Pepler / Pep (Lieut.-Col. E. Pepler)

Robertson's company commander in the 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers. He signs as Captain, acting O.C. of the company, in April 1916 (the duty pass to the front line), and as Major E. Pepler, commanding, in the company orders of February and April 1917 and in the leave request after Robertson's wound in March 1917; Robertson calls him "Maj. Pep." His D.S.O. is in the New Year 1918 list ("Pep gets his at last," January 3, 1918). By October 1918 he is Lieutenant-Colonel E. Pepler commanding the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Engineers, the battalion the field companies were formed into in October 1917: its war diary for October 25, 1918 records his report on "Lessons learned during the recent advance," and that he "reconnoitres site for heavy bridge at Bouchain over Canal de l'Escaut" with the O.C. 1st Brigade C.E. and the Brigade Major. That is the battalion whose companies received the bridging wagons Robertson and Fox brought up at the Canal du Nord on September 27, 1918. On August 5, 1918 a pencil note to Robertson at the detraining station is signed by a Major, C.E., read as Pepler.