Military engineers' responsibilities encompass the use of demolitions and land mines, the design, construction and maintenance of defensive works and fortifications, urban operations (hostile room entry), breaching obstacles, establishing/maintaining lines of communication, and bridging.

In addition, military engineers are experts in deception and concealment, as well as in the design and development of equipment necessary to carry out these operations.

The official role of the combat engineer is to allow friendly troops to live, move and fight on the battlefield and deny that to the enemy.

[2] One of the first tasks completed by the engineers after the declaration of war upon Germany in 1914 was for the rapid development of the Valcartier training site in Quebec.

When the 1st Division arrived on the front in Belgium they were accompanied by field companies of the Canadian Engineers (men recruited into the service after the start of the war were part of the Militia branch and not the regulars).

These troops were responsible for the construction of defences, sanitation systems, water supplies, bridging, and assisting with trench raids.

One of the most important functions of the Sappers in the war was to dig tunnels for mines underneath enemy trenches, with which to plant explosives to destroy them.

The only Victoria Cross the Canadian Engineers have ever received was earned by Captain C. N. Mitchell for actions on 8 October 1918 at Canal de I'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai.

2 Construction Battalion, CEF, was assigned to the CME, with 4 Engineer Support Regiment having the honour of publicly recognizing the perpetuation.

As a matter of honour, King George V, the Canadian monarch bestowed on the organization the right to use the prefix royal before its name in 1932.

The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers expanded dramatically in size to support Canada's war effort.

[4] In keeping with British Army practice, company-sized units in the two armoured divisions were called "squadrons" following cavalry terminology.

The following units were deployed in Canada and in Europe: The senior officers of the Corps in World War II were as follows:[4] The branch maintained a military band in its ranks from 1953 to 1968.

During its 15 years in existence, the band performed for members of the Canadian royal family, Governors General of Canada including Georges Vanier, and American President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The brigade formed 46 Engineer Squadron in Saskatoon in 2012, which was a subunit of the North Saskatchewan Regiment until it gained full strength.

[9] The deployment in Afghanistan required considerable use of engineers for road clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, heavy equipment, and combat support.

From the 1960s to the late 1980s or early 1990s, the branch badge was enamel-highlighted cast metal with a prong-type slider to attach to both the beret and forage cap.

The word chimo is derived from the Inuktitut greeting: saimo (saimu) that means "hello," "goodbye," "peace be with you," and similar sentiments.