.
Trenholme T. W.. Spr. (d.27th Aug 1917)
Webb MSM. J.. Sjt. (d.12th Aug 1917)
White Daniel. Spr. (d.26th Mar 1917)
Williams Otto Russel. Dvr. (d.29th May 1917)
Wood . Spr.

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

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Spr. James Thomas Doucette MM 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

"For conspicuous gallantry in the preparation and explosion of a large Camouflet against enemy mine galleries in the Ypres salient. After the explosion of the Camouflet, at great personal risk, he assisted in digging down into enemy galleries from a point in No Man's Land and in the capture of 700 ft of enemy galleries of valuable mining apparatus, and of the bodies of dead enemy sappers from which valuable information was obtained. By this operation our trenches were rendered safe from enemy mines, and during it Sapper Doucett was cut off from our own lines for 12 hours. (A.F.W. 3121)"
An extract from 10th Corps Routine Orders of 26/12/16. "under authority granted by His Majesty the King, the Army Commander has awarded the Military Medal to the undermentioned N.C.Os. & men for Gallantry in the Field on the dates shown:
5011112/Cpl. Millar, H. 1st Cdn. Tunn. Coy.
11/12/16 501104 A/2/Cpl. Allan, T.S.
67497 Pte. Lynch, A.J.
471083 Spr. Doucette, J.
From War Diary or Intelligence Summary
Joanne Doucette

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Spr. Harry Sphynda 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy.

Harry Sphynda was killed by a sniper whilst working at 15 Sap in the front line at St Eloi.

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C. H. Hawes 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy.

The unit war diary records that C.H.Hawes was wounded at St Eloi by a Machine Gun bullet in his leg, whilst going to the trenches.

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Sjt. A Gillis 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy. (d.23rd Apr 1917)

Sjt. Gillis was killed in the front line on the 23rd April 1917 at Voormozeele Lock Hospital by a "fish tailing" trench mortar, which badly injured his spine. He was buried at La Clytte Cemetery the following day. He was 32 years old.

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Capt. Coulson Norman Mitchell VC. 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy.

Norman Mitchell was born in Winnipeg on 11th of December 1889. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Engineering in 1912 and was then employed as a construction engineer with the Foundation Company of Canada.
He enlisted with the Canadian Engineers on the 10th of November 1914 as a Sapper and was posted to 4th Field Company. In December, he joined the 2nd Division Signal Company and was transferred to the Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps in May 1915. He sailed for England in June 1915 and underwent training at Longmoor Barracks. In August, he proceeded to France and then to Alveringham in North Belgium. He returned to England in October 1915. In November 1915, he was promoted to Sergeant. He received his commission as Lieutenant in April 1916. In May, he was posted to 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company returned to France. Sjt Mitchell was in charge of the "Bluff" shaft and remained in the area until the end of 1916, for this work he was awarded the Military Cross. He was promoted to Acting Captain in September 1917 and substantive on 24 May 1918.
By October 1918 the British 3rd Army, including the Canadian Corps, had reached a line south west of Cambrai. The plan of attack had the Canadian Corps on the left flank, faced with the wide Canal de l'Escout. The preliminary attack was to be made by the Canadians at night and by all forces by day. The point of attack was over the bridge, Pont d'Aire, leading to the village Escoudoeuvers on the N.W. of Cambrai. This was complicated by the fact that along with the main bridge there were two mill streams that had to be crossed. Successful completion of the plan required that demolition of these bridges be prevented and that in the event of their being destroyed, a bridging train following the leading party would erect platoon bridges
As a result of a warning order, Capt. Mitchell was tasked to go forward with the infantry and a small party of engineers, to take the existing bridges before they were demolished. Mitchell with his party, a sergeant and five sappers, went forward and joined "A" Company, 26th Battalion. The small party of Sappers went forward to the first bridge to find that it had been demolished and runners were sent back to the bridging train with the news. On reaching the second bridge, it was found that it had been mined, again information as sent back. With only four remaining in the party, the third and main bridge was reached. The main bridge was about 15 feet above the water level and had a tow-path on each side passing under it. Feeling along the handrails, they found several stick grenade handles with fuses leading down below the deck. The important thing was to find the electrical leads, which would permit the firing of the demolitions. Captain Mitchell posted a sentry at both ends while he and his sergeant slid down the bank and found large boxes of explosives. The scaffold and ladders still in place enabled them to tackle the charges quickly. They were cutting the electrical leads and began on the fuses, when the sentry on the enemy side raised the alarm. Shots were fired and a number of the bridge demolition party accounted for. A covering party of infantry was sent to take over the German prisoners and provide a covering party. Captain Mitchell and his Sappers then removed several hundred pounds of charges.
As a result of his actions on the 8th and 9th of October 1918, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on the 3rd of April 1919. His sergeant and other Sappers were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal with one sapper being awarded the Military Medal.
In April 1919, Capt Mitchell returned to England and served with the C.E. Regimental Depot until demobilization, when he returned to Canada.
He returned to the Foundation Company of Canada then in 1926 joined the Power Company in. During the Second World War Mitchell again served with the Engineers, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He retired from the military on the 24th of September 1946 and returned to the Power Corporation in Mount Royal, Quebec, retiring in 1957.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, VC, died in Mount Royal on 17th November 1978, and is buried in the Field of Honour, Pointe Claire, Quebec. His medals and other memorabilia are on display at the Canadian Military Engineers Museum.

