HQ No. 4 Forestry District
Canadian Forestry Corps
Dunachton Lodge, KINGUSSIE, Inverness-shire.

HQ No 4 District CFC Timeline
Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage - HQ No 4 Dist CFC War Diaries
1 Apr 1941 – Major, F.J. Dawson O.C. No. 5 Coy, CFC appointed O.C. No. 4 District CFC. District is at present composed of Nos. 5 and 11 Coys, at Black Island Camp, and Dall Camp on Loch Rannock, respectively.
1 Jul 1941 – Lieut. H.H. Styffe promoted to rank of Captain and appointed 2 i/c District.
11 Jul 1941 – Capt W.A. Stewart M.C. posted from No. 2 District to No. 4 District as Adjutant and Quartermaster.
15 Jul 1941 – Capt Stewart with a skeleton staff, arrived at Blair Atholl to take over his duties. Staff consisted of one Suptg. Clerk (WOII), one Quartermaster (WOII), one sergeant clerk, one corporal and two privates. District HQ was located in Black Island Camp.
21 Aug 1941 – District HQ move to Delnacarloch Lodge, Strength 3 officers 12 O.R.s
6 Dec 1941 – Canadian wedding took place at Perth H/Capt Berlis attending the ceremony.
22 Dec 1941 – Pre Christmas Dance held for dance in the drill hall, Blair Atholl. District HQ Staff attended. Orchestra from the 8th Battalion Black Watch supplied the music.
9 Jan 1942 – Brig-General J.B. White accompanied by Col C.E.F. Jones paid their first visit to No. 4 District HQ.
10 Feb 1942 – Major Dawson proceeded to Blair Atholl to visit campsite for POW’s.
25 Mar 1942 – Capt J.C. Shillington’s promotion and appointment as Adjutant and Quartermaster No. 4 DHQ.
20 Apr 1942 – A year ago today the ‘Batory’ with No. 11 Coy on board pulled into harbor at Gouroch and No. 11 Coy and disembarked at 0930 hrs.
1 May 1942 – In view of the numerous calls for the help of the Companies in this District, particularly from civilians to fight heath fires phoned HQ CFC to get a ruling on procedure to be followed when receiving requests.
15 Jun 1942 – Col Nelligan and Lt-Col O’Neill of the Chaplain Services visited us today.
31 Jul 1942 – Dalnacarloch Lodge in an uproar preparatory to moving tomorrow to Dunachton Lodge north of Kingussie.
4 Aug 1942 – Major H.H. Styffe returned from Corps Sports Committee at Beauly.
25 Sep 1942 – Lieut. A. Hudson, Prosecutor in Field General Court Martial at Blair Atholl. Pte C.W. Brown of No. 22 Coy CFC convicted of stealing from MQ Stores.
6 Oct 1942 – Telephone call received from HQ Beauly advising of 44 reinforcements from Canada coming to this District tomorrow.
1 Nov 1942 – Major R.W. Bradley, Dental Officer returned to this HQ this evening.
26 Dec 1942 – Very heavy mail received this morning and most of it from Canada kept the HQ staff pretty busy.
17 Jan 1943 – District pay master Capt J.D. May on pay duties at Blair Atholl and Murthly.
4 Feb 1943 – A heavy frost last night and a heavy coating of frost on the lakes. Roads in a very dangerous condition.
13 March 1943 – All companies on military training today.
1 Apr 1943 – One O.R. granted permission to marry.
20 May 1944 – A motorcycle was allotted to this District to practice riding.
9 Jun 1944 – A Board of Officers met at this HQ to inspect worn out clothing at No’s 11, 12, 14 and 20 Coy’s.
1 Jul 1943 – Dominion Day, a holiday for all Canadian Troops and each unit in this district held a individual sports day with the civilians followed by a dance.
31 Aug 1943 – Weather bright with some showers towards evening.
4 Sep 1943 – Orderly room for two men from No. 14 Coy charged with stealing a truck from that unit.
14 Oct 1943 – Discussions to build an H hut for the Norwegians and Imperials at Loch Morlick.
1 Nov 1943 – Flooding at Loch Lorelich caused by slash from considerable slash left along the river.
28 Dec 1943 – Shortage of cigarettes being felt by all ranks.
4 Feb 1944 – Slight flu epidemic affecting some of the members of 4 DHQ
24 Apr 1944 – All railway cars still being used for priority war material.
17 June 1944 – Two officers to Boat of Garden where there is an exceptionally fine golf course.
25 Aug 1944 – Capt D.J. Cross proceeded to Nairn, Banchory, Dinnet, Aberdeen, Blair Atholl to attend to the transportation of CFC personnel of the 21st Army Group on their departure South.
29 Oct 1943 = Men had their first meal in the new mess hall.
11 Dec 1944 – Snowstorm, roads blocked.
13 Feb 1945 – Capt May, RCAPC on pay duties to No. 6, 11, 20 and 22 Coys.
23 Apr 1945 – Last PT II Order No. 16 issued by No. 4 District HQ CFC on disbandment

