DAILY DIARY
25 RADIO DETACHMENT - ST. GEORGE de MALBAIE, PQ.
September 21, 1942 to December 31, 1942
No 25 Detachment, RCAF, St. George de Malbaie, PQ was organized on the 30th day of September, 1942 by Secret Organization Order No 91.
Its purpose is that of an early warning station for detecting hostile aircraft and surface vessels. Any information obtained being passed direct to the Filter Room at EAC, Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there the proper disposition of our forces is made to intercept and repel an enemy attack.
Our parent station is RCAF Station, Gaspe, PQ, which is 25 miles farther along the coast from us. Gaspe is an operational station during the summer only. During the summer there are two means of communication with Gaspe - by a road which runs along the coast and by rail, which also follows the coast pretty much. During the winter our only means of communication is by rail. The nearest railway station is a flag stop at St. George, about 2 1/2 miles from the Detachment. The nearest agent is at Barachois, which is about 8 miles from the Detachment.
The Detachment is located about 1/4 of a mile inland from the main road which runs along the coast. It is practically invisible from the main road, as the country around about is quite thickly wooded. The country is quite hilly. The land slopes quite steeply towards the sea. Looking out to sea, the point forming the Bay of Gaspe terminates to our left. In front of us and to our right is the open sea. Farther along the coast to our right is Bonaventure Island.
The Building Site - from two to twelve feet of gravelly soil over Sandstone, and in the Southeast corner Conglomerate. The site was covered with second growth Balsam, Birch, and Spruce, with a small section cultivated where the coal shed now stands. An eight foot concertina barbed-wire fence encloses Operational Buildings and the Power House. The foot of these two buildings is almost level with the roofs of the remainder of the buildings, which are enclosed in a six foot fence. A considerable amount of timber still remains standing, especially in the Operational Compound.
21 Sep 42
Clearing and leveling of the site for the buildings was started today.
5 Oct 42
Started erection of the Operational Building (No. 8)
6 Oct 42
Started erection of the Power House (No 7), and the Coal Shed (No 9).
8 Oct 42
Started erection of the Mess Hall and Canteen (No 1).
9 Oct 42
Started erection of the Airmen's Quarters, NCO's Quarters, and Hospital (No 4).
31 Oct 42
Started erection of the Guard House (No 2).
5 Nov 42
Started erection of MT Section (No 3), and of the Administrative Building (No 5).
1 Dec 42
Started erection of the Pump House (No.6)
(NC ARNOLD) Flying Officer,
Officer Commanding,
No 25 Detachment,
St George de Malbaie, PQ
10 Dec 42
P/O NC Arnold, C12603 (Radio) was posted effective today, reporting to RCAF Station, Gaspe, Dec 12/42. To be Radio Officer and Officer Commanding.
11 Dec 42
Weather: Snowing nearly all day. P/O NC Arnold left Halifax at 8.45 AM, arrived in Campbellton, NB at 8.30 PM Spent the night in Campbellton.
12 Dec 42
Weather: Dull and still snowing. We were supposed to arrive at Gaspe at 7.45 PM. After ambling along all day we came to a stop about 9.30 PM. A freight was off the tracks up ahead. We stayed there all night. By coincidence the place where we stopped happened to be St. George de Malbaie.
13 Dec 42
Weather: Clear and sunny. We arrived in Gaspe at 10.30 AM - just 14 3/4 hours late. There appeared to be considerable snow around about. The blackout is still in effect as the Bay of Gaspe has not yet frozen over.
14 Dec 42
Weather: Clear, cold - snow drifting considerably. The Bay is freezing solid. A little barrack equipment has arrived at Gaspe for us - dishes, MT tools, beds and mattresses, chairs and tables.