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Sgt. A. Oates 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy. (d.21st Apr 1918)

Alfred Oates was born 15th Feb 1886, son of Alfred and Ellen Oats (Nee Crookes) of 116 Myers Grove Lane, Stannington, Sheffield, who were married in 1867. Alfred was the husband of Mary J. Oates, Dain Avenue Welland, Ontario Canada. In the 1901 Census, fifteen year old Alfred is a file cutter, his father aged 54 is a Cutler & Spiral Cutler. His mother Ellen is aged 56.
Alfred enlisted on the 9th Aug 1915 at Welland. He gave his trade as a miner. He was a member of the 44th militia regiment. He was 5ft 7ins with Brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He died of wounds 21st of April 1918 in Hospital at Etaples, Pas de Calais, France.
I am researching people who fell in WW1 and are either listed on our war memorial or are remembered in the churchyard's of the area, Stannington, parish of Bradfield, Sheffield
Robert Smith

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Spr. E. B. Foster 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy. (d.7th Apr 1917)

Sapper Foster lost his life whilst on duty as a listener at Listening Post no. 1 in the workings at St Eloi when the enemy blew a Camoflet beneath the tunnels at 10.15pm, flooding the workings. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

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Pte. William Mainville 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

William Mainville served with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company. I have got his British War Medal.

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Spr. Horace Frederick Bradbury 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Horace Bradbury born 25th of September 1877, signed as willing to serve on the 28th of December 1915 and he stated his home was at 196 Kaleigh St. in Chatham Ontario where he resides with his wife Jane. He stated that he was born in Sheffield England and in 1915 he was a laborer and stood 5 ft 2&3/4 inches tall and listed his religion as Salvation Army. He had a dark complexion and his eyes were brown and he had dark hair. Witnessed by J.C. Grant.
According to the â€œCanadian Expeditionary Force 70th Battalion Nominal Role Of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Menâ€, Private Horace Frederick Bradbury was Taken on Strength 28th of December 1915 at London, Ontario. He embarked from Port Halifax onboard the SS Lapland for England, arriving on the 5th of May 1916. On the 6th of July Horace was transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion at South Cliffs at West Sandbury.
He arrived in France on the 14th of January 1917 and on the 3rd of February he left the Canadian Brigade Depot to join the 1st Canadian Tunneling Division being attached to the 1st. Canadian Tunneling Coy. Horace was wounded at Ypres France on the 23rd of September with a severe Gunshot Wound to his left knee, X-rays were done the same day. On the 25th he was admitted to No.5 General Hospital at Rouen and transferred to No.3 Southern General Hospital at Oxford on the 7th of October. Paperwork dated 28th of November shows Horaces wife Jane resided at 51 Scane Street Chatham. On the 15th of December 1917 Horace was transferred to Cowley Section Hospital and on the 18th of January to the Canadian Orthapedic Hospital. On the 27th of March 1918 Horace was transferred to Convalescent Hospital Woodcote Park, Epsom and on the 31st of May sailed from Liverpool heading back to Canada, boarded Ship Goorka sailing from Avonmouth to Halifax. On the 13th of June was posted to the Hospital Section at London Ontario and granted furlough with subs. But on the 14th was admitted to Hospital with potential influenza. On the 11th of July Horace was granted permission to wear 3 Blue Chevrons at London Ontario and was discharged from hospital on the 1st of August. On the 15th of October he was admitted to LMCH with influenza and he was discharged on the 24th. On the 8th of January 1919 Horace was posted to Casualty Coy from Hospital Section LMCH and the following day was discharged from as Medically Unfit. At this time he had a 8 inch long scar on his left poplietel area and a 2 inch long scar on his Poplietel area and a 2 inch long scar on his left inner thigh (lower 1/3).
Frederick Leonard Bradbury

