History
The Canadian Tunnelling Companies were part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. They were formed because of the need for special skills in trench warfare. Miners, engineers, and laborers were chosen to join these groups because they knew how to work deep underground.
Their main job was to dig tunnels under the trenches of the German army. Once they reached the right spot, they filled the ends of the tunnels with large amounts of explosives. These mines were set off to destroy enemy bunkers and defenses before big attacks.
These soldiers faced many dangers while working in the dark earth. They had to deal with low air, flooding, and the threat of enemy tunnelers digging toward them. They played a very important role in helping the Allied forces break through tough lines in France and Belgium.
After the war ended, the units were no longer needed. They were disbanded in 1919 after their mission was complete. They are remembered today for their bravery and hard work under very difficult conditions on the Western Front.
