British Columbia Forts

Canadian Forts

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Last Update: 26/JULY/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2008 American Forts Network

คคค COAST ARTILLERY DEFENCES, VANCOUVER HARBOUR
View Vancouver map

คคค Point Atkinson Battery
(1942 - 1944), West Vancouver
A field emplacement for one 18-pounder MK1 gun, used as the examination battery for the harbour. It was later fixed-mounted. Located adjacent to the lighthouse at Lighthouse Park. Two searchlights were emplaced in 1941, one position still remains. A number of wooden barracks still exist near the lighthouse. The Naval Port War Signal Station for Vancouver Harbour was located by the lighthouse.

คคค First Narrows (North) Battery
(1939 - 1944), North Vancouver, Vancouver
An AMTB battery of two 12-pounder quick-firing guns was temporarily located at the Capilano River Spit. It was moved to a three-story concrete "gantry" located under the piers of the Lions Gate Bridge. No remains. Three searchlights were emplaced here. One AA gun was emplaced nearby at Ambleside in 1942.

คคค Siwash Rock Battery
(1914), Stanley Park, Vancouver
Two 4-inch naval guns were temporarily emplaced here in WWI. A searchlight was emplaced here in WWII (emplacement still remains).

คคค Stanley Park Battery
(1939 - 1943), Stanley Park, Vancouver
Located on Ferguson Point, originally armed with two 6-inch MK7 guns on MK2 mounts, later replaced with two 4.7-inch guns. The guns were switched in 1942 with those on Yorke Island. The gun emplacements were buried in 1948. The site is marked by a Royal Canadian Artillery plaque. The two-story underground magazine still exists, but no public access. The Officers' Mess still exists, now part of a restaurant. The battery observation post and the powerhouse were demolished in 1963. Two searchlights were also emplaced here.

คคค Fort Grey
(1914, 1939 - 1950/1968), Vancouver
Located on Point Grey at the University of British Columbia, in the vicinity of the Museum of Anthropology. In WWI several 60-pounder field guns were positioned here. Originally named Point Grey Battery. In WWII two 6-inch MK7 guns were initially emplaced here on temporary mounts, soon replaced by three 6-inch MK7 guns on MK2 mounts. Placed in caretaker status in 1948. In 1950 the barracks were used as extra dormitories for the students of the University of British Columbia. The Battery OP was used as a military radio transmitter station until the 1960's. The reservation was transferred to the province in 1968. One gun position and the cantonment area were demolished in 1973 for the construction of the museum. The other two gun positions still remain at each end of the museum. The examination gun (1939 - 1942) was a 6-pounder Hotchkiss gun. A 3.7-inch AA gun was on the point some distance from the fort. Two additional AA guns were also in the area. Two searchlights were positioned on the beach (conrete towers and powerhouse still remain).

คคค Steveston Battery
(1940's), Steveston
A field emplacement for two 18-pounder MK1 guns. An AA battery was also located here. One 18-pounder gun was later replaced with two 25-pounder guns. Located on the northern bank of the mouth of the Fraser River, on top of the dike near the town.

คคค Boundary Bay Battery
(1942 - 1945), Boundary Bay
An anti-aircraft battery was located here to protect the military airfield.

คคค NOTES: The WWII fire-command post (1942 - 1944) was located at "Wadsley" (West Vancouver), on private property outside McKechnie Park (now a converted guest house). A concrete instrument pedestal base remains. A battery observation post was located at Prospect Point, First Narrows (South). From 1943 - 1945, there were four additional sites with four each 3.7-inch AA guns, which replaced 40mm Bofors guns emplaced in 1942, located at Little Mountain, Lynnmour, Burnaby, and Sea Island. The Royal Canadian Air Force Station (seaplanes) was located at Jericho Beach, now a park. The concrete apron and three original station buildings still remain, now in re-use.

Vancouver info gathered from "Vancouver Defended: A History of the Men and Guns of the Lower Mainland Defences, 1859-1949" by Peter Moogk, 1978, Antonson Publishing. Additional corrections provided by Vic Stevenson and John Eckersley.

Homulchesan Indian Fort
(unknown dates), near North Vancouver
A palisaded Indian village was once located here on the present-day Capilano Reserve. No remains.
(info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

New Westminster Barracks
(1858 - 1864 ?), New Westminster
The colonial capital until replaced by Victoria in 1866. Royal Engineers were sent here to provide law and order against American-led uprisings and threats of annexation after the 1858 gold rush in the Fraser River valley.
(additional info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Fort Langley (National Historic Site)
(1827 - 1886), Fort Langley
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Original site located downriver at Derby. A new fort was built in 1838. It was rebuilt in 1839 after a fire. Rebuilt again in 1840. It features an 1840 warehouse, reconstructed Big House, bastions and servants' quarters. Later, this fort became a provisioning post for the 1858 gold rush. The palisade wall was dismantled in 1864. British Columbia was proclaimed a crown colony here in 1858. The colonial capital was promptly moved to New Westminster as a more militarily defensible location than either Fort Langley or the earlier site at Derby. The Children of Fort Langley (website courtesy of Lisa Peppan)

Located nearby is the Langley Centennial Museum. Admission fee.

