Canada. Defence Research Board : During the Second World War, the National Research Council and Canadian universities concentrated many of their research efforts on defence problems. In addition to these institutions, establishments set up by the various service branches also helped to address pressing scientific problems encountered in the theatre of war. Towards the end of the war, members of the armed services as well as civilian members of the Defence Department realized the need to maintain a dynamic and responsive group of scientists whose efforts would be focussed on the changing needs of the military in a world witnessing the rapid advancement of new technologies. The result was the formation of the Defence Research Board (DRB) by amendment to the National Defence Act in April 1947. The mandate of the newly formed DRB was threefold: To provide scientific advice to the Minister of National Defence; to meet the research requirements of the Canadian Armed Forces and to contribute to the collective defence research effort of Canada's allies. The Chairman of the Defence Research Board (CDRB) was responsible for directing scientific work as well as acting as policy advisor to ministers and senior military staff.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the DRB recruited scientists to work for the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Forces (CF) at the various research establishments (listed below) as well as providing grants to universities and contracts to industry. In order to minimize costs and duplication of research efforts, the various service establishments set up during the war were united under the single administrative wing of the DRB. These included: Defence Research Establishment Atlantic (DREA) in Halifax; Defence Research Establishment Valcartier near Quebec City otherwise known as Canadian Armament and Defence Research Establishment (CARDE), Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE) at Shirley's Bay outside of Ottawa; Defence Research Analysis Establishment (DRAE) Defence Research Establishment Toronto which came to be called the Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (DCIEM), Suffield Experimental Station (DRES or SES)in Ralston Alberta and Defence Research Establishment Pacific (DREP). In addition to these, laboratories were also set up in Kingston, Ontario and Churchill, Manitoba. The establishments activities were coordinated and centrally administered by the DRB Headquarters at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
This concept of sharing facilities for the pursuit of common interests while reducing overlap and expenses also applied to the role of DRB vis a vis Canada' allies. According to the agreement between the US, UK, Australia and Canada, the DRB should concentrate on those areas unique to the Canadian climate and the defence of North America.
At the time of its inception the founders of the DRB managed to negotiate its independence from the Public Service Commission. In this capacity, the Board reported directly to the Minister of Defence and was governed by the Chairman, the Chiefs of Staff of the three services and the President of the National Research Council. The CDRB was also a member of the defence council and the Chiefs of Staff Committee giving him the status of a Service Chief. This relatively autonomous status of Defence science continued until the early 1970's. As a result of the reorganization of government brought about in order to reflect changing economic and technological needs, the DRB was dismantled in 1974. Defence science once carried out by the DRB became the Research and Development Branch of the Department of National Defence and was integrated into the civil military structure at National Defence Headquarters. The Chairman was replaced by a scientific advisor (Chief Research and Development (CRAD)) who no longer occupied a seat on the Defence Council. RG 24 General Inventory
