DAILY DIARY
36 RADIO DETACHMENT - SPOTTED ISLAND, LABRADOR
January 1, 1944 to November 6, 1944
1 Jan 44
A mild and sunny day began the new year. No work was done outside of the normal radio watches. Again, the natives visited our lounge, and again we were hosts. Games were played during the day. The usual poker game was played; the hockey game was the chief attraction on the radio. During the month of December, 751 bags of coal were burned.
2 Jan 44
The weather turned colder, and the wind increased. During the evening, the storm started. Today was a day of rest: reading, writing letters, and monopoly were the events of the day.
3 Jan 44
During the morning, a blizzard raged; visibility was about 25 feet. In the afternoon, the snow stopped and the wind held, blowing a lot of ground snow. A new sled was made with steel runners resembling the native "Komatick". Soldering of the horizontal to the vertical feeders for the beacon antenna completed the antenna system.
4 Jan 44
A cold, clear, windy day. The two water tanks were set up in the kitchen as an emergency storage against stormy days. The coal bins in both the barracks and the mess hall were refilled. The "expedition" returned by dog team from Cartwright bringing the mail. Cpl Neville GHC had an x-ray taken at the Cartwright hospital, and he was found to be all right. Everyone felt good as the mail was handed out; in some cases, it included Christmas parcels long overdue. The canteen was open in the evening.
5 Jan 44
A mild, sunny day. The floors in the mess and lounge were scrubbed. The OC, accompanied by a native guide, explored the whole island looking for a suitable landing strip for aircraft, but was unsuccessful. When the water between our island and the Isle of Ponds freezes over, the latter shall also be covered for landing possibilities.
6 Jan 44
A very mild and pleasant day. A large wind sock (made out of a bed sheet) and flags were begun; these were for our landing field, and were to be painted red. The sock was tried out in the wind on a 20 foot pole, and it filled out very nicely. The tanks in the mess hall were filled. The monopoly games are still being played each night - an average of three a night.
16 Feb 44
A very bad blizzard and gale. The receiver shack was cut off, and the operators were forced to stay there and use emergncy rations stored there. One AT3 went off the air due to a short in the remote lines. The remote lines themselves came off the insulators, and were being blown about in the snow. The weather made outside work impossible. The storm died down a bit in the evening, but was still blowing strong. The mess building was given its clean-up.
17 Feb 44
Cold, clear, and windy once more - a relief after the storm. The remote lines were repaired with insulation tape, and replaced on the poles. The new GR 10 was installed in the receiver shack, and the operators were relieved. The food stores consumed there were replaced. The ping-pong games are still being played off.
18 Feb 44
A very dull day, overcast, warmer, and windy. A watch was set up for the lost aircraft; visual watching was impossible because of the weather. The remote control lines were again inspected and fastened more securely to the poles. During the night, the wind picked up force.
19 Feb 44
Much colder and extremely high gale - the worst yet. One of the steel towers collapsed, buckling at the second joint about twenty feet off the ground. The tower ripped off the horizontal feeders for both the PV 500 L and the GT 14, and it tore down the actual antenna for the GT 14. The remote lines were again ripped off the poles; the power line to the receiver shack for lights broke again. The roof of one of the storage shacks that No 8 CMU left behind full of building materials was blown off (it was found the next day - during the storm, no one stirred out of doors except for meals). The buildings themselves quivered from the gusts of wind; the mess hall lost some of its shingles, a smoke stack was blown off one of the warehouses; and the telephone system developed an intermittent short which made contact between buildings almost impossible. The usual Saturday night poker game and hockey game too place.
20 Feb 44
Still windy, but not as strong; the sky didn't clear until evening. The damages were investigated, and instructions for repairs were given out. Nothing was done on this day of rest.
1 Jun 44
Light snow fall, overcast, and a slight wind. R.152970 Yates GR was promoted to Acting Sergeant (paid). The SS Kyle moved off early in the morning. Using native trap boats, personnel fished for the sunken chain and marker for the buoy; it was located after two-hour's fishing, and a marker was attached. The buoy was hauled down to the village in preparation for its placing at low tide. Mr MacCarthy, Marconi operator at Domino was welcomed; arrangements were made for the censoring of messages from the unit's personnel. The barracks were cleaned up.