Fort Hope
(1848 - unknown), Hope
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. It was also used during the 1858 gold rush, when the town was established.

Fort Yale
(1848 - 1849), Yale
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Abandoned in favor of the better situated Fort Hope. The town was established in 1858 during the gold rush.

McDougal's Post
(1861 - unknown), Princeton
A fur trade post.

West Bank Post
(1820's - 1860's), West Bank
A fur trade post.

Lillooet Indian Fort
(unknown dates), Lillooet
A palisaded Indian village was once located here. No remains.
(info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Fort Kamloops
(1812 - 1860's), Kamloops
A Pacific Fur Company post was originally located here, also known as She-Whaps Post. Shortly thereafter it was bought out and abandoned by the North West Company, which had already built a new post on the other side of the river. The Hudson's Bay Co. arrived in 1821 and built a new post. A second HBC post was built later across the river to replace the first. A replica of the second HBC post is at the Kamloops Museum and Archives.

A palisaded Shuswap Indian village (date ?) was once located here. No remains.

Fort Steele
(Fort Steele Heritage Town)
(1888 - unknown), Fort Steele
The town was originally called Galbraith's Ferry. It was renamed in 1888. This was the first permanent North West Mounted Police post west of the Rocky Mountains. There are over 60 homes and other restored buildings in this living history town. Admission fee.

Kootenay Post
(1860 - unknown), near Roosville
A Hudson's Bay Co. post that had to move across the newly surveyed international boundary from Montana. Also known as John Linklater's Post. Following the discovery of gold in Wild Horse Creek, the post was moved to Joseph's Prairie. Replaced by Fort Steele a few years later.

Beavermouth Post
(1884 - 1885), near Field
A temporary NWMP post built to watch over, and keep the peace between, the railroad gangs through Kicking Horse Pass.

Fort Alexandria
(unknown - 1860's ?), Alexandria
In use during the 1858 gold rush.

Fort Chilcotin ? or ?
(unknown dates), unknown location
A possible Hudson's Bay Co. post, located somewhere on the Chilcotin River basin.
(info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Bella Bella Defences
(1940's), Bella Bella
A two-gun 75mm AMTB battery and an AA battery were located here to protect the military seaplane base.

Fort McLoughlin
(unknown - 1843), Milbanke Sound
A Hudson's Bay Company post. Exact location undetermined. Abandoned for Fort Victoria.

Fort George (Park)
(1807 - unknown), Prince George
A North West Co. post. The Fraser Fort George Regional Museum is here. Admission fee. Also located near here was South Fort George.

Fraser's Fort
(unknown dates), Fort Fraser

Fort St. James (National Historic Site)
(1806 - 1952), Fort St. James
First a North West Co. post, then a Hudson's Bay Co. post beginning in 1821. The current structure is a reconstruction of the fourth post on this site, from 1896. It also features five restored buildings that date between 1884 and 1889. This was the headquarters of the New Caledonia District in 1821. Admission fee.

Fort Babine
(1822 - 1871), Fort Babine
A Hudson's Bay Co. post that was originally in Old Fort located 35 miles southeast, at the "Y" of Babine Lake (east of Smither's Landing), until moved in 1836 to its present location.
(thanks to Andy Korsos for providing info)

Kitwanga Indian Fort (National Historic Site)
(unknown dates), Kitwanga
A Tsimshian palisade from the late 1600's. It was destroyed in the early 1800's by other tribes.

ค COAST ARTILLERY DEFENCES, PRINCE RUPERT HARBOUR
View Prince Rupert map

ค Barrett Point Battery
(1939 - 1945),
Three 6-inch MK12 guns on MK7 mounts were temporarily emplaced here until 1944, when three 6-inch MK24 guns, two on MK6 mounts and one on a MK5 mount, were emplaced. A 6-pounder Hotchkiss gun was also here, as well as two 40mm Bofors AA guns and two searchlight positions. The observation post, plotting room, and magazines still exist, but overgrown with vegetation. The ruins of the fire-command post still exist.

ค Casey Point Battery
(1944 - 1945),
A 6-pounder MK1 twin AMTB battery. Two 25-pounder field guns were also located here, as well as one searchlight. Emplacement still exists.

