Colección 2005/29 - Michel Litalien collection

• Textual record

15 cm of textual records

Most of the documents in the collection come from the former G4 Office located in Force Mobile Command HQ in St. Hubert. Major Litalien photocopied these files in 1996 while working as the SO G4. The location of the original files is unknown.

Collection consists of 7 file folders of photocopies of notes, histories, annual historical reports, trial reports, published articles, letters and other documents regarding the Service Battalions in the Canadian Armed Forces. Includes detailed information about the history of the 3rd Experimental Service Battalion, the 5th Service Battalion and the Service Battalion flag; more general information about all of the Service Battalions (Regular and Reserve) and the Annual Militia Service Battalions National Competition; and personal notes and historical projects from BGen Jean-Paul Leclerc on different aspects of the Service Battalion. The very first Service Battalion was formed in 1962 in Gagetown, NB. It gathered elements from the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) and later Canadian Provost Corps (C Pro C), Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) and Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC). The goal was to determine if different combat support service units would work better under a single unified command. The unit was named "3rd Experimental Service Battalion". The pros of having a Service Battalion were proved after the very first exercise: simplicity, economy, efficiency and flexibility. In 1965, the Militia adopted the Service Battalion concept. Almost every city in Canada now has a Militia Service Battalion. In 1968, the Service Battalion replaced the former service support Corps in each Regular Force Brigade.