CFC Cap Badge Courtesy of Robert J. Briggs

The war created a crisis in wood supply for the United Kingdom. Pre-war domestic production covered only a small fraction of the timber needed to support the war effort. In addition to civilian requirements, it was estimated that every soldier needed five trees: one for living quarters, messing, and recreation; one for crates to ship food, ammunition, tanks, and so on; and three for explosives, gun stocks, coffins, ships, factories, and direct or indirect support for the fighting line.
Canadians stepped up to fill this need. During 1941 and 1942, thirty companies drawn from all regions of Canada, totalling 220 officers and 6,771 regulars, were deployed to Scotland.
Also it takes a number of support soldiers for each fighting soldier.

We did load a ship with lumber, yeah. And it went to Africa and I took a chalk and I wrote my name and address on the board. I get to, it was about a month after, first thing I get this letter from the soldier in Africa. He says, "I want to tell you, he said, that you people, your job is important," he said, "We used your lumber today, we landed in Africa.
Courtesy of Joseph Wilmer Gagnon - The Memory Project Historica Canada

Once again the British Government turned to Overseas Woodsman to assist in the war effort. Given their impressive record in World War One it was natural that they looked to Canada to provide forestry units once again. In May 1940 the Canadian Government decided to form a Canadian Forestry Corps. Twenty Companies were initially formed with ten more as the war progressed.
The financial agreement between the two Governments as similar to that in World War I. Canada would bear the cost of pay, allowances and pensions, all initial personal equipment, transport to and from the United Kingdom. The British Government paid for "all other services connected with equipment, work or maintenance" and certain others, including medical services. Canada covered the cost for Medical Officers and Britain paid for hospitalization.
The arrangement was unusual as it resulted in a Canadian Unit working for the British, who controlled the areas of work and disposal of the product, but Military operations of the C.F.C. was never surrendered by the Canadians and came under command of Canadian Military Headquarters in London. Even though the C.F.C. had to serve two masters, no serious problems ever resulted.
Mobilization centres for the Corp spanned all across Canada, and recruited both English and French speaking personnel. Many of the volunteers were veterans of World War One, including the Corp's Commander, Brigadier- General J.B. White. Many of the men carried out the same duties as they did in civilian life, such as loggers, black smiths, lawyers, store man, cooks and clerks. The big difference between the new Corp and their World War One counter parts were the new Corp were considered Combat Troops.

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps War Diaries - Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage

Aug 1941	Sept 1941	Oct 1941	Nov 1941	Dec 1941	Jan 1942
Feb 1942	Mar 1942	Apr 1942	May 1942	June 1942	July 1942
Aug 1942	Sept 1942	Oct 1942	Nov 1942	Dec 1942	Jan 1943
Feb 1943	Mar 1943	Apr 1943	May 1943	June 1943	July 1943
Aug 1943	Sept 1943	Oct 1943	Nov 1943	Dec 1943	Jan 1944
Feb 1944	Mar 1944	Apr 1944	May 1944	June 1944	July 1944
Aug 1944	Sept 1944	Oct 1944	Nov 1944	Dec 1944	Jan 1945
Feb 1945	Mar 1945	Apr 1945

War Diaries courtesy of Jean Francois Chicoine

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps - Troop Movement

HQ No 4 District CFC did not go to Scotland as a unit – it was formed up in Scotland from various other units

Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-112993 Convoy in Bedford Basin, Halifax 1 Apr 1942 Interactive Map of Port of Halifax & PDF Map Courtesy of Paul Keenleyside

SS Orontes - Wikipedia By Mikeo1938 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Meals served aboard ship

Canadian soldiers aboard a troopship arriving at Greenock, Scotland, 31 August 1942. Reproduction of Faces of the Second World War - Image 300 Photographer: Laurie A. Audrain Courage at Sea

Firth of Clyde is where the ship with the men came in to disembark at Gourock, Scotland

Interactive Map of Gourock - Courtesy of Paul Keenleyside Enlarged Maps of Gourock Scotland - Courtesy of Paul Keenleyside

HQ No 4 Forestry District Dunachton Lodge, KINGUSSIE, Inverness-shire. (OC, LCol F.J. Dawson)

Headquarters for No 4 District took in the Strath Spey camps as well as Dall and Black Island Camps and was at Blair Atholl until relocating westward up Glen Garry to Dalnacardoch Lodge on 21 August 1941.

FORESTRY DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
It may be explained at this point that the Forestry Companies of the C.F.C. are grouped territorially under the command of Officers Commanding Forestry Districts. The War Establishment as at present authorized (CDN/IV/1940/12AD/1, provides for a total of 35 all ranks, of whom five (including an attached paymaster) are officers. The O.C. may be a lieutenant-colonel or a major, the second-in-command a major or a captain; the remaining officers are an Adjutant and a Quartermaster. Canadian Forestry Corps

CFC Headquarters Locations Courtesy of The Sawdust Fusiliers by William C. Wonders page 102

No.5 Company	BLAIR ATHOLL, Perth-shire.
No.11 Company	CARRBRIDGE, Inverness-shire.
No.12 Company	INSH (Nr. KINCRAIG), Inverness-shire.
No.14 Company	BOAT OF GARTEN, Inverness-shire.
No.20 Company	NETHYBRIDGE,Inverness-shire.

No 4 District CFC Officers and Companies
Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage

Enlarged Map No 4 District CFC Courtesy of Paul Keenleyside Map CFC Scotland Courtesy of Paul Keenleyside

Follow the directions in each map
Link to map of Scotland with includes the following maps
Valcartier Camp, Quebec – where the CFC soldiers trained
Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia – where the CFC soldiers embarked overseas
Gourock, Scotland – where the CFC soldiers – disembarked before taking the train to their camps
HQ CFC - map 501
No.1 District CFC – map 100
No.2 District CFC – map 200
No.3 District CFC – map 300
No.4 District CFC – map 400
No.5 District CFC – map 500

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps Camp

Canadian Forestry Camps in Scotland
Courtesy of The Sawdust Fusiliers by William C Wonders

Dunachton Moor - Wikipedia Dorothy Carse [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps - Logging Operations

Total Production of Forest Products CFC Scotland
Courtesy of 'The Sawdust Fusiliers' by William C. Wonders

The CFC soldiers were constantly being trained to be a fighting soldier – an axe in one hand and a rifle in the other.
Most Saturday mornings were spent training in one thing or the other. SEE the following
No 4 District Military Training from Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage

Wood for War - Deals entirely with the work of the CFC in Scotland
Made in No. 1 and No. 4 District CFC
from Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage - No.2 Coy CFC War Diaries - 9 July 1942

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps - Life in Scotland

Pte Lyn Barister CFC On entertainment committee
Re Pitlochry Home Guard Social
Newspaper clipping courtesy of Lynn Asghar

Dunrobin Castle Hospital, Golspie Courtesy of The Sawdust Fusiliers by William C Wonders See - Illness Injuries & Hospitals

Bridge of Earn Hospital
Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage - HQ No 4 District War Diary

This one of a number of hospitals used by the soldiers of No 4 District CFC
In some of the forestry camps there would be a camp hospital or M.R.D. Medical Reception Depot for minor injuries and illness. There would be a sergeant of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps to look after the health issues of the soldiers of the camp. There were Medical Officers of the RCAMC as well attached to the CFC HQ and District HQ in the event of major injuries and illness. The Medical Officer would also visit the camps to ensure hygiene and etc including a short arm inspection once in awhile. For info on Medical Officers go to Doctors of the CFC
As well in the CFC HQ and in each of the District HQ there was a dentist attached to look after the dental needs of the soldiers. The Dental Officer would have his office in one of the camps and would also go to the camps to check all the soldiers. For more info go to Dentists of the CFC
Also no soldier wants to go without pay. Pay parades were held regularly in addition to when a group of soldiers were going on leave they would be paid the day before. Also go to Paymasters of the CFC

