Yorke Island 1942
Yorke Island
Yorke Island now took on a much more important role and it was decided that her armament should be increased. With no surplus guns in Canada and those on order in England unlikely to arrive for at least another year a straight trade was made with the two 6-inch guns at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver and the two 4.7-inch ones at Yorke Island. To keep both batteries operational only one gun from each was to be moved at a time. The changeover was to take place at the end of June 7942 and early July. Tension was mounting at this time as the Japanese were now in the position of being able to launch a hit and run raid. Dutch Harbour, Alaska was bombed on June 3rd,1942, and on the evening of June 20th the Japanese submarine I26 fired approximately seventeen projectiles at the Estevan Point Lighthouse on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. This was to be the only direct attack on Canada in over one hundred years. A code message of 1,072 letters received at battery headquarters on June 24th required one and a half hours to decode. Much to the dismay of the cipher clerk it contained the details of the attack on Estevan Lighthouse which had been broadcast for all to hear over every private radio on the island the day before. In the midst of the confusion of dismantling the first 4.7-inch gun 25 anii-aircraft gunners arrived from the 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment's 30th Battery commanded by Major Connie Smyth of hockey fame. They were to provide the first real air defence with two Bofors 40 mm guns. The next day (lune 26th) at 4:00 p.m. the first 6-inch gun arrived by scow and after waiting for the rising tide it was unloaded by midnight. After much hard work by all available men the 6-inch was mounted and ready for action at 9:00 p.m. on June 28th. The second 6-inch arrived July 1st and both guns were in action and test fired on July 3rd. The fort now had a gun capable of firing approximately seven 100 pound rounds per minute, a distance of eight miles.
Vancouver Defended, Peter Moogk, Pg 92
Yorke Island now took on a much more important role and it was decided that her armament should be increased. With no surplus guns in Canada and those on order in England unlikely to arrive for at least another year a straight trade was made with the two 6-inch guns at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver and the two 4.7-inch ones at Yorke Island. To keep both batteries operational only one gun from each was to be moved at a time. The changeover was to take place at the end of June 7942 and early July. Tension was mounting at this time as the Japanese were now in the position of being able to launch a hit and run raid. Dutch Harbour, Alaska was bombed on June 3rd,1942, and on the evening of June 20th the Japanese submarine I26 fired approximately seventeen projectiles at the Estevan Point Lighthouse on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. This was to be the only direct attack on Canada in over one hundred years. A code message of 1,072 letters received at battery headquarters on June 24th required one and a half hours to decode. Much to the dismay of the cipher clerk it contained the details of the attack on Estevan Lighthouse which had been broadcast for all to hear over every private radio on the island the day before. In the midst of the confusion of dismantling the first 4.7-inch gun 25 anii-aircraft gunners arrived from the 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment's 30th Battery commanded by Major Connie Smyth of hockey fame. They were to provide the first real air defence with two Bofors 40 mm guns. The next day (lune 26th) at 4:00 p.m. the first 6-inch gun arrived by scow and after waiting for the rising tide it was unloaded by midnight. After much hard work by all available men the 6-inch was mounted and ready for action at 9:00 p.m. on June 28th. The second 6-inch arrived July 1st and both guns were in action and test fired on July 3rd. The fort now had a gun capable of firing approximately seven 100 pound rounds per minute, a distance of eight miles.
Vancouver Defended, Peter Moogk, Pg 92
Military Bureaucracy
Following files illustrate the movement of paperwork after Gunner Wallace Brunt’s death on 20 August 1941 which was required to complete the distribution of Service Estate.
6 March 1942 – Court of Inquiry Findings approval for the court which sat on 21 February 1942.
14 March 1942 – Army Form B.2090C. Missing Man, Acceptance of Death for Official Reasons. Signed by the Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Letson.
17 March 1942 – A Proceedings on Discharge (2 pages) is filled out. The original date of 19 February 1942 was edited back to 20 Aug 1941 to reflect the actual day of death. It was signed by the Commanding Officer of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade R.C.A. although the signature does not appear to be that of Lieut-Col Underhill.
17 March 1942 – List of Discharge Documents. Also signed by the Commanding Officer of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade R.C.A.
27 March 1942 – Cover letter to Military District 11 with Acceptance of death form as enclosure.
18 April 1942 – Distribution of Service Estates – In the amount of $10.30 forwarded to Gunner Brunt’s wife.
Following files illustrate the movement of paperwork after Gunner Wallace Brunt’s death on 20 August 1941 which was required to complete the distribution of Service Estate.
6 March 1942 – Court of Inquiry Findings approval for the court which sat on 21 February 1942.
14 March 1942 – Army Form B.2090C. Missing Man, Acceptance of Death for Official Reasons. Signed by the Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Letson.
17 March 1942 – A Proceedings on Discharge (2 pages) is filled out. The original date of 19 February 1942 was edited back to 20 Aug 1941 to reflect the actual day of death. It was signed by the Commanding Officer of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade R.C.A. although the signature does not appear to be that of Lieut-Col Underhill.
17 March 1942 – List of Discharge Documents. Also signed by the Commanding Officer of 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade R.C.A.
27 March 1942 – Cover letter to Military District 11 with Acceptance of death form as enclosure.
18 April 1942 – Distribution of Service Estates – In the amount of $10.30 forwarded to Gunner Brunt’s wife.