ค Frederick Point Battery
(1939 - 1945), Digby Island
Two 12-pounder MK1 quick-firing guns on MK1 mounts. Two searchlight positions. Emplacements and magazines still exist.

ค Fairview Point Battery
(1942 - 1945),
Two US 8-inch M1888 M1 guns on M1918 barbette carriages, which were mounted on M1918 M1 rail cars. Gun position no longer exists. Independent fire-control towers were once located on the west side of Digby Island and on Mount Hayes (ruins).

ค Tobey Point Battery
(1942 - 1945), Digby Island
Four 3.7-inch AA guns were located here. No longer exists.

ค Dundas Point Battery
(1939 - 1945), Digby Island
A 75mm AMTB battery, with two searchlight positions, to protect the boom defence across Venn Passage. No longer exists.

ค Varney Island Battery
(1942 - 1944), Varney Island
A 75mm AMTB battery to protect the boom defence across Venn Passage. No longer exists.

ค Pillsbury Cove Battery
(1942 - 1945),
Four 3.7-inch AA guns were located here. No longer exists.

ค Seal Cove Battery
(1942 - 1945), Prince Rupert
Four 3.7-inch AA guns were located here to protect the RCAF Seaplane Base. The battery position no longer exists, however the ramp and hangar for the seaplanes still exist, as well as several ammunition magazines.

ค NOTES: The AA battery on Annette Island, Alaska, was manned by Canadian troops, and was commanded by the Prince Rupert Defence Command. The Naval signal station was located on East Kinahan Island. The Boom Defence Depot was located near Chatham Barracks, the Royal Canadian Navy barracks, near where the present-day cruise ship terminal is located. Twelve 40mm Bofors AA guns were located around the docks. The only remaining structure here is the former HQ Administration building, now an apartment complex. Port Edward was used by the US Army as an ammunition storage and supply staging area. A pulp mill is now on the site there.

The Canadian Army used Armored Train #1 (1942 - 1943) along 80 miles of the Canadian National rail line from the train's base at Terrace to Prince Rupert. It consisted of seven cars with the engine in the center, two 75mm and four 40mm Bofors guns, and two searchlights, along with infantry.

Fort Simpson
(unknown - 1866 ?), Port Simpson
A Hudson's Bay Company stockaded post.

Alliford Bay Defences
(1940's), Alliford Bay, Moresby Island
A two-gun 75mm AMTB battery and an AA battery to protect the military seaplane base.

Fort St. John
(1793 - 1823, 1858 - 1911), Fort St. John
A North West Co. fur trade post, originally located on the south bank of the confluence of the Pine and Peace Rivers. It was the oldest white settlement on the BC mainland. The Hudson's Bay Co. built Pine Fort (1820) nearby on the Pine River. The Hudson's Bay Co. took over and rebuilt Fort St. John in 1823, then later moved the post to Hudson's Hope. Fort St. John was re-established in 1858 on the north bank of the Peace River, then relocated upstream in 1873 to its present location.
(thanks to Andy Korsos for providing info)

Hudson's Hope Post
(1805 - 1825, 1865 - 1954), Hudson's Hope
Originally located here was a North West Co. trading post known as Rocky Mountain Fort. The Hudson's Bay Co. moved Fort St. John here in 1823, but closed it in 1825. The post was not re-established until 1865. A replica of the latter post is at the Hudson's Hope Museum. It has a log church, trapper's cabin and other buildings.
(thanks to Andy Korsos for providing info)

Fort Graham
(unknown dates), Fort Graham
Located near the north end of Williston Lake.

Fort Ware
(unknown dates), Fort Ware
A fur trade post.

Fort Nelson
(1805 - unknown), Fort Nelson
A fur trade post.

Telegraph Creek Post
(unknown dates), Telegraph Creek
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The historic building is now a restaurant.

Klondike NWMP Posts
(Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site)
(1898 - 1899), near Bennett
North West Mounted Police campsites are located at Lindeman, Bennett, Tagish Lake, White Pass, and Chilkoot Pass. These posts were established during the Klondike gold rush when the international boundary was undetermined. The NWMP arrived in 1894, before the U.S. Army, and claimed this area. The park is administered by the Yukon National Historic Sites Division of the CPS.

NEED MORE INFO:
Towns: Hyland Post in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park; Lower Post on the northern border; Little Fort on the Clearwater River.

Special thanks to David Morgan and Robert Zink of the Coast Defense Study Group for providing info on the Coast Artillery Defences of British Columbia.
Also thanks to John Eckersley (CDSG) and Vic Stevenson for corrections.

Vancouver Island - page 2