Church parades also brought them to the public's attention as the No 1 District CFC made use of the local church buildings as well as holding religious services in the camp. The Chaplains of the Canadian Forestry Corps were attached to CFC HQ or to one of the District HQ to serve the needs of the soldiers. For extra information on the Chaplains go to Chaplains of the CFC Courtesy of "The Sawdust Fusiliers" by William C. Wonders

The Scottish people above all appreciated the kindness shown local children by members of the CFC. Christmas celebrations however, were the highlights. CFC personnel went out of their way to make the day memorable for the local children, many of whom came from poor crofts and many of whose fathers were away in the services For further reading on Life in Scotland Courtesy of "The Sawdust Fusiliers" by William C. Wonders

No 4 District was quite involved in sports (Company, District, Corps and Army) Courtesy of The Sawdust Fusiliers by William C. Wonders HQ No 4 District CFC Sports Activities Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage

Lakehead Forester-Soldiers Harvest Britian's Timbers Fort William Times Journal Saturday, October 25, 1941 (By courtesy of "Timber of Canada," W.J. Leclair, M.E.I.C., M.C.S.F.E., Managing editor, Ottawa) Ref: Thunder Bay Public Library Courtesy of JFLH Major F.J. Dawson of Port Arthur who commanded the forestry corps recruited at the Lakehead

Dawson, F, J., Major No. 4 District HQ
The authorization requested has not been received up to the present time; but while the matter is being considered I gather that the C.F.C. has tentatively, and as a matter of convenience, organized a fifth District H.Q. (numbered No. 4) at Blair Atholl, commanded by Major F.J. DAWSON, the O.C. No.5 Company. The organization as now contemplated is outlined in an Appendix to this Report. REPORT 29

HQ No 4 District, Canadian Forestry Corps - War Brides

Headrick, Robert Pte L50085 married Miss Helen M. Wade
Jarvis, Edward William Pte H55318 married Miss Jean Bissett
Wright, George V. Staff Sgt C70012 married Miss Edith L. Anderson

HQ No 4 District, Canadian Forestry Corps - Photos and stories of the soldiers

Lumberjacks Who Can Fight - The Scotsman Thurs Sept 17, 1942
Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage HQ No 4 District CFC War Diaries
Courtesy of Jean- Francois Chicoine

No 4 District CFC Plane Crash
Library And Archives Canada Military Heritage
Courtesy of Jean-Francois Chicoine

HQ No 4 District, Canadian Forestry Corps - Company Photos
Why are some soldiers missing from the company photo's

HQ No 4 District Workshop CFC Aug 1941 Scotland Photo National Defense Directorate of History and Heritage & for further reference Library and Archives Canada Courtesy of Jean-Francois Chicoine

HQ No 4 District CFC Aug 1943 Photo with names National Defense Directorate of History and Heritage & for further reference Library and Archives Canada Courtesy of Jean-Francois Chicoine

HQ No 4 District Canadian Forestry Corps – Soldiers List

List of Abbreviations - Library and Archives Canada
ABBREVIATIONS and ACRONYMS of WW2 and service records
Military Districts of Canada 1939
Calgary Military Historical Society

Access to Information (ATI) Online Request – to obtain the services records for a soldier

