Flood On The Fraser

Since time immemorial mankind has been beset by the threat of floods. The Military Engineers have played a major role in ameliorating the damage from these inundations.

In the spring of 1948 a major flood threatened the lower Fraser Valley BC. By 1 June the Province declared a state of emergency and control was passed over to the Canadian Army. 23rd Field Squadron and RCSME were employed on the dykes in the Chilliwack area while the squadrons of 7th Field Engineer Regiment (Reserve Force) were deployed on the dykes in the New Westminster area. A total of approximately 3000 officers and men of the Active and Reserve Forces were called out.

The emergency force erected several temporary Bailey bridges, undertook salvage and rescue operations, and removed log jams on the Vedder River with explosives. People and farm animals, including 15,000 chickens were transported to safety by boat when some 10 square miles of farmland was flooded due to a breach in the dykes near the outfall of the Vedder Canal.

The action of the Military Engineers was a major factor in avoiding a greater disaster. After the flood subsided, the Military Engineers demolished a badly damaged bridge at Merritt BC and started a topographical survey of Nicomen Island to assist the Fraser Valley Dyking Board to restore the dykes protecting the island.

Harry Poile

Top

---