The Intelligence Branch Association - History of the Intelligence Branch

At the end of the Second World War, several hundred C Int C members were deployed in various locations throughout the world, often in British and American organizations. In Ottawa, the first Canadian Director of Military Intelligence, Colonel Murray, set about establishing the Corps for post-War service.

The C Int C was one of the first such Corps to be included in the regular forces of any nation, and devoted much effort to security duties and CI activity. The Corps operated an Intelligence training school at Camp Petawawa for active and Reserve Force personnel of the Corps.

Intelligence Training Companies Formed

In 1948, the Canadian Militia was authorized six Intelligence Training Companies: No. 1 in Montreal, No. 2 in Toronto, No. 3 in Halifax, No. 4 in Vancouver, No. 5 in Winnipeg, and No. 6 in Edmonton. The basic aim of these Companies was to provide a pool of trained Intelligence personnel to augment the Regular Force when needed.

Korea

During the Korean conflict, No. 1 Field Security Section (FSS) was included as part of 24 Canadian Infantry Brigade. This Section included representatives from both active and Reserve Forces.

NATO Field Security

Formation of 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade for NATO duty brought about mobilization of No. 1 Reserve Force Intelligence Training Company to form No. 2 FSS for service in Europe. This FSS was the forerunner of the FSS in HQ 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and later 1 Canadian Division.

Naval Intelligence

Naval Intelligence, which had grown in size and prominence during the Second World War, shifted its focus to the Soviet threat after 1945. During April 1948, the Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI) came back into existence and would maintain its organizational framework within the Navy until the 1960s. The RCN also maintained a number of radio stations to collect data in support of communications research. Naval Intelligence responsibilities for trade protection partly ended in 1950, when responsibilities were shifted to the Directorate of Naval Plans and Operations in Ottawa.

Air Intelligence

During the early 1950s, an Intelligence staff supported the RCAF's 1 Air Division in Europe. This Division later became 1 Canadian Air Group until its disbandment in Germany in 1992.

Imagery Exploitation

Between 1948 and 1960, the Joint Air Photo Interpretation School (JAPIS) existed at Rivers, Manitoba. In 1950, the Air Photo Interpretation Centre (APIC) was formed at Rockcliffe, Ontario, where No. 1 Army Photo Interpretation Section (APIS) was established in 1953. These three organizations were united to form the Joint Photographic Interpretation Centre (JAPIC) in Ottawa. A series of integration activity since then transformed JAPIC into the Defence Photographic Interpretation Centre (CPIC), CF Photo Interpretation Unit (CFPIU), Directorate of Imagery Exploitation (DIE) and most recently CF Joint Imagery Centre (CFJIC).

Canadian School of Military Intelligence (CSMI) Formed

In 1952, training activities for Regular and Militia personnel were moved from Petawawa to the newly-created CSMI at Camp Borden. Until unification in 1968, the C Int C provided Intelligence personnel for the Canadian Army, the Clerk-Intelligence trade supported the RCAF and the RCN employed operational personnel on intelligence duties.

C Int C Disbanded & CF School of Intelligence and Security (CFSIS) Formed

During the 1950s and 1960s, members of the C Int C were engaged in a variety of intelligence duties in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Cyprus. Following integration of the three armed services, the C Int C, the Clerk-Intelligence trade, the Canadian Provost Corps, and the Air Force Police were united to become the CF Security Branch, and CFSIS was formed.

Intelligence Branch Formed

In 1981, the CF Security Branch was divided into two separate branches: one for Intelligence and the other for Security. Sir William Stephenson, CC, MC, DFC - "A Man Called Intrepid" - graciously accepted the appointment as first Colonel-Commandant of the Intelligence Branch, which was formed 1 October 1982. The actual re-badging occurred on 29 October 1982 - the 40th anniversary of the birth of the C Int C.

CF School of Military Intelligence (CFSMI) Formed

In 2000, a further split with the Security Branch occurred, with intelligence training moving from CFSIS at CFB Borden to the newly-formed CFSMI at CFB Kingston. This ended the formal affiliation of the Intelligence Branch with the former CFSIS.

The Cold War