Allan, David Sgt H53481 transp sect - transf from No.5 Coy
Beebe, Reginald Pte E62637 Transf to HQ No 1 CFG
Belt, R.C.R. Pte K41522
Benson, Alexander William Blair Capt Transf from No.20 Coy transf to No.6 Coy & No.12 Coy & No.14 Coy - See No 7 CFD
Bryan, Harold Cpl H53395 Lt Col Dawson's driver - transf from No.5 Coy
Cook, Richard Terrance Major 2I/C - transf from No.20 Coy transf to No.11 Coy & back to HQ No 4 Dist
Cross, Donald James Capt H53304 dist transp offr - transf from No.5 Coy & OCTU & No.11 Coy & No.9 Coy
Cumiskey, D. Pte K41485
Dawson, Frederick James, Lt Col CO - transf from No.5 Coy
Doyle, Joseph Earle Sgt H53459 Transf from No.5 Coy transf to Railway Operating Co – telegraph operator
Elgeti, M.W. Cpl K47398 Transf from No.12 Coy & HQ No 2 Dist transf to No.9 Coy & No.17 Coy
English, William Arthur Lt tranps offr - transf from Reinf Sect transf to No.5 Coy - See No 8 CFD transf to No.1 Coy - See No 7 CFD
Ewachniuk, A. SSgt M49759 Transf from No 13 DD & No.19 Coy transf to HQ No 1 CFG
Foote, LCpl Major Hudson's driver
Galloway, J. Cpl K92239 Transf from No 11 DD & No.18 Coy & No 11 DD & No.18 Coy & No.19 Coy & HQ No 2 Dist
Hamilton, William I. WO11 SQMS C30512 Transf from HQ No 2 Dist & HQ CFC
Headrick, Robert Pte L50085 Transf from No.20 Coy transf to HQ No 1 CFG & No.16 Coy & No.5 Coy- See No 8 CFD
Hopwood, Frank Russell LCpl B20556 Transf from No.12 Coy transf to No.5 Coy & Reinf Sect
Horan, Ernest Bliss Pte L50065 clerk 'C' - transf from No.20 Coy transf to Gen Workshop & 6th DCRCH - See CFC Casualties
Huard, Frank B. Pte G22502 Transf to No.8 Coy & NSR(NB)
Hudson, Arthur Major Adj& QM - transf from 2nd LMG & No.20 Coy & No.5 Coy transf to HQ No 5 Dist
Jarvis, Edward William LCpl H55318 constr & maint driver mech 'C' - transf from No.5 Coy transf to HQ CFC
Jocko, Henry Matthew Pte C34064 Transf from No.12 Coy
Kyer, C.C. Pte C40906 Transf from HQ CFC & HQ No 2 Dist
Marsh, Donald MacCrimmon Cpl H56235 Transf from No.17 Coy & No.11 Coy
Mason, S.R. WOII QMS C30267 Transf from HQ No 2 Dist
McCallum, E.L. Pte H62620 Transf from MCTC & No.20 Coy
McLaurin, K.S. Pte C70270 Transf from No.20 Coy transf to HQ CFC
Morris, James Victor Pte L50080 Transf from No.20 Coy & Reinf Sect
Munro, Alexander Lawrence Lt Transf from Reinf Sect & HQ No 3 Dist & No.22 Coy & No.6 Coy
Murray, W.A. Pte D125350
Oleskie, Stephen Pte H53417 Transf from & back to to No.5 Coy - See No 8 CFD
O'Neill, Frank Sgt D110276 Transf from No.2 Coy transf to HQ CFC
Paisley, C.L. Pte L19788
Pigeon, D. LCpl M66192 Transf from No.26 Coy transf to No.4 Coy
Shillington, John Tozeland Major Adj - transf from No.23 Coy transf to HQ CFC
Shillito, H.D. ASgt H11187 att to HQ No 4 Dist - transf from No 4 F Amb RCAMC & No.5 Coy transf to RCASC att to No 1 CSFS & No.10 Coy
Stewart, Wilfred A. Capt MC Adj & QM - transf from HQ No 2 Dist
Styffe, Hobart Hilbert Major 2I/C - transf from & back to No.5 Coy - See No 8 CFD
Tanik, F. Pte B111406 Transf from Reinf Sect transf to No.8 Coy
Tessier, R. CSM WOII C93093 Transf from HQ No 2 Dist
Wilson, Henry H. Sgt K41564 Transf from No.4 Coy transf to HQ No 7 CFD & No.1 Coy
Wilson, W.N. ASgt D113193 Transf from No.9 Coy & HQ No 2 Dist transf to No.9 Coy - See No 7 CFD
Wright, George Vernon Staff Sgt C70012 Transf from HQ CFC & HQ No 1 Dist & HQ CFC