Industrial Archives | When World War II Came to Bell Island, Newfoundland

Diver exploring the Lord Strathcona shipwreck

A rebreather diver swims over the shipwreck of SS Lord Strathcona.

Ghost bow of P.L.M. 27

A diver hovers near the bow of the P.L.M. 27 shipwreck.

Anti-torpedo netting installed at Bell Island

This photos shows the anti-torpedo netting installed in 1943 to protect ships loading iron ore at the Dominion and Scotia piers on Bell Island from submarine attack. This […]

SS Rose Castle loading iron ore at Scotia pier

SS Rose Castle loading iron ore from the Bell Island iron mines at the Scotia pier in 1942. Ore was carried in ore cars on rails from the […]

Cross-section of Bell Island iron mine shafts

This drawing shows how the shafts of the Bell Island iron mines extended more than five kilometres out under the Atlantic Ocean. Water pumps had to operate 24 […]

Electric shovel loading iron ore into ore car at Bell Island

An electric shovel loading iron ore into an ore car in a Bell Island iron mine in 1949. Ore production increased as heavy equipment was introduced into the […]

Drilling for iron ore at Bell Island

A driller and chucker operate a drill in a Bell Island iron mine. Mining was hard and dangerous work. Dozens of miners were killed at Bell Island over […]

Tank production at the Montreal Locomotive Works

Canadian industry switched to war production during World War II. For example, the Montreal Locomotive Works produced tanks for the Canadian Army. Manufacture of trucks, tanks, airplanes, ships, […]

Pouring molten steel in Canadian steel mill, 1944

Steel production was crucial to the Allied war effort. Iron ore from Bell Island was used to make steel in the Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation’s steel mills […]