DAILY DIARY
6 RADIO DETACHMENT - Louisbourg, NOVA SCOTIA
1 Aug 1942 TO 30 Nov 1942
1 Aug 42
Installation party arrived and with them the secret RDF equipment. The Installation party was made up of Cpl. Skinner, LAC Woods, LAC Noel, LAC MacIntosh and P/O Marqus. The buildings are hardly more than shells, having no windows, doors and in some cases no floors. The layout of the station is as shown on the accompanying sketch.
2 Aug 42
The RDF Equipment was hauled up to the station and was unpacked and assembly began. It is difficult to work on secret equipment with so many labourers around, but installation is going ahead well.
3 - 4 Aug 42
NIL
5 Aug 42
Since there are no quarters or rations available here and there will not be for some time, arrangements have been made at the Dundonald Inn in Louisbourg, NS for the men reporting on the station to stay here.
6 Aug 42
The difficulty of digging in this very rocky ground has made the erection of the buildings very difficult and slow. This accounts for the arrival of the installation party before the completion of the buildings.
7 Aug 42
The following Sec. Guards reported to this station on posting from RCAF Station Sydney, NS - LAC McKean RL R137804; R108107 LAC Gregoire, JPR; R13582 AC1 Greenstein H; R154306 AC2 Vosberg, S.
8 Aug 42
Construction goes along very slowly due to lack of skilled men and also lack of materials. The following men reported to this station on posting from RCAF Station Sydney, NS - R72593 Cpl Gallant JA; AC1 Magee WR R137814; R108221 LAC Delisle JCAG; R96618 LAC Pelletier JAL
9 Aug 42
Drilling began on the deepwell pump. The water supply is to be obtained from this well instead of from the lake about a third of a mile from the station. It was felt that a cheaper and more reliable supply could be obtained by this means.
10 Aug 42
P/O Marqus left for Queensport NS leaving Cpl. Skinner in charge.
11 Aug 42
NIL
12 Aug 42
The following cooks reported to this station on posting from TTS St. Thomas Ont. - R136174 LAC Prentice DW; R131470 LAC Hudson GH
13 Aug 42
The following RDF Mechanics reported to this station on posting from Preston NS R148899 LeGard AN; R125673 LAC Lewis BG; from No. 31 RAF PD Moncton R138273 LAC Cummings HA; from #12 Tech Detachment, Toronto Ont. R153951 LAC Durst, FM.
14 Aug 42
The contractor is having trouble obtaining enough flooring to finish the airmen's barracks. At present the floor is only half down and work is at a standstill.
15 Aug 42
Drilling is still going on in the deepwell. They have struck a hard blue rock and are making very slow progress.
16 Aug 42
R138182 LAC McComber VA, a radio mechanic reported to this station on posting from #31 RAF PD Moncton NB.
17 Aug 42
R113533 LAC Hanson JD Driver Transport reported to this station on posting from #13 SFTS St. Hubert.
18 Aug 42
Installation party has made very good progress on the radio installation. It is partly operational now. Further installation goes on while trouble shooting proceeds on that part that is installed.
19 Aug 42
The contractor is starting to dig the pipeline for the sewers and it seems that he is going to have to do a lot of blasting, for the ground is nearly all rock below about one to two feet down.
20 Aug 42
NIL.
21 Aug 42
P/O Bradley reported to this station to take charge of the installation party. The rest of the radio equipment arrived and was hauled up to the station for assembly.
22 Aug 42
Assembly of the receiver and Thyratron unit began today, and was nearly completed.
23 Aug 42
Contractor is still unable to obtain flooring for the rest of the airmen's barracks and is suggesting that we authorize him to use something else. This authorization we cannot give.
29 Nov 42
A new wing on the end of the NCO's quarters has been authorized to be used as a recreation room, and construction has begun on that.
3- Nov 42
The RDF equipment is working very well indeed. We have not been off the air due to equipment failures for a single minute yet. The canteen profits for the period since its opening are around $140.00. Weather is becoming very cold and it is becoming harder every day to keep the men healthy in these unheated barracks. The men on duty in the operations hut are finding it almost impossible to work thru the night, as no amount of persuasion can obtain a heater for this vital room. Unless some heat can be obtained in the next day or so, the operation room will be closed during the coldest part of the night.
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Updated: March 28, 2003