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Lt. Leroy John Duthie 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

My grandfather, Lieutenant Leroy Duthie, joined the C.E.F. in the summer of 1916. After sailing to England in September 1916, he joined his fellow Tunnelers on the Western Front in February 1917. He remained with this team through the Battle of Messines Ridge (7th of June 1917) and until disbandment of the unit in June 1918. Lt Duthie demobilized in Toronto, Canada, in February 1919. He raised a family of five children in Weston, Ontario (now Toronto), and died in 1963 at the age of 74.
Rob Martin

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Spr. Gordon Thomas Bell 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Gordon Bell was the eldest son of the Bell family who came from Ontario to Alberta in 1905. By 1916, when Gordon joined, he was 21 years old. He signed up for the CEF in Vermillion, Alberta and was assigned to the 151st Overseas Battalion for training, before embarking for England in the fall.
In England, at Shorncliffe, he was transferred to the 11th Reserve Battalion and from there to the Canadian Engineers Training Division for training at Crowborough, England. He was taken on strength with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company on December 8, 1916 and joined the unit in the field on December 11, 1916. He served with the Company until struck off strength and transferred to the 5th Battalion, Canadian Engineers 11th of July 1918.
Gordon survived the war. He married in England and returned to Canada where he took a land grant from the Government in northern Alberta. My father, who spent time with Gordon at his homestead in Flat Bush Alberta, remembers Gordon attempting to dig a basement beneath his house. Whether this was typical homesteader construction practice, or a more eccentric approach to adding a basement arising from his experiences during the war are unclear. Gordon died in Edmonton Alberta July 5, 1976.
His service record at Library and Archives Canada.
Kevin Bell

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L/Cpl. Arthur Edward Oakley 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company (d.10th Aug 1917)

Arthur Oakley was detached from the 14th Australian Infantry Battalion to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company from 8th of Oct 1916 to 15th May 1917. He died in a forward observation post that was hit by a HE shell. If you have any other information about Arthur it would be appreciated.
Dean Oakley

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Pte. Norman Moyer 1st Btn. Canadian Tunnelling Company

I interviewed Norm in 1993 about his experiences in WW1.
Private Norm Moyer, Tillsonburg District Hospital, April 8th 1993 by Laurel A. Beechey
Norm was born on 13th October 1895 and lived in Mt. Elgin on a farm. Enlisted at 19 years in Ingersoll, 12th April 1916 to Comp. B, 168th Battalion, Oxford's Own. He trained in Ingersoll from 26th April to 31st May and went to Camp Francis in London until 9th July, then to Camp Borden for 27th October to Halifax leaving on 30th October 1916 on HMS Lapland.
Norm was put in a lower bunk above the driving gear and became very seasick, "not eating for 3 days because of the vomit left by former passengers. Sgt. Newton Chambers moved Norm up to his room nearer midship, which saved his life." Reached West Sandling Camp on 11th November, and the battalion was broken up on 5th December into the 12th and 39th reserve battalions. Moyer was sent to 1st Canadian Tunnelling Co.
While in England for enjoyment "he borrowed Gordon Clines kilts and went roller skating at Folkstone."
Training was completed in December and he was sent to LeHavre in France, loaded with 39 other men to a freight car and taken to St. Eloi, Belgium. This was uncomfortable, as the car had previously held 8 horses and their waste was frozen solid.
Norm was a sapper. (The object of mining in WWI was to place large amounts of explosives under the enemy's front line, blowing it up at a predetermined moment and utilizing the confusion so caused to occupy part of the enemy's front line at a cost in life far lower than would have been involved in a frontal assault. The technique developed in the war was to dig an open trench, know as a sap, usually in a zig-zag pattern forward of the front line to a point as near to the enemy's lines as possible. This distance was usually the range to which a grenade could be thrown. From this point, a tunnel or mine would be dug towards the enemy's line. The tunnel was normally lined with wood. When a position under the line had been reached, an explosive charge or mine would be placed at the end of the tunnel and tamped in such a way that most of the blast would be directed upwards into the opposition's front line trench. From the charge, electric cables were laid to a safe position and at the appointed hour the mine would be fired. The foregoing description supposes the enemy to have remained in ignorance of the mining operations. This was, however, unlikely as he would have been listening for such activity with the use of an unaided ear or a geophone, an instrument similar to a doctor's stethoscope. If he detected mining in operation, he would dig a tunnel of his own, a counter mine, and try to dig into his opponent's tunnel undetected and then destroy it. If this countermine were in turn detected the opponent would await its arrival and then attempt to beat the enemy in a fight in the tunnel or use a device known as a camouflet. This involved pushing a long tube towards the enemy's countermine, and when it had reached a position fairly close to it, detonate an explosive charge at its tip. This was usually sufficient to cause the collapse of the countermine.)
Messines Ridge - some of the tunnels were almost 200' down countermine under countermine. It was here on 7th June 1917 that Norm helped in loading 80 tons of ammonal in the mine S.P.14. This was an explosive more volatile than dynamite. At 3.10am 19 mines, spread over 8 miles, were blown all at the "same second", rolling out huge mounds of earth and chalk the size of a city block - 933,000 pounds in all.
The miners also had to pump water out of the mines. Norm admitted to being very scared while in the mines as it was a very high risk job.
The men's shift was six hours in the mines and 12 hours out. They would dig their 4' tunnels, filling sandbags with the dirt and dragging them out to be used in trenches, bunkers etc. They would lug timber in to shore up the mines. And they would lug 40lb pails of explosives in, all the while trying to be quiet so the "Fritzies" would not hear. Often they would have to sit quietly in a tunnel listening for Fritzie. They could not tell where the Germans were and all of a sudden they would be in your tunnel and blow them up.
Norm went to Vimy where he stayed until end of war. He helped to plant mines at Vimy, although he was not there for the initial battle. (You must remember that this battle went on "for ever".)
The Germans had an intricate underground system to house and transport men and goods.
The Canadians were called "Crazy Canadians" because the Canadians would go into battle and win where others before would not. They seemed fearless.
Norm could recall artillery barrages where the wheels of the guns touched each other for what seemed like miles. He also recalled mules tied to a rail, then a shell came and killed them all. Mule skinners were so named because they would push the mules so hard they would "skin the hide off". Because of the mud, the mules' harnesses would rub them raw.
Norm was at the front a lot, although he did get some leave. He went to Scotland to see where his mother came from.
Norm returned to Canada on HMS Olympic on 25th March 1919 and was home by the 29th.
When asked if people ever asked him about the war he said: "People at home didn't know what was happening over there, they never understood unless they were there."
Laurel A. Beechey