15 Dec 42
Weather: Clear and cold. Went out to the Detachment in the afternoon by MT along with the driver. The drifts were bad in parts. We got stuck several times. The Operational Building (No 8) and the Power House (No 7), which are in the inner compound were on the whole complete. The Operational Building had to have the finishing floor and linoleum laid. Hardware on doors and windows and light fixtures were also lacking. The Mess Hall and Canteen (No 4) was well on, work being done on the interior. The outside walls only of the other buildings, - Quarters, Guardhouse, Pumphouse and MT Section - were complete. The Recreation Wing has been added to building No 4. Both the 8' and 6' fences were nearing completion. The grading around the technical compound was finished, the remainder will have to wait until spring. The diesels have not arrived yet. Delivery of snowplow should be expedited. No coal has arrived yet.
16 Dec 42
Weather: cold - 17º below zero with a cold wind.
17 Dec 42
Weather: Very cold wind, still below zero.
18 Dec 42
Weather: Cold. Signal from EAC advising that some heavy equipment is being shipped CN Express to Barachois. Radio personnel are being posted immediately.
19 Dec 42
Weather: Clear and cold. Mr. AT Freeman, RCAF Engineer at St George advises against shipping in too much equipment before buildings are fully ready to receive same.
20 Dec 42
Weather: Clear with a cold wind.
21 Dec 42
Weather: Clear with a cold wind.
22 Dec 42
Weather: Cloudy, milder - trying to snow. Panel truck arrived. It has 4000 miles on it.
23 Dec 42
Weather: Cloudy, quite mild. Sgt Dooley LR R122173, RDF Operator (G) and AC1 Pearson DL, R157966, RDF Operator (G) reported to Gaspe on temporary duty to No 25 Detachment from No 1 Detachment, Preston NS.
24 Dec 42
Weather: Cloudy but mild. The diesel equipment has come and has been unloaded. Mr AT Freeman, RCAF Engineer informed us that it will be at least January 15th before the Operational Building and Power House are entirely ready. Snowplow and tractor for use by contractor are to start clearing the road next week to Barachois and St. George from the Detachment. Informed EAC that all personnel posted to the Detachment should report to Gaspe.
25 Dec 42
Weather: Cloudy and mild with a light snow. Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings was enjoyed by all personnnel at Gaspe.
26 Dec 42
Weather: Sunny and mild. Informed EAC to hold posting of further personnel until such time as they are required.
27 Dec 42
Weather: Cloudy and mild. A propellor driven snowmobile arrived at Gaspe for use between Gaspe and the Detachment.
28 Dec 42
Weather: Heavy snow overnight. Still snowing.
29 Dec 42
Weather: Bright and cool. The tractor didn't come through for the snow plow which is at Gaspe. We decided to make the trip to the Detachment by snowmobile. P/O NC Arnold and Sgt Dooley LR made the trip along with Sgt Griffin LO and Cpl Coleman RC, two MT men from Gaspe. We made pretty good time, taking a shortcut across the bay thereby cutting off 11 miles. The snowmobile being of the propellor type makes a terrific noise. We scared a lot of horses and people for that matter. Little work has been done since the last visit. Quite a number of the contractor's men are away over the holidays. The hardwood and other odds and ends have not arrived to finish the Operational Building. Should only take about a week to finish once the material arrives. Diesel installation should be started by the 4th of January. We will have to get our panel truck out to the Detachment before the road from Gaspe is entirely closed, if we wish to get it out there by road at all. It is our intention to sleep at the Detachment and eat in Barachois until such time as the Mess Hall is ready to be opened.
30 Dec 42
Weather: Cool, snowing. P/O NC Arnold, C12603 granted New Year's Leave and five days of his annual leave. Left for Halifax. Issued Special Leave T/W C176648.
31 Dec 42
Weather: Cool, light snow. AC1 Matthews MG, R153155 and AC1 Grant GW, R138868, RDF Operators (G) reported to Gaspe on temporary duty to No 25 Detachment from No 1 Detachment, Preston, NS. The present strength of the Detachment is: 1 Officer, 1 NCO and 3 AC's on temporary duty awaiting posting.
(NC ARNOLD) Flying Officer,
Officer Commanding,
No. 25 Detachment,
St George de Malbaie, PQ
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Updated: April 8, 2003