Canada. Gibraltar Key 1941-1942, To Sapper Collin Andrew Cavil, No.1 Tunnelling Company, Royal Canadian Engineers

Fob 1941-1942 (in sterling silver, obverse illustrating a Royal Canadian Engineer in full gear standing upon a rock, with a jackhammer pointing upwards in his hands, the rock of Gibraltar in the background, inscribed "GIBRALTAR 1941 1942" above, a ribbon banner below inscribed "ROYAL CANADIAN ENGINEERS", the entire image and text backed by a downward-pointing key, reverse marked "STERLING", maker marked "B.M.CO." and marked with the Canadian .925 silver standard minimum insignia, engraved "M7272 SPR. CAVIL C.A.", measuring 48 mm (w) x 61.5 mm (h), edge nicks, light contact, lacquered, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Commendation for Gallantry and acknowledgement for the award of the British Empire Medal; a Plaque (in wood with a reddish finish, carved with the image of the Gibraltar Key Fob, however, the ribbon banner has been changed to read "No 2 TUNNELLING COY RCE", measuring 248 mm (w) x 342 mm (h), with drill holes on all four corners); and a Canadian Geographical Journal (Volume XXVIII, dated June 1944, containing a thirteen page article entitled “Canadian Tunnellers At Gibraltar” by Major George F.G. Stanley, with twenty-nine photographs illustrating the men at work, a group shot of the No. 2 Tunnelling Company, a picture of the Gibraltar Key itself and General McNaughton presenting a Gibraltar Key Fob to Sapper A, Benoit of No. 1 Tunnelling Company, the cover printed in four-colour inks, containing 60 pages printed in black ink, measuring 185 mm (w) x 262 mm (h), the bottom right corner torn off the front cover).

Footnote: Collin Andrew Cavil was born on November 16, 1907 in Metis Beach, Quebec. Upon joining the Canadian Army in the Second World War, he became as Sapper with No.1 Tunnelling Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. Sapper Cavil received a Commendation for Gallantry by London Gazette authority, Overseas R.O. 2986 on January 6, 1943, his citation stating: "1. At 2000 hrs, Tuesday 17 Nov 42 the grease and oil on the floor of the Special detachment No. I (T) Company’s diamond drill repair shop exploded into a general fire. M.7272 Spr. Cavil C.A., although on excused duty with both hands infected with septic poisoning and completely bandaged, raised a general alarm and immediately fought the fire. His efforts stopped the fire from spreading to the petrol storage dump, thereby saving the Company Headquarters from destruction. 2. Spr. Cavil’s clothing and the bandages on both hands caught on fire from which he received severe first and second degree burns. 3. Spr. Cavil's very commendable action in this emergency shows great courage in that he performed his duty without regard to the previous injuries or thought of greater injury. 4. The G.O.C.-in-C. First Cdn. Army, commends this act of gallantry and has directed that it be recorded on Spr. Cavil’s Sheet in accordance with K.R. (Can) 1939, para 1518(b)(xvi)." M.7272 Sapper Collin Andrew Cavil, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers was also a recipient of the British Empire Medal (Military Division), as part of the King's Birthday awards, the announcement of the award appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 36034 of Friday, May 28, 1943, on Wednesday, June 2, 1943, page 2485 and in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, June 5, 1943. He died on August 30, 1960 in Haney, British Columbia, at the age of 52. The Rock of Gibraltar was important as an Allied outpost during the Second World War. Thrusting 1,300 feet above the Spanish plain on the Bay of Algeciras, it dominated the Atlantic entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar had been a “point of turmoil” throughout much of recorded history. The Muslims captured Gibraltar in 711 and occupied it for almost 700 years; Spain annexed the Rock in 1501, holding it until the War of Spanish Succession when it fell to British and Dutch troops. Then an arrangement with France during peace negotiations in 1711 gave the British sole possession of Gibraltar. During its occupation by various nations, Gibraltar was extensively excavated to provide underground defensive stations. These excavations continued during the Second World War and the need for this work prompted the British government to request Canada’s assistance. This request led to the formation of No. 1 and No. 2 Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1940 and the recruiting of hardrock miners, mostly from Ontario and Quebec. During their two years on The Rock, the Canadians mined and removed about 140,000 tons of solid rock, as well as putting in some 46,000 man hours on construction work. The efforts of these Canadian tunnellers on Gibraltar was noteworthy and warranted recognition.

The Canadian Geographic Journal of July 1944 states: "As a reward for their achievements it was suggested …. that the Canadian Tunnellers might be given some special mark of distinction. The first proposal was to grant them the privilege of wearing the Gibraltar Key in the form of a cloth badge on the right sleeve. It was not considered desirable, however, to create a precedent whereby a unit might be given such special distinction and thus a silver watch fob was substituted for the cloth badge. The fob was designed by Sapper R. J. Cunningham of No. 2 Canadian Tunnelling Company. Each tunneller had his name engraved on the back of the fob. Since the presentation of the souvenir fobs was of an unofficial nature, production was a private venture and the cost was borne by James Y. Murdock, Esq., President of Noranda Mines. The keys were minted in Canada. There is significance to the featuring of a :key" on this device: "Not only was Gibraltar christened the ‘Key to the Spanish Dominions’ …. but the Key has been part of the official Coat of Arms for centuries. The ceremony of handing over the keys at the changing of the guard has been carried out by the various (British) regiments since the days of the Great Siege by the Spanish in 1779-83." The designer of the Key, Robert Cunningham, passed away in January 2011 at the age of 91. Born in London, England, he immigrated to Canada in 1928, settling in Melbourne, QC. Educated at St. Francis College & Hailebury Mining School, in his life, Robert was a prospector, miner, tunnel worker, surveyor, wood carver, artist, published author, and poet. In 1939, Cunningham enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers and was one of the hardrock miners recruited from Quebec and Ontario when No. 1 and No. 2 Canadian Tunnelling Companies were formed. Once overseas, he was initially involved In mapping for artillery ranging in the south of England (1940) and surveying tunnel construction for the defence of Gibraltar (1941-1942). He then transferred to the Royal Canadian Artillery as a Gunnery Instructor (1943) and, finally, to the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders as a Infantry Line Officer who saw action in Belgium and the Netherlands. He was a draftsman and surveyor during the war, and postwar, Cunningham had a career as an engineer, tunnel supervisor, and chief draftsman. The Gibraltar Key is a uniquely Canadian military award that was originated for a unique Canadian military group, the Canadian Army Tunnellers. On March 27, 1943, General McNaughton presented the keys at a special parade to the 324 men and officers of the Canadian tunneling companies who had worked on the massive fortress. It is one of the rarer of Canadian "badges" since a relatively limited number were made.