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Spr. Henry Hatch 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Henry Hatch was my grandfather. He was From Hartbury, Gloucestershire, Born in 1887. He served 8 years with Gloucester Regiment (anecdotal evidence that served in 4th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, St Helena guarding Boer POW's. Also said to have served in India) From his Attestation paper and war record, he signed up on 22nd October 1914, in London Ontario and joined 18th Battalion CEF and arrived in England 29/4/15 on S.S. Grampian He embarked to France on 18th of September 1915 On the 10th of April 1916 he was attached to 2nd Tunneling Company then on the 30th of June became attached to 1st Tunneling Company. On the 7th of August he returned to 2nd Tunneling Company then on the 3rd of March 1917 he was again attached to 1st Tunneling Company. On the 29th of June 1917 he was admitted to 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton with a slight wound to his right shoulder. On the 8th of August he returned to 1st Tunneling Company. On the 1st of March 1918 he was hospitalised at Epsom suffering from weakness and irregular pains. On the 13th of June 1918 he transferred to C.E.T.D then to 1st C.E.R.B. On the 9th of April 1919 he was demobilized and elected to remain in England.
Nick MIddleton

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Sgt. James Fraser Thom 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company (d.18th Aug 1917)

James Fraser Thom was my 2nd cousin 3x removed, he moved to Manitoba Canada before the war and was the son of David Wallace Thom and Margaret, they had 4 children: Ernest Thom, Born abt 1900 in Forfar, Forfarshire James Thom, Born abt 1902 and Leslie Thom, Born abt 1907 both in Barry, Carnoustie, Scotland.
Steve Chamberlain

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Sgt. John Findlay Barclay DSO and Bar 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company (d.11th August 1917)

Jack Barclay emigrated to Canada, we have him on a passenger list on 16th of May 1914 but we think this was just a visit. We think he went first about 1909. The newspaper report of his death has him as a miner in Cobalt, Ontario
Alan Cunningham

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Pte. Harold Roy Surtees 14th Battalion

My grandfather Harold Surtees was a miner before volunteering to join the AIF in September 1914. He spent time in Gallipoli and according to his war record he was transferred to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company on the 8th October 1916 and rejoined his unit again on the 28th October 1916.
His brother George Smith Surtees also served with the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company on the 27th April 1917.
Greg Morris

