One thing that has stood out over the last 50 years is the devotion, dedication, and hard work of the thousands of Canadians who have served in the Weapons Technician trade under it's various names. Whether they are called armourers, gun plumbers, artificers, gun mechs, or whatever, they have always been an integral part of the Canadian Army. From World War II to today's UN peacekeeping operations; from Normandy to Yugoslavia, the trade has ensured that Canada's guns and weapons have been well supported.

Today's EME Weapons Technicians can trace their roots to the Victorian Age. British Army reorganization, in the mid 19th century, founded two Corps of technical experts which were charged with the maintenance and repair of weapons. The first, formed in 1858, was the Corps of Armourer Sergeants, which was responsible for the inspection and repair, in storage or at the factory, of small arms. The second was the Corps of Armament Artificers, formed in 1882, which performed the same function for artillery equipments. Eventually both these organizations were combined into the Army Ordnance Corps.

Like his predecessors, today's Weapons Technician is responsible for repairing the Army's weapons. The separate RCEME trades of small arms and armaments were amalgamated in the early 1960s, which means the modern technician is now responsible for everything from the pistol to the 155mm howitzer. On any day, a Weapons Technician can be repairing the hydraulics of an Armoured Fighting Vehicle turret, surreptitiously entering a locked out safe, or repairing a stove, lantern or bicycle. Others are involved in quality assurance at contractor's plants, project management, testing and evaluation of new weapons, supporting research and development, or being a Life Cycle Material Manager for in service weapons. The trade has evolved well beyond the mere repair of weapons!

For over fifty years the Weapons Technician, and his forbears, ensured that the Army's weapons were always ready for use. Although the weapons may look very different in the coming 50 years, this standard will be maintained in the future.

Weapons Trade Badges

QL3 QL5 QL6A