Point Grey Battery, Vancouver

[David Dunlop]

I read this week that the UBC Museum of Anthropology has finally been granted the money needed to fund a major expansion and upgrade of their fascilities.

Several years back, one or more groups in BC were trying to raise funds to restore the sole remaining intact 8" Coastal Gun Emplacement from the WW2 Point Grey Battery, which would have been the northernmost gun position. The museum was built over the two central gun emplacements and part of the southernmost position. I believe most of the underground galleries had survived and part of them were being used for museum storage.

Does anyone know if the Battery restoration project went dead in the water, as it appears any expansion of the museum would now wipe out all remaining traces of the wartime battery? Probably the only other remaining WW2 harbour coastal gun defences that survive in western Canada would be the ones up at Prince Rupert.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

I haven't heard much about the restoration project lately but Peter Moogk would be the person to contact.

The existing gun emplacements are at each end of the current museum and will be unaffected by the expansion. The new building will be located between the old building and the road.

According to the UBC site back in 1990 the last gun turret and other remaining structures were partially restored as a historic site.

It would be nice to see something proper done as Vancouver has lost much of it's WW2 history.

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

It would be nice to see something proper done as Vancouver has lost much of it's WW2 history.

Unfortunately your comment is all too true Bruce. One of the favourite activities in my youth was beach-combing, an activity greatly aided by growing up within a few blocks of the ocean, firstly in Dundarave in West Vancouver then Kitsilano in Vancouver. I remember exploring all of the gun emplacements at one time or another. There used to be one directly under the North end of the Lions Gate bridge which was a two story structure with emplacements for two guns on the open roof. Another was a short hike along the beach near Jericho. sadly, both are now gone. Jericho was also the site of a Flying Boat facility for several decades of which an excellent book was written for the Air Cadets. I was fortunate to receive a copy for my work with the Cadets in Abbotsford through the R.C.A.F. Association. In the early '60's, my best friend and I discovered a 40mm Bofors mounted in the backyard of a beachfront home towards West Bay. We spent many an enjoyable day traversing and elevating the gun to shoot down TCA Vickers Viscounts (FW Condor)and the odd T-33 or F-86 (Me 262) from Comox. Great fun for a kid totally enamoured of WWII exploits. Derek.

P.S. Still no sign of the brushes my friend.

[David Dunlop]

I remember visiting the remains of the gun emplacement under the Lions Gate Bridge in 1982-83 with the late Peter Ford. Peter had been to it a few years earlier when it was quite intact, but on our arrival, it had been broken up. The locals sitting around fishing were either quite unaware of what had been there, or were indifferent to it's passing.

Peter spotted a large conical shaped piece of concrete in the water with what looked like a steel 'pintel/traverse ring' fitted to the top of it, which looked like it might have been part of a gun mount. He later contacted the local Field Artillery Regiment and I believe they went out and recovered it.

Have the two searchlight towers on the beach survived? There also used to be a small concrete building hidden in the bush at the base of the cliff close to the tower nearest the Point Grey Battery, that was rumored to have been the generator plant and/or crew supplies and quarters for the searchlight tower.

My observations at the time were that the WW2 defences around Halifax were in much better shape in the 1980's than those around Vancouver.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I remember visiting the remains of the gun emplacement under the Lions Gate Bridge in 1982-83 with the late Peter Ford.

Have the two searchlight towers on the beach survived?

My observations at the time were that the WW2 defences around Halifax were in much better shape in the 1980's than those around Vancouver.

David

Narrows North Fort under the bridge was a three story concrete fort that housed two 12-pounders.

The searchlight towers are still there as well as the little building. Not sure what it's use was as the lights took their power from the powerhouse beside the gun emplacements. The towers give fair warning that you are approaching Wreck Beach.

I guess land has more value that history here. Much has been destroyed in the name of progress. Western Command members did a tour of some of the remaining sights a couple of years ago. Just the sight of George's half-track rumbling down Georgia St turned a few heads.

We are looking at doing another tour this coming year as we want to get into the underground complex in Stanley Park near the tea house. It's been covered over but the hatch is still there, however, we have to get the city to pump some air into it before venturing down.