We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Norbert “Norm” Martel, CD (Ret'd) on 30 May 2004 at the age of 64.
Norm was born in Gogama, ON, and joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in Toronto in 1962. On completion of his basic sapper training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering he was selected to remain at the school for a year as an instructor with Recruit Squadron. He was then posted to 3 Field Engineer Squadron, Chilliwack (1963 - 1968) during which time he qualified as a Combat Diver.
Norm was then posted to 5e Escadron du Génie du Canada in Valcartier in 1968 when that new unit was formed and he stayed there for the next six years - rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. During this time he qualified as a Diving Supervisor. In 1974 Norm was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering as an instructor in Bridging, Rafting, Watermanship and Rigging Troop followed by Roads, Airfields, Water Supply and Accommodations Troop. Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 1975, he returned to 5e Escadron du Génie de Campagne in 1977 during which time he served a six month tour in Egypt with the United Nations Emergency Force. Upon his return to the unit from Egypt, Norm was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and appointed the unit Sergeant Major.
After completion of this tour, in 1981 Norm was posted to the Regular Support Staff with 21st Field Engineering Squadron in Flin Flon, MB where he served for three years. He was then posted to Force Mobile Command Headquarters in St Hubert with the Senior Staff Officer Field Engineer doctrine cell for a year and then returned to 5e Régiment du Génie de Combat as the Regimental Sergeant Major. This posting was followed by six years in National Defence Headquarters as an engineer equipment Life Cycle Material Manager. Norm's final posting was to Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake with the Evaluation Range as the Commandant Primrose Lake from which he retired in 1994 to live in Ottawa. {khMAy 2016}
