Yorke island coastal fort - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Geography

Yorke Island is located off of the North end of Hardwicke Island in the south end of Johnstone Strait

Johnstone Strait

Johnstone Strait is a channel along the north east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Opposite the Vancouver Island coast, running north to south, are Hanson Island, West Cracroft Island, the mainland British Columbia Coast, Hardwick Island, West Thurlow Island and East...

. Located in the Inside Passage

Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...

, it occupies a choke point at the split of Johnstone Strait

Johnstone Strait

and Sunderland Channel which all vessels traveling between the Mainland and Vancouver Island would have to pass. As Hardwicke Island separates two channels offering passages between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Yorke Island is strategically placed to protect the entrances of what was considered the backdoor access to Vancouver during WWII.

History

In 1938 Major Treatt of the Canada War Department, inspected the west coast of Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

and determined suitable locations for coastal defences. Yorke Island was determined to be a suitable site. The site was equipped with two 4.7” Quick firing guns, later replaced by two 6” Mk7 guns on Mk 2 mounting (transferred from the Stanley Park

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor-General of Canada....

Battery). Also fitted was a 6 pdr Hotchkiss

QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss

The QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries, and was adapted for use in the early British tanks in World War I.- Canada History :...

“examination gun”. Anti-aircraft defence was provided by two 40mm Bofors guns at two different sites. In all three 100 million carbon arc searchlights were positioned to maintain a night fighting ability. In addition examination vessel

Examination vessel

An examination vessel is a vessel used to inspect ships and boats entering a port during wartime.An examination vessel would typically be responsible for examining and verifying all merchant ships and small craft entering or departing a port...

s, nicknamed the "Gumboot Navy" due to the use of fishing vessel

Fishing vessel

A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....

s and their crew, were on station to assist the fort in examining all passing traffic.

Approximately 60 buildings were built to support the garrison. A major challenge with Yorke Island was a lack of drinking water. Water was at first supplied by Union Steam ships while dropping off construction materials. After this was determined to be to inefficient, a scow with a large tank was brought in to fill the 50000 gallon cement water tank via the nearest creek on Hardwicke Island. Filling this tank and its challenges led to the only death on Yorke, Gnr Brunt, when the skiff he and others were on was swamped returning from a maintenance trip to Hardwicke Island. Brunt's leg tangled in the boat tow line and he was lost when it sank. Efforts to recover him were not successful.

Yorke Island was an isolated post which combined with lack of action, the advent of the conscript act, and minimal contact with locals lead to some discipline issues, nicknamed “Going Yorkie”. Segregation was also a difficulty: some men served on the island at the same time did not meet until reunions were arranged well after the war.

As the threat of attack diminished the garrison was decommissioned and the fort was abandoned by early 1946.

Today

The fort is abandoned. Recent efforts by volunteers and local groups have now allowed for a major clean up at the fort. Trails have been cut and marked to areas of safe access and interest. The dock built in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

has disappeared. Extensive remnants of the bunkers, gun emplacements, and buildings are easily accessed when one is on the island. Safely accessing the island is a difficult and sometimes dangerous journey due to dangerous tides and winds. The safest access is in Courtenay Bay due to its protection from extreme flood and tidal action compared to the conditions found on the beach side near to the dock built in World War II

World War II

. There are no operators with permits to conduct tours of Yorke Island at this time.

Geography

History

Today

See also