Lieutenant-Colonel Philip L. Debney Armoury

Lieutenant-Colonel Philip L. Debney is remembered in the naming of the Edmonton armoury of 8 Field Engineer Regiment. Enlisted in 1915 as an artilleryman, he served in France, Flanders, and Archangel. Returning to Canada, he was commissioned into the 1st Battalion Edmonton Regiment in 1925, serving as its Commanding Officer from 1935 to 1939. During this time, he was also Assistant City Engineer for the City of Edmonton and served as Registrar for the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta. In May 1939, Lt-Col Debney took command of 9th Army Transport Company RCE. Mobilized in September 1939, he held appointments as CRE of the 4th, 6th, and 8th Canadian Divisions during the Second World War. After the war, Lt-Col Debney served as the first commanding officer of 8 Field Engineer Regiment from 1948 to 1951, and was Honourary Colonel 1974-1976.