DAILY DIARY
10 RADIO DETACHMENT - CAPE SCOTT, BC.
January 14, 1944 to September 30, 1944
14 Jan 44
Weather: Showers and wind. Sea rough. Intermittent rain fell throughout the day. M/V Haida arrived 1545 hrs with rations, mail and movie. Strong winds blowing offshore from North Beach made unloading treacherous. Due to Haida making round trip in one day, it is difficult to time the arrival with the correct tide direction. Haida departed at 1715 hrs taking out one airman on posting and one airman on leave. "Magic in Music" was show presented in Canteen. It was a better calibre show than we have been having. We should have more of the same.
15 Jan 44
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea slight. Routine normal. One man reported sick with pains in abdomen. After consultation with hospital orderly and patient, it was decided not serious enough to call hospital ship, but it is decided to have the MO visit station on next boat if possible.
16 Jan 44
Weather: Partly cloudy. Seas slight. Landline in this area continues operational. Whist Drive in evening - well attended.
17 Jan 44
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea calm. Paymaster, F/O Wells, arrived from Coal Harbour via Haida at 1445 hrs. Pay Parade held for station personnel. Some rations and beer were taken off Haida. A supply of empty oil drums was sent out. Two airmen went out on posting. Haida departed 1835 hrs. Canteen movie, "A Great Life", presented in evening.
18 Jan 44
Weather: Rain and wind. Gale proportions. Sea moderate to rough. Storm reaching gale proportions continued on from previous night. Gusts reaching anywhere from 45-60 mph. It became necessary to lock Gantry at 2345 hrs on 17th and it has remained locked all day. No let up in storm seems forthcoming. Portions of the road to operations are suffering from excess water cutting into and undermining road surface. In some sections the plank road is floating slightly. Telephone communications have been cut off several times, but now in operation.
19 Jan 44
Weather: Cloudy and windy. Sea: moderate. Storm abating. Resumed operation of Gantry at 2145 hours. Works and Buildings completed a desk for use in Orderly Room. Wood crews again active. Quiz program and sing song was held in canteen. Telephone pole moved by 9 CMU to enlarge area of playing (sports) field.
20 Jan 44
Weather: Partly cloudy (sunshine). Sea: rippled calm. Inspection of camp and barracks held and everything found in good shape. The plank road leading to South Beach has been completely undermined and is totally u/s. Weather good for wood cutting so they put in full day.
21 Jan 44
Weather: Cloudy, drizzle. Sea: choppy. Scattered showers and high gusty winds. M/V HAIDA arrived 1540 hours. F/L Snelgrove, Medical Officer from Port Hardy Station, arrived to give camp inspection and categorization of potential aircrew. Camp inspection carried out by MO. Approximately 20 airmen were given Medical Examination. M/V HAIDA departed for Bull Harbour at 1800 hours where it will spend night and pick up MO in morning to proceed to Port Hardy. Landline to Victoria operational at 1718 hours.
22 Jan 44
Weather: high winds, intermittent showers. Sea: moderate. M/V HAIDA arrived 0830 hours. Surf running fast. Several attempts were made to launch boat before finally succeeding. The sea and wind were tremendous. F/L Meltzer rowed for 10-15 minutes without making any headway in attempting to return to shore. Broke one oar. On the second attempt he came in but was swamped by breakers. Our landing facilities and boat are not adequate for such seas and weather. This fact is becoming more and more evident. HAIDA departed 0930 hours but we were unable to make more than one trip to the boat from shore- consequently airmen who were going out on leave were unable to go. High winds necessitated locking Gantry at 1630 hours. Theatre in evening - showing was "LUCKY JORDON". Those entitled to Canadian Volunteer Service Medal promulgated in DRO,'s
23 Jan 44
Weather: wind and showers. Sea: choppy. Wind abated sufficient to unlock Gantry at 0945 hours. Intermittent showers all day. Routine normal.
24 Jan 44
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: rough. Seas are very high and wind is blowing strong. M/V HAIDA unable to come due to weather conditions. Normal routine.
25 Jan 44
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: smooth. Sea extraordinarily calm. No boat. Station routine normal. Ping Pong Tournament in canteen. Word received HAIDA will not come until Friday.
1 Jun 44
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: calm. Normal routine. Roads under repair.
2 Jun 44
Weather: fair. Sea: moderate. MV Combat arrived at 1300 hrs. Canteen supplies on board. Departed at 1500 hrs. Motion picture in evening "Stand by for Action" - very good.
3 Jun 44
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: calm. Normal routine. Overhaul parties progressing with work.
4 Jun 44
Weather: overcast. Sea: calm. MV Combat in at 1350. F/L Whiting (Works and Buildings) WAC arrived with party of officers from Coal Harbour. Inspection of camp buildings by F/L Whiting. M/V Combat out at 1450 hrs. Picture in evening "Pied Piper" - very good.
