Yorke Island lies approximately 150 miles northwest of Vancouver in Johnstone Strait. In September 1937, the Department of National Defence reserved the right to use the island for military purposes. By the end of the year, construction of the fort was underway. The Department of National Defence, however, paid little attention to the fort in the year leading up to the Second World War, their efforts being concentrated on the East Coast where there was a greater threat of German attack- At this time, the 5th Heavy Battery at Esquimalt provided security and maintenance to the newly constructed fort.
The 85th Heavy Battery war diaries tell the story of the occupation of the island starting August 26th, 1939.
Yorke Island itself is now a Conservancy (Hənʎəmdᶻi Məkola/Yorke Island Conservancy) protected under BC Parks. The Vancouver Artillery Association has a Volunteer Agreement with BC Parks for the management and maintenance of World War ll structures, landscape features and connecting trails. A local chapter, the 85VICS, conducted a major major cleanup over the years. Trails have been cut and marked to areas of safe access and interest.  Financial support for this work can be donated through several funds:
- 15th Field Artillery Regiment Museum and Archives Society - e-transfer to [email protected]
- Royal Canadian Artillery Association - Master Gunners Residence Project - The Royal Canadian Artillery Association

The following pages are provided as a resource for the Yorke Island story.

Yorke Page 1 - Aerial Views
Yorke Page 2 - Guns
Yorke Page 3 - Observation Post
Yorke Page 4 - Searchlights
Yorke Page 5 - Wharf
Yorke Page 6 - Boats
Yorke Page 7 - Equipment
Yorke Page 8- Buildings
Yorke Page 8A - Master Gunner Residence
Yorke Page 9 - Maps
Yorke Page 10 - Airplanes
Yorke Page 11 - Group Photos
Yorke Page 12 - Photos of Individuals
​Yorke Page 13 - Orville Fisher
Yorke Page 14 - War Diaries

Other Yorke Island pages:
Yorke Island Anti-Aircraft arrival 1942
Yorke Island Bombardier Blackburn 1942
Yorke island 1949 District Headquarters visit
Yorke island August 1981 15th Field Regiment visit
Yorke Island 1996 15th Field Regiment Museum visit
Yorke Island June 2009 Campbell River Museum visit
Yorke Island 2010 Canadian Ranger Patrol
Yorke Island 2010 Western Command
Yorke Island 2010 Catherine Gilbert visit
Yorke Island 2010 70th Anniversary
Yorke Island 2011 Spring Cleanup
Yorke island 2012 Western Command
​Yorke Island 2014 Western Command
​Yorke Island September 2014 75th Anniversary 
​Yorke Island August 2016 VAA President visit 
Yorke Island August 2016 15th Field Regt visit
​Yorke Island December 2016 BC Parks 
Yorke Island October 2017 Field Day Event 
​Yorke Island April 2021 85VICS Annual clean up
Yorke Island 192 Construction Engineering Flight
​Yorke Island July 2021 VAA Small Group
​Yorke Island 2021 - LUSAR Exercise​
Yorke Island September 2021 85VICS​
Yorke Island April 2022 85VICS Annual clean up
Yorke Island May 2022 Forgotten BC
Yorke Island September 2022 Greg and Marilyn Pike
Yorke Island April 2023 85VICS Annual clean up
​​Yorke Island August 2023 Master Gunner's Residence dig
Yorke Island August 2023 Greg and Marilyn Pike

Yorke Island Project
Project Page
Drawings
​​Tools
Master Gunner's Residence

Info Sheet - Gun emplacement #1
Info Sheet - Gun emplacement #2