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> Canadian CESM History
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| Introduction
The history of Canadian Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) begins when the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) did wireless intercept after the First World War on request of the British Royal Navy. The intercept site was located at Esquimalt, British Columbia sometime around 1925. To date, all documents indicate the operators were British and all information was shipped back to Britain. The Canadian Navy's only role was providing the facilities.
Crerar drafted yet another memo [year unknown. Ed] inviting the Admiralty to assist in the establishment of the Wireless Intelligence Service. For reasons unknown, the Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore Percy W. Nelles, rejected this offer with these words:
"The commitments for Naval Signal personnel make it impractical for the Naval Service to provide any personnel for this service now and in the near future." and "that the first requirement for Canada is the more simple organization, i.e. the development of directional wireless stations both on the West and East coast. These stations would meet an immediate and important requirement for the defence of our harbours and our trade and would be a valuable aid to each aim of the Canadian Forces."
The RCN was more concerned with establishing Direction Finding nets that would safeguard Canadian ports and sea vessels rather than wireless intercept for intelligence purposes. The Naval Service's attitudes in regards to wireless intercept would later change with influence from the British Admiralty. |
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