5 Jun 44
Weather: partly cloudy,overcast. Sea: calm. MV Combat arrived at 1410 hrs. Captain Cotton of KOR arrived with ball team from Port Hardy. Game in evening. Cape Scott 5, Port Hardy 3. Sewer line flushed and repaired. Motion picture in evening "Top Man" - good.
6 Jun 44
Weather: fine. Sea: calm. MV Combat and party departed at 0800 hrs. Routine normal. Road crews completing one section of road and moving its other section to garbage beach. Wood crew piling and sawing wood in wood shed. At 1630 hrs an Intercession service was conducted on behalf of the Invasion. Song service and scripture prayer for victory and peace conducted by P/O Anderson.
7 Jun 44
Weather: fair to cloudy. Sea calm. Routine normal. Oil drums all moved to platform. Road work completed. Construction of kitchen canopy commenced. Fire drill held at 0845. Good results. 1st Discussion Group held for one hour in accordance with AFAO A/51/31. Good attendance and good results.
8 Jun 44
Weather: Fine. Sea calm. Overhaul completed on RDF equipment, and diesels are ready for full power. Station operational at 1802. Normal operational routine resumed.
9 Jun 44
Weather: Fine. Sea calm. Normal routine. MV Combat in at 1710 and "Joe Boys" under F/L Lister disembarked. Had, a bad trip, travelling outside passage. Mail, movie also on board. In the evening Joe Boys played their show for the camp, a very creditable performance.
10 Jun 44
Weather: Fog, partly cloudy. Sea moderate. Heavy fog obscured vision. Combat out at 0645 with Joe Boys and quarterly overhaul crew. Fog lifted at 1030 - routine normal. Show in evening, "Round the World", good.
11 Jun 44
Weather: Fair, partly cloudy. Sea calm. Normal routine.
12 Jun 44
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea moderate. MV Combat in at 1415 hrs. Rations, fuel, mail, movie on board. Had to land on South Beach as North Beach too rough. Generator #2 unit arrived, so overhaul of diesels can now be completed. Combat out at 1600 hrs. Show in evening "Lost Horizon", very good.
13 Jun 44
Weather: Fair to partly cloudy. Sea calm. Routine normal. Wood crews busy. Show in evening "Ten Gentlemen from West Point", good.
14 Jun 44
Weather: Cloudy. Sea calm. No winds, but north shore runs a moderate sea. Practice in ground warfare carried out with Lewis Machine guns. Committee on Discussion Group of Current Affairs and Progress of the War met to discuss future programs.
15 Jun 44
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea calm. Light winds during the day, subsiding towards evening. Routine normal. Second half of softball league in progress.
16 Jun 44
Weather: Foggy and overcast. Sea calm. Routine normal. MV Combat arrived 1530 hrs. Departed 1700 hrs, brought rations, movie, mail, canteen supplies and personnel. Ball team left for Coal Harbour. OC F/L Mawdsley returned from Coal Harbour Hospital, to resume duties. F/O AB Code, Educational Officer, Coal Harbour, arrived by boat. P/O Anderson proceeded to Coal Harbour on TD. Show in evening "Sahara", very good.
22 Sep 44
Weather: cloudy. Sea: moderate. MK III IFF equipment tested and found working reasonably well. MV Combat in at 1315 hrs. F/O Taylor, Personnel Directive Counsellor on board, departed same boat, show in evening "Johnnie Come Lately" - very good.
23 Sep 44
Weather: rain. Sea: calm. Plank runway constructed on South Beach, to help out boat days, etc., Routine normal.
24 Sep 44
Weather: rain. Sea: calm. Combat in at 0730 hrs with barge load of Diesel Oil, (260 barrels). Barge towed and beached during high tide. Ramp constructed and drums loaded into truck and hauled away. Job done in good time, considering tide moving barge constantly making landings difficult. Combat left with barge about 1530 hrs. Rain made a thoroughly miserable day.
25 Sep 44
Weather: drizzle. Sea: calm. Combat in at 1330 hrs. Sgt. Dingle (WD) Arts and Handicrafts arrived. Sgt Dingle is first WD to set foot on shores of Cape Scott. Combat departed 1420 hrs. Show in evening "Background to Danger" - good.
26 Sep 44
Weather: cloudy. Sea: calm. Sun shone for first time in weeks. Routine normal. Work commenced on Hobby Shop. Show in evening "Frisco Kid" - very good.
27 Sep 44
Weather: drizzle. Sea: calm. Routine normal.
28 Sep 44
Weather: drizzle, partly cloudy. Sea: calm. Weather continues bad. Station routine normal. Work on hobby shop progressing.
29 Sep 44
Weather: partly cloudy, overcast. Combat in at 1420 hrs., movie and mail on board. Tom Noble YMCA Supervisor, Port Hardy, on board also. Show in evening "Eyes in the Dark" - good.
30 Sep 44
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: calm. Routine normal. Show in evening "Tender Comrade" - good. "One month Nearer Victory".
TOTAL STRENGTH AS AT 1 OCT/44.
Officers - 2, Ranks - 54, Total - 56.
(BH Anderson) F/O
for OC No. 10 Detach,
Cape Scott, BC.