2 Jun 44
Overcast, foggy in the morning, clear in the afternoon, snowfall in the evening. At 1230 hours Z an A/C was heard circling the island, but could not be seen because of fog; at 1310 hours, it was sighted and identified as a Mosquito a/c; at 1315 hours, the a/c dropped two red flares, and Goose Bay was notified at once - with no Aldis lamp on hand, it was impossible to contact a/c - and asked for instructions; at 1440 hours, after making long sweeps up and down the coast, the a/c departed, heading north; at 1355 hours the a/c landed at Goose Bay. The buoy was set out in the run as a serviceable a/c mooring, and units were notified. More painting was done on the boat. Scrap lumber was cleared up around the warehouses. In the evening, personnel attended a dance in the village.
3 Jun 44
Overcast, foggy, light drizzles, and windy. In spite of bad weather, this turned out to be one of the happiest days for the personnel of the unit; news of posting was received. Selections were made for those who had to remain a little longer, and the results were signalled in to EAC as set down in App I. The No 2 Barracks was cleaned up and prepared for a dance to be held on Monday evening.
4 Jun 44
Very windy, and scattered snow flurries all day. A listening watch was set up for the lost a/c reported by No 1 Group HQ. No work was done. Weather prevented visits to and from the village.
5 Jun 44
Still windy and overcast; clear in the evening. The barracks were cleaned up. The motor of the b.132 was tuned up and tested. One of the remote control lines to the receiver hut shorted out, and the spare was put into use. Arrangements were made to lock all the building except the No 2 barracks for the dance, and guards were posted to keep the natives from wandering. Chocolate and fudge were served, and everyone had an enjoyable time.
6 Jun 44
Windy, overcast, and scattered rain; heavy sea. News of the invasion of France was happily received. The hull of the boat was completed with paint. Canteen stock was sold off in bulk to clear expenses. The short in the remote lines was located and repaired.
1 Nov 44
Weather: am - snow storm cleared up by 0900 hours, started to storm again at 1000 hrs, pm - stormy but clearing some, strong north wind. Beaver advised expected to leave 1200 hours today. No word from Cape Bauld on Kyle up to noon. At 1600 hours advised by #30 RU Kyle passed by in am. Checked with Marconi at Domino Kyle ETA Thursday pm. Advised Beaver and Brig of above and suggested since cargo unloaded Beaver run down tonight. Beaver advised not able to leave before tomorrow night. In view of above crew will be unable to take passage via Kyle.
2 Nov 44
Weather: am - clear and calm, very mild, pm - same. Beaver departed Brig approximately 1300 hours for Cartwright. Kyle arrived 1500 hours. Advised Brig re Kyle.
3 Nov 44
Weather: am - clear and mild, pm - breezing up from northeast. Visited Domino in am and advised Marconi man Kyle ETA on return 1000 hours Sunday 5 Nov. Beaver arrived at 1430 hours. Scow alongside at 1500 hours. Loaded dock with crates, etc, for next scow. Pump line removed. With a break in the weather we have a possible chance to make Kyle on Sunday.
4 Nov 44
Weather: am - fair, pm - fair. Work hours 0600 - 2300 hours while loading. Scow loaded by 1100 hours and hauled to Beaver. Too much swell in run. Beaver moved to sandbanks approximately 3 miles distant. Scow hauled back 2000 hours and loaded with stuff piled on dock. Work completed 2300 hours. Kyle departed from Brig for Spotted 1500 hours.
5 Nov 44
Weather: am - cloudy and windy, pm - cloudy and snowing. Scow loaded by 1300 hours and hauled out to Beaver. Kyle arrived 1400 hours. Six 8 CMU men, 3 36 RU and F/O Topham departed via Kyle for St Johns.
6 Nov 44
Weather: am - cloudy and windy. Breakfast at 0500 hours. Started work at 0545 hours. Scow loaded by 1100 hours and hauled to Beaver, anchored at Sandbanks 3 miles distant. Sea very rough. Buildings all boarded up. Station closed. Twelve 8 CMU and one 36 RU men boarded Beaver for Halifax.
(CC Cruikshank) F/O
8 CMU Detachment,
Spotted Island, Labrador.
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Updated: June 13, 2004