A Brief Unit History History

1.         The first signals unit in Montreal, the "4th Signal Company, Canadian Corps of Signals", was founded 1 January 1921 and comprised 55 members, including 9 officers and 46 NCMs. Training started 20 september 1921 in an old abandoned church at the corner of Stanley and Cypress Streets in Montreal, just north of the Windsor Hotel. The Royal Montreal Regiment (formerly the 58th Westmount Rifles) was also located at the time in the church. The 4th Signal Company, Canadian Corps of Signals moved the same year into a small building located on the East side of Jeanne Mance Street, approximately 100 yards north of Ste-Catherine Street. That building, built on the present site of Place des Arts, also housed the "1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade".

2.         The next move occurred in 1923, when the 4th Signal Company moved to the Prince of Wales Barracks Armoury located on the West side of Drummond Street, south of Ste-Catherine Street, which also housed at the time "D" Company Royal Canadian Regiment and the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars.

3.         In 1926, the 4th Signal Company moved once again. This time, it moved into an old three-story building with a stone facade, located on the South side of Dorchester Boulevard (now René Lévesque Boulevard), between Bishop and MacKay Streets.

4.         In 1928, the 4th Signal Company moved to the third floor of a commercial building at the North-East corner of the Ste-Catherine Street and Green Avenue intersection.

5.         The 4th Signal Company, Canadian Corps of Signals was reorganized in February 1929 into a headquarters and two companies, and the unit thereby became the "4th Signal Battalion, Canadian Corps of Signals". However, a few months later, in early 1930, the status of the unit changed and it became the "4th Divisional Signals, Canadian Corps of Signals", a unit comprising a HQ and three companies.

6.         Another move took place in 1931, when the 4th Divisional Signals set up its headquarters at 42 Avenue des Pins West, at the corner of Clark Street and Avenue des Pins. The unit occupied one floor by itself, in addition to a small room used as a radio room, and it shared the fourth floor, the weapons room, with the 17th D.Y.R.C.H.

7.         Since the unit's premises had become cramped, the 4th Divisional Signals moved in 1935 to 1179 Bleury Street, on the East side of the street, North of Dorchester Boulevard. At that location, the unit occupied the five floors in addition to the basement of the Caron Building! At the end of 1936, the newly formed "B" Corps Signals, R.C.C.S. moved in with the 4th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. and the 17th D.Y.R.C.H.

8.         When Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, the members of both units, the 4th Divisional Signals and "B" Corps Signals trained at the Signals Depot in Barriefield, Ontario. In January 1940, many of its members sailed to Great Britain as members of the "1st Canadian Corps of Signals". After the war, the personnel of the two units returned to Bleury Street and "B" Corps Signals R.C.C.S was renamed "2nd Corps Headquarters Signals R.C. Sigs" on 1 April 1946 and became in November 1946 "2nd Corps Signal Regiment R.C.C.S.". At the same time, the 4th Divisional Signals R.C.C.S. became the "4th Infantry Divisional Signals Regiment R.C.C.S.".

9.         In March 1950, the 2nd Corps Signal Regiment R.C.C.S. became the 10th Signal Regiment R.C.C.S. and the 4th Infantry Divisional Signals Regiment R.C.C.S. became the 4th Signal Regiment R.C.C.S. At the end of 1954, the two units were amalgamated to form the "11th Signals Regiment R.C.C.S" and, in late 1954, the latter moved to the Hillside Armoury, 3 Hillside Avenue, Westmount.

10.       The 11th Signals Regiment R.C.C.S. was renamed the "15th Independent Squadron R.C.C.S." in 1965; following the unification and reorganization of the Canadian Forces, the 15th Independent Squadron R.C.C.S. became, on 1 April 1970, the "712 (Montreal) Communication Squadron", or in French, the "712 Escadron des communications (Montréal)".

11.       Sunday, May 8th 1976, the "712 (Montreal) Communication Squadron" changed officially the royal Corps of signals representative insignia at an official parade.  At that time, the new communication and electronics Branch insignia came into effect.

12.       Since that date, the "712 (Montreal) Communication Squadron" has kept its designation.  During the 20th anniversary celebrations, in October 1990, the unit paraded through the city of Westmount as they received the Key of the city.  Five years later, November 3, 4 and 5 1995, grand ceremonies marked the unit's 25th anniversary.

13.       April 1st 1996, the "712 (Montreal) Communication Squadron" moved in its new home at 4625, Ste-Catherine St. West, Westmount.  The unit is co-localised with the "Royal Montreal Regiment" at Ste-Catherine Armoury.