History

In l950 Canada's peacetime army was to be increased to more than divisional size. No Base in Eastern Canada had sufficient room for such a force to exercise and maneuver. The prospect of this larger army, combined with Canada's commitments in the United Nations, and the ever present thought of homeland defence, prompted the need for large training areas with certain characteristics:

1. it was essential that the new area be near an eastern Canadian all-weather port;
2. the area had to be large enough for exercises on a divisional scale (up to 17,000 soldiers);
3. the ground had to be suitable for all types of training;
4. the area was to be in a temperate climate; and
5. the new training area was to be established with as little disturbance as possible to the civilian population.

An extensive survey was carried out in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. After considering the matter in detail, it was decided that the area now occupied by CFB Gagetown was the best possible location. Consequently, in the summer of l952, the Federal Government announced that a permanent Base and Training Area would be established in New Brunswick. Clearing and construction started in l953.

Disturbance of the civilian population was a factor of considerable importance. Expropriation of the CFB Gagetown property meant that between two and three thousand people had to move. The evacuation of the area also affected the surrounding territory's economy causing markets to reduce at least temporarily and even resulting in the disappearance of some small businesses. With the establishment of CFB Gagetown, however, and the ensuing development of the Oromocto area, immeasurable gains were brought to the economy of New Brunswick.

The first large-scale exercise was held at CFB Gagetown in the summer of l954 when the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade moved in for six weeks of training. During the summer of l955, the lst Canadian Division carried out a complete formation exercise here, the first such training carried out in Canada. Since these early days, a number of large-scale exercises have been conducted at CFB Gagetown.

In November 1969, the Commander of the Army directed the disbandment of 3 Brigade and the formation of the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, which included the creation of the Combat Arms School. This school would co-locate the Infantry, Armour and Field Artillery Schools that had formerly been established in Borden, Ontario and Shilo, Manitoba, under a single command. Since then, CFB Gagetown has expanded with the addition of the Tactics School and the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.