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Cpl. John Findlay Barclay DCM. 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company Canadian Engineers (d.11th Aug 1917)

I am not a relative, but stay in the same home town of Broxburn as John Barclay.
Born October 3, 1890 at Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland, John Findlay Barclay was the son of David Barclay and Jane Findlay, Port Buchan, Broxburn. He enlisted at Haileybury, Ontario on November 19, 1915, his occupation was given as "miner". On 31 July 1917, he was wounded in the abdomen by an enemy machine gun bullet and died of his wounds on 11 August 1917 at No. 5 London Field Ambulance. He was buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery,Belgium,PlotI.F.25
His gallantry award was published in The London Gazette, Supplement 29940, Page 1548, Publication Date 13 February The Edinburgh Gazette, Issue 13051, Page 330, Publication Date 14 February 1917 Canadian Contingent 501169 2nd Cpl. J. F. Barclay, Can. Engrs. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and skill in counter mining against enemy galleries. On one occasion he was cut off from our lines for twelve hours. He set a splendid example throughout.
Margaret Denholm

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L/Cpl. Edgar Taylor 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Edgar Taylor was my grandmother's brother. He was born in Sheffield and went to Canada aged 19. He enlisted on 30th October 1915. and served with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company. Before the war he had been a cook so he may have served as a cook rather than digging. He was only 5ft3in tall and gave his date of birth as 4 April 1875, when he was actually born in April 1867, so he was really 48 when he enlisted.
After the war, he went back to Canada, continuing as a cook and often went prospecting for gold.
David Humphries

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Lt. Thomas Russell "Buck" Buchanan 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company

My grandfather, Thomas Russell Buchanan, born February 21st 1891, graduated as a Mining Engineer at the University of Toronto, and signed on in Valcartier, Quebec to the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on July 17th 1916. Lt. Buchanan, and is mentioned in the 1st Canadian Tunnelling engineers war diaries a few times. He was there to experience the June 7th Messines Ridge explosions. He was injured during his service according to his service records, listed as a head injury. Close family members have said that he is also believed to have had a collision on a motorbike with 2 horses that had to be put down. He was devasted at the loss of the horses. He did not speak of his service in the war apart from this. Thomas is believed to have moved towards Arras later in the war, and then spent some time in England as a training officer in Surrey.
He sailed back to Canada on the SS Olympic on 18th March 1919 and was involved in gold mining in the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario sometime after the war. He was married to Lily Mary Betteridge on December 27 1940, and died circa 1944 near Elgin Mills, Ontario.
David S. Buchanan

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Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.

Beneath Flanders Fields: The Tunnellers War 1914-1918

Peter Barton, Peter Doyle & Johan Vandewalle

Whilst the war raged across Flanders fields, an equally horrifying and sometimes more dangerous battle took place underground. "Beneath Flanders Fields" tells the story of the tunnellers' war, which still remains one of the most misunderstood, misrepresented and mystifying conflicts of the Great War. A wealth of personal testimonies reveal the engineering, technology and science behind how this most intense of battles was fought - and won. They speak of how the tunnellers lived a relentless existence in the depths of the battlefield for almost two and a half years, enduring physical and mental stresses that were often more extreme than their infantry counterparts. Their lives were reduced to a complex war of silence, tension and claustrophobia, leading up to the most dramatic mine offensive in history launched on 7 June 1917 at Messines Ridge. Yet, Messines was not the end of their story, which continued with the crafting of a whole underground world of headquarters, cookhouses and hos

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Beneath Flanders Fields: The Tunnellers War 1914-1918

Underground Warfare 1914-1918

Simon Jones

Simon Jones's graphic history of underground warfare during the Great War uses personal reminiscences to convey the danger and suspense of this unconventional form of conflict. He describes how the underground soldiers of the opposing armies engaged in a ruthless fight for supremacy, covers the tunnelling methods they employed, and shows the increasingly lethal tactics they developed during the war in which military mining reached its apotheosis. He concentrates on the struggle for ascendancy by the British tunnelling companies on the Western Front. But his wide-ranging study also tells the story of the little known but fascinating subterranean battles fought in the French sectors of the Western Front and between the Austrians and the Italians in the Alps which have never been described before in English. Vivid personal testimony is combined with a lucid account of the technical challenges - and ever-present perils - of tunnelling in order to give an all-round insight into the extraord

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Underground Warfare 1914-1918

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The Wartime Memories Project
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Those known to have served with
1st Canadian Tunneling Coy, Canadian Expeditionary Force
during the Great War 1914-1918.